HIGH SPRINGS On Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, representatives from Cox presented High Springs Police Chief J. Antoine Sheppard with 75 Walmart gift cards, each valued at $50, to support the department’s annual Operation Holiday Cheer initiative. The gift cards will help provide much-needed assistance to local families during the holiday season.3

For many years, the High Springs Police Department has worked with the community to ensure families in need receive extra support through Operation Holiday Cheer. The program collaborates annually with local schools to identify deserving candidates who will benefit from the holiday giving initiative.

This year, the Operation Holiday Cheer team will deliver gifts to families on the morning of Monday, Dec. 23, 2024. Residents can expect to see flashing lights and hear sirens as officers and volunteers make their rounds to brighten the season for local families.

“The Holiday Cheer event will spread holiday cheer to over 50 children and 25 families,” said Chief Sheppard.

Sheppard expressed his gratitude to Cox and the community partners who make the program possible. “We would like to thank Cox and all of our community partners who help us provide support to those families in need,” Sheppard said. “Through these valuable partnerships, we’re able to help so many of our local residents have a magical holiday season.”

In addition to donating gift cards, Cox also went above and beyond by fulfilling the holiday wish list of a local 10-year-old and surprising the child’s mother with a special gift.

“Cox is a family-owned business committed to helping improve the lives of those in our community,” said Aimee Pfannenstiel, Central Florida Market Vice President for Cox. “When we learned of the opportunity to help our neighbors through the High Springs Police Department’s Operation Holiday Cheer, it was an easy yes.”

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ALACHUA ‒ The City of Alachua is set to host its 20th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will take place at the Legacy Park Multipurpose Center in Alachua, and promises a vibrant lineup of activities and performances.

Headlining this year’s celebration is none other than Vickie Winans, a renowned six-time Grammy Award nominee. Winans, who has also earned eight Stellar Awards and an NAACP Image Award, will deliver both a soulful musical performance and an inspiring keynote speech. Known for her multifaceted talents as a singer, speaker, comedian, and actress, Winans is expected to bring a unique and dynamic energy to the event.

The celebration will also feature a special return performance by Frantz Emmanuel and an engaging puppet show presented by students from the Music and Arts Program.

“This celebration will be nothing short of spectacular and memorable,” said Carol Richardson, Gainesville’s Cultural Affairs Manager and event committee member. “With the addition of Vickie Winans this year, you will not want to miss this celebration.”

As tradition, the event will conclude with a community meal, offering an opportunity for attendees to come together, reflect on Dr. King’s legacy, and celebrate as a unified community.

“Our Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebrations are always such a special time, and they get better and better each year,” said Mayor Gib Coerper. “I cannot think of a better way to celebrate Dr. King than gathering with the Good Life Community to experience awesome talent like Mr. Emmanuel and Ms. Winans.”

This milestone celebration promises to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. while fostering community spirit and inspiration. All are encouraged to attend. Legacy Park is located at 15400 Peggy Road, Alachua.

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ALACHUA – A 35-year-old Alachua woman, Alexei Francis Bellow, was arrested on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, following an alleged road rage incident that escalated into aggravated battery. She has been charged with using her car as a deadly weapon to ram another vehicle and driving with a suspended license.

The victim reported the incident to 911 while driving southbound on U.S. Highway 441 in Alachua. According to his statement, Bellow repeatedly swerved into his path and accelerated erratically to match his speed. While on the phone with the 911 operator, the victim followed Bellow as she drove to a Starbucks on Northwest 43rd Street in Gainesville, where she purchased two drinks. She then proceeded to a residence in the Millhopper Station subdivision.

At the residence, Bellow allegedly confronted the victim while he remained on the phone with police. After the confrontation, she returned to her vehicle and intentionally backed into the victim’s car, which was parked in the road. The victim reported that after hitting his car, Bellow exited her vehicle, walked around the front yard, and then drove away, cutting through neighboring lawns.

The victim followed Bellow’s car to U.S. Highway 441, where a Gainesville Police Department officer stopped her near the Staghorn subdivision.

Post-Miranda, Bellow admitted to swerving at the victim and accelerating but claimed it was due to being a "bad driver." She also said she refrained from calling 911 or seeking shelter at the Starbucks because she was afraid.

The victim, who was driving a Tesla, provided video recordings of the incident to law enforcement, which may serve as critical evidence. The arrest report did not clarify whether Bellow and the victim had any prior relationship.

Bellow’s arrest adds to her existing legal troubles. She was previously arrested in May for allegedly breaking into her ex-boyfriend’s home, causing $4,000 in damage, and stealing items. In that case, she was charged with burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, grand theft, and felony property damage.

Although the State Attorney’s office initially sought to hold her without bail, the motion was withdrawn, and Judge David Kreider set bail at $50,000 with a GPS monitoring requirement. Bellow posted bail and had been compliant with the terms of her pretrial release until this latest arrest.

Bellow now faces charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and knowingly driving with a suspended license. Her license had reportedly been suspended in April. She claimed to have renewed her license in January, but records contradicted her statement.

Given her criminal history and pending felony case, Judge Kristine Van Vorst ordered Bellow held without bail. The State Attorney’s office has filed a motion to hold her in custody until trial, with a hearing pending.

