DUNWOODY, Ga. - A Dunwoody father is being remembered as a hero after he saved three people from a riptide in Florida on April 8.

Deputies in Florida said they responded to multiple rescues last week.

Kim McGrady, 55, was on vacation with his family when he heard people screaming from the water at Miramar Beach.

FOX 5 talked to the President of Murphey Candler Baseball who knew McGrady well.

"Just about everyone will tell you he is the nicest person you ever met at Murphey Candler," said Shawn Keefe.

From his big heart to his big smile, everyone who knew McGrady will tell you, he's hard to forget.

"Always had a huge smile on his face. Always was the first one to go up and pat a kid on the back and tell him he's done a great job, and that's just the kind of person Kim was," said Keefe.

The game of baseball is what connected Keefe to McGrady. The two met nearly 10 years ago through Murphey Candler Baseball.

"It doesn't surprise any of us that he passed away helping others, and there were lives saved because of Kim," said Keefe.

On April 8, tragedy struck the Florida panhandle. According to deputies in Florida, dozens of people had to be rescued from rough waters. A memorial page for McGrady said he was one of the first people to jump into action. As McGrady went to save three people, he also got caught in the rip ride.

"He's a friend to a lot of us out here and you know, hearing what happened and how it happened, it's very tragic," said Keefe.

Tributes and memories are now pouring in for McGrady and his family. A GoFundMe has raised thousands of dollars for his family. According to those who knew him and even those who didn't, he left this world a hero.

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While most major metro areas have seen hotel occupancy plummet throughout the pandemic, the greater Miami market has emerged as particularly resilient this winter, with both beach resorts and short-term vacation rentals reporting strong demand.

"We're finding that people are driving here, not just from elsewhere in Florida or the southeast, but believe it or not from as far as the Midwest and California, because they're doing longer stays," said Wendy Kallergis, president and CEO for the Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association. "They're setting up shop here and working in their hotel rooms or suites."

According to STR data, Miami's occupancy levels have hit well above the U.S. average in recent months. While overall U.S. occupancy for November, December and January hovered at around 40% and below, Miami -- despite once being the epicenter for Covid-19 cases in Florida -- has seen its occupancy tick up steadily over the same period, hitting over 54% by January.

Miami-area hotels with proximity to the ocean have fared even better, said Kallergis, with most beach resorts reporting 80% to 90% occupancy over the weekend periods.

"It's predominantly the beach hotels that are doing really well," added Kallergis. "But I do think some of the downtown hotels are doing pretty well, too."

The Acqualina Resort & Residences, which spans 4.5 oceanfront acres on Sunny Isles Beach, just north of Miami Beach, has been among those properties that have enjoyed a boom in winter bookings.

"Over the last few months, especially over weekends and holidays, the spike in demand was so significant we were unable to accommodate all the requests we received," said Mauro Pinho, director of sales and marketing for the Acqualina Resort & Residences.

Pinho credited the property's relative strength to a mix of staycation demand as well as a surge in guests coming in from states like New York and New Jersey.

Like Acqualina, the Carillon Miami Wellness Resort has similarly benefited from a wave of visitors coming in from the Northeast, with around 20% of the property's guests hailing from New York.

"Holidays, in particular, have been strong for us," said Brittani Miranda, director of revenue management at the resort. "We're lucky that Miami has beautiful weather and is a convenient destination for many travelers to safely get to, which has most likely helped Miami's hospitality sector in general during this time."

Although Miami-area hotels appear to be well on the road to recovery, the market's short-term rentals have seen occupancy bounce back even faster.

In December, STR reported that Miami's short-term rental sector saw its best overall performance since the beginning of the pandemic, with the segment's occupancy coming in at over 83% for the third month in a row.

"South Florida has always been in high season in winter," said Christina Candler, regional sales director at TurnKey Vacation Rentals, which markets and manages vacation rental homes across the U.S. "We're seeing that it's a popular drive destination for people coming from the Carolinas, Alabama or Georgia, but we're also still seeing the people from New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Massachusetts, who we typically see every year. Part of that may have to do with the restrictions that are still in place in those areas."

