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Ben E. Keith officials and City of Alachua elected officials and staff celebrated the Jan. 29, 2025 groundbreaking of the 707,000 square-foot distribution center. / Photo special to Alachua County Today

ALACHUA ‒ In a major step forward for economic growth in North Central Florida, Ben E. Keith Foods has broken ground on a state-of-the-art, 707,000-square-foot distribution center in Alachua, Florida. The new facility, which will serve as the company’s Florida Division headquarters, is expected to create over 400 new jobs in the next five years, further strengthening the local economy.

The groundbreaking ceremony, held on Jan. 29, 2025 was attended by Alachua City Commissioners, company executives, the Alachua Chamber of Commerce, and local leaders, marking the official start of construction on the 148-acre site.

Alachua Mayor Gib Coerper welcomed the company’s expansion, emphasizing its positive impact on the region.

“Alachua is proud to welcome Ben E. Keith Foods’ Florida Division to our area. It is amazing to watch such successful companies choose ‘The Good Life Community’ as their home,” said Coerper. “We are looking forward to the opportunities Ben E. Keith Foods will be providing for our citizens and local businesses.”

Ben E. Keith Foods, the nation’s fifth-largest broad-line food service distributor, has been expanding rapidly across the Southeast, serving customers in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.

The company’s President, Mike Sweet, reaffirmed Ben E. Keith’s commitment to Alachua County and the surrounding communities, noting that this expansion will enhance service capabilities while honoring the legacy of Florida Food Service, which the company acquired in 2022.

“We acquired Florida Food Service in 2022 with a commitment to carry on the Islam family legacy, while uncovering new opportunities to expand and serve customers across the region,” said Sweet. “We are deeply committed to Alachua County and the surrounding communities in which we live, work, and serve, and we look forward to many more years of shared success.”

The new facility will replace and expand upon the company’s existing Gainesville operations, where over 230 employees are currently based.

The Alachua distribution center is designed to set new industry standards with advanced technology, increased efficiency, and sustainable operations. The facility will feature 120 tractor-trailers for large-scale distribution, 105 dock doors to streamline 24/7 intake and outtake operations, state-of-the-art logistics systems to improve speed and accuracy in order fulfillment and sustainability initiatives to reduce environmental impact

With the Florida Division overseeing operations across the state and as far north as Charleston, South Carolina, the new Alachua facility will allow Ben E. Keith Foods to expand its reach and better serve foodservice operators throughout the region.

The arrival of Ben E. Keith Foods in Alachua represents a major economic boost for the city and surrounding areas. In addition to the hundreds of jobs the facility will create, the project is expected to generate millions of dollars in investment and infrastructure improvements.

Local businesses, suppliers, and vendors will also benefit from the increased economic activity, as Ben E. Keith Foods will rely on regional partnerships to support its expanded operations.

Founded in 1906 in Fort Worth, Texas, Ben E. Keith Foods is one of the largest foodservice distributors in the United States, with 10 divisions operating in 20 states. The company provides high-quality food products, beverage distribution, and logistics services to restaurants, hotels, healthcare facilities, and other foodservice providers

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WALDO ‒ A 39-year-old Waldo man, Jeffrey Lamar Becker, faces new charges of sexual battery on a child under 12 after a second victim came forward, adding to the allegations against him. Becker was initially arrested on December 19, 2024, and charged with sexual battery on a child over the age of 12. With the second victim’s statements, Becker now faces four additional counts of sexual battery on a victim under 12, all of which are capital felonies, along with one count of lewd and lascivious molestation of a child under 12. All are capital felonies with the addition of one count of lewd/lascivious molestation on a child under 12.

Forensic interviews with both victims reveal that the alleged abuse began when they were young children—well before puberty—and continued for approximately four to six years. The reported incidents stretch over a period of more than 10 years, with the abuse allegedly persisting until December 2024.

