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ALACHUA COUNTY ‒ The Alachua County Criminal Courthouse will be renamed in honor of the late Judge Stephan P. Mickle. On Jan. 14, at 12 p.m. an event will be held to honor the life and legacy of the late judge. The event is at the main entrance of the Criminal Courthouse located at 220 S. Main Street, downtown Gainesville. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.

The event will feature speakers from Alachua County, the City of Gainesville and the Judiciary, as well as music, a color guard and words of inspiration. Alachua County middle and high school students participated in an essay/poetry contest based on a theme pertaining to Judge Mickle’s impact on history, society and the future. The winner of this year’s contest will share their essay during the ceremony. The contest, promoted through the Alachua County school system, will be an annual event.

A prolific barrier breaker, Judge Mickle’s legacy includes:

• The first African-American to practice law in Alachua County since Reconstruction,
• The first African-American County Court judge in Alachua County,
• The first African-American judge in the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida,
• The first African-American and only lawyer from the Eighth Judicial to serve on the First District Court of Appeals in Tallahassee,
• The First African-American federal judge in the Northern District of Florida and
• The First African-American Chief Judge of the Northern District of Florida.

“It is a tremendous honor to see the courthouse named after my father,” said his daughter, Stephanie Mickle. “It's important for others to be able to see themselves in his life. His sacrifices and triumphs will inspire others for generations to come and impact our youth early in their lives and education.”

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HIGH SPRINGS – The City of High Springs is considering projects that could be addressed using approximately $3 million in funds provided by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).  

Last May the City received approximately half of the ARPA funds allocated to High Springs.  The second half of the allocation is expected to be received in May 2022.  

ARPA funds were established to provide money to bolster the response to the COVID-19 emergency and economic impacts, help governments meet their present needs and build the foundation for a strong recovery.

Although the topic has been raised during the last two City Commission meetings, no action has been taken to whittle down the long list of projects that could be addressed using these funds.

At the Dec. 9 workshop, City Manager Ashley Stathatos provided Commissioners with the results from the Strategic Planning Sessions from last fiscal year as possible ARPA-funded projects.

Eligible uses include support of public health expenditures – COVID mitigation efforts, medical expenses, behavioral healthcare and certain public health and safety staff; address negative economic impacts caused by public health emergency that may include economic harm to workers, households, small businesses, impacted industries and the public sector; and to replace lost public sector revenue to bolster government services reduced due to the pandemic.

ARPA funds can also be used to provide premium pay for essential workers to support those bearing the greatest health risks because of their positions.

Another item ARPA funds can be used for is to invest in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure to expand access.

City departments that may see ARPA funds coming their way include the Police Department, Fire Department, Parks, and Administration.

Discussing the possibility of a Community Services Building, Assistant City Manager Bruce Gillingham mentioned that the City currently doesn’t have any buildings that can be used as an official shelter or an emergency operations center.  Neither the Civic Center nor Catherine Taylor Park’s building would meet the requirements and they also do not meet the requirements to house quarantined essential workers.  Had a building been available that met ADA requirements, American Red Cross and social distancing requirements, it might have been able to be used as a testing site or a temporary medical center.

In addition, Gillingham said the City is using a dish to communicate between buildings.  But there is currently no fiber-optic inner connectivity between buildings, which is something that could be a problem in a hurricane or other natural disaster.  

Gillingham also said the Community School only has one building, the Science Building, which can be used as a shelter.  Other than that, Santa Fe High School is the next closest location.  He also pointed out that if the County opens a shelter at the school, the High Springs Fire and Police Departments have to staff it.

Water infrastructure projects could include building or upgrading facilities, transmission, distribution and storage systems, including the replacement of lead service lines.  

Projects suggested by staff include engineering for a new water plant, water main upgrades/replacements, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system replacement and upgrade and additional software.  

Possible projects suggested by staff include engineering for sewer plant expansion Phase 3, generators for lift stations, spare pumps for lift stations, SCADA system replacement and upgrade and additional software.

Investing in broadband infrastructure could include providing the service to areas that are currently unserved or underserved or are lacking a wire line connection that reliably delivers minimum speeds of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload.  

Possible projects recommended by staff are to provide broadband in city parks, downtown and Wi-Fi in parks.

The possible blending of funds between High Springs and Alachua County to leverage their funds with the city’s funds was raised by Commissioner Ross Ambrose.  Stathatos said she would address that issue with the County in the next week.