According to Candler, demand for South Florida and Miami-area short-term rentals is expected to remain strong through the spring, with summer bookings for 2021 starting to outpace the level of summer bookings in previous years.

And with international destinations likely to remain off the table for many travelers for the time being, part of Miami's appeal is fueled by its reputation as a cosmopolitan hot spot, Candler added.

"I used to live in Miami, and we always used to say, the closest foreign destination to the United States is Miami," she said. "So, if you can't make it to the Caribbean or to Latin America, Miami's your next best bet."

For the Star-Banner

CANDLER — Lula Mae Keaton, hailed as a caring mother, charitable neighbor and tireless worker, celebrated her 105th birthday along with family and friends at a gathering here on June 25.

"I'm fine," said Keaton as she chatted with well-wishers.

Local guests were joined by guests from locations including Albany, Georgia and Tampa.

Learn more:A look at Lula Mae Keaton

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Keaton said her faith is important to her and she feels God has blessed her with a long life.

Keaton smiled, fielded questions and spoke to guests throughout the celebration.

Guests included Keaton’s children Robert Taylor, Annie Harts, Diane Welcome and Judie Taylor. Keaton’s son Hardges Taylor Jr. died in 2018.

Lula Mae Keaton was born in 1917

Lula Mae Keaton was born June 15, 1917, near Monticello, Florida, and spent a number of years as a field worker, according to her son Robert Taylor, 76.

Keaton moved to Marion County in the late 1940s and then, after a brief return to the Monticello area, returned to Ocklawaha, where she worked for years in local orange groves.

Keaton and Diane Welcome currently live in Ocklawaha.

Keaton's husband, Hardges Taylor Sr., died in 2021.

Family members said Lula Mae Keaton has 15 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.

"She's in good health," said Welcome.

The aging of America

According to "3 Ways that the U. S. population will change over the next decade," at PBS.org, U.S. Census demographers state the number of people aged 100 "grew from over 53,000 in 2010 to 90,000 in 2020."

By 2030, the number of 100-year-olds is expected to increase to "over 130,000."

Trasz Clayton, 35, one of Keaton's grandsons, called her "a blessing" who could outwork anyone and a person with "wisdom."

Aaron Keaton of Tampa, a nephew of Keaton's, attended the celebration and recalled Lula Mae Keaton as a hard worker.

Guests Roberta Welcome and Sandra Tribble helped serve ribs, baked chicken and more.

Roberta Welcome said Lula Mae Keaton is a “good cook” and "giving person," while Sandra Tribble described her as someone who "loves community.”

The 'hardest working woman in Ocklawaha'

Jon Howard, a great-nephew, came from Albany, Georgia to attend the celebration, while Cynthia Keeton, Juanita Keeton Cannon, Shirley Keeton Parker, Ollie Keeton Burgin and Betty Sue Coleman traveled from Tampa to wish Lula Mae Keaton a happy birthday.

Several guests described Lula Mae Keaton as “amazing.”

Robert Taylor Jr. said at the celebration that his grandmother ”gets around” and she “knows everybody."

Freddie Welcome said at the celebration Lula Mae Keaton is the “hardest working woman in Ocklawaha.”

Judie Taylor said her mother helped needy neighbors and called Lula Mae Keaton a "loving mother." Taylor said she is "so thankful to be her daughter.”

Annie Harts was accompanied by her daughter, Kayla Hart.

During the celebration, the group sang “Happy Birthday" to Lula Mae Keaton and she cut the first piece of birthday cake.

Valerie Wilson, Lula Mae Keaton's granddaughter, said at the celebration her grandmother raised children with manners and required them “to be mindful and respectful to others, especially adults” and say "yes, Sir and "yes, Ma'am.