The allegations suggest that Becker maintained access to the victims over an extended period, raising concerns about how the abuse went undetected for so long. Law enforcement officials have not disclosed how the victims are connected to Becker, citing privacy concerns, but noted that the abuse reportedly took place in multiple locations over the years.

This is not Becker’s first encounter with the legal system on allegations involving children. In March 2022, he was arrested for child abuse after allegedly choking a child, but the charge was later dropped. It is unclear whether the victim in that case is connected to the current allegations.

On December 27, 2024, Judge David Kreider granted a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold Becker without bail pending trial on the first set of charges. Prosecutors have now filed notice that they intend to seek the same no-bail status in the second case involving the additional victim.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ A 75-year-old High Springs resident has been sentenced to two years in state prison, followed by five years of probation, after pleading nolo contendere to shooting at a man who was attempting to repossess his daughter’s car.

Winzoir Van Durr entered the plea on June 10, 2024, to charges of shooting into a vehicle and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The charges carried a potential maximum sentence of 20 years, but on Nov. 25, 2024, Judge David Kreider accepted his open plea and imposed a reduced sentence.

The case stems from an incident on Feb. 14, 2023, when an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a call about shots fired in the 14700 block of Northwest 270^th Avenue in High Springs.

According to reports, the victim—an automobile recovery agent—had gone to the residence to repossess a car. The victim told deputies that he had spoken to Durr at the front door, where Durr inquired about ways to prevent the repossession. After their conversation, Durr went back inside to retrieve what he claimed was paperwork.

As the recovery agent began to back up his vehicle to leave, he suddenly heard a "pop" and saw Durr standing near the front door, pointing a firearm at him. The agent reported hearing five more gunshots as he sped away in fear for his life.

When questioned by deputies post-Miranda, Durr admitted that he knew his daughter was behind on her car payments and acknowledged that he retrieved his gun from his office when he saw the agent taking the vehicle.

Durr initially claimed he fired a “warning shot,” but later admitted he fired three more rounds at the tires to try to stop the agent from leaving.

After spending two days in jail, Durr was released on bail and remained free until sentencing.

Durr’s case moved through the court system over the following year. On June 10, 2024, he entered a nolo contendere plea, meaning he neither admitted nor denied guilt but accepted the legal consequences of the charges.

On Nov. 25, 2024, Judge David Kreider imposed two concurrent two-year prison sentences, meaning Durr will serve both sentences simultaneously before beginning his five-year probation period.

Durr’s legal troubles also had political repercussions. Shortly after the shooting incident, he was appointed to the Alachua County Historical Commission at a Feb. 28, 2023, County Commission meeting. However, after a member of the public informed the board about his recent arrest, Commissioner Ken Cornell moved to change his vote. The board subsequently selected a different applicant to fill the position.

On his application, Durr had listed a background in the U.S. Army and previous employment with the Smithsonian Institution in Human Resources.

Durr will serve his prison sentence in a Florida state facility before beginning his five years of supervised probation.

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HIGH SPRINGS – A new Christian-based private school is coming to High Springs as Deeper Purpose Christian Academy (DPCA) prepares to welcome its first group of students in August 2025.

To provide families with more information about enrollment and program details, DPCA scheduled a Parent Interest Meeting for Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 6 p.m. at Deeper Purpose Community Church Worship & Resource Center, 19975 N.W. 244^th Street, Unit 30, High Springs, next to Subway.

For the Fall 2025 school year, DPCA will serve students in Kindergarten through Third Grade, with plans for future expansion. Topics covered in the meeting include school location and classroom setup, academic calendar and daily schedule, curriculum and courses of study, strategic plan for growth, teacher qualifications, dress code, illness and discipline policies, and tuition, payment options and scholarship opportunities.

DPCA is a Ministry of Deeper Purpose Community Church, Inc., operating alongside the well-established Deeper Purpose Kids Academy Preschool, which has been serving families in the community.

