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ALACHUA ‒ A.L. Mebane Middle School’s Concert Band performed for the City of Alachua Commission as a part of the most recent Commission meeting, held on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024.

The Commission Chambers were filled with students, their instruments, proud parents and other members of the community.

Students in the band performed Imperium, a concert band piece composed by Michael Sweeney. Music filled the room as pictures were taken and videos were recorded by the audience. It was a memorable experience for all in attendance.

“Our Commission has a strong commitment to cultural arts in our community,” said Alachua City Manager Mike DaRoza. “It is especially nice to have the opportunity for students from our community schools to perform during our Commission meetings.”  

Jacqueline Holbrook, Director of A.L. Mebane Middle School’s band, was elated to showcase her students’ talent and hard work. “Thank you so much,” Holbrook said. “It was a privilege to play for you all.”

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. - City of Gainesville officials anticipate severe weather conditions, including temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit during evening hours Sunday, Feb. 18-Wednesday, Feb. 21. The anticipated temperatures will lead to the activation of the city's Cold Night Shelter (CNS) Program, and it is expected to remain in effect until overnight low temperatures rise above 45 F. The CNS program normally runs from Nov. 1 through March 31.

 St. Francis House and GRACE Marketplace at the Empowerment Center will provide Cold Night Shelter services to people in need of shelter as long as overnight temperatures remain below 45 F. The CNS program providers serve additional persons in need of shelter so that families and individuals desiring shelter will have a warm place to stay. St. Francis House provides temporary shelter that is appropriate for families, women and children. GRACE Marketplace primarily serves individual adults.

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NEWBERRY ‒ A 29-year-old Newberry man was arrested on Saturday, Feb. 10, at 9 p.m. after he allegedly pointed a gun at his wife and her cousin.

According to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO), Belsar Francisco Cruz Vicente reportedly had been arguing with his wife over money for their son’s birthday party when he became physically aggressive toward her, placing his hands around her neck in order to strangle her, and then pointed a loaded firearm to her face.

The victim said she was on her front porch trying to get Cruz Vicente to provide money for their son’s birthday when he became upset and put his hands around her neck, intentionally impeding her breathing and blood circulation.

According to the victim, her cousin came out of the house to help her, and Cruz Vicente went to his vehicle, grabbed a semi-automatic pistol, loaded it and pointed it at her cousin.

The woman said she told Cruz Vicente to stop threatening her cousin since he was just trying to help her. Cruz Vicente then pointed the firearm at his wife’s face.

Thinking that Cruz Vicente was going to shoot her, she went inside the house and locked herself in the bathroom. Cruz Vicente entered the home, and his wife told him to get out. She said that Cruz Vicente took their 5-year-old child into his vehicle and drove to the gas station, taking the firearm with him.

The victim had minor bruising around her neck that was consistent with her description of the incident. The victim’s cousin, who was on the scene when the incident took place, verified that the victim’s description of the incident was accurate, but did not want to fill out a written statement since he did not want to be part of the investigation.

After deputies advised Cruz Vicente of his Miranda rights, Cruz Vicente said he did not have a firearm with him at any point that night, and that he used to own a firearm but he no longer had possession of it. The defendant said he was just having an argument with his wife and she was the one who physically attacked him, so he attacked her back. Cruz Vicente claimed he was not the primary aggressor and that he did not use a firearm to point it at his wife.

Cruz Vicente’s 5-year-old son, who was in the vehicle when the defendant left the house to go to the gas station, said he saw Cruz Vicente throw the firearm into the woods when they were far away from the house.

Cruz Vicente was charged with domestic battery by strangulation, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and tampering with evidence.

Cruz Vicente has a local history of traffic citations going back to 2022, with all of them noting that he has no Florida driver’s license. He was arrested twice in 2022, once for driving without a valid license in June and once for hit and run with property damage and cocaine possession in September.

Court documents describe attempts to interview him as unsuccessful, noting a language barrier and an unwillingness to participate in the interview during his two arrests. There is a notation that he has a federal criminal history (“ICE: Immigration”) from 2019.

Following the June 2022 arrest, Cruz Vicente failed to appear at a hearing and a warrant for his arrest was issued. After he was apprehended, adjudication of guilt was withheld, and he was fined $358. He has not paid the fines and fees in that case.

Following the September 2022 arrest, Cruz Vicente successfully completed a deferred prosecution agreement, resulting in the charges being dropped. A few weeks later, a warrant for his arrest was issued when he failed to appear at a court hearing in another case of driving without a valid license.

Bail was set at $12,099 on the new charges by Judge Craig C. DeThomasis who also ordered Cruz Vicente held without bond on the warrant.

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ALACHUA ‒ The Facebook post began with “Most of you know this sweet angel as ‘Ghost Dog.’ She has been a large part of our community for over a decade.”