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HAWTHORNE – On Monday, Nov. 11, 2024, at approximately 7:30 p.m., Alachua County Fire Rescue (ACFR) responded to a significant accident at a railroad crossing in the city of Hawthorne.

A train collided with two semi-trucks at a railway crossing causing a major incident. One person was injured and transported to Shands Hospital for further treatment and evaluation.

While one of the semi-trucks sustained only minor damage, the other semi-truck, which bore the brunt of the impact, was visibly crushed in the front, with its engine compartment almost entirely destroyed.

The freight train, still on the tracks, sustained impact damage, while the semi’s trailer remained partially intact but displaced. The force of the impact led to a complete blockage of the railway and intersection, causing a spill from a large diesel fuel tank.

Fire crews from Melrose, Windsor, and Gainesville Fire Rescue joined ACFR to handle the incident. The situation was quickly brought under control, with all hazards effectively mitigated. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and CSX, the train’s operator, were also on the scene to manage environmental concerns and assess railway conditions.

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ARCHER – A 61-year-old man was arrested on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, after allegedly firing a gun into the air twice during an argument over a bicycle. Deputies with the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) took Arnold Bernard Hickey into custody at approximately 5:05 p.m., following a call to 911.

The incident occurred in the 12700 block of Southwest 170th Street, where the victim told deputies he had asked Hickey if he could use his bicycle to ride “up the street” and then rode the bicycle to a friend’s house on Southwest 170th Street. The victim stated that he returned the bike about 30 minutes later.

Upon returning the bike, Hickey reportedly became upset, repeating, “I told you about taking my bike, I told you about taking my bike, I got something for that,” while clutching his waistband. According to the victim, Hickey then pulled out a pistol and fired two rounds into the air, prompting the victim to call 911 as Hickey fled the scene on the bicycle.

Deputies located Hickey a short time later in the 12900 block of Southwest 174th Street. A search during his arrest reportedly produced a handgun along with two loaded magazines. Deputies also recovered a shell casing at the location of the incident and found two unfired bullets nearby.

Hickey was arrested without further incident and has been charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

Hickey’s criminal history includes seven misdemeanor convictions, all related to traffic offenses. Judge Adam Lee set his bail at $150,000.

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ALACHUA – In the early afternoon of Nov. 25, 2024, Alachua County Fire Rescue (ACFR) responded to a report of a residential fire in the city of Alachua, where there were initial concerns that two people might still be inside. Upon arrival, crews encountered smoke seeping from the eaves of a single-story home and visible flames near the kitchen window.

Demonstrating effective action, the firefighters launched an aggressive attack on the blaze, successfully extinguishing it before it could spread further. A thorough search of the home revealed that no one was inside, as all occupants had safely evacuated and gathered outside on the street.

Thanks to the efforts of the E21 crew, the fire was contained with minimal damage to the home. Timely intervention saved the structure and prevented what could have been a devastating loss.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. In the wake of the incident, Alachua County Fire Rescue emphasized the importance of preparedness, urging families to establish a fire evacuation plan with a designated meeting point to ensure everyone’s safety in emergencies.

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ALACHUA ‒ A 34-year-old man, Jonathan Ellis O’Steen, was arrested on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, following a Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) investigation into a CyberTip about child sexual abuse material. The arrest came after nearly a year of investigation into online accounts linked to O’Steen, culminating in multiple charges and a significant bond.

The investigation began on Jan. 8, 2024, when an FDLE Special Agent received a CyberTip regarding child sexual abuse material on a Kik account. That same day, the agent issued a subpoena to Google for information about the email address linked to the Kik account.

According to the FDLE, Google’s response included Google Pay transactions in O’Steen’s name and a phone number that had been associated with him since 2016. Additionally, a search warrant for the Google account revealed internet searches for pedophilic content, along with several images related to child exploitation. Authorities also reportedly found images of O’Steen’s driver’s license and Social Security card within the account and three more child sexual abuse images were reportedly found in the Google account.

Further investigation into the Google account led agents to a Yahoo email account serving as the recovery email. Subpoenaed records from Yahoo confirmed O’Steen’s name and linked another phone number to the account.

IP addresses tied to both the Yahoo and Google accounts provided critical evidence. One IP address associated with the CyberTip and Yahoo account was traced to a Windstream subscriber in Alachua, while another IP address linked to the Google account belonged to a nearby subscriber. Records revealed that O’Steen had reportedly updated his driver’s license to reflect an address near the two subscribers in September 2024.

Search warrants for the suspect Kik account uncovered six images, some depicting juveniles engaged in sexual activity, according to the affidavit. Meanwhile, the Yahoo email account produced an email attachment showing an image of O’Steen’s Florida driver’s license, further connecting him to the investigation.

Based on the FDLE’s findings, Judge James Colaw issued a warrant for O’Steen’s arrest on Dec. 5, 2024. O’Steen was taken into custody by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office on Dec. 9. The case is being prosecuted by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution.

O’Steen now faces seven counts of possession of child pornography and one count of using a two-way communications device to facilitate a felony. Notably, he has no prior local criminal history.

O’Steen’s bail set at $1.1 million.

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