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ALACHUA ‒ Dirty cars may soon be harder to find in Alachua as Whistle Express Car Wash has officially opened its doors. The Charlotte-based company has over 100 locations in nine states and the newest location is one of two opening in Alachua County this month.

Alachua’s location opened with an official grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony on Jan. 5. Located at 16093 N.W. 163^rd Lane in Alachua, the car wash fronts U.S. Highway 441.

The event featured free car washes, giveaways, memberships and interview opportunities. Joining company officials on site were members of the Alachua City Commission and the Alachua Chamber of Commerce. Individuals helping cut the ribbon were Alachua Mayor Gib Coerper, City Commissioners Shirley Green Brown and Ed Potts. Representing the Alachua Chamber was incoming president-elect Adam Boukari.

“There’s just something about driving around in a clean car that makes everyone feel on top of the world,” said Chris Auter, regional director of operations for Whistle Express. “We believe everyone deserves those small wins, and our team is ready to deliver that feeling of victory to Alachua drivers.”

Car washes take just under three minutes and provide customers with free high-powered vacuums, air nozzles, spray cleaners, towels, and floor mat stations. The car wash reclaims up to 85 percent of water used during a wash and uses an average of 91 percent less water than a standard at-home wash. Hours are Monday through Sunday 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Below are the updated City of Gainesville traffic impacts scheduled for Feb. 2-9, 2024. 

New Notices

 NE Fourth Street: Northeast Fourth Street is closed to thru traffic between Northeast Fifth Avenue and Northeast Fourth Avenue until Wednesday, Feb. 7.

SW 20th Avenue: The eastbound right turn lane on Southwest 20th Avenue to Southwest 52nd Street will be closed between Feb. 5-26.

Continuing Notices 

 Southeast First Ave.: Southeast First Avenue (eastbound only) will be closed between South Main Street and Southeast First Street until April 1, 2024.

 SE Fifth Ave.: Southeast Fifth Avenue will be closed with detours between Southeast Third Street and Southeast Sixth Terrace until Feb. 23, 2024.

 NW 12th Drive: Northwest 12th Drive from Northwest Fifth Avenue to Northwest Third Avenue is currently closed northbound, but is open as a one-way street heading southbound. This is expected to end March 1.

SW 52nd Street: There is a single-lane closure on Southwest 52nd Street between the front entrance of Cabana Beach and Southwest 20th Avenue for drainage pipe installation until Feb. 11. Flaggers will be present to assist in traffic control.

Updated - Clark Butler Blvd. area: The new traffic signals at Clark Butler, Southwest 62nd Boulevard, Southwest 43rd Street are turned on (in flashing mode). The traffic is guided through the intersection with traffic control devices.

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NEWBERRY ‒ The cities of Newberry and Archer are officially banding together for wastewater treatment and disposal services. Both municipalities have signed onto an interlocal agreement to move forward with the effort. The Newberry City Commission voted unanimously to approve the interlocal agreement on Jan. 22 at its City Commission meeting and the City of Archer Commission previously unanimously approved the agreement on Jan. 8.

Newberry City Manager Mike New characterized the agreement as historic. He further said, “The City of Archer has sought an opportunity to develop a central wastewater system for its community for several decades. With roughly 500 - 600 potential customers, the cost to provide wastewater treatment service for residents was a major obstacle.

“The cost to retrofit neighborhoods with wastewater collection facilities in existing roadways was cost prohibitive, making it difficult to provide wastewater treatment services at a reasonable cost to their citizens.”

Newberry’s centralized wastewater treatment system began in the 1970s. The original site has expanded and currently totals 200 acres for the wastewater treatment facility, the spray field for effluent disposal and the biosolids land application area.

While Newberry’s operating permit is typically renewed every five years, the most recent permit renewal requires the Newberry treatment facility to comply with updated, more stringent state regulations related to nutrient reduction and biosolids disposal by mid-2026. The new permit also requires Newberry to initiate the planning, design and construction of treatment facilities for increased volumes of wastewater produced as a result of growth.

In 2021 Newberry sought partners for a regional wastewater treatment facility, and although staff identified 20 potential partners, Archer expressed the highest interest in the project.

The interlocal agreement provides that Newberry will construct a wastewater treatment facility on its property in Newberry with capacity sufficient for both Newberry and Archer. The treatment facility will reduce pollutants in the wastewater to levels that comply with the State’s requirements.

