Local

NEWBERRY – Football was at the top of the list Newberry City Commissioners were grateful for at the Dec. 9 Commission meeting. Newberry High School football coach Ed Johnson was honored at the top of the meeting after being named Alachua County High School Football Coach of the Year by the Gainesville Quarterback Club.

The club is “the Oldest Gator Booster Club in the World,” said Mayor Jordan Marlowe as part of his presentation. The award is decided among all the high school programs in the county and is based on the regular season accomplishments.

Nominations are provided to the Gainesville Quarterback Club after the final game of the regular season. “This is the second year they have recognized the efforts of Alachua County’s hard-working football coaches,” Marlowe said.

Coach Johnson is a Newberry High School 2001 graduate and football alumnus. He began his coaching career in 2006 at Oak Hall School, where he spent eight years. During that time, Johnson continued to work with Newberry students at Oak View Middle School as well. He returned to Newberry as a baseball team assistant coach, junior varsity basketball coach and varsity basketball coach.

Johnson led his team to a 9-1 regular season record, which Marlowe characterized as “an amazing turnaround from 2018’s 1-9 record.”

In addition to Johnson, the entire Newberry High School Varsity Football Team was also on hand to receive a commendation for their team from the Newberry City Commissioners.

In presenting the plaque to the team, Marlowe said, “The team represented themselves, their parents and the school with poise, good sportsmanship and a sense of fair play. The athletes demonstrated hard work, both on and off the field.”

In addition, Marlowe commented on how well they displayed respect to the other teams for their hard work. “We wish the 18 seniors good luck in all future endeavors. We will miss you next year, but know you are doing well and enjoying life after high school, whatever path you may choose.”

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ALACHUA COUNTY — A one-car crash on Interstate 75, half-way between Gainesville and Alachua, resulted in the death of a passenger and the critical injury of the driver. Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) officers were called to the vicinity of northbound I-75 and mile marker 395 at 4:34 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 22.

A 2001 Ford F250, driven by 79-year-old Willard Crowder of Greenville, Florida, had been traveling north on I-75. Near the 395 mile marker, Crowder lost control of his truck, which traveled onto the east shoulder and collided with a tree.

Following the crash, the truck erupted into fire. Crowder was able to escape, but his passenger, 82-year-old Lee Bishop of Lee, Florida, was not. Bishop was pronounced dead at the scene.

Crowder was transported to UF-Health Shands in critical condition.

It is unknown whether either the driver or passenger were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. According to the FHP, alcohol was not suspected as a factor in this incident.

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ALACHUA – Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) officers were called to U.S. Highway 441 at Turkey Creek Boulevard in Alachua at 6:45 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 28, following a truck vs. pedestrian accident.

George Metz II, 58, from Lake Butler, was driving a 2009 International truck heading in an easterly direction on U.S. Highway 441. William Moore, 45, from Alachua, was walking across U.S. 441 in a northerly direction.

For unknown reasons, Moore entered the path of the truck and was struck by the truck’s front. Moore was transported to UF-Health Shands Hospital where he was later pronounced dead by hospital staff.

It is currently unknown whether alcohol may have played a part in Moore’s actions, but the FHP indicates that it was not considered a factor for Metz.

Charges in this case are pending while FHP completes their investigation.

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ALACHUA – For the past 15 years, the City of Alachua has hosted a celebration of Martin Luther King Day. The City provides food, equipment and entertainment at the Cleather Hathcock Community Center. City employees from the parks and recreation department as well as the city manager’s office provide their time and services for the event. Although the City provides these amenities, it’s a community affair as volunteers from churches and community organizations offer their time to serve the food, prepare deserts and provide entertainment. The celebration is a tribute to honor Reverend King and to carry on his legacy.

The Declaration of Independence said all men were created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. But the reality was that minorities, especially African Americans, were not included in that promise. Before 1865 most of them did not have their liberty or freedom, and many were slaves. But even 100 years later, there was not equality. Jobs, education and opportunities were often limited and segregation continued, even down to what drinking fountains, restrooms, bus seats and restaurants African Americans could use. They had gained liberty but not equality.

Although King was one of many people who became involved in the Civil Rights movement, his speaking ability and organization of nonviolent protests and marches made him the most visible leader of the movement. In1963 he organized the March on Washington where he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, talking about a society where all people regardless of color were treated equally. Over 250,000 people attended the march.

