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GAINESVILLE – In a move that’s sure to disappoint some locals, the opening of the temporary Plaza Ice Palace, in Gainesville’s Bo Diddley Community Plaza, has been cancelled.

The Gainesville rink was previously scheduled to open around Thanksgiving. However, due to technical difficulties, the opening of the rink was postponed and then cancelled.

The company ran into a number of technical difficulties with cutting down the pipes and the tubing necessary to chill the ice, said Russell Etling, Cultural Affairs program coordinator for the city's Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs.

“Both sides were very disappointed that it did not work out because we wanted to provide something for the holiday season,” he said.

Midwest Display, Inc. was in charge of running the ice rink. The City of Gainesville had previously managed its own ice rink in 2007 and earlier, but was unable to continue managing a rink due to financial considerations, Etling said.

The company had approached the city to install the rink, and the city would have received 10 percent of the revenue from ticket sales. The fee to enter the ice rink would have been $10 per hour with a skate rental, Etling said.

The delays after Thanksgiving had caused the company to miss a key time of attendance, especially for students attending college. For next year Etling said the vendor expressed an interest in trying again.

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NEWBERRY – Frozen Berry Self-Serve Frozen Yogurt was awarded an economic development sponsorship to become a new addition to Newberry’s commercial district.

“It’s not a lot of money I’m saving, but when you are starting your own business every little bit helps,” said Jason McGehee, store owner.

McGehee’s business on the corner of US 27/41 and SW 4^th Avenue is the same concept as Mochi, but with a twist. It’s local, not franchised.

“I don’t want to be told what I can and can’t do,” he said. “I would rather start my own brand.”

The sponsorship waives the application fees for new businesses that meet the city’s vision for small firms that will maintain a clean environment, suitable infrastructure and compatible land use. McGehee will use the funds he was able to save to update the building and landscaping.

This economic development sponsorship is an experiment to see whether or not it is actually a suitable tool to develop the economy, said Lowell Garrett, the City of Newberry’s planning director.

About 50 businesses have applied for the sponsorship, and 11 of them have been approved. With the exception of one or two, these businesses will be located in the commercial sector, bolstering the downtown area and keeping it vibrant.

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Over 50 groups participated in the 35^th annual Alachua Christmas Parade this past Saturday. The parade’s theme of “Alachua’s Legacy: Our Children” was in evidence as a variety of youth organizations, including Alachua Girl Scout Troop 282, marched down Main Street, waving to the crowds and tossing candy to youngsters.

ALACHUA – Saturday afternoon’s overcast skies and threatening rain were no match for the excitement and buzz of activity in downtown Alachua. With the city’s annual Christmas parade slated to begin at 2 p.m., crowds began gathering early along Main Street in spite of the gloomy forecast.

This year’s parade theme of “Alachua’s Legacy: Our Children” offered participants a seemingly infinite range of ideas to use in decorating the colorful floats that lined up at the top of Main Street. The parade is a partnership between the Alachua Chamber of Commerce and the City of Alachua, and this marked the parade’s 35^th year.

Starting at 2 p.m. the series of floats, people, cars and an assortment of animals, including horses, dogs, donkeys and llamas, headed down Main Street as hundreds of excited spectators perched on street curbs and folding chairs waited for the show.

Former Alachua commissioner Orien Hills, who served as the parade’s Grand Marshal, headed up the procession of 50-plus registered parade entries.

This year’s parade featured a float design contest with prizes for not-for-profit and for-profit entries. As each participant reached the intersection of Main Street and NW 148^th Place at the flashing yellow light, they paused under the watchful eyes of parade judges who jotted down scores.

Announcing each parade entry as they passed by, City of Alachua Commissioner Ben Boukari, Jr. served as the Master of Ceremonies. Along with Boukari was Alachua recreation director Hal Brady and chamber of commerce member Gussie Lee, who joined in engaging participants in good natured banter as they passed through the intersection.

Waiting in anxious anticipation for the candy that is traditionally tossed from parade participants, excited children lined the street. Red and white striped candy canes, green and red peppermints and a variety of other colorful candy were soon in the hands of youngsters who dashed from their perches to retrieve the sweets.

