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GAINESVILLE, Fla. - City of Gainesville officials anticipate severe weather conditions, including temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit during the evening hours of:

  • Thursday, Jan. 9
  • Saturday, Jan. 11
  • Sunday, Jan. 12

 The overnight temperatures on Friday are expected to be over 45 F.

 The anticipated temperatures will lead to the extended activation of the city's Cold Night Shelter (CNS) Program, and it is expected to remain in effect until overnight low temperatures rise above 45 F. The CNS program normally runs from Nov. 1 through March 31.

 St. Francis House and GRACE Marketplace will provide Cold Night Shelter services to people in need of shelter as long as overnight temperatures remain below 45 F. The CNS program providers serve additional persons in need of shelter so that families and individuals desiring shelter will have a warm place to stay. St. Francis House provides temporary shelter that is appropriate for families, women and children. GRACE Marketplace primarily serves individual adults.

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ALACHUA COUNTY - It’s a new year for Alachua County Parks and Open Space with new and continuing programs for children. 

Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center is continuing its popular Homeschool Junior Naturalist Program for grades K-6. Each month, a different topic, hands-on activities, and science-based programming are offered. Students will explore topics like life cycles, habitats, trees and more. These programs are offered the second Wednesday of every month, beginning in February 2025 through April, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.  

Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center is also offering a new program for preschoolers. Preschool Environmental Education Program Series (PEEPS) will be offered on the first Wednesday of each month, starting in February 2025. This is a program for ages 2 to 4. PEEPS encourages outdoor exploration that supports child development and helps children grow independence and confidence while helping them build a relationship with the natural world. This program begins Feb. 5 and runs from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. 

 Both programs cost $4 per Alachua County resident and $5 per nonresident. 

 Another new program, Park Play Pals, is a playgroup tailored for youth with special needs. Park Play Pals will be located at a different playground throughout Alachua County each month. This program is for ages ten and under and requires parental participation. It will occur on the third Wednesday of each month, starting in February, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. The first program will occur at Veterans Memorial Playground on Feb. 19, 2025. The second program will occur at Squirrel Ridge Park on March 19, 2025. The third program will occur on April 16, 2025, at Cynthia Moore Chestnut Park. This is a free program, but participants are encouraged to register online using the link below. 

Register for the programs online. 

 For more information, contact Cuscowilla Manager Jamie Bass at 352-574-2372 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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ALACHUA ‒ The holiday spirit was in full swing on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, as sirens and flashing lights from the Alachua Police Department (APD) accompanied a busload of excited children to the entrance of the Gainesville Walmart on U.S. Highway 441. But the kids weren’t in any trouble—far from it. They were participants in the annual “Shop with a Cop” event, a heartwarming holiday tradition designed to ensure a brighter Christmas for families in need.

The event has become a holiday tradition for APD, City of Alachua staff, and volunteers. The festive outing began as children loaded on a school bus to be escorted by squad cars and police SUVs—lights flashing—to the Walmart parking lot. APD reported that children from local schools were treated with the shopping spree armed with a gift card to spend on any items they wished, which for many included gifts for family members.

Inside the store, each child was teamed up with a uniformed officer. Armed with gift lists, shopping carts, and big smiles, they strolled aisle after aisle, picking out toys, clothing, and other holiday essentials. Laughter, high-fives, and excited chatter filled the air. And as children, fortified with their newfound purchasing power, browsed the store aisles, their joy was evident in their smiling faces. Today, they went beyond simply peeking at displays; they could finally explore the aisles and bring home that perfect gift.

For many of the participating students, the gifts they purchased weren’t just for themselves. Some were eager to buy items for siblings, parents, or grandparents.

The event was made possible through donations from local businesses and private sponsors. In a season often filled with both warmth and financial stress, “Shop with a Cop” aims to lighten the load for families who could use extra help.

“Shop with a Cop” will undoubtedly be a day to remember in the lives of the children who had the opportunity to not only make their Christmas a happy one, but also a joyous occasion for their families as well. And for the officers, it’s a poignant reminder of the impact they can make, one holiday wish at a time.

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ALACHUA – Excitement is building as the community prepares for the 2025 Regional Robotics Championship, slated to take place Jan. 17-18, 2025, at the Legacy Multipurpose Facility in Alachua.

This thrilling event, hosted by the local Swampbots Robotics team, promises to bring together over 450 talented young competitors in a dynamic showcase of robot games, innovation projects, engineering presentations, and core values challenges.

The championship is more than a competition—it's a celebration of creativity, problem-solving, and the potential of the next generation of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) leaders. Each aspect of the event is designed to inspire students to innovate, collaborate, and apply their skills in real-world scenarios. From designing robots to presenting engineering solutions, participants are immersed in hands-on learning experiences that spark curiosity and build confidence.

The event celebrates the creativity and ingenuity of future STEM leaders and offers an incredible opportunity for local businesses and organizations to contribute by becoming sponsors.

Sponsorship directly impacts more than 2,000 youth participants and attendees, fostering vital skills in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) while promoting leadership and innovation. Last year’s championship increased a remarkable 400 percent growth in participation, underscoring the enthusiasm for youth robotics.

The Swampbots team has outlined several sponsorship tiers, ensuring visibility and engagement for supporters. Event Sponsor starts at $15,000. Enjoy premier logo placement, mentions and award presentation opportunities. Additional tiers starting at $2,500 include escalating levels of perks and recognition, making a greater number of sponsorship options available to businesses and organizations.