The post, which went live on Feb. 10, was written by Jennifer Trenteseaux, and this is her story about a stray dog that roamed areas of Alachua for years.

In her own words, Trenteseaux tells us about ‘Ms. Princess,’ a mix breed canine, that has been “roaming the community here in Alachua since 2014.

“Her initial food and water stop was with the old manager at the RaceWay in front of Publix on U.S. Highway 441. As a homeless street dog, she was getting food where she could and absolutely terrified of any human that attempted to approach her. Over the years, she migrated from the Raceway side of 441 to other and became well known at the Wendy’s and the gas station that adjoins.

The Elusive Ghost Dog

“My husband and I married and purchased a home in late 2017 behind the Publix in Heritage Oaks. This is when I first spotted Princess (formally known as the illusive Ghost Dog). One morning, I stopped for gas on the way to work and saw her in the RaceWay parking lot. I tried to catch her for three hours. We ventured through that parking lot and the Publix lot, until she eventually ran into the woods.

“Princess was spotted many times over the last 10 years, and many attempts were made to rescue her. Our community banded together to try and show her that people are good. Many people attempted rescues and left food and water when those attempts failed. There were always postings of the encounters on PetFinder, Nextdoor, and or Alachua/Gainesville /High Springs Words of Mouth.

Community Care

“About two years ago, I noticed Princess frequenting the fence line that bordered my community and the wooded area. It was then that some amazing neighbors got together and routinely left food and water out for her. I'm absolutely amazed at the love and dedication so many have shown this sweet girl. I love our Heritage Oaks Community and the amazing people of Alachua/High Springs.

“Over the past two years, shelters have been built, dog houses and blankets have been plentiful, and the area is daily maintained.

“For the past 1 1/2 years, I’ve driven my golf cart up to this wooded area and sat with her. I brought her chicken, water, and always came with a heart full of lots of love.

“I’ll never forget, over the summer, she dug a large hole along the fence line to stay cool. One day, I saw her resting in it, and I came ready with a cooling blanket. She backed up and looked at me with pure curiosity. As I turned to walk away, she would inch closer and closer. I then sat at the corner of the fence line and she investigated.

Curiosity Turns to Trust

“Over time, she was curious and she got even closer to me. My heart was so full. I began calling her ‘Princess’ and routinely visited. It didn’t take long for her to come running out of the woods as I called her name. We were both in love. The bond started to grow more and more daily.

“On one of my afternoon visits, I hit the jackpot of joy. I was sitting in the dirt near the opening of the wooded area, and she came right up to me and ate some chicken from my hand. I then started petting her, and it was instant heaven for both of us.

“This poor girl had no human touch for over a decade. She was happy crying as I ran my hands up and down her fur and tickled her cheeks. As I left that day, she was howling and crying. Naturally, I came back to give her more love… immediately.

“The next day, the same thing took place. I made four trips that day. I focused on brushing her, loving on her, and getting her used to a leash. I did this for almost two weeks. After almost two years of working up to this point, I didn’t want to scare her away by pushing too fast.

Her Best Life Yet

“On the morning of Day Nine of lovin’s, I brought her breakfast, and we sat together as I gave her lovin’s for an hour. Over the past nine days, I worked on getting ticks off of her as I petted her, and it continues this day, too. After a few more visits, that day she came home with me and the rest have been focused only on her best life yet.

“I’ve taken Princess to Hilltop Family Vet in Alachua. She will be receiving all of her care there. It brought me to tears as we were in the exam room, and employees came to share their stories of the infamous ‘Ghost Dog’ with me. They shared sightings over the years and expressed so much joy for her rescue.

“Our goal is [to] keep her happy and get her healthy.

“Last week, we received her blood work back. Princess is positive for Ehrlichia, a tick-born disease, and is also heartworm positive. Her kidney values are elevated slightly...most likely due to the Ehrlichia. The treatment is the same. Bonus!

“As I share her story on social media platforms, many have suggested the ‘slow kill’ method (simply using the monthly heart worm prevention). I spoke to Dr. Miller at Hilltop in depth regarding this suggestion. The large risk with this method is that the heart worms will last for very long (years) before they die off. The new growths will be prevented, but as the existing die off, there is a high risk causing a Pulmonary Embolism as they dislodge.

“Given that Princess has been in the wild since around 2014, we estimate she is at least 10-13 years old, and we simply do not have time. Also, we need the treatment to battle the Ehrlichia.

“With that said... Dr Miller suggested a chest x-ray (three views to evaluate her heart size and lungs), and then decide how aggressive we are with the treatments, and if her heart and lungs can handle it. Likely, she can because there is no respiratory distress at this time.

“This leads me to my next point. Dr Hill also recommended keeping Princess and my four kiddos completely separated for three weeks. Why? In order to allow the vaccinations to take effect and to fully rule out respiratory issues.

“It will be a tough three weeks, folks. But, we got this...

