FORT McCOY — Marion County Sheriff's Office detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding a burned body found in a torched vehicle in a remote section of northeast Marion County.

A Sheriff's Office report notes that Deputy Cody Austin Fenton was called to the 2000 block of Northeast 231st Avenue in Fort McCoy shortly after 10 a.m. on Oct. 12 in reference to a suspicious vehicle.

Fenton had to walk approximately a half-mile from the intersection of North Forest Road and Northeast 231st Street to get to the scene. When Fenton arrived, there was a vehicle that was severely damaged by fire, and a body was found inside, according to the report.

Law enforcement officials declined to identify the type of vehicle, if they've made contact with the vehicle's owner or any details about the body.

Officials did say that the vehicle is in their possession, and that the badly burned body is with the Medical Examiner's Office.

Authorities said the death is suspicious, and that they're trying to find any evidence to piece together what happened.

U.S. Forest Service

Officials said the call came from the U.S. Forest Service.

Nikki Maxwell, a U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman, said in an email message to the Star-Banner that around 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 7, their dispatch center received a call from a forest service employee who saw a small fire in the Fort McCoy area.

Maxwell said a helicopter was dispatched to the area. A half-hour later, the helicopter crew completed their evaluation of the potential danger. Forest service firefighters were called and they put out the fire.

By 5:30 p.m., most of the fire was extinguished and categorized as 90 percent contained, meaning no flames and diminished smoke, according to the spokeswoman.

Maxwell said five days later, the fire service dispatch center received a call about a burnt vehicle and officials realized it was the same site as the Oct. 7 fire.

"Firefighters confirmed the vehicle fire remained extinguished, yet still had some lingering smoke omitting from the scene," Maxwell said.

According to the email, "the perimeter of the fire containment area was approximately 1-2 acres."

Maxwell said firefighters on the scene of the initial fire on Oct. 7 "were focused on controlling and extinguishing the fire, and reported not being able to see (anything or anyone) inside the vehicle due to the flames and smoke."

"There are no reports of USFS firefighters or other personnel touching or opening the vehicle due to the intense heat of the fire," she said.

The spokeswoman added that "USFS law enforcement personnel are coordinating the fire investigation with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office."

Anyone with information about the incident can call the Sheriff's Office at 352-732-9111, Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP or visit www.crimestoppers.com.

— Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com or @almillerosb.

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has faced a lot of backlash over missing mail and delivery delays recently, but sometimes certain situations are out of the agency's control. In just the past few months alone, the Postal Service has been forced to close post offices and curb deliveries in certain places for issues like snow storms and tornados. And now, postal officials are adjusting operations in other areas as well. Read on to find out where exactly the USPS is currently suspending services.

A number of different factors could potentially prevent the Postal Service from conducting its normal operations. But when disruptions do arise, the agency works to keep customers informed through its Service Alerts website. This online tool provides "current, frequently-updated information about whether mail is being delivered to your neighborhood or if your local Post Office is open," the USPS explains.

One of the agency's most recent alerts warned that customers in Florida are dealing with a new service disruption. On April 7, the USPS announced that it has suspended retail window operations at the Fort McCoy Post Office in Florida. But a few days earlier, the agency also suspended operations at a facility in another state. The Wynne Post Office in Arkansas has just been closed as well, according to a local news release from April 3.

The USPS is responsible for maintaining mail services in a safe manner and will often temporarily close facilities when this is not possible. In fact, "safety concerns" are contributing to the new partial closure of a Florida facility. "In an abundance of caution, and to ensure the safety of both postal customers and employees, the Postal Service is temporarily suspending retail operations at the Fort McCoy Post Office," the agency said in a separate local press release.

When Best Life reached out to the USPS about this closure, a spokesperson declined to elaborate on what exact safety concerns are impacting the Fort McCoy facility.