By supporting the Regional Robotics Championship, sponsors help shape the future of STEM in the community, creating an unforgettable experience for these young innovators.

For more details on sponsorship opportunities, contact Jason at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 352-231-2424

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ A devastating house fire on Sunday morning, Dec. 29, 2024, has claimed the life of a female victim and displaced a frightened dog. The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Combined Communications Center began receiving multiple 911 calls at 9:53 a.m., reporting a fire near Northwest 183rd Road and Northwest 238th Street in High Springs.

Responding police officers arrived on the scene by 9:56 a.m., encountering substantial black smoke billowing from the residence. Reports en route indicated that a person and a dog were trapped inside the structure. Firefighters arrived shortly thereafter and launched an aggressive effort to contain the blaze to the right side of the home.

At 10:14 a.m., firefighters located the dog, which was alive but visibly frightened. Tragically, at 10:22 a.m., they discovered a deceased female victim near the fire's origin. The fire was fully extinguished by 10:28 a.m.

The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office, working in conjunction with the High Springs Police Department, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Alachua County Fire Marshal, has launched an investigation to determine the fire's cause. Authorities are also examining the circumstances surrounding the victim's death, which is standard procedure in such incidents. As of now, the deceased individual has not been positively identified.

High Springs officials expressed gratitude to the Alachua County Fire Rescue, Newberry Fire Department, Alachua Police Department, and Alachua County Sheriff’s Office for their coordinated efforts during the emergency.

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ALACHUA ‒ The Alachua Police Department is appealing to the public for assistance in identifying a suspect involved in an armed robbery that occurred late Wednesday night, Dec. 18, 2024, at the Marathon Gas Station located at U.S. Highway 441 and Northwest 43rd Street.

At approximately 10:50 p.m., an unidentified black male entered the gas station and brandished a firearm, confronting the store clerk. The clerk escaped the building through the back door, but the suspect chased after him, stopping him by placing the firearm to the clerk’s back. The suspect forced the clerk to return to the store, where he demanded money from the register and lottery tickets.

The situation escalated when the clerk managed to activate a silent panic alarm. However, the suspect noticed the action and fled the scene, heading toward a roadway behind the gas station. Responding officers, assisted by a K-9 unit, discovered fresh tire tracks at the location, indicating that the suspect likely escaped in an unknown vehicle.

The suspect is described as a light-skinned black male, approximately 6 feet tall, with a slender build. At the time of the robbery, he was wearing a black Reebok sweater with white writing, light-colored soiled shoes, and a face mask resembling a medical covering.

Law enforcement is urging anyone with information about the incident or the suspect's identity to come forward. The Alachua Police Department can be reached at 386-462-1396. Alternatively, tips can be submitted anonymously through Alachua County Crime Stoppers at 352-372-7867, their website, or their mobile app.

Anonymous online tips can also be submitted via the department's website at https://loom.ly/7uR9tR4.

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GAINESVILLE — UF Health officials and community leaders gathered Wednesday to break ground for the UF Health Orthopaedic Surgical Center, a more than 24,000-square-foot medical facility that will support outpatient services for total joint replacements and other orthopaedic procedures while expanding access to patients in Alachua County and Northeast Florida.

“We reflect anew on our longstanding commitment to health, hope, and healing,” said Stephen J. Motew, M.D., M.H.A., FACS, president and system CEO of the UF Health clinical enterprise. “We’ve collectively embraced this since our program in orthopaedic surgery and sports medicine began back in 1960. Today, we celebrate a new chapter in our journey.”

The UF Health Orthopaedic Surgical Center will incorporate advanced technology, such as a new surgical robot called the da Vinci 5, to perform more precise, less invasive procedures. UF Health will be the first health system in the Southeast to use the da Vinci 5 for this sort of surgical support.

“The UF Health Orthopaedic Surgical Center demonstrates our commitment to provide a world-class environment of healing for our patients and families,” said Traci d’Auguste, chief operating officer for UF Health Shands.

The location will house eight operating rooms designed specifically for orthopaedic surgery. UF Health practitioners at the center will use the most advanced surgical technology to help patients have the best possible experience.

“This new facility will allow us to perform surgeries that traditionally have required a trip to the hospital and an overnight stay,” said C. Parker Gibbs Jr., M.D., chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine at the UF College of Medicine. “We will manage the outcomes of injuries sustained by weekend warriors, like all of us, as well as Florida Gators athletes.”

Next month, the UF Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Institute, situated adjacent to the new surgical center, will mark its 20th anniversary. OSMI currently cares for more than 100,000 patients annually.

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GAINESVILLE - The University of Florida, in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other agencies, encourages the public to report sightings of the invasive Asian swamp eel, detected in Florida’s waterways over two decades ago.

Scientifically known as Monopterus albus, the Asian swamp eel is a unique, air-breathing fish native to Southeast Asia, thriving in muddy, stagnant waters. First detected in Florida in 1997, the species has established in numerous parts of the country, including Hawaii and Georgia. There is increased concern about their population growth throughout the southeast, particularly Florida.

People in Florida’s waterways are urged to report through the USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species website, EDDMapS website or App or FWC’s 888-Ive-Got-1 hotline.

