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NEWBERRY – A Newberry man is behind bars after deputies say he hit a 15-year-old child with a rock in an altercation on Feb. 4.  Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies were called to the scene of a fight between 37-year old Kenneth Polk and another family member.  

A witness said that the two had gotten into an argument over a gun that the 15-year-old said he had found in Gainesville.  During the physical altercation, Polk shoved the child and took the gun from him in an attempt to dispose of it.  Polk then left the residence with the boy following him in an attempt to recover the weapon.  

The child chased Polk onto the railroad tracks at which point witnesses said Polk picked up a rock from the train track bed and threw it at the child, hitting him in the back of the head and causing a raised knot of approximately 1.5 inches in diameter.  

Polk fled the area but was located several hours later walking southbound along State Road 45.  Post Miranda Polk admitted to being involved in a physical altercation, but denied throwing a rock and claimed the 15-year-old was the primary aggressor.

Polk was subsequently arrested for child abuse and transported to the Alachua County Jail.

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ALACHUA COUNTY ‒ The Alachua County Community Remembrance Project in partnership with the Equal Justice Initiative of Montgomery, Alabama, is offering three Racial Justice Essay Contests.  

Each contest is open to all students in grades ninth to twelfth at the following Alachua County High Schools:   Santa Fe High School (cosponsored by the Alachua/Newnansville Remembrance Subcommittee, the High Springs Remembrance Subcommittee, and the Monteocha-Gordon-LaCrosse Remembrance Subcommittee), Hawthorne High School (cosponsored by the Hawthorne/Waldo/Campville Remembrance Subcommittee and the Micanopy/Rochelle Subcommittee) and Newberry High School (cosponsored by the Concerned Citizens of Newberry and the Concerned Citizens of Archer).  

It is also open to home schooled students zoned for any of these schools as well as students who live in these communities but attend a school in Gainesville.

The deadline for contest submissions is Friday, April 8, at 11:59 p.m. EST.  

There will be five winners from each high school.  The first place winner will receive$2,500 in scholarship prize money.  The other winners will also receive scholarship prizes.  The total amount of prize money awarded will be $5,000 to each high school.

The purpose of these contests is to encourage students to learn the history of lynching and racial terrorism in Alachua County, and in the United States, and how that terrorism has left a legacy of racial disparities.

Students are encouraged to use local historical events and/or examples of current injustices in their essays.  They will be judged and prizes awarded by Equal Justice Initiative.  They are judged on content, not grammar.

The Alachua County Library will offer writing hours virtually to assist students in using library resources for their research and provide time to write in an organized, virtual setting.  There will be three writing sessions offered in February, March and early April.  

Students will be able to register for any or all of the times to attend a writing hour session.  

To learn more, visit EJI Racial Justice Essay Contest or truth.alachuacounty.us/EssayContest.

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ALACHUA – The City of Alachua has named a new Chief of Police. Interim City Manager Mike DaRoza appointed Lt. Jesse Sandusky to the position effective Feb. 1, 2022. 

An 18-year veteran of the Alachua Police Department, Sandusky takes over for outgoing Chief Chad Scott, who resigned after 13-plus years.  Scott will be taking a position at the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. 

Sandusky has served in many different capacities throughout his career, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position. He began his career in 2003 as an officer in the Patrol Division. 

“After we learned of Chief Scott’s plans, the choice became clear who needed to take the helm,” DaRoza said. “Jesse has grown alongside the department for nearly two decades, and has developed the necessary leadership and trust our community needs to take us to the next level.” 

With a strong interest in the investigative side of law enforcement, Sandusky served for several years as a Detective, and ultimately a Detective Sergeant within the Criminal Investigations Division before being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and appointed as the Commander of the Administration Division. 

Sandusky, the long-time Public Information Officer for the Alachua Police Department, was elected President of the Florida Law Enforcement Public Information Officer Association where he served for two years. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Peaceful Paths Domestic Violence Network. 

“Chief Sandusky is a trusted leader who has built important relationships in our community,” said Alachua Mayor Gib Coerper.  “He has a proven track record as a police officer and a problem solver, and I know he will be an effective leader for the Alachua Police Department.”