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Safety is also playing a part in the recent Arkansas postal suspension. The USPS said it has suspended all operations at the Wynne Post Office "due to power outages from the recent tornado." The National Weather Service (NWS) reported that the town of Wynne—which is located about 90 miles northeast of Little Rock—was "ravaged" by a EF-3 tornado on March 31, according to local news outlet KAIT. Meteorologists for the NWS said the tornado had a maximum width of 1,600 yards and peak winds of 150 miles per hour.

Best Life has reached out to the Postal Service to get more information on this closure, and we will update this story with their response. "We apologize for any inconvenience customers may experience, but the safety of both customers and employees is our highest priority," the USPS said in its news release.

Customers could be dealing with these disruptions for the foreseeable future. The USPS said that people can still pick up their P.O. Box mail at the back door of the Fort McCoy Post Office, but retail operations will be suspended at the facility "until further notice." During this suspension, Fort McCoy customers can obtain retail services at either the nearby Orange Springs Post Office or Citra Post Office. "The Postal Service will provide additional information when normal operations resume," the agency said in its news release.

As for the Wynne Post Office, the USPS has offered no information on how long this facility is expected to be closed. But the agency said residents can still pick up their mail in the lobby of this post office at certain times during the suspension. "Residents are reminded to bring proper photo identification for mail and package pickups," the Postal Service added in its news release.

A new food truck specializing in American and Mexican cuisine will celebrate its grand opening in Marion County next week.

Arlene’s Kitchen will host a grand opening celebration for its new food truck on Tuesday, September 12 and Saturday, September 16 at two locations in Marion County: 1440 NE 147th Street in Fort McCoy and 300 SE 8th Street in Ocala.

Owned and operated by Arlene Cline, the food truck features an extensive menu of American and Mexican options, including made-to-order tostadas, tacos, cheeseburgers, hotdogs, and wings, among others.

Breakfast options include breakfast sandwiches or biscuits of the day, breakfast tacos, grits, and oatmeal.

For lunch, in addition to the classics, the food truck also serves up shrimp and grits, fish sandwiches, Birria tacos, and Mexican hot dogs.

“We are excited to bring Fort McCoy delicious, homemade food made with lots of love. Get ready for the best Mexican-American food,” reads a statement from the organization posted to social media.

Arlene’s Kitchen is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. It is open Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., operating at 300 Southeast 8th Street in Ocala. It is also open on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The business joins several others in the food industry that have opened their doors in recent weeks.

That includes J Marie Brands, a local cheesecake shop that celebrated the grand opening of its first brick-and-mortar location in Ocala over the weekend.

The Flame Indian Kitchen also opened its doors this past weekend near the intersection of I-75 and Hwy 200.

This week, the District Bar & Kitchen will host a grand opening celebration, capping off its multi-month soft opening which began earlier this summer.

This summer has also seen openings of Crave BBQ and Hot Dogs, Big Lee’s BBQ, Sweet ‘N Savory Eats, Morelli’s Pizza and Subs, Ola Drive-Thru Coffee, Slice, and Fat Boys BBQ.

For more information on the new Mexican-American food truck or its menu, visit Arlene’s Kitchen online.

A 29-year-old Fort McCoy woman with several prior theft convictions was arrested by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office after a store accused her of stealing over $500 worth of lingerie.

On Sunday, November 20, an MCSO deputy responded to Wild Things Lingerie and Adult Novelty Store located at 5340 E Silver Springs Boulevard in reference to a theft. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with an employee who advised that a woman with red hair and a black jacket had stolen multiple items from the store.

According to the employee, shortly after 5:05 p.m., the theft suspect had entered the store, picked up a basket, and began walking around the store. After selecting multiple items, the suspect walked into a corner behind a clothing rack for several minutes and emerged with an empty basket.

As the suspect walked out of the store, the employee advised that the suspect’s jacket was “zipped all the way closed.” After the suspect left the store, the employee stated that she approached the area where the suspect had been observed, and 10 empty hangers were found. The employee stated that she had walked through the store several times throughout the day and all the hangers were “full.”

The employee reviewed video surveillance and determined that 10 pieces of lingerie had been stolen, along with a pair of magnetic nipple clamps. The MCSO report indicated that the approximate value of the stolen items was $530.

