Local

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ A local legend known for his penchant to forego clothing is in need. Ed Watts, also known as Naked Ed, lived on the Santa Fe River for over 35 years. He served as caretaker for a piece of property that surrounds Lily Springs. As most locals know, most of the time, Ed doesn’t wear clothes.

When Ed first found the spring in 1984, it was covered in trash. Watts asked the owner if he could clean it up and swim in it—naked. Watts was called the springs' caretaker and was given a 20-year no-payment lease.

Ed first began staying at Lily Springs in a tent for only a few days week. After about a year he began living there full time, at first in a grass hut he built on the ground, and then in a hut on stilts due to flooding.

Over the years Ed became a local celebrity as people kayaking the river would stop at Lily Springs to see him. He became what he calls “a tourist attraction” due to the numbers of people who canoed the river to visit. Ed does acquiesce to convention when people are around as he wears a loincloth to be polite. Other times he is simply “Naked Ed.”

Even though Ed lives alone, he enjoys talking with visitors. And he does create quite an impression. Even the staff of two governors thought it was wise for the head of state to meet with the naked man during “field visits.” Watts became so well known in area that there was even a beer named after him.

Over the past few years, Naked Ed's health problems, including brittle bone disease, have forced him to spend less time on the river and more at a house on family land in Columbia County on Southwest Brawley Terrace. Tragedy struck on Feb. 1 when his home burned to the ground. Ed was inside with family at the time, but they quickly realized the fire was beyond their control to extinguish. They called the fire department, but it was too late.

Ed lost everything and is now living in a motel. Fiends and community members have set up several charity drives to help get him on his feet and get a new house.

One friend set up a GoFundMe at:https://www.gofundme.com/.../wbhcqe-help-naked-ed-rebuild. So far, over $3,000 has been collected. The Santa Fe Bar has also organized a benefit concert for Naked Ed and is a drop-off location for clothing, household items and monetary donations.

The benefit concert will be held at Rum 138, 2070 S.W. County Road 138, on Saturday, Feb. 26. Music starts at 1 p.m. and will play till 10 p.m., weather permitting. Six local bands or performers are donating their playing time for Naked Ed’s benefit. He needs a shed or tiny home for his property, at a reduced cost or donated. Volunteers to help with clean-up after the fire, as well as electrical and plumbing installation are also needed.

In addition to the music, the event includes food and drinks as well as a donation drive with a suggested $10 entry per person. An art auction of Naked Ed portraits by painter Michèle Karahalios and photographer John Moran will take place at 6 p.m., all to help raise funds for a new roof over his head and replace items lost in the fire so he can continue to live on his family land.

The music schedule is:1 – 2 p.m. DJ Scotti J; 2 – 3 p.m. Quartermoon; 3 – 4:30 p.m. Jim’s Livingroom; 4:30 – 6 p.m. Weeds of Eden; 6 – 6:30 p.m. art auction; 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. In The Moment and 8:30 - 10 p.m. Lionel Jr. the Voodoo Cowboy.

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Email rcarson@

alachuatoday.com

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - Alachua County, in partnership with the City of Newberry, is dedicating the arena at the Alachua County Agriculture and Equestrian Center (23100 W. Newberry Road, Newberry) in honor of former Alachua County Commissioner Lee Pinkoson. The dedication is on Friday, March 4, 2022, at 5:45 p.m. The public is invited to attend. Face masks are strongly encouraged when social distancing is not possible. 

NEWBERRY ‒ The City of Newberry at the Feb. 15 commission meeting annexed nearly 76 acres of unincorporated Alachua County into the Newberry city limits. Ordinance 2022-01 was approved to annex three contiguous properties, tax parcels numbers 04273-002-000, 04273-002-001 and 04273-002-002, totaling approximately 15.53 acres. Ordinance 2022-02 includes parcel 01840-002-001 and includes approximately 20.02 acres. Ordinance 2022-03 includes two contiguous properties consisting of tax parcels 02597- 000-000 and 02597-001-000 for a total of approximately 40.32 acres.