“(Lula Mae Keaton) never held a “9 to 5” job but she was able to build a home from the ground up to raise her five children… My grandmother believes in having her own without depending on no one to do things for her,” Wilson wrote in a later text.

Wilson described Lula Mae Keaton as “independent.”

On Top of the World Things To Do, Lodging, Dining, & Real Estate At End Of Article

On Top of the World in Ocala, Florida is a large master planned 55+ active adult retirement community located on State Road 200 about 11 miles west of downtown Ocala.

It is about 28 miles north of its closest lifestyle competitor, The Villages Florida.

Residents and other locals refer to the community as OTOW.

On Top of the World is actively being developed by Colen Built Development, LLC. It is the second Florida development with this name.

On Top of the World in Clearwater broke ground in 1960 and by the 1990s was completed and has since become a popular west coast Florida retirement community.

On Top of the World Communities, LLC was founded in 1947 by the late Sidney Colen, who began his career in development and construction in Pinellas County.

He built dozens of condominiums and residential subdivisions, and also created the town of Kenneth City in the St. Petersburg area and the first On Top of the World in Clearwater.

Kenneth City was actually named for his son, Kenneth Colen, in 1957 when Kenneth was 6 years old.

In 1975 he extended his operations to Marion County by buying the Circle Square Ranch, a historic working cattle ranch west of Ocala.

Kenneth Colen, was involved in the family business during most of its existence, and in 1981 became head of the organization.

Sidney Colen passed away at age 90 in 2009 in Clearwater, Florida and his son Kenneth still runs the organization.

The Circle Square Ranch was a 12,900 acre cattle ranch established by James Norris in the 1940s and owned by the Norris Cattle Company.

Sidney Colen purchased the ranch in 1975 and began to put together a development like almost no other in the United States.

He decided early on to develop his new community while carefully preserving much of the natural land and working operations of the ranch.

A large portion of the original ranch remains in operation although surrounded by the neighborhoods and homes of On Top of the World.

The Circle Square Ranch is still in operation with 1,200 cattle grazing on 9,000 acres.

The long time manager was the late E.L. Strickland, who was named Rancher of the Year by the Florida Cattlemen's Association, and earned the ranch the Environmental Stewardship award.

Many of the residents of On Top of the World are fond of "their cows" and are proud to be part of this working operation.

The ranch also has abundant wildlife such as burrowing owls, gopher tortoises, and other endangered or threatened Florida animals who have a happy home here among the cows and people.

The Circle Square Ranch Master Association, Inc. is a homeowners association composed of the individual neighborhood associations in the community as well as the developer, Colen Built Development, LLC.

There are 15 neighborhoods in several gated communities in On Top of the World, each with a different ambience and catering to different interests and lifestyles. These are:

In some of the communities you do not actually own your lot; you instead have a 99 year land lease. In others you have fee simple ownership of the property.

There are three golf courses in On Top of the World:

The community is laid out with miles of trails and numerous recreational facilities such as:

Many OTOW residents have golf carts and are able to visit almost everything in the community without ever cranking up their car.

Circle Square Commons is on the northern side of On Top of the World and is home to Master the Possibilities Lifelong Learning Center and its classrooms as well as other businesses.

The large Circle Square Cultural Center is a theater style auditorium that seats 930. It is an ideal setting for concerts, galas, plays, and conventions.

The Cultural Center has brought in premier entertainers including Willie Nelson, Kansas, Air Supply, and Kevin Costner & Modern West.

Tribute concerts are also a popular attraction among the active senior population of On Top of the World. You may see tribute concerts by lookalikes for Elvis, Kiss, Van Halen, and many more.

The Circle Square Commons is open not just to OTOW residents, but the general public as well. They have weekly live entertainment, markets, art and craft shows, and more.

The map above is On Top of the World Communities. If you click on the image of the map you will be taken to a PDF map than can be zoomed in and out for a closer look at the community layout.

There is a large shopping center anchored by a Publix at one of the main entrances to On Top of the World. The center has a nice collection of restaurants and shops popular with the locals.

