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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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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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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The High Springs Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Façade Improvement Grant Matching Program is now open to residential homeowners in the district.

After seeing overwhelming success with the CRA’s Business Façade Grant Program, the City of High has announced the addition of a residential grant program. The program is designed to help homeowners revitalize their houses. In an era of rising construction costs, the façade grant is available to offer neighbors a helping hand.

The grant program provides 50/50 reimbursement for eligible improvements up to $5,000 to encourage and advance revitalization efforts. The CRA Board will review applications and award grants.

For full requirements and application, residents should go to https://www.highsprings.gov/.../facade-grant-application.

Applications will be accepted until all grants are awarded on a first come, first served basis.

For more information, contact CRA Director Amy Bohannon at 386-454-6225 or CRA@highsprings.gov.

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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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NEWBERRY – The Newberry City Commission at he Aug. 26, 2024, meeting put one agenda item on hold. Among other matters, the final adoption of the City’s Fire Assessment Rates for the coming year was scheduled for a vote. However, a large increase in the Industrial category from $0.06 per square foot to $0.23 per square foot had Commissioners and some business owners in sticker shock.

During the current year, the City of Newberry contracted Anser Advisory to calculate the apportionment of fire service costs to ensure those costs are fairly spread across all users of the City’s fire service. This is a standard best practice every 5-7 years.

The study returned with a higher call volume and response time generated by commercial and industrial users, meaning that more of the fire assessment is being proposed against those user types. Preliminarily adopted rates for FY25 were initially set at $0.23 per square foot.

However, it is well known in the community and revealed in the report that one business is responsible for the higher call volume/response time noted by Anser Advisory.

A number of business owners expressed their displeasure to the Commission in having their rates increased by $0.17 per square foot because of one business owner. The Commission agreed and discussed a few options for change to the category that might be fairer to all business owners.

Potentially reducing rates led to concern and discussion about a reduced assessment amount to the City’s FY 2024-25 Fire Services budget. Newberry Assistant City Manager and CFO Dallas Lee said that a reduction in rates would cause a budget shortfall, but the City could make it up if that’s what the Commission opted to do.

The Commission failed to take action on the rate structure at the Aug. 26 meeting but did task City Staff to look at options and to present their findings at the Sept. 9, 2024, Commission meeting for consideration and final approval.

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