The mission of Deeper Purpose Christian Academy is to expand learning opportunities for God’s children while providing a strong academic foundation rooted in faith-based principles.

DPCA aims to help students achieve excellence in both education and character development, preparing them for future success in school, life, and faith.

Families seeking additional details about DPCA’s Christian-based curriculum, enrollment process, and tuition options can visit the Deeper Purpose Christian Academy Facebook Page.

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NEWBERRY ‒ The Alachua County Youth Fair & Livestock Show Association has announced the highly anticipated 2025 Alachua County Youth Fair & Livestock Show, a free event celebrating youth involvement in agriculture. The fair will take place from Feb. 27 to March 4, 2025, at the Alachua County Agriculture and Equestrian Center, located at 23100 W. Newberry Road in Newberry.

Designed as an educational platform for young people in Alachua County, the fair provides an opportunity for 4-H and FFA members to showcase their hard work in livestock and non-livestock projects. Participants will display their skills and knowledge in areas such as animal husbandry, horticulture, and agricultural sciences, helping to preserve and promote the county’s deep-rooted agricultural traditions.

Cindy Sanders, director of UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County, emphasized the fair’s importance. “The youth fair benefits agriculture and the local community by providing an educational opportunity for youth to learn about production agriculture.

“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 allowing citizens to see our 4-H and FFA youth projects.”

The fair will feature a variety of livestock competitions, project exhibitions, and educational presentations. Attendees can expect to see exhibits featuring cattle, swine, goats, poultry, and rabbits, horticulture displays and gardening projects.

Additionally, the event offers interactive experiences for visitors, including youth demonstrations, educational workshops, and a chance to learn more about modern farming practices.

The fair is more than just a competition as families, educators, and business leaders come together to support the next generation of farmers, ranchers, and agricultural professionals.

For many youth participants, the fair is the culmination of months of dedication, responsibility, and hands-on learning. These experiences help build essential life skills, including leadership, teamwork, and business management.

Admission to the fair is free, making it an accessible and enriching experience for the entire community. A complete schedule of events is available on the Alachua County Youth Fair & Livestock Show website at https://www.acyfls.com/, where interested attendees can find details on show times, participant registration, and competition guidelines.

Whether you're a longtime supporter of local agriculture or just looking for a fun and educational event, the 2025 Alachua County Youth Fair & Livestock Show promises to be an exciting showcase of young talent and agricultural excellence.

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ALACHUA COUNTY ‒ The Humane Society of North Central Florida (HSNCF) is celebrating a banner year, with significant accomplishments made possible through the generosity and support of the local community. Throughout 2024, the organization provided critical services to animals in need, connected hundreds of pets with loving homes, and engaged a vast network of dedicated volunteers and foster families.

The Humane Society shared the following achievements for 2024:

• 1,800+ pets were welcomed into the organization’s care.
• 1,600+ pets found loving, permanent homes.
• 1,250+ foster families volunteered, providing pets with nurturing environments.
• Over 65,000 hours were contributed by foster families, helping animals adjust and thrive.
• The organization’s low-cost Vaccine & Wellness Clinic administered 4,400+ appointments to keep pets healthy.
• The PetSnip Spay/Neuter Clinic performed more than 4,500 surgeries, helping to control the pet population.
• Volunteers dedicated 23,400+ hours, equivalent to the work of 11 full-time staff members.
• HSNCF provided services to 21 counties across Florida.

These milestones underscore the profound impact of community involvement and the Humane Society’s commitment to improving animal welfare in the region. From adoption success stories to critical medical interventions, every effort reflects the shared dedication of North Central Florida residents, staff, and volunteers.

“Together, we have all made 2024 a year to remember,” the Humane Society stated. “Let’s continue this lifesaving momentum into 2025!”

For those interested in volunteering, fostering, or supporting the Humane Society, information can be found on their website or by visiting their Alachua County location.

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