Scientists are concerned about the potential for invasion in new waterways and the detrimental effects it could have on Florida’s biodiversity. Additionally, there are concerns about unknown impacts on freshwater systems, which support recreational and commercial fishing industries.

“Florida’s aquatic habitats are vital to our ecosystem and economy, and invasive species like the swamp eel can cause irreversible damage to our biodiversity,” said Paul Evans, research coordinator for the UF/IFAS Invasion Science Research Institute (ISRI). “Like any invasive species their function as a novel predator is what is most harmful to our native species.”

Here is what scientists know about the Asian swamp eel:

  • Known for its ability to thrive in a variety of aquatic environments, swamp eels are highly adaptable and capable of surviving in a variety of environments, from slow-moving streams to marshes and wetlands.
  • They are opportunistic feeders, consuming a wide range of prey, including small fish, amphibians and invertebrates.
  • The species has the potential to disrupt food webs and harm native biodiversity, leading to ecological shifts in affected areas.
  • Swamp eels can reproduce prolifically, making it difficult to control their population once they become established.
  • Commonly sold as bait which can lead to unintentional baits, and is released as a part of a cultural practices

“Public involvement is critical in identifying and managing the spread of swamp eels. There is so much more we need to learn and all that starts with identifying them and raising awareness,” said Evans.

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ALACHUA ‒ In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s destructive landfall, Waste Pro, Fishin’ For Vision, and other organizations came together to deliver essential aid and comfort to the residents of Steinhatchee. The community support effort, spearheaded by the Gainesville-based nonprofit Fishin’ For Vision, provided residents with a trailer full of supplies, as well as meals prepared by Cowboyz Catering.

Waste Pro’s Regional Government Relations Directors, Loyd Childree and Dayna Williams, along with Fanning Springs Division Manager Trip Lancaster, were on-site to assist with the relief effort, which included distributing toiletries, towels, cleaning supplies, baby items, and clothing. Hundreds of residents gathered to receive supplies and enjoy hot meals, with Cowboyz Catering providing breakfast and lunch for over 300 people.

Dayna Williams, Waste Pro’s Director of Government Relations for North Central Florida, expressed the company’s commitment to supporting the community. “This is what we do at Waste Pro; we care for our communities,” she said. “Despite the devastation to several of our facilities and some of our team members suffering loss, we were determined to get out into the community and lend a hand where we could. It’s a privilege to give these folks a warm meal and show we care.”

Hurricane Helene, which made landfall near Perry, Florida, on Sept. 26, 2024, struck the Big Bend region with sustained winds reaching 140 mph. The storm's impact was far-reaching, causing severe flooding and tornado outbreaks across western North Carolina, East Tennessee, and southwestern Virginia. As of Oct. 12, the death toll had reached 252, with many survivors left to rebuild their lives in the storm's aftermath.

Steinhatchee was among the hardest-hit areas, with homes and businesses left in ruins and many still without power and water. The town’s remote location adds challenges to relief efforts, as neighboring communities are miles away and access is limited.

Fishin’ For Vision, founded by Dylan Klein at age 15, played a vital role in the relief effort. Diagnosed with Cone dystrophy—a currently incurable condition that impacts vision—Dylan Klein chose to turn his experience into a mission to help others. Through Fishin’ For Vision, he and his family have worked to support the Florida Kidsight Foundation, which provides scholarships and assistance to children with vision needs.

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ALACHUA ‒ With the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, flooding has made several Florida rivers unsafe for normal navigation, necessitating restrictions like Idle Speed/No Wake zones and temporary closures. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is monitoring the situation.

The agency says that the public's cooperation with safety guidelines is crucial for minimizing risks. High river levels not only increase the risk of swift currents but can also conceal various underwater hazards. Submerged debris, changes to river channels, and altered landscapes are among the dangers that boaters might encounter during floods. The FWC advises extreme caution and recommends that individuals avoid unnecessary travel on these affected waterways until conditions improve.

FWC is alerting the public about widespread flooding across several rivers in Florida, following the impacts of Hurricane Milton. The affected waterways include the Suwannee/Santa Fe, St. Johns, and Withlacoochee rivers, where rising waters have led to the implementation of various safety measures to ensure public safety. By staying informed and adhering to these measures, boaters can help ensure their safety and that of others during this challenging period.

As flood levels increase, specific areas along these rivers have triggered the enforcement of Idle Speed/No Wake zones. These zones come into effect when water levels, monitored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauges, reach critical points. Boaters within these designated zones are required to reduce their speed to idle, minimizing wakes that could pose additional hazards during these flood conditions.

The establishment of Idle Speed/No Wake zones is critical for protecting both the natural environment and the safety of individuals navigating these waters. Compliance with these restrictions helps reduce the risk of accidents due to submerged obstacles and prevents additional stress on already vulnerable riverbanks and flood-prone areas.

In response to extreme flooding conditions, parts of the Withlacoochee River have been temporarily closed to all vessel traffic. This measure is aimed at ensuring public safety as the river's rising levels have made navigation particularly hazardous. Submerged hazards, swift currents, and floating debris pose significant dangers in these conditions, making travel on these river segments unsafe.

Boaters are strongly advised to avoid these closed sections until water levels subside and conditions return to normal. The FWC emphasizes that this precaution is necessary to prevent accidents and injuries during this period of heightened risk.