The topic of body cameras for the police department was raised with High Springs Police Chief Antoine Sheppard saying that the City will eventually have to make that investment.  “I think we are the last agency in the county without body cams,” he said.  “One day it will be mandatory through state legislation.”

Sheppard said the City of Alachua purchased Panasonic body cams, which he thought cost about $30,000 - $40,000.  He said he would be interested to see how they perform.  “Originally, we were looking at Exxon, which cost around $100,000 over five years.”

Further discussion included maintenance equipment for the gravity system, funding fewer projects, but funding them completely and monitoring possibilities for the wastewater and water systems. 

Stathatos said she would send out a list to the Commissioners and add the items that were discussed during the workshop so they could determine the importance of each item.  Once the top five items are determined, staff will research costs and considerations and present a plan to the Commission.

The City must obligate funds to the various chosen projects by Dec. 31, 2024, and expend those funds by Dec. 31, 2026.  Any unexpended funds will go back to the government after that date.  In addition, local governments are required to provide periodic reports along with a detailed accounting of how the funds are used.

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ALACHUA COUNTY ‒ Alachua County’s Animal Resources and Care (formerly Animal Services) has documented at least two dogs infected with the canine distemper virus. The remaining dogs in the shelter are now in quarantine for at least four weeks as they are monitored for infection. A proactive response plan has been developed to maximize lifesaving and minimize further spread of the virus. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

The shelter is closed for dog adoptions and is not accepting owner surrendered dogs during this quarantine period. Un-owned dogs and dogs that are a risk to public safety that must be brought into the shelter are being housed in a separate area from the quarantined population.

This situation indicates that canine distemper virus is circulating in the community. The virus is carried by local wildlife including raccoons, foxes, skunks and coyotes. That coupled with a large population of unvaccinated or under-vaccinated dogs that have exposure to wildlife, or areas frequented by wildlife, causes strays and dogs allowed to run at large to contract the virus and bring it with them to the shelter.

In accordance with Animal Resources and Care standard operating procedures, each animal is vaccinated upon admission to the facility. But if the animal has not previously been vaccinated, it can take up to two weeks before any significant immunity to such viruses is achieved. Research suggests that puppies under six months of age are at the greatest risk and will have the lowest chance of survival if infected, but unvaccinated dogs of any age are in danger.

Animal Resources and Care personnel suggest the best course of action is to allow your veterinarian to administer an annual vaccination protocol, beginning at six weeks of age for puppies, that will include protection against distemper.

Cats are not at risk for infection by canine distemper virus and the shelter will remain open for cat adoptions.

Animal Resources and Care respectfully asks for the public’s patience as they deal with this problem. If you pick up a stray dog, please notify them so they can document it, check against their lost reports and arrange for it to be scanned for a microchip. If you can foster it for a few days or more until its owner(s) can be found, please let them know. If that is not possible, ask your friends and family if they would be willing to do so. Other nearby shelter and rescue groups may also be able to assist you.

For more information regarding these and other options, contact Animal Resources and Care at 352-264-6870. During this time the shelter will continue to open Tuesday through Saturday 10:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., excluding holidays, for cat adoptions, license renewals and to answer questions. Meanwhile, say Animal Resources and Care personnel, the field operations team will continue to respond to matters affecting public safety and animals in immediate danger 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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ALACHUA COUNTY ‒ Area firefighters had their hands full on Dec. 26 with two crashes in different parts of Alachua County.  In Micanopy, at approximately 5 a.m. Sunday morning units from Alachua County Fire Rescue (ACFR) and Micanopy Fire Department responded to a report of a single vehicle crash in the southbound lane of U.S. Highway 441 near Micanopy.  Upon arrival rescue personnel found a 2002 Chrysler minivan on its side with a 60-year-old Ocala man trapped inside.  

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the vehicle traveled off of the road and onto the center grass median for unknown reasons.  Once in the median, the driver lost control of the vehicle and it overturned.

The driver was removed from the vehicle using the jaws of life and was transported to UF Health Shands in stable condition.

Later the same day in Hawthorne, units from Alachua County Fire Rescue and Windsor Fire Rescue were dispatched to the scene of a two-vehicle crash at approximately 3 p.m.  The crash occurred on Hawthorne Road near County Road 325.  Upon arrival, rescue personnel found both vehicles with heavy damage and one person trapped inside one of the vehicles.

The jaws of life were used to extricate the trapped individual, who was determined to be in critical condition and was transported to the UF Health Shands trauma center.  A second person was transported to Shands with non-life-threatening injuries.  