Specifics of the agreement are:

• Newberry will provide 0.175 mgd of capacity (“Phase 1 Allocated Capacity”) in its wastewater treatment facility for Archer.
• Archer will pay a pro-rata share of the construction costs for the wastewater treatment facility as an Initial Capital Contribution.
• Archer will construct a wastewater collection system and convey wastewater to Newberry’s wastewater collection system on Southwest 30^th
• Newberry will convey the wastewater to its treatment facility for treatment and disposal.
• Each city’s service territory is defined as their corporate limits.
• Archer and Newberry agree to comply with State law and the respective wastewater operating permits related to wastewater treatment facilities.
• Archer agrees that its wastewater will comply with Newberry’s ordinances for wastewater, including regulation of industrial discharges and regualtion of fats, oils, and greases from its customers.
• Archer’s wasatwater will be metered to determine the quanity of wasewater that is being conveyed to Newberry on a monthly basis.
• Archer will not hydraulically overload Newberry’s wasteater system.
• Archer will provide odor control at its point of discharge into Newberry’s wastewater system, if warranted.
• Archer will pay 70 percent of the current Newberry residential wastewater rate, which is understood to change from time to time.
• Newberry is entitled for wastewater recharge credits, if applicable, associated with Archer’s wastewater.
• Newberry and Archer agree to cooperate to obtain funding design and constrution of wastewater treatement facilities.
• Archer will adopt a mandatory connection policy for properties in their service territory, thus ensuring adequate funding to operate their wastewater system.

The wastewater expansion project consists of three phases – planning, design and construction. “The planning phase is complete,” said New. “The design is 90 percent complete. Construction is expected to begin in the third or fourth quarter of 2024 and be completed in 2026.”

Construction costs for the new treatment facility are estimated to exceed $50 million.

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GAINESVILLE ‒ Alachua County Public Schools is one of three Florida school districts and one laboratory school selected for the state’s Year-Round School Pilot Program. Under that program, a year-round school year calendar will be put in place at both Metcalfe Elementary and Rawlings Elementary beginning this July and running through the 2028-29 school year.

The Year-Round School Pilot Program was established under a state law passed during the 2023 legislative session. Districts had to apply to participate and will be required to provide data about the results of year-round schooling to the Florida Department of Education, which will then make recommendations to the governor and the Florida Legislature about possible expansion.

In addition to Alachua County Public Schools, Marion County, Brevard County and the PK Yonge Developmental Research School in Gainesville will also be participating.

In its application, the district outlined its goals for the program, including the improvement of student academic performance, behavior and attendance. Among the benefits highlighted are a reduction of the learning loss that often happens over the long summer vacation, more opportunities for ongoing academic support and targeted intervention, continuity in programs and structure and stronger bonds between students and staff.

“As a former teacher and principal, I saw so many students who lost a lot of ground academically over the summer,” said Superintendent Shane Andrew. “I’m excited about the great potential this program has to provide the students at Metcalfe and Rawlings with the consistent support they need to keep learning throughout the year.”

Now that it has the state’s approval, the district is working on the details, including a calendar for both schools. Students would still attend school for 180 days each school year, but under the program, the school year would begin in July and the summer break would be much shorter. Every effort will be made to align the new calendars with existing breaks, such as Thanksgiving. The district is also working on plans to adjust transportation, school meals, after school programs and other schedules.

In anticipation of applying and being selected for the year-round pilot program, principals at both Metcalfe and Rawlings have already discussed the option with members of their school community. Rawlings Elementary principal Dr. Stella Arduser has spoken with her faculty and School Advisory Council, which includes parents. She says she recognizes that a change to the school-year calendar will require adjustments, but that it could be a game-changer for the students.

“This is a possibility that hasn’t been tapped into, and maybe this is what we’ve needed all along,” she said. “Some of our students already come to summer school, so why not make year-round instruction part of the educational experience and fabric here at Rawlings Elementary School?”

Metcalfe Elementary principal Christiana Robbins has also discussed the program with her staff and some of her parents.

“They’re definitely open to the potential benefits, but of course they’re also interested in hearing the details,” she said. “We want to make a long-lasting impact on our students’ achievement, and this could be the answer that everyone is looking for.”

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ALACHUA – An Alachua resident was arrested on Jan. 18, and is facing charges of misdemeanor animal cruelty and felony animal cruelty stemming from a December incident. On Dec. 12, 2023, officers from the Alachua Police Department responded to Raymond Leon Merricks Jr.'s residence after receiving a call for assistance from the Alachua County Animal Resources (ACAS) with an investigation. The ACAS received a call that Merricks's pit bull had been running loose within the neighborhood, killed the neighbor's chickens and was severely malnourished. The pit bull was captured by the ACAS.

While attempting contact at Merricks' residence, another pit bull was located in the front yard chained to a tree stump and surrounded by animal feces. The pit bull was suffering from hair loss and covered in flees. Officers and ACAS investigators also located two makeshift confinements in the rear of the residence. One confinement contained another pit bull which was also severely malnourished.

In the second confinement, they located a deceased pit bull that was severely malnourished and chained inside the makeshift kennel. Inside both confinements, the flooring was covered in trash and animal feces and neither animal had proper food or water. Once the animals were removed from the confinements it was discovered that both dogs were covered in feces and infested with fleas and one of the dogs had missing teeth and sores on its skin.

According to APD, “Although there was no food in any of the dog bowls, the Defendant had a large unopened bag of dog food in the garage.”

On Dec. 17, 2023, an arrest warrant for Merricks was obtained. On Jan. 18, 2024, Merricks showed in a court hearing for custody over the animals and was arrested for two counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty and two counts of felony animal cruelty.

Bond was set at $99 for each of the four charges totaling $396. Merricks has since been released from the Alachua County Jail.

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