Cattle call

It will be a return to yesteryear on Saturday, Feb. 18, as Ocala once again sees a herd of cattle driven down its streets.
Beginning at 10 a.m., some 35 head of cattle will be driven from the 800 block of Southeast Osceola Avenue to the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, 2200 N.E. Jacksonville Road.   
About 15 professional cowboys, led by Southeastern Pro Rodeo representative Ruben Lamb, will be participating.
City Councilman Daniel Owen, who has helped organize the event, said he envisions the cattle drive being an annual event to coincide with the Southeastern Youth Fair and Florida High School Rodeo. “In the 1940s and early 1950s this was a tradition in our community and we are hoping to re-establish it,” Owen said.
The event will require rolling road closures, including East Silver Springs Boulevard, Northeast 14th Street and Jacksonville Road. None of the road closures will last for more than five minutes.
The best viewing locations, in addition to the livestock pavilion, will be between Southeast 5th Street and State Road 40 on Osceola Avenue and on the Watula Avenue side of Tuscawilla Park. The drive is not expected to last for more than an hour.