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ALACHUA ‒ Although the City of Alachua’s Recreation and Culture Department has been busy hosting 399 Basketball practices and games, they are getting ready to jump into spring season.

Registrations are currently open for area youth in volleyball, soccer and softball. Registration for youth baseball just closed on Saturday, Feb. 3. Youth softball registrations end Feb. 14, Santa Fe Soccer Alliance soccer registrations end Feb. 24, and 399 Sports volleyball registrations end March 3.

For more information about soccer and volleyball, visit or email sfsocceralliance.com or 399sportsrecreation@gmail.com. For information on softball visit www.raidersofsantafe.com.

Weekly events with the City of Alachua’s Recreation and Culture Department include Zumba on Tuesdays from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. in Room 1 at Legacy Multipurpose Center. Senior Bingo at the Hathcock Community Center is on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and Zumba again on Thursdays from 7-8 p.m. in Room 1 at the Legacy Multipurpose Center. Dance About is back at Legacy Mondays at 4 p.m. for community children. Contact Legacy Park to find out how to sign up.

Upcoming events include Feb. 14 when the Alachua Recreation and Culture Department will be taking senior citizens to Lake City to eat at the Ole Times Country Buffet and to shop at the Lake City Mall. On Feb. 17 Legacy Park Multipurpose Center and the Hall Brady Complex will host the Santa Fe Bots Robotics Club. And on Feb. 22 Crafty Gemini will be hosting a Senior Arts and Crafts Activity at Hathcock Community Center from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Rounding out the month, on Feb. 29, Raider Classic High School Softball will be held at the Hal Brady Complex.

Finally, the City of Alachua’s Recreation and Culture Department gives a big shoutout to the Santa Fe Raiders Varsity Boys and Girls soccer programs. Both teams are heading to regionals after becoming 4A-D2 District Champions.

For more information about the City of Alachua Recreation and Culture Department, visit their Facebook page or drop by for a visit at the front desk at Legacy Park Multipurpose Center. Join the community and volunteer or just come and spend some time with the City of Alachua Parks and Recreation Department

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NEWBERRY ‒ The City of Newberry's Finance and Administration Department has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. This accolade, presented by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada, recognizes the Department's Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2022.

The City’s annual comprehensive financial report underwent evaluation by an impartial panel, which confirmed its adherence to the program's rigorous standards. These include a constructive “spirit of disclosure” to communicate the City's financial narrative clearly, encouraging engagement and comprehension among various users and user groups.

This marks the City’s fifth receipt of this prestigious award, an honor achieved by fewer than five percent of government entities.

“The successful preparation of our financial report clearly reflects our team's unwavering commitment to financial integrity and excellence,” said Dallas Lee, Newberry Assistant City Manager and Chief Financial Officer. “This accomplishment is not merely about meeting standards; it's about surpassing them to ensure the utmost clarity and accuracy in our financial reporting for our community.

“The collaborative efforts of our staff across all departments have been instrumental in achieving this standard of excellence. It's a collective endeavor that honors our commitment to ethical financial management and sets a benchmark for excellence in governmental accounting.”

The Certificate represents the pinnacle of governmental accounting and financial reporting. Attaining it is a significant achievement for the City, underscoring a commitment to transparency and clear disclosure in handling City funds.

“It is a tremendous honor for the City of Newberry to be recognized with this award once again,” said City Manager Mike New. “Recognition with this prestigious award for the fifth time is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our finance team. Their meticulous work, rooted in financial integrity and excellence, has been vital in maintaining the city's reputation for transparent and responsible financial management.

“This achievement is more than an award; it's a reaffirmation of our collective commitment to upholding the highest financial reporting and management standards. Congratulations to our finance team for once again demonstrating the exceptional skill and diligence that Newberry is known for.”

The Government Finance Officers Association initiated the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program in 1945. The program encourages state and local governments to exceed the minimum requirements of generally accepted accounting principles. It focuses on preparing comprehensive annual financial reports that embody the spirit of transparency and full disclosure and recognizes governments that successfully fulfill these criteria.

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ALACHUA COUNTY ‒ The voter registration and party affiliation change deadline for the 2024 Presidential Preference Primary Election is Feb. 20, 2024. This deadline is now two weeks away.

Florida is a closed primary election state, meaning that only voters registered with a political party can vote for that party's candidates in partisan races.

Only registered Republican voters will have a contest to vote on in the March 19 Presidential Preference Primary.

All registered voters, regardless of party, will be eligible to vote for President and Vice President in the November General Election.

Election Day for the Presidential Primary Election is March 19, 2024. Any individual who would like to participate in the Presidential Preference Primary Election must be registered to vote by Feb. 20, 2024.

Additionally, any voter who wishes to change their party affiliation must do so by the Feb. 20 deadline for the change to take effect for this election.

If you are not yet registered to vote or need to update your voter registration record, there are numerous ways to do so:

• Online: Florida residents can register to vote online. The online voter registration portal — found at RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov — is a safe and secure option for voter registration. You will need a valid Florida State ID (Florida Driver's License number/Florida ID Card number) and the last four digits of your social security number.
• In person: The Alachua County Supervisor of Elections office, which is located at 515 N. Main Street, Gainesville on the third floor, is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Voter registration forms can also be completed and turned in at any Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles office or any Alachua County Public Library.
• By mail: Forms are available online at VoteAlachua.gov. Completed forms must be received by the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Office before 5 p.m. on the Feb. 20 deadline.

