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ALACHUA COUNTY ‒ The person allegedly responsible for a three-vehicle crash on Thanksgiving morning that resulted in the deaths of two High Springs residents and serious injury to a third person has been charged in the Interstate 75 crash that occurred just south of the Alachua exit at mile marker 397.

Demiko Montrell White, Jr. 24, has been charged with two counts of vehicular manslaughter – negligent, two counts of DUI vehicular manslaughter – negligent driving with a suspended driver’s license – habitual offender and marijuana possession, on top of the existing charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), the crash occurred at about 10:40 a.m. at which time a 23-year-old (at the time) St. Petersburg man with a 21-year-old male passenger, also of St. Petersburg, was driving a black sedan south in the center lane on I-75. The driver of the sedan attempted to change lanes into the right lane and struck the left side of a semi truck driven by a 38-year-old Clermont man.

At the same time, an SUV, driven by a 55-year-old man was traveling south in the left lane with a 50-year-old woman, a 13-year-old girl and an 83-year-old woman as passengers. The driver and passengers were all from High Springs.

When the sedan struck the semi truck, it swerved toward the left lane and struck the right rear of the SUV, which caused the SUV to swerve onto the shoulder and overturn several times, resulting in the fatalities. The driver of the SUV sustained minor injuries, but the 50-year-old woman sustained serious injuries.

Despite having an outstanding warrant out of Orange County, White was released on $15,000 bond four days after the crash. Following FHP’s investigation, an arrest warrant was issued on Dec. 15, 2021. On Jan. 6, 2022, White had contact with members of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, who arrested him on the warrant and added two counts of resisting arrest without violence.

According to the arrest report from Pinellas County, White refused to get on the ground when ordered by detectives. The report states that White refused to follow clear commands from deputies wearing clearly marked clothing and turned away, walking toward an elevator. Several deputies took him to the ground, where he continued to resist by tensing and bracing, refusing to comply with orders to give deputies his hands. Following a brief struggle, White was taken into custody.

Because the arrest violated his pretrial custody agreement, his bond on the previous Alachua County charge was revoked and bond was then set at $1,021,000 on the new charges. White was transferred to the Orange County Jail on Jan. 25, where he remains. He is scheduled to be in court in Alachua County on April 4.

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NEWBERRY – The Newberry Board of Adjustment (BOA) approved application SE 22-03, related to a Rural Event Center during the Feb. 28 meeting. Shabnam Rumpf-Monadizadeh, acting on behalf of her company Ecovibe, LLC, received permission to take her conceptual plan to the final design stage.

The property is located approximately .25 mile west of the intersection of Newberry Road and 170^th Street. Rumpf-Monadizadeh reviewed possible uses at the proposed Rural Event Center including a Yoga/meditation center, indoor and outdoor classrooms, nature trails, gardens, green houses, plant nursery, petting zoo, open space/play areas, food truck area, café and beer garden.

She said hours of operation would likely be 10 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. However, the application was approved with permission to create three larger special events per year following notification to the City approximately two weeks prior to those events.

To alleviate concerns about parking, the owner explained that there was a one-acre drive loop on the south end of the property that could be used for overflow parking. Currently, the property will require a well and septic system to address water and waste discharge. However, as with all City developments, when water and sewer lines are located within 800 feet of the property, the property owner will have one year to hook up to the City systems.

Planning and Economic Development Director Bryan Thomas explained that FDOT would not require modifications for traffic flow as the number of expected trips did not come up to the minimum amount required for such action. He also pointed out that when the actual site plan was developed, the plan would again be heard by the BOA for final approval. Also, as part of the approval process, the application would be reviewed one year after the Special Event Center was fully operational. If there are no problems or complaints at that time, the BOA could change the next review period to five years, as is routinely done with other Special Exception events.

Should the property owner choose to sell, the Special Exception would not automatically be granted to the buyer unless they were going to continue with the same type of business. At that time, the BOA would decide whether to grant the new owner the same Special Exception status.

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HAWTHORNE –  As part of the of widening improvements on State Road 20 from the Putnam County line to SW 56^th Avenue, eastbound and westbound travel lanes on State Road 20 from Southeast 65^th Lane to Gordon Chapel Road (map below) will be shifted to the north side of the roadway onto new pavement and the newly constructed bridge just west of Gordon Chapel Road Wednesday, March 9.

Anderson Columbia Co. Inc. is estimated to complete the $49 million widening improvements by early 2023. Construction schedule and completion estimates are fluid and subject to change, weather and schedule permitting. 