Commissioners also approved a change in the Future Land Use Map classification from Alachua County Rural/Agriculture to City of Newberry Agriculture on approximately 38.2 acres of land previously annexed into the City on Nov. 13, 2017. This action was taken following a legislative public hearing on second reading of Ordinance 2022-05/CPA 21-31. The subject property includes Tax Parcels 04443-000-000 and 04443-001-000, which are located on the south side of Southwest 30^th Avenue and east of Southwest 186^th Street.

Following approval of Ordinance 2022-05/CPA 21-31 on second reading, Commissioners heard Ordinance 2022-12/LDR 21-39 in a quasi-judicial public hearing and approved a zoning change from Alachua County Rural/Agriculture to City of Newberry Agricultural on the same two tax parcels.

Ordinance 2022-06/CPA 21-32 was approved to change the Future Land Use Map classification from Alachua County Rural/Agriculture to City of Newberry Agriculture on approximately two contiguous parcels totaling approximately 7.38 acres of land, which also had previously been annexed into the City on Nov. 13, 2017. This action was taken following a legislative public hearing on second reading of Ordinance 2022-06/CPA 21-32. The subject property includes Tax Parcels 02587-001-005 and 02587-000-007, which are located on the south side of Southwest 30th Avenue and east of Southwest 298th Street.

Following approval of Ordinance 2022-06/CPA 21-32 on second reading, Commissioners heard Ordinance 2022-13/LDR 21-40 in a quasi-judicial public hearing and approved a zoning change from Alachua County Rural/Agriculture to City of Newberry Agricultural on the same two tax parcels.

Ordinance 2022-08/CPA 21-34 was approved to change the future Land Use Map classification from Alachua County Rural/Agriculture to City of Newberry Agriculture on one parcel totaling approximately 4.27 acres. The property, which is located on the south side State Road-26/West Newberry Road, west of Southwest 174th Street, was annexed into the City on Nov. 13, 2017. This action was taken following a legislative public hearing on second reading of Ordinance 2022-08/CPA 21-34. The subject property includes Tax Parcel 04370-002-000.

Following approval of Ordinance 2022-08/CPA 21-34 on second reading, Commissioners heard Ordinance 2022-15/LDR21-42 in a quasi-judicial public hearing and approved a zoning change from Alachua County Rural/Agriculture to City of Newberry Agricultural on the same tax parcel.

The next City Commission meeting is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 28.

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Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a press release alerting consumers to avoid purchasing or using certain powdered infant formula products produced in Abbott Nutrition’s facility in Sturgis, Michigan. This is an ongoing investigation, and Abbott has initiated a voluntary recall of the potentially affected product. The FDA’s full press release can be found here.

• The first two digits of the code are 22 through 37
• The code on the container contains K8, SH, or Z2
• The expiration date is 4-1-2022 (APR 2022) or later

HIGH SPRINGS – Charles “Doc” Edward Williams, 79, High Springs, was arrested on Feb. 6 following an investigation in which it was discovered that he had solicited two individuals to clean out a house and dispose of the owner’s possessions without the owner’s permission.

The arrest followed an investigation in which High Springs Police Department (HSPD) patrol officer Nodarse noticed a suspicious vehicle parked at a residence at 23000 N.W. 182^nd Avenue in High Springs. The officer had prior knowledge that the current occupant of the home was incarcerated in a jail facility and was awaiting transport for long-term medical care.

According to the HSPD, Nodarse noticed the suspicious vehicle on Feb. 1 and made contact with an individual at the house, who said they had been hired to clean, paint and dispose of personal belongings inside the house, all without the victim’s knowledge or consent.

Williams had solicited Clarice Robinson and Eddie Russel, both of whom are also charged with exploitation of a disabled adult and scheming to defraud, to not only clean out the house, but also to pay the tax bill on the property and resume utilities at the house with the promise of letting them live in the home. Robinson and Russel discarded and burned most of the belongings inside the home and changed the locks.

Williams knew of the victim’s diminished mental capacity and was placed in a position of trust and confidence by the victim to care for the victim’s property and belongings.

Destroyed items included personal items, mattresses, clothing, photographs, artwork and furniture.

Williams has been released on his own recognizance with a GPS monitor. He also has a pending misdemeanor charge for selling beer without a license in June 2021. Williams was arrested in October on that charge and was also released on his own recognizance at that time.

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Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com