This year’s parade saw its share of elected officials participate. Alachua County Sheriff Sadie Darnell took her usual spot near the front of the parade walking alongside Alachua Chief of Police Joel DeCoursey. Alachua County Commissioner Lee Pinkoson made the trek on foot, handing out candy along the parade route. And a familiar face in the parade was Clovis Watson, Jr., who has appeared in a number of his hometown parades. This difference this time is his new role as State Representative for Florida House District 20. Also walking along the parade route was Florida’s District 3 Congressman-elect Ted Yoho.

To the delight of spectators, the parade lasted nearly an hour. And unquestionably, the crowd’s favorite appeared at the end of the parade. Perched high atop a fire truck and dressed in his trademark red suit, a jolly Santa delivered a hearty “ho-ho-ho” and a “Merry Christmas” before dashing off.

While the parade may have been over, float judges David Pope, Linda Chapman and Eva Copeland still had a tough task at hand as they continued deliberating their decision for the float decorating contest. In the for-profit category, first place went to Matchmaker Realty, second place to Alarion Bank and third place to Lee’s Preschool. In the non-profit category, first place went to the Santa Fe Raider Marching Band, second place to River of Life Church and third place to the Hare Krishna Temple.

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ALACHUA – The City of Alachua has approved a construction bid for the NW 150^th Avenue and NW 142^nd Terrace area, bringing the long-awaited project one step closer to completion.

During Monday’s commission meeting, the commission approved a $1.82 million bid submitted by Scherer Construction of North Florida. Construction should begin in early 2013.

The project will include the installation of an underground storm water management system, sidewalks, street-side parking and intersection realignment. The intersection is located at the corner of the City of Alachua Municipal Complex and the tennis courts.

There was originally a proposal to replace the existing four-way stop with a roundabout, but that plan has been abandoned. In an August interview, Alachua Public Works Director Mike New estimated that not putting in a roundabout would save the city between $50,000 and $75,000. The original price tag was an estimated $2.1 million.

In keeping with the design theme of the Main Street and downtown area, both NW 142nd Terrace and NW 150th Avenue will also have curbs, storm gutters, sidewalks, red brick crosswalks and paved side-street parking. The project will constitute the first major aesthetic connection between the Main Street and Alachua Towne Centre areas.

According to New, the City began advertising for formal bids in late October.

After a lengthy discussion, the commission also approved adding seven street side parking spaces on the east and west side of NW 142nd Terrace south of NW 150th Ave.

However, Mayor Gib Coerper voiced concerns about adding parking spaces near the intersection.

“Without any parking there, I’ve seen near accidents,” he said. “It’s a major concern to me…trying to put anything there.”

New said safety concerns had been taken into consideration when designing the additional spaces.

Coerper said he was also concerned residents wouldn’t use crosswalks after parking street-side.

“They’re going to get out of their car and dart across the street,” he said. “I’ve seen it a million times.”

Business owner Lisa Adel spoke out in favor of the parking spaces during the meeting’s allotted time for citizen comments.

“Those seven parking spaces are very, very important because so many have been taken away,” she said.

“I know many senior citizens who say it’s too hard to go downtown and find a place to park.”

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Police say one man held High Springs woman at gunpoint

 ALACHUA – Two Georgia men on the run from federal law enforcement officials were arrested in Alachua Sunday, Dec. 9.

One of the men was arrested following an alleged attempted kidnapping in which he held a woman at gunpoint outside of the Alachua Branch Library.

Shortly after noon on Sunday, police say 36-year-old Donald Mac Brown of Conyers, Georgia got out of his white Ford F-150 truck at the Alachua library and jumped into an open window of a parked Dodge Durango. In the driver’s seat of that SUV was a 44-year-old High Springs woman who began screaming after Brown brandished a .38-caliber handgun, which he held to her head.

While still partially hanging out of the vehicle, Brown reportedly ordered the woman to begin driving. He also tried to cover her mouth in an attempt to silence her, but the woman continued screaming and drawing attention to herself according to police records. After Brown continued demanding that the woman drive, she put the Dodge into gear and ultimately ran over a parking space curb. Police believe that spooked Brown who then fled the scene on foot into a nearby wooded area.