The FWC urges all boaters and river users to stay updated on current river conditions, including any changes to restrictions and closures. To access real-time information on Idle Speed/No Wake zones, river closures, and other safety updates, individuals can visit MyFWC.com/Boating. By selecting “Waterway Management” and clicking on the “Alert!” banner at the top of the page, boaters can stay informed about the latest developments.

FWC Boating and Waterways Section Leader Maj. Bill Holcomb stressed the importance of safety during this time: “Safety is our top priority. We are working closely with local officials and monitoring water levels to make adjustments as conditions change. We ask all boaters to respect these temporary restrictions and stay alert to any updates as the situation evolves.”

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STEINHATCHEE, FLA - Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the award of $1,000,000 in funding from the Florida Disaster Fund to the Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida to support the rebuilding of fishing and aquaculture infrastructure damaged by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The funding will go toward the rebuilding of boat slips and docks, the repair of fish houses, impacted aquaculture businesses, and other important infrastructure repairs for Florida’s fishing economy across the Big Bend region.
 

"The Big Bend's fishing industry took a direct hit from hurricanes Debby and Helene, and so did the hardworking Floridians who make their living on the water," said Governor Ron DeSantis. "Today’s investments will help to rebuild critical waterside infrastructure and help get Floridians in the fishing and aquaculture industries back to full operations.”

To unlock additional resources from the federal government, Governor DeSantis’ administration also initiated the process of submitting a federal fisheries disaster declaration to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. This declaration request would provide access to federal funding, subject to appropriation, for offshore, nearshore, and inshore fisheries to rebuild. Governor DeSantis requested a similar federal fisheries disaster declaration following Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Idalia. 

Governor DeSantis has also directed the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to expedite any permits or approvals for businesses impacted on uplands or on the water to ensure the rebuilding of damaged structures is not delayed by bureaucracy.

“Governor DeSantis has a proven track record of helping communities recover quickly and rebuild fully after storms," said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Executive Director Roger Young. “We are grateful for his leadership and support in assisting the fishing industry as it recovers from hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton.”

Additionally, the Governor announced several discounts on fishing and hunting licenses, including lifetime licenses, to get anglers back on the water and provide a boon to the industry that serves them. This includes: 

  • Half-off short-term licenses for Floridians from October 25, 2024, to January 3, 2025, for the annual and five-year multisport licenses for fishing and hunting; and
  • A 50% discount on lifetime sportsman licenses for children up to 17 years of age. 
    • Age 4 or younger - $200 (normally $400)
    • Ages 5 to 12 - $350 (normally $700)
    • Ages 13 to 17 - $500 (normally $1,000)
Additionally, FWC is offering annual salt water and freshwater combo licenses for just $5.

Fishing and Florida are inseparable. Florida leads the nation in the number of saltwater fishing anglers, generating a $9.2 billion impact on the State of Florida’s economy. Additionally, the annual dockside value of commercial fisheries was estimated at $244 million. Today’s announcement will help Florida residents regenerate lost income and rebuild their businesses and infrastructure.

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday that authorities have started criminal proceedings against the owner of the bull terrier found abandoned and tied to a pole on Interstate 75 ahead of Hurricane Milton’s landfall. The rescued dog was safe with a new foster family.

Newly filed court records explain the mystery about how the dog – which became a celebrity on social media after his rescue during the hurricane – ended up on the roadside in Tampa. 

Its owner was identified in court records as Giovanny Aldama Garcia, 23, of Ruskin, just south of Tampa, facing a felony charge of aggravated cruelty to animals. Aldama Garcia, a solar company employee, did not immediately return phone messages.

He was arrested Monday at his rented home in Ruskin and released early Tuesday on a $2,500 bond from the Hillsborough County Jail. Court records said Aldama Garcia showed up at the county animal shelter in Tampa to try to retrieve his dog one day after it was found abandoned along the interstate. 

“We said you'd be held accountable, and you will be held accountable,” DeSantis said.

Investigators said Aldama Garcia had owned the dog, which he called Jumbo, since it was a puppy and had been trying unsuccessfully to get rid of the dog for weeks. “He could not deal with the dog,” the arrest report said. 

The state attorney, Suzy Lopez, said Tuesday that Trooper had touched the hearts of people across Hillsborough County, and she aimed to protect the county’s most vulnerable citizens, including what she called “four-legged friends.”“The fact that somebody could tie a dog to a pole on the interstate as we were facing a Category 5 hurricane is absolutely impossible for me, as a dog owner and dog-lover [to] imagine,” Lopez said.Court records said Aldama Garcia’s mother, Mabel Garcia Gomez, 53, had stopped their car Wednesday on I-75 during their family’s evacuation to Georgia from heavy rain ahead of the raging hurricane, letting the dog out of the vehicle. Aldama Garcia said he last saw the dog in standing water and left it behind.

Meanwhile, the dog – renamed Trooper in honor of the Florida Highway Patrol officer who rescued him – was safely living with a foster family in the Tallahassee area, according to the county’s Humane Society office. It provided a photograph of what appeared to be a happy, panting dog with a rubber toy between its paws.

Trooper’s new foster family, who wasn’t identified, will have the first opportunity to adopt him if it is a good fit, the Humane Society said. The family was learning about Trooper’s preferences and helping him become comfortable and confident, it said.

Investigators said Aldama Garcia saw photos of the abandoned dog on social media and initially wanted it back, then changed his mind after learning the dog was with a foster family in Leon County. 