Getting Her Healthy

“Monday, at 10 a.m., she will go in for her x-rays, and we will then decide if she is clear to start the tick and heart worm treatment. Total treatment cost is estimated at $2,000. This may change due to the aggressive treatment she may require. It will also be over a one-year span. If we start Monday, what will be due is $300 for the x-rays and $600-$700 for the start of her treatment. That will total $1,000.

“Her needs have totaled $1,246 thus far.

“I’m reaching out to you for two reasons. First and foremost, to help spread the word and inform our community (that has had a huge hand in her survival) that this sweet angel is okay safe, and in a loving home! Secondly, to give the community a chance to follow her Best Life Journey and help facilitate that any way they can.”

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And that is the story of Alachua’s ‘Ghost Dog’ – so far. Trenteseaux has posted updates about her efforts to spread the good news with the community utilizing Nextdoor, Facebook, and Paypal.

Trenteseaux writes, “As you look through the links you’ll notice there has been an overwhelming response from the community thus far. People have shared so many stories of leaving food for her, trying to rescue her, or even protecting her from 441! She is such a large part of our community, and I’d love for this best chapter of her life to continue with the army of residents and business owners that have cared for her over this past decade.”

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Editor’s Note: For those who have been part of this amazing dog’s life, or those individuals who would like to, check out those social media postings, and give a thought to contributing to her medical needs via PayPal Fundraiser at https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/91DC6rxHEB

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Donate to the amazing Princess here:  https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/91DC6rxHEB

NEWBERRY ‒ The City of Newberry was one of 16 Florida public power utilities recently recognized by the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) with a Restoring Communities Award. The award recognizes public power utilities for their exemplary power restoration efforts in their communities and for providing or receiving mutual aid following significant weather events or when fellow public power communities needed extra assistance.

Florida public power utilities were honored for their efforts to restore power quickly and safely when called on in 2023. This included providing mutual aid assistance following the unprecedented landfall of Hurricane Idalia in the Big Bend region and other weather- and non-weather-related emergencies. The 2023 Restoring Communities Awards also recognized public power utilities providing supplemental crews to fellow utilities for large-scale projects like infrastructure upgrades.

In addition to sending line workers and equipment to several communities and cooperative electric systems, Newberry also provided firefighting staff and water system employees in areas hit the worst to help.

“A strong network of in-state and out-of-state mutual aid support, along with millions of dollars in continuous investments into their electric grids and system infrastructure, has led to fewer outages and faster restoration times for Florida public power communities, often surpassing service reliability metrics of other utilities in Florida,” said Amy Zubaly, FMEA Executive Director. “Thanks to all of our utilities for the work they do each day to strengthen their systems and the extra hours they put in to get the power back on after weather or other emergency events. Also, my sincere admiration and appreciation go to the utilities that supported other FMEA member utilities while completing their significant resilience and reliability projects. Our congratulations to Newberry and all the award recipients recognized.”

“Lending a helping hand to one another goes to the very core of what it means to be a public power community. Sometimes, we are the ones to send out a call for assistance, and sometimes, we are the ones answering. Knowing that a fellow public power utility will always be there for you when needed is very reassuring and helps us ensure we are providing our customers with reliable service,” said Jamie Jones, Newberry Assistant City Manager for Utilities & Public Works.

Mutual aid agreements enable electric utilities to call on each other for skilled emergency workers and supplies. Public power utilities nationwide benefit from the strong network of mutual assistance partners through the American Public Power Association. These connections have created a reliable system where member utilities request and offer assistance when needed. FMEA proudly serves as the mutual aid coordinator for Florida’s 33 public power utilities.

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ALACHUA ‒ Get ready for an unforgettable celebration of community spirit and fun at the Okito Tech City Fun Fest. Okito America has partnered with San Felasco Tech City and Fun 4 Gator Kids to bring a day full of vendors, rides, food, raffles, and more to the city of Alachua!

On Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Okito Tech City Fun Fest promises thrilling activities free for the whole family. This festival is designed to bring the community together for a day of fun and camaraderie, with over 75 vendors, music, delectable food options, interactive games, and raffles, including a $1,000 scholarship for school supplies for one lucky teacher.

Featuring over 75 vendors, businesses from all over Alachua County will be out to celebrate with free activities for kids. And teachers from all over Alachua County will have the opportunity to participate in a raffle for a $1,000 scholarship. Restaurants, food trucks, and vendors will be out with delicious food options. Engage in interactive games and activities: designed for participants of all ages, from carnival games to workshops. And complete a scavenger hunt to be eligible for prizes from vendors.

Okito Tech City Fun Fest is not just an event; it's an experience that celebrates the spirit of togetherness, creativity, and the vibrant culture of Alachua County. Bring your friends and family to join in the fun!

Those interested in being a vendor can go to www.tinyurl.com/OkitoFunFest to register. Registration is free with the donation of a raffle prize or for those providing free activities for kids.

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