“I am honored to have this opportunity to lead such a great team of dedicated law enforcement professionals,” Sandusky said. “Together, we will continue the tradition of providing excellent law enforcement services to the residents and visitors of the City of Alachua. The safety of our citizens will always remain top priority.”

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NEWBERRY – On a cold Feb. 7 afternoon under overcast skies, Alachua County Public school leaders, Newberry commissioners and 150 Oak View Middle School fifth graders gathered behind the school on an empty lot, The purpose was to celebrate the groundbreaking for a new 24,000-square-foot building that will include 16 classrooms and a multipurpose collaborative learning center.

The construction is among the first major projects paid for with revenues from the “Half-Cent for Schools” voter initiative that was approved by voters in 2018. The local sales tax was increased to 7 cents, which is estimated to generate $22 million annually that can be used for school infrastructure projects for 12 years. 

With the rapid growth in population as well as the aging public school buildings, the school district is expanding school facilities and updating current buildings to meet increasing need.  The initiative has already funded the new Terwilliger Elementary School and the revitalized Metcalfe Elementary, Idylwild Elementary and Howard Bishop Middle School campuses. The Terwilliger, Metcalfe and Bishop projects have already been completed, and Idylwild is nearing completion. The new building at Oak View will cost the school district an estimated $9 million.

The groundbreaking ceremony was kicked off with remarks by Oak View Principal Kelly Armstrong. She said the new building is needed because of growth occurring in Newberry and Alachua County. When she served as assistant principal at Oak View Middle School there were approximately 550 students enrolled in the school. Now the middle school has about 900. 

“The new building will help reduce overcrowding and replace some of the portable classrooms currently in use,” said. Armstrong.  “We're looking at 12 to 13 portables right now that we currently have that are full and being used every day.”

Also on hand at the groundbreaking was District Superintendent Carlee Simon who discussed the safety changes that the COVID pandemic has placed on schools and that the sales tax will also help pay for updating the school's HVAC system.

School Board member Robert Hyatt directly addressed students at the groundbreaking. “The people of Alachua County, including the people in your communities, work and continue to pay taxes to have the best facilities we can,” said Hyatt.  “Not for us, but for you, because you are worth every effort and every penny. You are our future.”

Domenic Scorpio, CEO and president of the Scorpio Corporation, discussed construction of the building that his company is overseeing.  “This is really an exciting time for us. Scorpio is a community-centered, purpose-driven construction company,” said Scorpio.  “And it's with tremendous gratitude that we're offered the opportunity to partner with the Alachua County school district to build your new home.”  Scorpio anticipates that the project will be completed by the end of November 2022.

Each of the fifth grade classes were given an opportunity to insert something from their class into a time capsule that will be buried during construction.  The time capsule is scheduled to be re-opened around the time the current students reach their mid-30s. 

A student spokesperson for each class addressed the audience and described what they were putting in the capsule. The items included a class photos, a set of multiplication tables and a pencil, a facemask with signatures, a favorite fidget, and a collage of their favorite activities including logos representing Instagram, TikTok and Minecraft. 

As time for the groundbreaking arrived, speakers were joined by school board members Mildred Russell and Leanetta McNealy as well as Dorothy Thomas, president of the Newberry PTO.  Also joining in were Newberry City Commissioners Rick Coleman, Mark Clark and Tony Mazon, along with construction supervisors. Each grabbed a shovel by a large pile of sand and turned the dirt, officially kicking off construction to the cheers and applause of the students.

“These little highlights, these little days, these little moments really are special. I enjoy it,” said Oak View Principal Armstrong.  “But the key thing is for us to always say, it's not about us, it's about the kids ... that's why we're here.”

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ALACHUA COUNTY ‒ After exposure to the canine distemper virus and a nearly five-week quarantine of the exposed dogs, Animal Resources & Care (formerly Animal Services) resumes adoption of shelter dogs this week. Extensive testing has been performed to ensure dogs that may have had exposure are “clear of distemper and other forms of URI,” according to Shelter Veterinarian Elizabeth Fitzpatrick.