“After finding out the dog was being fostered, he surrendered the dog due to someone else giving the dog a better life,” the arrest report said.

The highway patrol said Aldama Garcia’s actions put the dog’s safety unnecessarily at risk. It described him as showing no emotion after learning the dog was still alive.

“Due to the circumstances, and the extreme danger and risk of death caused by the defendant to the dog, the defendant's actions caused excessive unnecessary infliction of pain and suffering to the dog,” court records said. “In addition, the defendant stated he never notified anyone that the dog was left behind on (the) interstate during a hurricane evacuation. The defendant continued driving to Georgia to a safe place.”

The highway patrol found the dog tied to a pole in standing water. The agency posted a video on social media showing the black-and-white dog tied in an area where flooding had water almost covering its legs.

“Do NOT do this to your pets please,” the patrol said.

The highway patrol arranged for the dog to be examined by a veterinarian, then transported it to Leon County, where the Humane Society said in his first few days there he was “incredibly stressed and still decompressing.”.
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This story was produced by Fresh Take Florida, a news service of the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications. The reporter can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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We want to thank the Alachua County Today community for strongly supporting the Alachua Main Street Harvest Festival this past Sunday.

There were over 200 vendors with all types of products and a record crowd that was amazing from start to finish.  The vendors do a fantastic job of coming early and setting up for a big day and they were rewarded. 

Our 37th Alachua Main Street festival was a resounding success!

Marilyn Vanover

Alachua Business League

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Small municipalities are currently undergoing numerous changes and financial problems. Elected officials often spearhead projects within their cities, but I do not see much of that taking place in my city of Archer. In most cases we have no oversight, follow up or plans. The lack of these brings about project delays affecting the utilization of grants and other resources in the city.

It is a sad thing to see the newly planned Community Center project for the Holly Hills neighborhood going down the drain and grant funding being returned.

Municipalities are grappling with an influx of grant funds aimed at addressing numerous community projects. As someone who has authored and received numerous grants, I can attest that effective leadership is crucial for fund management. The associated reports alone are intricate. This underscores the importance of well -trained municipal managers and staff, including contingency training.

The city manager should be a proficient communicator, hands-on, and proactive, engaging with the community to address the needs. The city manager assumes a leadership role, ensuring task are completed, while the commissioners act as overseers, bridging the gap between politics and administration and executing the laws.

Citizens and residents in many small towns like Archer often refrain from participating in the political process. Attending meetings become futile when the issue affecting you have already transpired, rendering your input belated.

We all contribute taxes to support our cities and understanding how the funds are spent is crucial.

Roberta C. Lopez

Archer, Florida

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Our small town of High Springs is beloved because its elected leaders have done more things right than wrong over time. Just like with big families, there is rarely unanimous agreement on how issues should be addressed. Issues are not simple, and leaders that let you believe the choices are not hard are fooling you. What usually tells the truth is time.

In the past year, High Springs has received no new grant funding, returned over a million dollars in grants, lost leaders in every major department other than police, while retaining an under qualified finance director. Our mayor and other first-term commissioners have blamed former staff and former elected officials for a range of problems and suddenly the city is portrayed as poor.

For the first time in years, our city is being sued. Current leadership has accepted no responsibility and created a budget, that in the coming year, will repeat many of the mistakes previous commissions had been working for years to fix.

The stage is now set for our community to lose our exceptional Fire Department.  Current commissioners have lowered expectations for what a small-town department can offer.  They have hired leadership with little experience and the slow recovery from the recent storms are an example of what we have lost.

Do you see a pattern?

Luckily, we have two citizens who are willing to step up, accept responsibility, make decisions and guide our growing town to its future.

They have experience in public service; they have training in emergency management, large budgets, and leadership. Sue Weller has felt compelled to return to office because of the intentional mistruths spoken by our mayor.

Ross Ambrose

High Springs Resident

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To fellow High Springs voters:

I have been a resident of High Springs since 1979 with a unique multi view experience of our City's political climate and government.

Back in the 1980s, I worked as a paralegal for the then High Springs City Attorney. Decades later, my husband served on the High Springs Commission and later became City Attorney for High Springs before the City's current legal counsel. I have spent the past 28 years working for a local developer and real estate investor managing both residential apartments and professional commercial properties in the City of High Springs.

Over the decades, I have witnessed Commissions that have operated as a cohesive body following the Charter, working with the City Manager, and conducting City business with thoughtful, well versed and trained leadership. Unfortunately, I have also witnessed Commissions that have been riddled with partisanship, discourse, and lack of training trying to manage staff at City Hall and make decisions outside of the Commission as a whole.

Unfortunately, we are again experiencing this type of local government climate. Our City is in crisis. The turnover rate from the number of employees leaving the City has resulted in great inefficiency in services to our citizens, not to mention the lack of transparency within our government causing many citizens to be uninformed at best or ill-informed at worst.

We need proven, experienced non-partisan leadership, and that is why I am endorsing Sue Weller for Seat #5 for the High Springs City Commission. As many voters know, Sue served on the Commission from 2010 through 2016.

What voters may not know is that Sue has stayed continually engaged in the governance of High Springs. She has served on multiple boards as well as faithfully followed the City Commission meetings live or online. Her depth of knowledge around our Charter and our history regarding planned responsible growth are pluses in a time when there are many gaps in our City's continuity in leadership.