Upon hearing of the incident moments later, Alachua Police Department (APD) officers, along with the assistance of the Florida Highway Patrol and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, set up a perimeter around the area in search of Brown.

A short time later, Brown entered the Chevron gas station on U.S. 441 across from Alachua Elementary School and police say they saw him as he exited the convenience store and attempted once again to flee into the nearby wooded area. As a foot chase ensued, APD Sergeant Carl Newsome saw Brown pull out a handgun and drop it. Police were able to catch Brown.

Earlier that day, Alachua Police received a telephone call from 57-year-old David Crawford, also of Conyers, Georgia. Crawford told police that there was a warrant out for his arrest and he wanted to turn himself in to authorities. He asked police to meet him at a local restaurant and upon arriving, they verified his identity and that Crawford was indeed a wanted man. After placing him under arrest, they found a .357-caliber revolver concealed under his jacket.

Crawford and Brown are related by marriage according to police. The two men had been on the run since at least Dec. 5 when bulletins seeking them were issued in the Conyers, Georgia area.

Both men were wanted on pending child molestation charges.

Alachua Police Chief Joel DeCoursey said the men headed south on Interstate 75 and exited in Alachua to get fuel. They ultimately stayed in the area for three days. Crawford and Brown were camping out of their truck in a field along County Road 241 and believed to be less than a mile south of Irby Elementary School.

DeCoursey said that when police contacted the U.S. Marshalls Office to inform them of the arrests, officials there were surprised the men were taken alive. DeCoursey said at least one of the men apparently said he would not be taken alive and would not go back to jail.

APD Spokesman Jesse Sandusky said after impounding the Ford truck being driven by the men, police found multiple guns and knives inside.

They arrested Crawford on the outstanding warrant, but also charged him with carrying a concealed weapon. He’s being held in the Alachua County jail on a $35,000 bond.

Brown was charged with attempted kidnapping, armed burglary, resisting arrest without violence and tampering with evidence. He’s currently being held in Alachua County Jail on a $50,000 bond.

Upon extradition, both men are expected to face the pending molestation charges in Georgia.

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HIGH SPRINGS – The High Springs Chamber of Commerce-sponsored 2012 Christmas Parade went off without a hitch just after dark at 6 pm, Saturday, Dec. 8. The event, which is in its 16^th year, celebrated the theme Charlie Brown Peanuts Christmas.

Floats were judged on lights, sound and scene according to Chamber President Sandra Webb. The first place ribbon was awarded to Matchmaker Realty. Second place was awarded to the High Springs Art Coop and third place was awarded to Copeland’s Quality Construction for the aluminum Ferris wheel constructed out of aluminum over night by Mark Copeland.

Judges for this year’s competition were business owners Bettye Gloskowski and John Gloskowski, and Marsha Repp of Thompson’s Florist.

Parade participants and floats were replete with Christmas lights, Christmas trees, a mini ferris wheel, and, of course, ended with Santa Clause on the City’s new bright, red fire truck. Organizations from Gainesville, Alachua, Ft. White, Lake City, Bell, and High Springs participated with a total of 42 floats to help celebrate the Christmas season in style.

Bands from High Springs Middle School and Santa Fe High School also marched in the parade playing Christmas music and lighting up the night with uniforms complete with twinkling Christmas lights.

Area residents began lining up to watch the parade long before dark. Lawn chairs appeared along the parade route by mid-afternoon to help guarantee visitors the best viewing locations. Downtown businesses stayed open late to accommodate people who might need a hot drink, some fudge or who just wanted to shop before or after the parade.

The parade route began on US 441 at Alice’s Cafe and ended at the City’s Peanuts-themed Christmas tree, located on Railroad Avenue. Children wishing to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas were encouraged to visit him at the Christmas tree and to also have their photos taken with the jolly old man himself.

“Our churches, schools and bands were all awesome,” said Chamber President Sandra Webb. “We certainly appreciate all of them that helped make this one of the best Christmas parades ever. Unfortunately, our judges could only choose three among all of the fantastic floats as first, second and third place winners. Each church, organization and school went way above the norm with their excellent submissions this year,” she said.

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