Already registered voters are encouraged to verify and update their voter registration status. This can be done at https://www.votealachua.gov/My-Registration-Status, by calling 352-374-5252, or by visiting the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections office in person. Voters are encouraged to make any changes to their voter registration in advance of election day as changes could impact a voter's assigned polling place.

For more information on registering to vote or making changes to your party affiliation status, contact the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Office at 352-374-5252. 

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The High Springs Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) hopes to extend its sunset date to 2046 and voted unanimously to approve a CRA 2023 Plan update, which also includes an expanded designated area. The CRA is responsible for implementing redevelopment activities in specific areas in High Springs.

The original High Springs CRA Plan was adopted in 1986. Discussion and agreements in 2020 with Alachua County regarding extension of the “sunset” provisions set in motion subsequent updates. In August 2021 the board completed a Strategic Action Plan undertaken in March through June of that year.

The High Springs CRA 2023 Plan Update includes an added expansion area that meets the criteria to be classified as blighted. On Jan. 15 2024, GAI Consultant Community Solutions Group (CSG) Senior Advisor Thomas Kohler addressed the High Springs CRA board to request approval of updates to the CRA Plan.

Kohler said that Florida Statutes Chapter 163 allows the CRA to be extended for a total of 60 years, which would extend it to 2046. “I don’t know if Alachua County would agree to that,” said Kohler, “but they could say they’ll go 5 years or 10 years, but right now we’re asking for the full 60 years.”

Kohler reviewed the plan, indicated the expansion area and explained what the potential revenue to the CRA fund might be during various optional expanded time periods.

In other business, High Springs Police Chief Antoine Sheppard addressed the Board to report that he, City Manager Ashely Stathatos and Mayor Katherine Weitz recently traveled to Tallahassee to meet with state appropriation board members and the lobbyist hired by the previous city commission to garner support for a police station funding request. High Springs is requesting a three-year appropriation of $800,000 annually.

Farmers Market Survey

Results from the recent Farmers Market Survey prompted CRA Manager Amy Bohannon to suggest additional signage and adding musical performances might help to make the High Springs Farmers Market (HSFM) more of a destination. The survey was developed to garner customer insights, what attracts customers to the High Springs Farmers Market (HSFM), customer preference as far as products and activities and customer loyalty.

City Manager Ashley Stathatos also suggested increasing the variety of produce sold at the market, and that adding sellers who carry olive oil, homemade breads or specialty spices may attract more visitors. She said the Board should provide some direction as to what they want to do based on the survey results.

The survey, developed by Sharon Yeago, was sent out in utility bills and posted on the City’s web page. Some 420 survey responses were received (260 paper and 160 online).

Specific questions asked included how citizens heard about the HSFM, where citizens routinely shop, what citizens like most and least about the market, how they feel about the variety of products available and what the shoppers specifically seek to purchase when they visit the HSFM.

Questions were also asked about what types of educational activities visitors might like to see at the market and what, if any, price they would be willing to pay for those activities. Questions also included the responder’s familiarity with the market and how often they shopped there.

The Board tabled this item to the next meeting to give staff further time to suggest a plan of action and to share the survey results with the current HSFM director.

In other CRA business, Bohannon said she has received only one application for the façade grant, but has heard from others who expressed interest. She suggested that she might extend the deadline to give more people time to respond.

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GAINESVILLE ‒ Justin Ray Crosby, 25, of Hawthorne was sentenced to 320 months imprisonment for one count of production of child pornography and 240 months imprisonment for one count of distribution of child pornography, the terms to run concurrent with each other. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“Crimes against children are among the most heinous types of offenses and deserving of the most significant sentences,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “Those who produce child pornography facilitate the abuse of children and rob them of not only of their innocence but their very childhood. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate and vigorously prosecute those who engage in such vile conduct.”

In July 2022, law enforcement officers in Gainesville began an investigation related to the distribution of an image depicting the sexual abuse of a 12-year-old minor child on an instant messaging app. Investigators determined the child resided in Gainesville. The child was interviewed and several social media accounts and electronic devices were obtained and examined, leading to Crosby’s identification. Investigators determined Crosby had met with the child on several occasions and in one instance he filmed himself engaged in sexual contact with the child. He later distributed the video on an instant messaging application.

Crosby’s prison sentence will be followed by a lifetime of supervised release. He was ordered to pay $20,000 in restitution to the victim. Crosby will also be required to register as a sex offender and be subject to all sex offender conditions.

The case was investigated by Internet Crime Against Children Task Force Gainesville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Frank Williams prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

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GAINESVILLE - Alachua County Youth Fair and Livestock Show Association is pleased to announce the upcoming 2024 Alachua County Youth Fair & Livestock Show from Feb. 29 to March 5, 2024, at the Alachua County Agriculture and Equestrian Center (23100 W Newberry Road, Newberry). The event is free and open to the public.

 The fair is an educational platform for the youth in Alachua County interested in agriculture. Youth will exhibit both livestock and non-livestock 4-H & FFA projects.

 “The youth fair benefits agriculture and the local community by providing an educational opportunity for youth to learn about production agriculture,” said Dr. Cindy Sanders, UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County director. “Working with livestock and other agriculture events through the youth fair prepares future citizens of Alachua County to be knowledgeable about agriculture production and land use. This benefits Alachua County by providing citizens the opportunity to see our 4-H & FFA youth projects.”

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