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ALACHUA ‒ It was a weekend for celebrations as the A.L. Mebane High School Alumni Association held its annual homecoming reunion starting on Friday and continuing into Sunday. Each year on the weekend after Thanksgiving former students and family members from A.L. Mebane High School hold a multi-day homecoming celebration and parade for a school that no longer exists.

Sponsored by the A.L. Mebane High School Alumni Association, the event has become a community tradition to keep the school's history alive and to remember the struggle for equal education and the achievements of African American students over the past 150 years.

While the Civil War may have ended slavery, it did little to resolve the divisions between the races in the South or bring equality. Prior to 1924, there were no organized institutions of learning for the black community. In that year, the Alachua County Training School (ACT) was opened by the state to provide education for African American children.

For the next 32 years, ACT was the main educational institution for the African American community in Alachua. In 1956 the school was replaced by the Mebane School, named after Albert Leonidas Mebane who had been principle at the ACT school. The school covered all grades including high school. Due to segregation policies, the school remained an all-black school with its first class graduating in 1960.

In 1964, the Civil Rights Act was passed by Congress outlawing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It also prohibited racial segregation in schools, but it would be 1970 before Alachua County schools were integrated by Federal law. Public schools in the county were reorganized and Mebane became an integrated middle school. Mebane high school students were transferred to Santa Fe High School. There would be no more graduating seniors after the class of 1970.

But the unity and spirit of those 14 graduating classes remained strong and the Alumni Association was created. In 1996 the Association held their first Homecoming event. For the Alumni Association, keeping their history alive is a matter of community pride and an eye to the future. Each year since 1996, the community gathers to remember the old Mebane High School. Activities begin on the Friday after Thanksgiving as the Alumni and families from the 14 classes attend activities leading up to the longstanding parade through downtown Alachua.

On Saturday, Nov. 26, the crowd began to gather on the sidewalks along Main Street as overcast skies and mild temperatures made a pleasant day for a parade. Each alumni class designed a float or decorated a car, along with some community organizations and churches that also participated. Led by a police escort, the parade kicked off with sirens wailing and lights flashing.

Sidewalks were lined with spectators as cars and trucks carrying homecoming queens and dignitaries were interspersed with floats sponsored by the various alumni classes, many tossing candy for the excited children attending the parade. A variety of other vehicles, including a large group of motorcycle riders, added to the cacophony of celebratory sounds.

Entertainment was interspersed between the vehicles with the 352 Marching Band performing along the way. The Heart and Soul Line Dancers entertained with style and energy along the parade route.

While the parade started with the deafening howl of police sirens, it ended softly with a nod to the past as a group of horse mounted cowboys and farmers closed out this year’s procession.

Each year the Alumni classes get smaller as the students of 50 years ago get older. But what started as a small group of former students wanting to keep a connection with their classmates, has become a community event spanning multiple generations celebrating their history, culture and achievements.

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ALACHUA COUNTY ‒ Alachua County Environmental Protection Department’s (EPD) Water Resources Program received the Wes Skiles Water Stewardship Award from the Rotary of Downtown Gainesville. The award highlighted Program Manager Stacie Greco’s leadership in developing EPD’s water conservation program, which is a statewide leader for innovative water conservation. Skiles was a well-known cave diver, explorer, cinematographer and director, who died in 2010 while diving off Boynton Beach, Florida.

Chris Bird, former EPD Director, was also acknowledged for his accomplishments during his 27 years leading the Department. Under Chris’s leadership and guidance, Alachua County became recognized in the state and nationally for its strong wetland and natural resource protection standards and resource conservation accomplishments.

The award included a cash prize, which the Rotary Club used to purchase a display at the County Administration Building to continue communicating the importance of conserving water resources.

Regarding the award, Alachua County Environmental Protection Department Water Conservation Coordinator Stacie Greco said, “This award really belongs to the whole Water Resources Division because it takes an amazing team to protect our water.” She continued, “Chris Bird put EPD on the map and on a great trajectory with his incredible efforts and determination. We are lucky to have Stephen Hofstetter as our current director and our dedicated Commissioners as we take on new challenges like climate change.”

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ALACHUA ‒ Two public presentations highlighted the Nov. 28 Alachua City Commission meeting.  A large crowd was on hand to witness the presentation of a remembrance quilt and to recognize elementary students for their art work.

The Alachua County Community Remembrance Quilt Project Committee (ACCRPQC) presented a remembrance quilt to the commission honoring those who lost their lives to lynchings in Newnansville in the years after the Civil War. 