Sue's professionalism and ability to stay neutral while listening to our citizens is refreshing and supportive of the direction we want to take our City.

A vote for Sue Weller provides an opportunity to begin to restore and rebuild the City's reputation and service to our residents; supports a healthy cohesive working environment for City staff; and strongly sends the message that we believe our commissioners should be willing to attend Florida League of Cities training programs for new commissioners as well as continuing education classes for current commissioners.

I personally am grateful that Sue Weller is willing to serve our community again; especially at a time when we so need proven leadership. I love High Springs and I know that we, as voting citizens, can help our City course correct and return to service and civility. Please join me in making sure this opportunity to have Sue Weller back on the Commission is not missed.

Alvalyn Lancaster

High Springs, Florida 32643

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Tim Marden, Alachua County Republican Chairman, seeks to divide us and spew hatred whenever and wherever he can. He recently sent out a letter concerning the upcoming City Commission election in High Springs. Such elections are non-partisan, i.e., the candidates do not list their political affiliations and a candidate’s party affiliation is not listed on the ballot.

Marden tries to create an issue about Precinct 60 voting place being moved from the 1st Methodist Church to the newly named and remodeled Douglas Community Center. He incorrectly states that Ross Ambrose “quietly initiated” such polling change “earlier this year.”

Mr. Ambrose originally brought this proposed change about four years ago. Polling places are supposed to be in the precinct that they represent. The church is not in Precinct 60. The Douglas Community Center is. Ms. Barton [Alachua County Supervisor of Elections], after the recent renovation of the Center, determined that it is now “a suitable location” in Precinct 60, and moved the polling place to the Center.

Marden questions the “last minute” change, but the renovation was finished only about a month ago and the request to move the polling place from the church originated about four years ago. But don’t let facts get in the way if Marden wants to spew hatred.

He writes that Barton has made two changes that directly affect the votes of Republicans. What about those voters (Republican and Democratic, alike) who live in Precinct 60 and have to drive to the church? No, Marden doesn’t’ care about that. In Marden’s mind Barton’s decision is solely to hinder Republican voters.

Lastly, Marden states that voters in Precinct 60 have to be told of the polling change. I don’t know the date that his letter went out, but voters in Precinct 60 have already received such a notice in the mail.

Marden follows up his imagined tirade with directions to vote for Katherine “against” Sue Weller and Judith Jensen against Kim Barton. Such wording only shows that Marden spews hatred, has no knowledge of the facts (or totally avoids them) and wants to spread his hatred to others. As for Sue Weller’s stand on the issues …. Her campaign sign says it all, “No politics, Just issues.”

Thomas R. Weller

High Springs, FL 32643

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We wish to express our gratitude to:

Jeremy Marshall, City Manager of High Springs, and his staff for their continued support of the citizens of High Springs during Hurricane Helene.  Public Works, in particular, was out in full force clearing roads and grinder pumps in addition to many other issues.  

Commissioners were out in force to provide assistance to High Springs residents.

Police Chief Shepherd and his officers and staff for their assistance.  We know that they were out in this storm protecting our community.  

Fire Chief Peters and his firefighters and staff for their efforts in keeping our community safe.

Friends and neighbors were out in force with their tractors and other equipment to clear roads for incoming power trucks.  Also checking on each other to see if assistance was needed.  

Everyone was too busy working to post their efforts on social media.  They did what they did because it was the right thing to do.  

We have had a rough time during the past few years and have come a long way in the past year to bring our City into a better place in leadership and financially.  I have personally talked to city staff about morale and it is at its highest.

There is a small group of people who are intent on bringing the City back into their control.  If you do not follow their lead, they will do whatever is necessary to remove you from office or position in city hall.

It is imperative that you vote!  Vote early or request a mail-in ballot! Vote to re-elect Katherine Weitz, our current mayor.  Vote to elect Julie Rawls Tapia-ruano.  Citizens of High Springs are at the forefront of their mission, which includes supporting the City of High Springs.  We need diversity on the five-member board.  Having two police officers on the board would compromise diversity.

Bob & Linda Jones

High Springs, Florida

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ALACHUA – Lloyd Bailey, owner of Lloyd Bailey’s Scuba and Watersports in Gainesville, remembers the conversation he and his diving buddy John Kibler Jr. had very well.

The discussion took place more than 20 years ago.

They had both just finished diving in what was then called the Alachua Sink off U.S. Highway 441 in Alachua on a piece of property located at latitude 29° 48' 4" N and longitude 82° 30' 30" W just east of Sonny’s BBQ Restaurant.

It was Bailey’s idea to introduce the cave system to Kibler who was also a scuba instructor and, coincidentally, worked directly across the street from the sink at Asgrow Florida Corporation.

“I started diving it in the early 80s,” Bailey said about what is now called Mill Creek Sink.

“We would access it from the Sonny’s BBQ side.”

Back then, the scuba equipment was much heavier and bulkier, Bailey said.

“The logistics of getting in and out of there were so challenging, that I never took photography equipment in the water there,” Bailey added. “We had to take a heavy duty rope and wrap it around a tree and walk backwards with this heavy rope. The gear we were wearing back then was well over 100 pounds on our backs.”

According to his obituary, Kibler Jr. who passed away in 2009, worked for Asgrow for 33 years with his last position being a South Florida district manager for the subsidiary of the Upjohn Company. Asgrow was a distributor of agricultural materials, including chemicals, seeds and specialty products.

