Local

NEWBERRY ‒ Ernesto Angel Morales Alejo, 19, was arrested Friday night, Nov. 25, and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon after allegedly intentionally hitting a man with his car.

At about 8 p.m. Friday night, Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a call from an address in Newberry about an armed disturbance. The deputies interviewed the victim and witnesses and determined that following a brief physical fight, Morales Alejo had gotten into his car and started revving the engine in the front yard of the victim’s home. He then allegedly began driving across the yard, leaving tire tracks several inches deep that went across the yard and all the way to the front door.

The victim, who was trauma-alerted to UF Health Shands, reportedly told deputies that Morales Alejo intentionally drove toward him and hit him with the front of his car. Morales Alejo’s vehicle reportedly had a broken headlight on one side and a large dent in the fender. A witness also reportedly told a deputy that Morales Alejo had intentionally hit the victim with his car at high speed.

Another witness told a deputy that he had seen Morales Alejo “driving crazy” in the front yard and then heard yelling and screaming as if someone were in pain.

Morales Alejo, who gave a Gainesville address, was later arrested at Hitchcock’s Grocery in Newberry and has been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. He has no local criminal history and has been charged with a second-degree felony.

#     #     #

Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The High Springs Chamber of Commerce hosted the community’s 25^th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting at the Farmers Market Pavilion last Friday evening. The event has been held continuously for many years, even though the COVID-19 Pandemic, although on a reduced level. On Dec. 3 this year, the event was back to its former size both in volunteers and audience size.

While the event is hosted and staffed by the High Springs Chamber of Commerce members, the participation of various organizations and volunteers make it a community sponsored event. The Chamber along with local churches and organizations provided booths distributing candy, popcorn, cookies and other treats to the children.

Under the roof of the Farmers Market on Railroad Avenue, The Florida Creamery provided free ice cream to the crowd, while Witness of Christ Church offered free cookies. Another group provided hot chocolate and candy cane treats. The New Century Women's Club and the Girls Scouts combined efforts at another table to help children make Christmas ornaments.

John Decker and the High Springs Historical Society set up two running model train displays while the High Springs Lions Club offered actual train rides in their “Polar Express” train, pulled by a riding tractor.

“All these people help make this event a success,” said Chamber President Sharon Decker. “We also want to acknowledge the efforts of the City by providing the tree decorations, power, PA set up and traffic control.

“Due to some illnesses, we were short staffed from the Chamber but High Springs Police Chief Antoine Sheppard and his staff volunteered to fill in as well as traffic control and that was a great help,” said Decker. “Pastor Sammy Nelson of the Witness of Christ Church volunteered to be the emcee for the event, which was also a great help.”

People dressed as Christmas characters roamed the crowd interacting with the children and posing for photos while the crowd waited for the arrival of Santa Claus and the tree lighting ceremony. As the clock ticked closer to 6:15, the crowd gradually converged around the Christmas tree. Nelson introduced High Springs Mayor Gloria James who was joined by Commissioners Byran Williams and Katherine Weitz. Musical entertainment was provided by Dani MacKinzie and her brother, Bandon Luke, who sang Christmas songs.

At the appointed time of 6:30, Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived on a fire truck with lights flashing and sirens blaring. Santa and Mrs. Claus were immediately surrounded by excited children, wanting a chance to touch, hug or speak to Santa.

After a few minutes with the crowd, the Claus's were brought closer to the tree by Nelson and initiated the countdown as the tree lit up to the cheers of the crowd.

After the tree was lit, Santa and Mrs. Claus went to the Gazebo by the Farmers Market to listen to the long line of excited children and their wishes for Christmas.

“We were really glad how it all worked out,” said Decker. “I think we were able to make it a great event and bring back the traditional community celebration that was limited in the past due to COVID.

Decker added, “There were a lot of people who helped and made it work. We are looking forward to making it bigger each year and keep the tradition going.”

#     #    #

email rcarson@

alachuatoday.com

NEWBERRY ‒ A 26-year-old Newberry man was killed on Sunday, Nov. 20, at approximately 9:32 p.m. The incident involved a red passenger car driven by a 19-year-old Gainesville man. At just east of the intersection of State Road 26 and Southwest 260^th Street the passenger car hit the pedestrian who was pronounced deceased on the scene by emergency services.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol Official Report, no injuries were sustained by the driver or his 15-year-old passenger in the red car. The names of the persons involved in this crash were not released.