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ Every Wednesday a group of volunteers gathers at the High Springs Farmer's Market to distribute food to those in need. Known as the High Springs Mobile Pantry, the group of 20 volunteers pass out fresh meat, vegetables, fruit and bread to residents waiting in a long line of cars. Volunteers are a diverse group from various churches, residents who want to help, and even individuals who, themselves, have been in that line needing food at some point and then deciding to help others in the same situation.

“The volunteers that distribute the food are very dedicated to helping others and many of them know what it feels like to be in that situation because they have been in need at some time,” said Mobile Pantry director Anna James.

“Before the COVID pandemic, most of our clients were elderly, living on a small fixed income and would occasionally be in need.,” said James. “Volunteering with the Mobile Pantry is their way of giving back to the community.”

James started the program 11 years ago when she was working with Fellowship Baptist Church to offer food to those in need. At the time, James also worked with Bread Of The Mighty Food Bank, Inc., a non-profit organization that collects, stores and distributes donated or purchased fresh food. Over 35 years they have built a network of 170 non-profit agency partners with over 500 volunteers such as food pantries, churches, homeless shelters and other organizations that distribute the food to those in need.

James connected the church with Bread of the Mighty and continued the food distribution program. The church and other volunteers would contribute money to help purchase the food and cover expenses. Over the next few years, the program spread beyond the church and James had volunteers from multiple sources.” I couldn't have continued this program without the dedication of the volunteers,” James said.

James was also responsible for getting the City of High Springs involved, providing the Civic Center as a long-term location to have people come and pick up what food they needed.

“We would typically serve about 250 individuals and families each week with about 80 percent of the customers being elderly,” said James. “That was prior to the COVID Pandemic which radically changed everything.” James says that the need for food assistance increased as people lost income, and she saw a large increase in families in dire situations. “I had a number of people who came in reluctantly, claiming they never expected to be in this situation,” said James. “At the height of the Pandemic last year we were distributing food to 2,000 people each week.:

James says numbers are down now, but they are still are averaging 600 to 1,000 people a week and distributing over 35,000 pounds of fresh food.

COVID also changed the way they distributed the food and the location. For health safety they moved it outdoors to maintain social distancing and avoid crowded indoor spaces that could cause cases among volunteers and clients, who already had enough problems without endangering their health.

“Our mission is to help those in need, not jeopardize the,” said James. “The city offered us the Farmers Market where we could have cars drive by and put the food in their trunks to keep everyone safe.”

This method has been adopted by many charity food organizations and it works well, so James doesn’t see it reverting back to indoors with close contact.

James adds that despite the huge increase of people in need, they were able to keep up with the demand, thanks to the great efforts by Bread of the Mighty and the people who volunteer with the High Springs Mobile Food Bank. “Their continued dedication to helping others is amazing,” said James. “Even in the worst of the Pandemic they still came every week to distribute the food.”

James believes that everybody deserves to be able to have enough food to feed their families despite their income, and the need is greater than ever. “It's all about helping others,” James said.

The High Springs Mobile Pantry mainly serves High Springs but James says they also go to other communities in the surrounding counties if needed.

The Mobile Pantry is at the High Springs Farmer's Market at 23517 N.W. 185^th Road, High Springs, Florida, every Wednesday to distribute food from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. or whenever all the food is gone. More information or to volunteer can be found by visiting their Facebook page — Anna High Springs.

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ALACHUA ‒ Turkey Creek Golf Course will be hosting the “Miracle at Turkey Creek Golf Celebration” tournament Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. This event is being held to commemorate the first anniversary of the reopening of Turkey Creek Golf Course that occurred on Jan. 23, 2021. 

For those not familiar with the story of the golf course, go online to see “Miracle at Turkey Creek,” a Golf Digest digital article that chronicles the reopening. It is an inspiring story. (https://www.golfdigest.com/story/turkey-creek-golfvolunteers) 

The tournament will be a 4-person team scramble with first, second, and third place prizes. There will also be a long drive, closest to the pin, and longest putt prizes. 

To register a team for the tournament, please go to http://tcgolf.eventbrite.com/. The cost is $250 per 4-person team. Registration, with morning refreshments, begins at 7:30 a.m. with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m.

In addition, there are sponsorship opportunities available. Position your business with this celebration of success. For more information, please call 386-518-6815 or email proshoptcgc@gmail.com. 

In addition, visit https://www.turkeycreekgolfcourse.com/ for more information regarding membership and corporate sponsorship opportunities. Come on out and join in the celebration of “Miracle at Turkey Creek.”

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