Sidney Colen realized that most retirees have spent their lives doing something they were good at. He thought it was a shame they just retired and stopped working.

He wanted them to be able to share their knowledge with younger people, stay engaged, and be mentors to others.

Having traveled all over the state for many years, I have never seen anything to match the Master the Possibilities program at On Top of the World.

You can learn all about cameras, painting, language, legal, economics, creative writing, local and national politics, history...the list is endless.

They offer as many as 900 classes each semester attended by more than 25,000 students.

I have first hand experience as a "teacher" in some cases and as a "student" in others. Both were very rewarding to me.

The developer of On Top of the World, Colen Built Development, took their expertise of master planned 55+ communities and created an all-ages single family master planned community.

Then new community, maned Calesa Township, is located just north of On Top of the World and began in 2020. Its name is Calesa Township. It will eventually have 5,000 homes on about 1,500 acres.

It has a tuition free K-8 public charter school recently opened in 2022, and is home to the new Florida Aquatics Swimming and Training aquatic center, FAST, with indoor and outdoor pools.

Sholom Park is located near the north side of On Top of the World at 7110 SW 80th Avenue. It was inspired by Sidney and Ina Colen, developers of On Top of the World.

The Colens wanted to create a quiet park which people could visit to enjoy some natural peace and quiet in a busy world.

It is a private park the opened in 2004 that focuses on native Florida plants that need little maintenance.

The native vegetation is punctuated by many flowers, perennials, annuals, and meadows, and woods. There are paved walkways that provide an easy way to explore the park.

The park is also a popular wedding venue and quiet space for other community activities.

Two weightlifting fanatics have been flying the flag for their local gym at tournaments across the world.

Craig Candler (36) and Paul Carter (46) are both members at Royals Gym in Holbeach, which is owned by Sam Fowler.

Having both joined the gym when it first opened in August 2018, their hard work and dedication has now seen them travel the world to take part in prestigious strongman and powerlifting competitions.

Mr Candler has competed twice at the official world Strongman Games, while Mr Carter was crowned his age category’s second-best in the world at November’s powerlifting championships.

The latter’s achievement is made all the more impressive by the fact that he only took up the sport in 2020.

“I’ve always lifted weights amongst other things, but as I got better at it I thought I’d try a competition,” he said.

“I did a competition two years ago, got bitten by the bug and a guy at another gym said I really take it up with the numbers I had.

“It went from there really, and obviously Sam has been a big help. He’s pushed me, and without him I wouldn’t have done it.

“It’s amazing. He’s such a good boss. I’ve seen a lot of gyms all over the country but this one is just brilliant. It’s for anybody.

“Everybody is friendly, there are no egos here and we push each other. You can’t find a better one.”

Mr Carter, who lives in Holbeach, has already qualified for the British championships in 2022 - and he faces a qualifier for the European equivalent in February.

“To be fair, the numbers I’m training at just now will qualify. So I’m pretty confident of that,” he added.

“At my last meet I benched 160kg, and my target is to go for the British record in my category - which is 176kg. So that’s what I’m working towards.”

Top Stories on Spalding Today

Meanwhile, Mr Candler travelled to Florida in November in a bid to be crowned the world’s strongest man - and he was happy with his performance.

“It was a lot better than what I did last time,” he said, with his previous appearance coming in 2019.

“I got an illness when I was over there the first time, and couldn’t eat or drink so I struggled in the events.

“This time I managed to do them all. I’ll hopefully make the top ten next year - that will be the aim.”

He added that he owes at lot to Royals Gym, where he has put in the work that seen him lift a 450kg weight at his most recent event.

“Before Royals I was at another gym in Holbeach but they didn’t have too much strongman equipment,” he said.

“Since moving to Royals, they’ve helped me out and bought a lot of the equipment I need. So I can train heavier and be more prepared.”

Mr Carter recently began hosting fortnightly seminars at Royals Gym, where he teaches about weightlifting for free. Contact Royals to book a session now.