#     #     #

Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com

ALACHUA ‒ Monthlong seasonal festivities are in full swing in Alachua. Merrymaking kicked off last Friday evening at 6 p.m. with crowds gathering around the towering Christmas tree across from Alachua’s Skinner Field. The annual tree lighting tradition began in 2006 when the City of Alachua began holding a number of events to celebrate the Christmas season with the community. Every year, on the first Friday of December, the tree lighting ceremony is held followed by a visit from Santa Claus. This year Alachua will enjoy multiple events to make the whole month a celebration of the holiday season.

Friday’s official tree lighting ceremony was the center of attention as all eyes were on the larger-than-life Christmas tree as crowds gathered under strings of colorful Christmas lights as excited children awaited the arrival of Santa Claus in his horse drawn carriage. Helping to keep the experience alive long after the event ended, a cheerful background display with chairs for Santa and Mrs. Claus was available to offer free photos by Magnolia Lane Photography. Children also enjoyed boxes of treat-filled boxes after having their photo taken with the jolly couple from the North Poole.

A popular activity for the children was the ornament making stations for youngsters to create their own paper Christmas ornaments. Refreshments were abundant as Capital City Bank provided popcorn and costumed characters wandering in the park for children to greet and take photos with. Alachua’s Boy Scout Troop 88 provided steaming hot chocolate with marshmallows for the crowd. Dollar General provided free candies and cookies and Walmart provided juice boxes for the children.

Another highlight of the event was the snow blowing machine that created imaginary snow flurries for the children to play in. While all these activities provided the crowd with the Christmas feel, the big event was the tree lighting and arrival of Santa.

After short speeches by Mayor Gib Coerper and City Manager Mike DaRoza, all attention turned toward Main Street as police cars with lights flashing escorted a shiny white carriage with Santa, Mrs. Claus and two elves. Children excitedly lined the street for a glimpse of the carriage and its occupants.

DaRoza joined Santa in the street to lead a countdown for the tree to light up filling the park with shimmering multicolored illuminations. Families gathered around the tree to photograph their children as excited children waited in anticipation to sit on Santa's lap and tell him their Christmas wishes.

Alachua’s holiday celebrations will continue with a parade down Main Street on Saturday, Dec. 10 starting at 2 p.m. And for the next two Saturdays, “Holiday Nights” sponsored by the City of Alachua are also on tap on Saturday, Dec. 10 and Saturday, Dec. 17 with a variety of activities in the historic downtown area. Free showings of The Santa Claus film series will be happening downtown as well as free carriage rides up and down Main Street. Free Christmas gift wrapping will be provided and Santa will again be set up near Magnolia Lane Photography for additional photos. Two stages will feature acoustic musicians playing Christmas music as well as a performance by the Gainesville Youth Choir.

Wrapping up the season’s activities is a performance of The Nutcracker by Dance Alive. This special event hosted by the City of Alachua takes place Friday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. at Legacy Park, 15400 Peggy Road. This free event is not to be missed, and the public is encouraged to bring a bag chair and a blanket to enjoy this family tradition under a canopy of stars. Hot chocolate and popcorn will be available while supplies last, and a meet and greet the dancers will follow the performance.

#     #    #

email rcarson@

alachuatoday.com

ALACHUA COUNTY – The City of High Springs will be making improvements to a local park thanks to funding from the Duke Energy Foundation.

The Foundation recently announced $160,000 in grants to support eight local community projects in Alachua County.

A first for Duke Energy Florida, the company worked alongside the Greater Gainesville Chamber of Commerce Foundation to identify local projects that have meaningful impacts in North-Central Florida communities.

The targeted $20,000 grants support initiatives ranging from park revitalization to signage projects, as well as equipment and plan upgrades.

In High Springs, the grant will assist the Parks and Recreation, Education and Culture Department (Parks & REC) in upgrading a popular basketball court at Walter Howard Park.

“With this grant, we plan to resurface the outdoor basketball court and upgrade the baskets at Walter Howard Park, High Springs' crown jewel pocket park,” said Damon J. Messina, Parks & R.E.C. director. “This park has been a favorite among children in our community for several years. These upgrades will ensure it will be available for many years to come.”

To help guide the economic growth and development of the community, the City of Waldo received a grant to update and enhance the city’s Comprehensive and Economic Development Plan.

“The City of Waldo’s Comprehensive and Economic Development Plan is outdated and is actually an impediment for new growth,” said City of Waldo Mayor Louie Davis. “The cost of these updates is beyond our budget at this time and this grant has made it possible for the updates to happen.”

“With the growth expected in Florida’s future, Waldo needs to be ready with a strong plan to handle the growth and development in our city,” said Davis. “Thank you, Duke Energy, for awarding grants like these for the small towns. Your dollars make a difference.”