The ACCRPQC collaborated with the City of Alachua Youth Advisory Council to create and sew the quilt in remembrance of the lives lost in Newnansville, a once thriving town situated along Bellamy Road that has now faded into history.  Alachua County Commissioner and former State Representative Charles Chestnut spoke about the work of the Alachua County Community Remembrance Project.

The goal of the Committee is to keep the history of segregation and the lynchings alive for future generations to understand the past. The effort began in January 2020 in partnership with the Equal Justice Initiative from Montgomery, Ala.

Lynching of black Americans in the time of segregation was sadly a common method of intimidating the black population.  Between 1867 and 1926, there were 45 documented lynchings in Alachua County, but the actual figure is probably higher. Of these victims, 15 lynchings occurred in Newbery, but Newnansville was not far behind with 10 known cases.

ACCRPQC Chair Dawn Beachy presented the quilt to the City Commission as members of the quilt committee and Youth Advisory Board held up the quilt, displaying it for the audience to view. It contained 12 squares featuring the names of victims in the Newnansville area.

Across the top of the quilt was a quote, “The right way to right a wrong is to shine the light of truth upon them.” The back of the quilt contained pockets for viewers to put notes in about the victims.

In other business, students from W.W. Irby Elementary who had their artwork featured on display in City Hall as part of the Art in City Hall program were recognized.  Mayor Gib Coerper and Rose Magarino read the names of each student for them to come forward and receive a certificate and show their art work.  After the certificates were presented, the entire City Commission gathered with the students for a group photograph.

The Commission closed the books on the City’s Fiscal Year 2021-22 budget which ended Sept. 30, by amending the General Fund budget to account for unanticipated revenues.  The City’s Finance and Administrative Services Department performs an end of year review of actual receipts and expenditures as part of its end-of-year procedures. The amendment increased the City’s FY 2021-22 budget from $48,738,643 to $48,743,643.

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NEWBERRY ‒ Newberry resident Michael Wayne Bryant, 48, was arrested Monday, Nov. 28, and charged with lewd and lascivious battery on a 15-year-old girl.

On Nov. 26, Bryant allegedly became intoxicated and wanted to drive somewhere. The victim offered to drive him so he would not drive while intoxicated. At some point, the girl ended up in the passenger seat, with Bryant driving, and Bryant allegedly began trying to persuade the girl to run away with him to Dixie County, where he has a hunting lease. He then allegedly touched her inappropriately, but she pushed his hand away.

The victim reportedly convinced Bryant to switch seats so she could drive and she drove to Bryant’s parents’ residence, where she got out of the car and hid. She contacted another person, who came to get her.

Bryant reportedly said he was alone with the girl in the car but denied being intoxicated. He denied ever touching the girl.

Bryant has three misdemeanor convictions for theft, battery and driving without a valid license. According to a spokesman at the State Attorney’s Office, Judge Thomas Jaworski set bail at $10,000.

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NEWBERRY ‒ The Newberry City Commission gave final approval at their Nov. 28 meeting for 124 acres to be used as a limestone quarry.  The Commission approved a large-scale amendment changing the Future Land Use Map from (County) Rural/Agriculture to (City) Mining, amended the Official Zoning Atlas by changing the zoning from County Agriculture (Ag) to City Agricultural (A) on the same acreage, and approved a Special Use Permit for proposed mining activities.  

The property is an abandoned mining site, which was annexed into Newberry on June 8, 2020, and is located on the east side of Northwest County Road 235, between Northwest 22^nd Avenue and Northwest 46^th Avenue.  The site will be the future limestone quarry for Limestone Products, LLC once the southern site has been exhausted of resources.  

City of Newberry Principal Planner Jean-Paul Perez pointed out that there were several protected gopher tortoise sites on the property and included a stipulation in the ordinance that the developer would relocate the gopher tortoise nests to an appropriate location prior to conducting any work on the site.  If there are any noise and vibration complaints associated with the mining operation, those complaints should be directed to the City of Newberry.

Water Main Expansion

The Commission approved moving ahead with expansion of the water system in the southwest area of Newberry.  The water main expansion will increase the capacity of the system to serve new development and provide increased fire flow in that area.

Out of the six proposals received, the City selected Truist as the low-cost and lowest interest rate issuer.  The interest rate is at 4.23 percent for 10 years with no pre-payment penalty.  The City will issue $915,000 in debt, which includes approximately four percent in closing costs.  The total interest during the life of the loan is $219,697 with annual debt service payments in the amount of approximately $116,000.  The payments are expected to be funded using development fees collected from new connections to the water system.