March is bicycle safety month. When cycling always wear a helmet and ride in the same direction of traffic on the street. Obey all traffic signs, signals, and markings.

Stay informed about lane closures and roadwork in your area by following FDOT District 2 at @MyFDOT_NEFL on Twitter or at MyFDOTNEFL on Facebook.

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NEWBERRY – The Newberry City Commission on Feb. 28 approved a letter of support for House Bill 1493, sponsored by State Representative Chuck Clemons. The action is in support of a measure before the Florida Legislature to place a referendum on the Nov. 8, 2022 ballot allowing the Alachua County electorate an opportunity to vote on whether they do or do not want single member districts for the Alachua County Commission.

This legislation would change the current County Commission at-large representation to five single member districts. Elected members would be required to live in one of the five county districts, and each commissioner would be nominated and elected by the people living in the same district. The Alachua County Commission and the City of Gainesville Commission have voiced their opposition to the idea of putting the issue to a vote.

In other business, Newberry Commissioners are tackling the City’s Urban Service Area (USA) boundary. On Jan. 10, a public workshop was held to allow members of the public, as well as Commissioners, to markup maps to show their suggested USA boundary. The USA will help identify areas where services are intended to be provided in an attempt to focus development in areas where governmental services will be available to the development.

“Although the location of the urban service area appears as a boundary on a map, it is most often used to implement a growth management strategy designed to direct growth over a projected time horizon (typically 20 years or more),” said Thomas.

He presented five proposed USA options, some of which reduced the current USA boundary and some which expanded it. Commissioners whittled down five proposed options to three and postponed further discussion until the full Commission was in attendance. The amendment process can take approximately six months to go through all of the required steps, reviews and hearings.

In other City business, the Commission approved three projects by giving authorization to the Utilities and Public Works Department to proceed. The Newberry Lane Forcemain and Watermain Project #2021-12 was approved and the go ahead was given to City Manager Mike New to execute a contract for $370,558 for the total of the base bid and a Deductive Alternate in the amount of $8,440 with Andrews Paving, Inc.

The Commission also approved the State Road 26 Forcemain and Watermain Project #2021-13. Commissioners authorized New to execute a contract for $994,239 for the total base bid with O’Steen Brothers, Inc. The authorization is conditioned upon the completion of the land rights process.

The third project authorized by the Commission is the Southwest 4^th Avenue Sidewalk Project #2022-01.   New was authorized to execute a contract with Andrews Paving, Inc. for the total of the base bid of $48,757. The developer is paying for half of the project and street lights will be installed after the sidewalk project is completed.

The City of Newberry is looking for an experienced planner as Principal Planner Wendy Kinser-Maxwell retires after 15 years as a grant writer and city planner. “It will be difficult to find someone as experienced to fill Wendy’s shoes,” said Planning and Economic Development Director Bryan Thomas.

In honor of her retirement Mayor Jordan Marlowe read a proclamation into the record during the Feb. 28 Commission meeting honoring Kinser-Maxwell and naming March 3, her last day with the City, as Wendy Kinser-Maxwell Day in Newberry. He also presented her with a plaque and an award for her years of service and wished her well.

In one of her last acts prior to her retirement, Kinser-Maxwell introduced Ordinance 2022-19/LDR 22-02 on first reading. This item is an amendment to the City’s Land Development Regulations to allow electronic message signage at city-owned public facilities, specifically City Hall.

“The electronic signage provides a public service through better and increased communication with the public about upcoming city events and important announcements that can affect the community’s health, safety and welfare, such as emergency or hurricane safety alerts,” Kinser-Maxwell said. In addition, for those residents who do not use the internet, a changeable copy electronic message board offers a consistent, straightforward way to gain information. “It is a practical means of communication that will give the City another tool to share important information with its residents,” she said.

Because City Hall is within the Historic District, the proposed amendment to the current city sign regulations is necessary and will not compromise the intent of the district. Kinser-Maxwell pointed out that public hearings were held before the Historic Architectural Review Board and the Planning and Zoning Board. In both cases the vote was unanimous to recommend approval.

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NEWBERRY ‒ Crews from the Newberry Fire Department (E28), Alachua County Fire Rescue and the High Springs Fire Department were called to the scene of a fire in the 900 block of Northwest 252^nd Drive in Newberry late Wednesday night, March 2. When firefighters arrived, they found heavy smoke coming from the garage.

Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire, which was contained to the garage.

“Most of the damage to the garage was smoke damage,” said Newberry Fire Chief Ben Buckner. No firefighter injuries were reported and the residents were able to exit the house safely.

Alachua County Fire Rescue is investigating the cause of the fire.

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