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Alachua Lions Club members joined together with Troop 88 Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts to celebrate completion of scout hut renovations with a ribbon cutting ceremony. / Alachua County Today Staff Photographer

Renovated And Expanded Scout Hut Unveiled

ALACHUA ‒ Renovations to Alachua Boy Scout Troop 88’s scout hut are now officially complete. Chartered in 1912, Troop 88 is one of the oldest Boy Scout troops in the United States, with deep ties to the Alachua community and the Alachua Lions Club. The troop has been sponsored by the Alachua Lions Club since the organization’s charter in 1931.

Located on Northwest 142^nd Terrace across from the Alachua Post Office, the Alachua Lions Club broke ground for the expansion of the scout hut on Nov. 10, 2023. The renovation project included a major expansion, increasing the size of the scout hut by two-thirds. Renovations included the refurbishment of the existing restroom, the construction of a new wheelchair-accessible restroom, a new HVAC system, and the addition of a covered front porch.

On Sept. 7, 2024, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to celebrate the completion of the renovations. The event attracted a large crowd that include Lions Club members, current and former Boy Scout Troop 88 and Cub Scout members and leaders. Lions Club members attending included Alachua Mayor and Lions Club Troop 88 Liaison Gib Coerper, Lions Club member and Alachua Vice Mayor Ed Potts, Lions Club Past President Paul Good and Alachua City Commissioner Shirley Green Brown.

Alachua Lions Club President Jack Zuidema offered remarks about the project and the importance the renovated and expanded facility will make for current and future scouts. Coerper led the ribbon cutting ceremony that formally marked the end of construction and a new beginning for the scouts who will be using the building.

Alachua Lions Club records show that the first scout hut in Alachua was built in the 1930s with the help of the Lions Club. After that building burned down in 1983, club member Gilbert Whitman spearheaded the construction of a new scout hut. Tragically, Whitman was killed in a car accident on February 14, 1984, after helping pour the concrete for the new building. The new scout hut, completed in February 1984, was dedicated in his memory.

In 2017, Lions Club member Gib Coerper began efforts to raise funds for another major expansion, with a total price tag of $185,000. Donations from the community, including Scherer Construction, made the renovated scout hut possible. Despite material delays pushing back the initial completion date, construction is now complete.

Thanks to the efforts of so many community members and supporters, Troop 88 now has a larger and fully modernized scout hut to serve future generations.

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NEWBERRY – Developers and builders in Newberry can expect higher development fees as the City prepares to implement new rates to fund necessary improvements in utility infrastructure.

These fees, charged at the time of permit issuance, are intended to offset the cost of expanding and enhancing the city’s utility systems to accommodate new construction. The funds collected are earmarked for specific use, held in trust for projects that address infrastructure needs caused by development.

The increase follows a 2022 directive from the City Commission, which called for a study to assess the city's ability to meet future utility service demands. The study, completed at the end of 2023, identified that a significant hike in fees was required to ensure the City could meet its obligations.

The fees will be increased gradually over a two-year period, allowing developers and the City to adjust to the new rates. These funds will help cover the City’s debt obligations with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for new infrastructure projects.

As recommended by the study, the existing and proposed system development charges are as follows:

“The City is stepping into the increase by going up half this year and half next,” explained Assistant City Manager and CFO Dallas Lee.

The increase is part of the City's broader strategy to finance essential infrastructure projects, including the construction of an Advanced Treatment Plant mandated by state regulations. The plant is expected to cost nearly $80 million by the time it is completed. City Manager Mike New highlighted that the City has secured $14 million in grants to assist with these costs and is also applying for a $49 million grant to further reduce the financial burden.

Grants, if obtained, may help offset some of the fees developers will have to pay, ultimately lessening the impact on both builders and local citizens. These fees are necessary, according to city officials, to ensure that new developments do not unfairly strain existing utility systems or lead to higher costs for residents

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L-R: City of Alachua Public Services Director Michael Carrillo, Assistant City Manager Rodolfo Valladares, City Manager Mike DaRoza, Alachua County Manager Michele Lieberman, Alachua Mayor Gib Coerper, Alachua Vice Mayor Ed Potts, Alachua City Commissioners Shirley Green Brown, Jennifer Ringersen, Dayna Williams (formerly Miller) and Alachua County Fire Rescue Chief Harold Theus / Photo special to Alachua County Today

ALACHUA – A new roadway and waterline extension project is set to enhance both safety and infrastructure in Alachua. On Sept. 5, 2024, the City of Alachua held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Northwest 86^th Drive Roadway and Waterline Extension Project, marking the start of construction aimed at improving fire suppression capabilities and traffic flow in the area.

Once completed, Northwest 86^th Drive will connect to U.S. Highway 441 at the northern end of the San Felasco Tech City area and run alongside an abandoned parking area near the temporary Alachua County fire station. This extension is expected to provide improved access to a planned permanent fire station in southern Alachua.

The groundbreaking ceremony featured Alachua Mayor Gib Coerper offering opening remarks followed by City of Alachua Pubic Services Director Michael Carrilla, P.E., and Alachua Assistant City Manager Rodolfo Valladares, P.E.