 Bailey and Kibler both identified the cave system as an extremely advanced dive area and a dangerous one as well.

That’s how the idea came about.

Bailey relayed Kibler’s comments.

“He said ‘My company owns this property. We can’t do anything with this property. We could probably donate it as a win-win situation.’ ”

That is how the National Speleological Society came to own the property that is locked in a lawsuit with the city of Alachua over a rezoning ordinance that the NSS-Cave Diving Section (CDS) says will cause harm to the ecosystem that lives around and inside of the cave system. CDS is responsible for managing the property on behalf of the NSS.

“I’ve done upstream and downstream,” Bailey said about his experience diving in the cave system.

“Alachua Sink [renamed Mill Creek Sink] is one of the most advanced cave dives in the state.

“It is a magnificent cave dive, he said, “white walls, beautiful walls.”

Bailey said he has been following the case between the city of Alachua and Alachua County that was combined with the NSS-CDS lawsuit requesting that the approved rezoning be quashed.

“Everybody’s wanting to blame everybody else,” Bailey said, “If we live here, we’ve got to blame ourselves. Unless somebody wants to buy all the land and say ‘I’m gonna preserve it.’ ”

“Sonny’s is closer than the WalMart,” he added. “The water source is coming from Hornsby Springs, northwest but everything has been developed.

“There’s a line of sinkholes on the south side of 441 with houses built all around,” Bailey added. “The NSS-CDS didn’t pay a penny for it, and they have a responsibility to protect it,” he said about Mill Creek Sink.

 Hydrogeology

Geologist Stephen Boyes is the President of Geo Solutions, Inc., an environmental and hydrologic consulting company.  In his Gainesville office, maps abound.

“Limestone is a sedimentary rock that’s laid down, and with time it becomes hard,” Boyes explained.

Boyes is an expert in hydrology, the scientific study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water, water resources and environmental watershed sustainability.

“If you break that rock, you begin to form preferential groundwater flow through the breaks. Rainwater is slightly acidic, because it is a weak form of carbonic acid. It begins to dissolve away the edges of the limestone in those breaks. And that’s what forms caverns as well as groundwater flow along joints.”

“Some areas of Florida are 'holier' than others.”

Boyes has served as an expert witness in many land use cases and spent 15 years reviewing site plans for the city of Gainesville.

“Once you have approved the area for that level of development, it’s going to take place,” he said about his experience with rezoning ordinances. “If an applicant comes in with a site plan that fits exactly what the zoning is, Boyes said, “the site plan is a bad place to try to do the environmental stuff.”

While the NSS-CDS continues to research their land and cave system by mapping it and conducting flora and fauna counts, Boyes said the more information that can be gathered about the ecosystem, the better the ability will be for everyone to understand what’s at stake if development is carried out.

“The more you know about a place, the more protective you may need to be about it,” he said.

Boyes said one of his concerns about the size of the 154.5-acre parcel and type of rezoning that occurred in Alachua involving the property owned by WalMart, is the impact development of that intensity will have on runoff and storm water.

“Storm water generally meets primary and secondary drinking water standards,” he said. “In this particular environment, it is capable of transporting bacteria and viruses. Parking lot runoff it going to contain both.

“One of the complaints about parking lots is diapers on the ground,” he said. “People spit, get sick, and that can travel.

“Short travel time between the storm water discharges from a large development in Alachua to the discharge point in the Santa Fe River is less than 30 days,” he explained. “We’re talking about the ability to transport bacteria that is still alive and healthy, as well as viruses, that entire length.

“A large rainfall event is very common here. It can run across the street and right down Mill Sink. Any form of development is not a natural situation. Discharges of things that transport down gradient offer an impact to the groundwater in that particular situation.”

Boyes said he thinks the attention that Rezoning Ordinance 15 03 is receiving is because of the data that is now available through the Mill Creek/Lee Sink Dye Trace Study of 2005 and the mapping of the Cross-County Fracture Zone.

“A big key to this, is knowing that there is a Cross-County Fracture Zone that’s different than other portions of the county. It’s a long, linear fracture zone and this is where this site and portions of the Santa Fe River and the springs as well as Orange Lake and down in that direction there’s an interrelationship.

“It’s more fractured, it’s more cavernous, it’s more directly routed,” Boyes said.

“Here’s Alachua,” Boyes said as he stretched out a map. “It’s more cavernous, one of the largest water conduits in the county. The 1977 fracture zone was mapped and couple that with the 2005 dye trace study which found out how permeable it is.”

“People want to develop in such sensitive areas without taking precaution of the users of the water down gradient. Cave divers have a concern because they know what’s in it. Anybody who hasn’t been in that cave has no idea about how big and how significant it is.”

Divers’ viewpoint

The collective data of diving conditions in the Mill Creek Sink are logged in at www.caveatlas.com. Dr. Andrew Pitkin logged this information from his March 21, 2013 visit.

“5-10 feet viz[visibility] in the cavern, improving to a hazy 40' at the upstream-downstream junction. About the same all the way upstream. Lots of leaves and other surface debris in the line in the new section, so the system clearly has reversed at least that far.”

On Sept. 3, 2011, Pitkin logged this comment, “About 15' in the basin and cavern to about 50 feet depth, then very clear (80) all the way downstream. A little milkiness in the Subway tunnel, but still very good.”

