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GAINESVILLE, FL - As unemployment claims continue climbing due to the job losses caused by coronavirus, more Floridians need access to critical unemployment assistance to help pay their rent and keep food on the table.

“Unemployment benefits are critical to helping Floridians remain stable now and recover financially after the pandemic ends,” explained Christine E. Larson, Three Rivers Legal Services’ executive director. “However, many Floridians are still having difficulty accessing unemployment benefits.”

Three Rivers Legal Services’ attorneys and advocates are available to provide free, legal assistance to individuals to Floridians who have questions about their eligibility for state or federal unemployment benefits, including denials of applications, terminations of benefits or questions about their benefit amount.

With offices in Gainesville, Jacksonville and Lake City, Three Rivers Legal Services is assisting low-income clients in Northeast Florida facing civil legal problems stemming from the pandemic. For the health and safety of our clients and team, we are not currently taking in-person applications. However, anyone in need of civil legal help can call our legal helpline at 1-866-256-8091 or apply for help through our website at trls.org.

“From evictions and foreclosures, to dealing with domestic violence during the quarantine, our advocates are available to help people with their civil legal needs,” said Larson.

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GAINESVILLE - On Friday, May 22, The Southeastern Conference Presidents voted to allow student-athletes to participate in voluntary in-person athletics activities on campus beginning June 8.

UF Health officials, along with University Athletic Association (UAA) Athletic Training, Strength and Hawkins Center staffs have prepared protocols for student-athletes to use our training facilities, which will focus on a gradual return of student athletes to campus over the course of the summer. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the UAA has been working closely with state, campus & UF Health officials.

One thing to note is that all student-athletes, coaches and UAA staff will be screened and tested for COVID through the UF Health program before coming back to campus or utilizing training facilities.

Attached, please see a copy of an executive summary of the program. Below is a quote from Athletics Director Scott Stricklin. We've also attached a copy of the current phasing and testing plan of our student athletes.

"Our student athlete wellness group has been working for some time with UF Health officials on a plan to integrate our student athletes back on campus," said Athletics Director Scott Stricklin.  "They have developed a gradual phasing program, so that we don't have an influx of a large number of student athletes returning at once. Football, Volleyball and Soccer teams will return in phases within those teams in the month of June. Our student athletes will be screened and tested through a partnership program with UF Health and our staff has worked with a number of experts to promote a safer environment for the return of our Gator student athletes."

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CEDAR KEY — Miss eating your favorite shellfish in restaurants? Never tasted delicious Cedar Key clams? Come pick up a bag of FREE clams to enjoy on this Memorial Day holiday, Monday, May 25, from 1-4 pm. Drive through the parking lot of B&E Seafood located at 7431 SW State Road 24, Cedar Key (5 miles east of #4 Channel Bridge, nearby the Marathon gas station).

Clams will be distributed on a first-come-first-serve basis with a limit of one 75-count bag per family. Must bring a cooler with an ice pack or frozen jug; ice will not be available. Recipes and handling information will be provided.

Thanks to the following Cedar Key wholesalers: B&E Seafood, Big Moon Seafood, Cedar Key Aquaculture Farms, Cedar Key Seafood Distributors, Cedar Shoals, Clamtastics, Davis Seafarms, Dog Island Blues Clam Co., Sloan’s Seafood, Southern Cross Seafarms, and Quality Shellfish. Sponsored by the Cedar Key Aquaculture Association and University of Florida/IFAS Shellfish Extension.

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GAINESVILLE – The Florida Department of Transportation is scheduled to begin a resurfacing project next month on Hawthorne Road (State Road 20) in Gainesville.

The project is set to begin on June 1, weather and unforeseen circumstances permitting, and take place from State Road 26 (University Avenue) to just east of County Road 329B. In addition to resurfacing, the $4 million, approximately 4-mile project will include sidewalk and drainage improvements, as well as other incidental construction.

FDOT has hired Preferred Materials, Inc., to complete the work.

Daytime lane closures are expected through the course of the project, and some nighttime construction activities are expected. However, lane closure restrictions will be in place during peak times to limit impacts to motorists. Lane closures are not allowed from:

• 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Sunday from University Avenue (State Road 26) to Southeast 21^st Street
• 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Sunday on Hawthorne Road (Eastbound) from Southeast 21^st Street to County Road 329B
• 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Monday through Sunday on Hawthorne Road (Westbound) from Southeast 21^st Street to County Road 329B
• 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Sunday on University Avenue (State Road 26)
• In school zones, from one hour before school begins to 30 minutes after school begins, and one hour before school ends to 30 minutes after school ends

The project is expected to be completed later this year.

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GAINESVILLE –Alachua County Farm Bureau has awarded three $1,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors from ACFB member-families.

“Alachua County Farm Bureau has been providing financial help to high school graduates who plan to go on to college or other forms of higher education for decades,” said ACFB President Winston Rushing. “We are proud to carry on this tradition.”

The recipients are:

• Jessie Lee, daughter of Robbie and Tracy Lee of Cross City, who will graduate from Dixie County High School. She indicated Florida State University is her top choice.
• Alice Burnett, daughter of Garrett and Kirsten Burnett of High Springs, Fla., who will graduate from Santa Fe High School. Alice plans to attend Florida State University.
• Eric Hester,, son of Eric and Summer Hester of Newberry. He will graduate from Newberry High School and plans to attend Maryville College in Maryville, Tennessee.

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ALACHUA COUNTY - Today, concerning Alachua County's authority to make masks mandatory, Judge Donna M. Keim of the 8th Circuit Court hearing denied the request for an emergency injunction motion, on all counts. This serves as a good reminder that the County's Emergency Order requiring mandatory masking is within the County's authority, and cities are required to follow the Order. Cities may issue orders that are stricter than the County orders, but not more lenient.

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