Alachua County Manager Michele Lieberman spoke on the importance of the project for enhancing emergency services access, while City Manager Mike DaRoza expressed gratitude to all involved for their dedication in bringing the project to life.

Other notable attendees included City of Alachua Vice Mayor Ed Potts, City of Alachua Commissioners Shirley Green Brown, Jennifer Ringersen, Dayna Williams (formerly Miller), and Alachua County Fire Rescue Chief Harold Theus.

Hip Construction, the contractor for the project, was selected as the low bidder and is expected to complete construction by early 2025. Once finished, the roadway and waterline extension will significantly benefit the community by improving infrastructure and safety.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The High Springs Community Fridge and Reach-in Pantry is now open at the Deeper Purpose Worship & Youth Center, 19975 N.W. 244^th Street, in the plaza next to Subway.

The church is asking everyone who needs this service, and those who will help support it, to take what they need and leave what they can.

In a statement issued by the church, residents are encouraged to be supportive of the effort. “Be considerate that there are other families who need items as well. This will only be successful if it’s not abused, not taken advantage of and everyone keeps other families in mind.”

Once a week church organizers will shop for items for the fridge and pantry. However, they caution that, “considering the number of families that will use it, it will need the support of others who have extra items that they can donate.”

For those who wish to donate items, organizers ask that contributions are not expired and not damaged. All items will be inspected daily to help ensure that the food going out is safe to go to families and consume. The church says they have many policies and guidelines in place to help make sure things run smoothly.

Deeper Purpose Food Pantry, Distributions and Community Fridge is the page to follow, as the church will post mostly what is available. There is no set day that the organizers will shop during the week, just once a week, as needed. For those that want to donate monetarily for the church to purchase items, see the graphic on their webpage for ways to donate. “This was a vision and dream of Mrs. Cherie Joy, so we hope it can thrive for years to come in our community,” say church organizers.

Organizers say the pantry is unique in that it is located outside in a safe and well-lit location and is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so that families that can’t get to daytime food distributions can come and get food after normal business hours and on weekends.

Due to safety reasons, the fridge and freezer will be locked daily at 5:30 p.m. when staff leaves, but they will try to have it opened daily by 10 a.m. If people find it locked during the day on the weekend, it means nothing is currently in it or staff wasn’t available to get it opened for the day. The opening of the Community Fridge is expanding the many ministries of Deeper Purpose Community Church.

This pantry and fridge is not just for High Springs residents. Anyone who can get to it is welcome to get needed food or donated items.

The next major food distribution is Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 10 a.m. at the Deeper Purpose Kids Academy preschool entrance located behind the worship center.

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ARCHER – A 43-year-old Archer man has been charged with 12 counts of possession of 10 or more child pornographic images. Joel Bruce Searby, who was one of the founding members of the group that organized a vote to convert Newberry’s public schools to charter schools, was previously arrested on June 20, 2024, and has been in the Alachua County Jail since that date.

At the time of Searby’s arrest he was charged with lewd/lascivious conduct, two counts of obscene communication related to luring a 15-year-old minor to meet him for sex and using a two-way communications device to facilitate a felony.

A search warrant that was executed at the time of Searby’s arrest reportedly produced a laptop, and a search of the laptop reportedly produced 12 child sexual abuse images. One was a video and 10 images showed nude or partially nude pre-pubescent males who appeared to be between the ages of seven and 10 years of age.

In addition, another video showed a partially nude male who appeared to be 14-16 years old. One video reportedly showed three nude, pre-pubescent males engaged in sexual acts with each other.

Searby has been held in the Alachua County Jail without bail since his arrest. However, bail has now been set on the new charges by Judge Sean Brewer at $900,000.

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HIGH SPRINGS – The High Springs Police Department (HSPD) has released a statement about Amanda Driggers, a 33-year-old who was found deceased in a clothing donation container.

“On April 17, 2024, HSPD responded to the High Springs Winn Dixie Plaza and discovered a deceased woman inside a clothing donation container. The 33-year-old deceased woman, Amanda Driggers, was a loving mother and a resident of Alachua.

“During this profoundly tragic incident, Driggers was in the company of an associate and her minor children. The two adults were together when they extracted clothing items from a closed clothing donation box, an act that many independent observers witnessed.

“Subsequently, the HSPD responded to the area concerning suspicious activity by the duo, where Driggers was eventually discovered expired. Driggers’ counterpart was only forthcoming about the actual location of Driggers late into the investigation.

“An autopsy was performed on the victim by the medical examiner, and the cause of death was ruled accidental relative to drug usage.

“After a thorough investigation and consultation with the Eighth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office, it was determined that there was no criminal liability on behalf of Driggers’ associate. The cause of death was not connected to any actions or inactions of the associate.

“The High Springs Police Department would like to express our deepest condolences once again to the family of the victim. We ask that the public be sensitive and respectful of their grief during this difficult time.”

HSPD Chief Antoine Sheppard commented about drug use in the local area saying, “Drug abuse is a pervasive issue that affects many families and communities and the High Springs area is no exception.

“In our community, we have seen an increase in drug-related service calls, particularly involving opioids. HSPD needs citizen support to address this issue. Your involvement is vital. Numerous resources are available for drug rehab and HSPD strongly encourages participation in these programs.”

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