In order to dive in the Mill Creek Sink, divers must meet strict criteria. According to NSS-CDS Vice Chair Sylvester “TJ” Muller, even local law enforcement must be notified before a dive is made.

The NSS-CDS, which manages the property describes Mill Creek Sink as: “The surface stream system is dissected by more than 10 swallow holes which divert water underground, draining a basin of over 70 square miles.  Sink visibility can vary dramatically from the cave visibility as tannins tend to wash into the sink during rainy periods, reducing visibility considerably.  Extremely delicate flow formations pervade the system.  Fine scalloped sheets of limestone are easily damaged and divers must be highly proficient not only in buoyancy control, but also positional awareness to ensure NO contact with any of these spectacular formations.   Mill Creek Sink is an advanced cave dive both upstream and downstream, with significant siphon flow in the downstream section with depths in both directions exceeding 200 feet and shallow sections within the cave that provide potential decompression ceilings.  Due to the nature and extreme complexity of the underwater cave system, access is permitted to only the highest qualified cave divers and absolutely no training is allowed.”

Each diver must have the following qualifications and training to enter the complex system:

4. When Diver Propulsion Vehicles (DPV's) are permitted per site specific rules, the diver must possess a DPV specialty card or show proof of prior experience and have logged at least 5 swim dives at that site before a DPV may be used in that system.

 The guided only dives can only be made by research and science divers and some of the world’s top divers have come to the site to explore it.

“The sink is a really interesting dive,” said top female diver, photographer, author and trainer Jill Heinerth, who said she last went through Mill Creek Sink’s underground tunnels two years ago.

“The first time I dived it, there were no stairs,” Heinerth said. “It was a tough, steep climb down to the water with tanks and took teamwork to get in the water. It was fun and rewarding, but the visibility was not stellar. In the murkiness, I could barely make out the full extents of the tunnels and every fin kick through the system was carefully measured to avoid completely silting the passages.

“There are few days where a cave diver could truly report that the conditions in the sink are genuinely pretty, but one is still struck by the magnitude of the passages and the importance of such a unique window into the aquifer. ‘Apache Sink’ as we refer to it in our community, sits at a nexus – an important doorway that geologically connects everything from Camp Kulaqua in High Springs to Paynes Prairie in Gainesville. Sitting on the linament that connects an entire region speaks to its importance in protecting a vast swath of our regional water resources. It may not seem popular to protect such a meager hole in the ground tucked behind a Sonny's BBQ Restaurant, but we have to look at such places as the "beginning of a pipe" that can serve to protect an entire region's water resources.”

Expert diver and Owner of Karst Environmental Services Peter L. Butt said he won’t let his dive teams tackle Mill Creek Sink because of the danger and liability, but he himself has dived there.

“When you’re swimming upstream, you’re kicking against the current,” Butt said. “And when you’re downstream you’ve got to worry about working back in that current.

“I bow to the guys who are doing the research with some of the maps that they are surveying because they are re-breathers really hanging it out there to do this kind of work. It’s beyond what I would allow in the scope of my company to do. The depths, the times and duration.”

Butt has collected data at Mill Creek Sink and his company executed the Mill Creek and Lee Sink dye trace study 10 years ago on July 26, 2005.

The study is being used as key evidence of the connectivity and karst nature of the properties near the parcel rezoned by the unanimous vote of the city of Alachua Commission on April 27, 2015.

Imperiled species

As the NSS-CDS promises to push forward with the lawsuit against the city of Alachua trying to quash the rezoning decision, the Suwannee St. Johns Group Sierra Club (SSJ) pledged funds to help the cause, noting that the dye trace study’s proof of connectivity and the imperiled species living in the ecosystem as main reasons for concern.

The last dive logged for Mill Creek Sink on its cave atlas web page took place on January 11, 2014. Brandon Cook noted visibility at 30 feet basin, 60 to 80 feet upstream.

His remarks reads, “Finally, first dive in the system, guided by Rick C. Vis was pretty good the entire dive, really opened up past T upstream. Saw lots of really large crayfish and massive clay banks. Great dive, cool cave.”

In a report released by Thomas R. Sawicki, Ph.D., assistant professor of biological sciences at Florida A & M University, three imperiled species are identified as living in the Mill Creek Sink. The Florida Cave Amphipod, Hobbs' Cave Amphipod and Pallid Cave Crayfish are rated on scales of rarity.

In the global ranking, they are rated as G2 meaning “Imperiled globally because of rarity (6 to 20 occurrences or less than 3,000 individuals) or because of vulnerability to extinction due to some natural or man-made factor and G3 meaning “Either very rare and local throughout its range (21-100 occurrences or less than 10,000 individuals) or found locally in a restricted range or vulnerable to extinction from other factors.

In the state ranking, they are all ranked as S1 “Critically imperiled in Florida because of extreme rarity (5 or fewer occurrences or less than 1,000 individuals) or because of extreme vulnerability to extinction due to some natural or man-made factor,” and S2, “Imperiled in Florida because of rarity (6 to 20 occurrences or less than 3,000 individuals) or because of vulnerability to extinction due to some natural or man-made factor.”

Heinerth offers a solution to the conflict over rezoning and protection of natural resources.

“If we can see forward to creating a Mill Creek Regional Water Reserve,” Heinerth said, “We'll be not just protecting water, but also creating a recreational reserve of significance to the future of our population.”

 

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