City’s Comprehensive Plan

City staff provided an ordinance on second reading to identify Comprehensive Plan updates outlining significant changes to local conditions that have occurred since the last edition of Comprehensive Plan amendments, as well as to significantly update the functionality of the plan. 

Every seven years the City of Newberry is required to file an Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.  The EAR determines whether or not the City’s Comprehensive Plan needs to be amended in order to bring it up to date with recent changes to state land use law and/or changes to local conditions.

“This represents the first phase of several more amendments to the Comprehensive Plan that will be coming in future months,” said Newberry Planning and Economic Development Director Bryan Thomas.  

Road Improvement

During the last fiscal year, the City Commission identified the design and reconstruction of Southwest 15^th Avenue from State Road 45 west to Southwest 260^th Street as a priority.  The 0.63-mile-long segment of Southwest 15^th Avenue runs east and west between Newberry Elementary School and Newberry High School.  At that time, Commissioners listed several items on their wish list.  Those items included sidewalks on both sides of the roadway, wider lanes, pedestrian crosswalks, improved street lighting and turning lanes. 

Clay Sweger of eda consultants, inc. presented schematic design concepts for Southwest 15^th Avenue for Commission consideration.  Commissioners expressed concern that the trees may block line of sight for people pulling out of driveways into traffic. 

Although they liked the roundabout that had been designed by eda, they thought it might be best to supply the rendering to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for consideration the next time they make updates to the roadway.  An additional consideration was for a drainage area on a small part of the school board property. 

City Hall Project

City Hall project sponsor Travis Parker presented options for construction management of the City Hall project.  The Commission’s concerns about funding sources, the upcoming Impact Fee workshop and not knowing about other possible funding sources led Commissioners to hold off on making the decision as to how to proceed with the project. 

Following an extended discussion, the Commission directed staff to prepare documents, but to hold off on implementing until after the impact fee workshop.

Power Plant Roof

The Commission authorized the city manager to enter into a contract with Rogers Roofing Corp. dba Professional Roof Systems for roof removal and re-roofing of the deteriorating Newberry Historic Power Plant roof.  The cost is $34,000 and the Commission also authorized the city manager to approve change orders not to exceed 25 percent of the contract amount.  Funds are included in the City’s Capital Improvement budget for this project.

In other business, the Commission scheduled the Impact Fee Workshop for Dec. 7 and the last regular City Commission meeting of 2022 for Dec. 12.

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GAINESVILLE/HIGH SPRINGS ‒ Ricardo Lamar Neal, 31, of High Springs, was sentenced on Monday, Oct. 24, to 19.65 months in prison on a charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, with credit for 160 days served.

Neal was arrested on Feb. 21, after allegedly confronting a man in the 14300 block of Northwest 155^th Place in Alachua. Neal claimed that the man had followed him on the highway. Neal allegedly became upset, grabbed a pistol and fired one round into the air. A shell casing was later found at the location. Neal then allegedly pointed the pistol at a crowd of people at the location and told the man, “You don’t want this,” before leaving the area.

The victim told law enforcement that he did not want to press charges, so no aggravated assault charges were filed regarding the threat to shoot, but Alachua Police Department (APD) later filed charges of firing a weapon in public and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Officers learned that Neal was a convicted felon who is not permitted to possess a firearm and that he had a warrant out of Alachua County for felony domestic battery, which was later dropped.

Within a few minutes, the car was located near Walmart off Northwest 23^rd Street in Gainesville. When a Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officer approached the car, Neal allegedly ran. When an Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ASO) K-9 deputy told him to stop running, Neal reportedly jumped over a wall.

Citizens reported seeing Neal running into the Walmart store, where he was located wearing different clothes and a hat, all of which still had the tags attached. Neal was detained in the store but then began throwing up.

Neal was taken to the hospital, where an APD officer arrived with an arrest warrant. ASO deputies added a charge of resisting without violence and the felony warrant. GPD found a gun in the vehicle and charged Neal with three counts of possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon and one count of carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.

In May, Neal entered pleas of nolo contendere to the charge of resisting arrest from ASO and 15 counts of violating pre-trial release conditions in the domestic battery case by contacting the victim, all misdemeanors. He was sentenced to 180 days in the Alachua County Jail.

The APD charge of firing a weapon in public was dropped and the APD charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon was consolidated into the GPD case.

Neal entered a plea of nolo contendere to one charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Judge James Colaw sentenced him to 19.65 months in state prison. The other firearm charges from GPD were dropped as part of the plea deal.

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