The deputy reviewed the store’s surveillance footage and was able to identify the suspect as Kaylee Marie Wigglesworth. According to the MCSO report, the female suspect had tattoos that matched Wigglesworth’s previous booking photos.

A computer search of Wigglesworth revealed that she was previously convicted of petit theft in Marion County on May 2, 2018, and she had another conviction for the same offense on January 3, 2019.

On Sunday, November 27, the deputy located Wigglesworth near the 5200 block of E Silver Springs Boulevard. According to the MCSO report, Wigglesworth was walking down the road, and the deputy made contact with her and inquired about the theft.

Wigglesworth initially advised that she did not take anything from the store, but she later admitted to taking one piece of clothing, according to the MCSO report. She was carrying a backpack, which was searched by the deputy.

Inside the backpack, the deputy located four pairs of panties and bras, which matched the brands carried by Wild Things Lingerie and Adult Novelty Store. The deputy also located the stolen nipple clamps, according to the MCSO report.

After being read her Miranda rights, Wigglesworth claimed that she only took one item from the store, and that item was not currently in her possession. She also claimed that the items found inside her backpack were not stolen from the store.

Wigglesworth was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail. On the way to the jail, the deputy noted in the MCSO report that there was the sound of a “glass pipe striking the bare metal under the back seat.”

Once at the jail, the deputy searched the back of the patrol vehicle and found a syringe on the back seat. Several pieces of tin foil were stuffed between the seat cushions and a glass pipe was found underneath the back seat, which contained residue that later field-tested positive for methamphetamine. Wigglesworth denied that the paraphernalia belonged to her, according to the MCSO report.

The deputy noted in the report that Wigglesworth’s purse was searched at the jail, and a small baggie containing a gray powdery substance was located inside. This substance field-tested positive for the presence of heroin.

Wigglesworth is currently being held at Marion County Jail on $5,000 bond and she is facing felony charges for second degree petit theft (third or subsequent offense) and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, along with a misdemeanor charge for possession of drug paraphernalia.

A court date has been scheduled on Tuesday, December 27 at 9 a.m., according to jail records.

A 69-year-old Fort McCoy man is facing felony battery and assault charges after he was accused of striking an elderly man with a walking stick and threatening to shoot him with a pistol.

On Monday, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a local residence in reference to a domestic disturbance. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with the elderly male victim who advised that he had come home with groceries when he noticed that his medication was missing, according to the MCSO report.

The victim stated that he accused a man, identified as Dennis Jay Balcom, of stealing the medication, and an argument ensued inside the residence. According to the victim, he then walked out of the home, and Balcom followed him with a walking stick.

Moments later, the victim advised that Balcom struck him on the arm with the walking stick. The victim told the deputy that he was able to grab the walking stick from Balcom, and he struck Balcom with it to “get him to stop,” according to the MCSO report.

According to the victim’s statement in the report, Balcom entered the residence and returned with a gun, which he pointed at the victim. Balcom then allegedly threatened to kill the victim and stated, “I will blow your head off.”

In the report, the deputy noted that the victim had a red scratch on his right arm, and it was bleeding.

The deputy made contact with Balcom. After being read his Miranda rights, Balcom stated that the victim “always accuses him” of stealing medication. Balcom told the deputy that an argument with the victim ensued, and Balcom admitted that he followed the victim outside of the home and swung the walking stick at him, according to the MCSO report.

Balcom advised that the victim then took the walking stick and broke it in half, and Balcom added that his head was struck by “something” in the process. The deputy noted in the report that there was a cut on top of Balcom’s head, but he refused medical treatment.

During the post-Miranda interview, Balcom admitted that he went back into the home and grabbed his Glock 17 pistol. He further admitted that he pointed the firearm at the victim in an attempt to “defuse the situation,” according to the MCSO report.

Balcom was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held on $6,000 bond. He is facing felony charges for battery on a person 65 years of age or older and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill.

A court date has been scheduled at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, October 17, according to jail records.