Starting Feb. 8, and in an effort to find new homes for all these deserving dogs, the shelter is launching its “Meet Your Match” event with $14 adoption fees for February. Staff have categorized the shelter dogs according to their behavioral traits. After adopters answer some basic questions about themselves and their lifestyle, they can match you with the perfect companion. The shelter is located at 3400 N.E. 53rd Avenue, Gainesville and is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., excluding holidays.

“This program, adopted from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), has been shown to increase the likelihood that new adoptions are a good match for their new families,” said Alachua County Animal Resources & Care Director Ed Williams. “Staff have done a wonderful job adhering to the biosecurity protocols that were implemented to contain this infection and maximize the number of lives saved, and we appreciate their continued dedication to both Alachua County and to the animals in our care.”

As a precaution, shelter staff also reached out to those that adopted, transferred, or reclaimed dogs from Animal Resources & Care during December to both ascertain whether their adoptees were symptomatic and to offer drive-by testing in the shelter parking lot. No additional cases of infection were found in those dogs.

Animal Resources & Care reminds citizens that the canine distemper virus is carried by local wildlife, including raccoons, foxes, skunks, and coyotes. Coupling that with a large population of unvaccinated dogs exposed to wildlife, or areas frequented by wildlife, causes strays and dogs (allowed to run at large) to contract the virus and bring it with them to the shelter and/or spread it to other dogs. That is why it is so important for dog owners to consult with their veterinarian to ensure their dogs are properly vaccinated.

Pet adopters must be 18 years or older and show identification with proof of current address. If there are already pets in the home, potential adopters must show proof that owned animals are current on rabies and county licenses. All adoptable cats and dogs are vaccinated, microchipped, and sterilized before going home

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NEWBERRY – Members of the City’s Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) met on Feb. 7 to consider an amendment to the Land Development Regulations to allow electronic message signage at City Hall.  Principal Planner Wendy Kinser-Maxwell presented Ordinance 2022-19/LDR 22-02 and explained how electronic signage would provide a public service through increased communication with the public about upcoming city events, meetings and emergency or safety alerts.

In her presentation, Kinser-Maxwell explained that the electronic sign, which in this case will be in the historic district, must still maintain the character of the district or structure.  Signs, electronic or otherwise, would have to be of a size and shape characteristic of the historic period of the district or property.  Graphics, fonts, colors and materials must also be characteristic of the historic period of the district or property.  

She also pointed out that signs “shall be sympathetic to the overall design of the main building.”  The frame of the sign must match the exterior building color and be similar in size, scale, mass and character of the exterior building elements.  Lighting of signs must be incandescent, unless encapsulated by a frame and plastic light panels.  Neon, animated and strobe lights are not acceptable and landscaping is required around the base of all freestanding signs.

Following discussion, HARB members unanimously agreed to recommend consideration of the proposed amendment of the text of the Land Development Regulations to the Planning and Zoning Board for their consideration.

The HARB members unanimously voted to table rescheduling the meeting that would normally fall on the July 4th holiday until such time as all the members could be in attendance to determine a date whereby all could attend.  Chair Naim Erched and Vice-Chair Gavin Johnson were not in attendance at this meeting.

In other business, planner Alayna Jackson presented examples of mid-century cultural resources within the City of Newberry.  Mid-century is usually considered to be buildings built between 1940 – 1960.  She also presented a map showing where 12 contributing mid-century structures are located in the local historic district.

Jackson said it is necessary to inventory structure in the city and determine what condition they are in.  “Newberry’s Historic Resources Survey Project is expected to receive funding from a state small matching grant,” said Jackson.  “There is potential for another local historic district with post-war period of significance.”.

The survey, when it is completed, will update the City’s information about where the historic district is actually located and what it encompasses.  

Mayor Jordan Marlowe announced a public workshop on Thursday, Feb. 10 on the Overlay District and Urban Service Area.  He said there would be large maps available and people would be able to move around the room to consider aesthetic design standards for development along the City’s two primary corridors, SR 26 and SR 45.  The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at City Hall and everyone is invited to participate.

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Cont: Workshop on Overlay District/Urban Service Area