King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, for his efforts to fight racial inequality through nonviolent protests, and he was instrumental in the passage of 1964 Civil Rights Act proposed by President Lyndon Johnson. While all his work was critical in gaining some equality for African Americans, there were other people that opposed his efforts and that made him a target as well.

In 1968, King was planning a national occupation of Washington, D.C., to be called the Poor Peoples Campaign when he was assassinated on April 4 in Memphis, Tennessee. His death was followed by riots throughout America’s cities. But his legacy and accomplishments in Civil Rights and equality lived on.

King was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. Beginning in 1971, states and cities began establishing local holidays to celebrate his birth on Jan. 15, 1929. Finally in 1986 President Ronald Reagan made the third Monday in January Martin Luther King Day.

Alachua’s tribute continues, rain or shine, and despite the cold weather, this year’s event was well attended. It is a community-wide celebration to honor the achievements of Dr. King and support his work. Part of that goal is through the right to vote. The Alachua Supervisor of Elections office set up a booth for the public to register to vote, and the federal government had a recruiting table for people to sign up as census takers.

Artist Yvonne Ferguson painted a portrait of Dr. King as speakers and religious leaders spoke about the goals of Dr. King. Dancers and musicians provided entertainment, chiefly with a spiritual influence. Caring and Sharing Learning Center, a dance school and ministry also had a booth as well as part of the entertainment.

Pastor Natron Curtis delivered the opening prayer followed by the National Anthem and remarks by Alachua Mayor Gib Coerper and State Representative Clovis Watson, Jr. Minister Eugene Franklin gave the Keynote Speech on Dr. King’s legacy and the importance of community and culture. Interspersed between speakers was music and dance provided by a variety of artists.

The final speaker was Minister Derrick Smith who read a letter Dr. King wrote to his fellow clergymen when he was in the Birmingham jail for his civil rights efforts. King urged them to join the effort to bring equality to all.

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Special to Alachua County Today

ALACHUA – Turkey Creek Golf has announced its association with the Gator Junior Golf Association.

Gator Junior Golf is a 501(c)3 non-profit youth-development program that focuses on growing life skills through the game of golf.

Classes begin Saturday, Feb. 8 and run most Saturdays through May 2 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. The lead instructor is John Stevens. Learn about putting, chipping, and full swing, along with life skills in a fun, safe, and interactive environment.

The cost is $150 per student. The classes will take place at the new “Expanded Practice Facility at Turkey Creek Golf Course,” located on U.S. Highway 441 between Gainesville and the city of Alachua.

Come and bring your future golfer. The 19^th Hole Restaurant, at Turkey Creek Golf Course, is an excellent place to wait while enjoying a variety of refreshments in a comfortable setting

Contact information for Gator Junior Golf is phone 352-575-0636, or www.gatorjuniorgolf.org/signup, or by emailing gatorjuniorgolfassociation@gmail.com.

The contact information for Turkey Creek Golf is 386-518-6815 or info@turkeycreekgolf.net.

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NEWBERRY – This year marks Newberry’s 125th year, or quasquicentennial year, of incorporation as a city. To celebrate the milestone, the City of Newberry has adopted the motto “125 years at Home,” announced Newberry Mayor Jordan Marlowe during the Jan. 13 City Commission meeting.

“Throughout the year we will commemorate the quasquicentennial by highlighting it in our local events such as the State of the City Address [which is the kick off to the quasquicentennial year], WestFest, the Watermelon Festival and the Fall Festival,” said Marlowe as a preliminary to reading the related proclamation.

“Whereas, in our 125 years, Newberry’s citizens have worked with dedication and resolve to build a community of farming and family values while adapting to the many changes that come with a growing city; and Whereas, Newberry has embraced new residents who are as diverse as the world is wide but are committed to making this community, our community, successful in every way; and Now, therefore I, Jordan Marlowe, Mayor of the City of Newberry, Florida, do hereby proclaim in commemoration of the 125th anniversary, 2020 as our Quasquicentennial Year!”

He said that the organizational group working to develop appropriate celebration activities is comprised of diverse Newberry interest groups and residents. Included are representatives from the Newberry Lions Club, Main Street Organization, Dudley Farms, the Watermelon Festival Committee, the Newberry Garden Club, Concerned Citizens of Newberry, the Newberry-Jonesville Chamber of Commerce, the City Commission and various City staff.

At the completion of Marlowe’s announcement, he presented Commissioner Matt Hersom with a copy of the full proclamation in recognition of Hersom’s chairmanship of the Quasquicentennial Committee.

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