In addition to Waldo and High Springs, revitalization grants were also awarded to additional cities and towns.

In the city of Alachua, funds will support the City’s efforts to provide educational exhibits and signage at Mill Creek Preserve to inform residents and visitors about the Mill Creek Sink Water Quality Improvement Project.

Funds will be used to add a kitchen at the Holly Hills Community Center in Archer, while in Hawthorne, funds will support the City’s Hawthorne Historical Park with educational signage, benches and grills, among other items.

The Town of LaCrosse fire department will use the funds to replace equipment used by the town's fire department and the Town of Micanopy will use the funds to support the town’s Micanopy Entry Sign Project.

In Newberry, funds will support the City’s business incubator feasibility study at Newberry AgTech Innovation Park.

The Duke Energy Foundation grants are designed to aid revitalization and local economic development efforts and to help strengthen and uplift communities.

#     #     #

Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The High Springs City Commission has approved a municipal mural ordinance on first pubic reading. The controversial issue has dogged the commission

as various citizens and groups lobbied the commission to either approve or reject details related to the official ordinance.

Although the Planning and Zoning Board make several recommendations for modifications to the proposed ordinance regulating murals at an earlier meeting, Commissioners on Nov. 29 passed Ordinance 2022-13 on first reading with only one minor modification.

Section 7.12, which originally specified that murals would not be allowed 50 feet from residential properties, was eliminated. Newly elected Commissioner Tristan Grunder, who made the motion to approve the ordinance, pointed out that any mural that was 20 feet tall would be seen fairly far away. He said that a 50-foot distance would not make much difference. Commissioner Byran Williams agreed and seconded Grunder’s motion.

As has been the case at several meetings, this item took up most of the City Commission meeting and resulted in a 4-1 decision with Commissioner Katherine Weitz casting the dissenting vote. This item will be heard on second and final reading at the Dec. 8 City Commission meeting.

City Attorney Invoice Questioned

In other business, Weitz expressed concern that the city attorney’s bill for development of the mural ordinance was $18,426, which she considered excessive. The city attorney pointed out that the City has been dealing with this issue for nearly a year. No action was taken on this issue.

In a separate action, Weitz made a motion that the attorney’s contract should be revised and a request for proposal should be advertised to seek a new attorney. However, that motion died for lack of a second.

The city manager said staff would research the cost of an in-house attorney as the topic has been brought up several times.

Impact Fees

The Commission held the second required workshop prior to considering implementation of new impact fees for transportation, parks and general government impacts. On Nov. 29, City Manager Ashley Stathatos explained that general government includes impacts related to police, fire and facilities.

Impact fees are a one-time fee assessed on new residential and commercial development to pay for the costs associated with growth.

As part of the process, Duncan & Associates was hired to produce a technical report that establishes the need and appropriate amount to assess in impact fees to serve new development.

Stathatos reviewed the study’s findings during the workshop and said that the fees for new construction of single-family detached dwellings would be $4,989 and multi-family dwellings would be $3,130.

The assessed rate depends on the construction type is would be assessed at a rate based on each 1,000 square feet. Rates include retail/commercial construction assessed at $4,502, office construction at $3,242, industrial construction at $1,448, warehouse construction at $549 and public/institutional construction assessed at $1,498.

Stathatos said the Commission could lower those amounts after the water and sewer impact fees have been determined, but that increasing fees would require additional effort. She suggested the Commission consider approving the proposed impact fees at the discussed rates. The Commission unanimously approved upon first reading of Ordinance 2022-17 at the City Commission meeting held after the workshop.

Other Business

In other City business, a site plan was approved for an 8 ft. x 10 ft. shed for Chomper’s Diner, located at 23508 N.W. 185^th Road, behind their existing drive-through diner. The shed is not air conditioned and will be used for additional storage. “The shed will be constructed of Hardie board siding with an aluminum roof and will be painted to match the existing building,” said Stathatos. Bushes will also be planted on the rear and the side facing Northwest 235^th Street.

Commissioner Williams was appointed to be the City’s representative to the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council. At times when he is unable to attend due to Commission meeting conflicts, Kristy Adkins will act as his delegate.

Commissioners unanimously approved the final amendment to the Fiscal Year 2021-22 budget, which required approval by Nov. 30, in accordance with state statute. ARPA funding and expenditures were not included at the time of the FY22 budget development and were the only revisions in the amendment.

The next City Commission meeting will be held Dec. 8 at the Civic Center as construction on the City Hall elevators are to begin this week, with completion anticipated by the first of the year.

#     #     #

Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com