Local

ALACHUA – An Alachua resident was arrested on Jan. 18, and is facing charges of misdemeanor animal cruelty and felony animal cruelty stemming from a December incident. On Dec. 12, 2023, officers from the Alachua Police Department responded to Raymond Leon Merricks Jr.'s residence after receiving a call for assistance from the Alachua County Animal Resources (ACAS) with an investigation. The ACAS received a call that Merricks's pit bull had been running loose within the neighborhood, killed the neighbor's chickens and was severely malnourished. The pit bull was captured by the ACAS.

While attempting contact at Merricks' residence, another pit bull was located in the front yard chained to a tree stump and surrounded by animal feces. The pit bull was suffering from hair loss and covered in flees. Officers and ACAS investigators also located two makeshift confinements in the rear of the residence. One confinement contained another pit bull which was also severely malnourished.

In the second confinement, they located a deceased pit bull that was severely malnourished and chained inside the makeshift kennel. Inside both confinements, the flooring was covered in trash and animal feces and neither animal had proper food or water. Once the animals were removed from the confinements it was discovered that both dogs were covered in feces and infested with fleas and one of the dogs had missing teeth and sores on its skin.

According to APD, “Although there was no food in any of the dog bowls, the Defendant had a large unopened bag of dog food in the garage.”

On Dec. 17, 2023, an arrest warrant for Merricks was obtained. On Jan. 18, 2024, Merricks showed in a court hearing for custody over the animals and was arrested for two counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty and two counts of felony animal cruelty.

Bond was set at $99 for each of the four charges totaling $396. Merricks has since been released from the Alachua County Jail.

#     #     #

Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com

Updated Jan. 31, 2024

City of Gainesville officials anticipate the continuation of severe weather conditions, including temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit during evening hours Wednesday, Jan. 31 through Saturday, Feb. 3. 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.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - City of Gainesville officials anticipate severe weather conditions, including temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit during evening hours Sunday, Jan. 28 through Tuesday, Jan. 30. 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.

#     #     #

Email editor@

alachuatoday.com

NEWBERRY ‒ The City of Newberry has set April 9, 2024 for its City Commission election.  The election will fill three seats on the Commission, Groups One, Two and Three.  Each elected commissioner will serve two-year terms.

The Group One seat is currently held by Commissioner Rick Coleman.  The Group Two seat is currently held by Commissioner Mark Clark and the Group Three seat is currently held by Commissioner Monty Farnsworth.

The polling location has been set for Precinct Six, the City of Newberry Mentholee Norfleet Municipal Building located at 25420 West Newberry Road, Newberry.  The polls will be open at 7 a.m. and will close at 7 p.m. on April 9.

The candidate qualifying period begins at noon on Monday, Feb. 12 and ends at noon on Thursday, Feb. 15.  Candidates can qualify by appointment only with the office of the City Clerk by either calling 352-472-2446 or emailing cityclerk@newberryfl.gov.  The qualifying fee is $140.

The final day of voter registration for this municipal election is 5 p.m. on Monday, March 11, 2024.

For questions contact the office of the City Clerk.

#     #     #

Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com

HIGH SPRINGS, FL – The start of 2024 has been marked with pivotal changes for the City of High Springs as the City’s Parks and Recreation Director Elliot Harris is the latest employee to resign. Elliott Harris’ resignation comes on the heels of High Springs Assistant City Manager and longtime High Springs Fire Department Chief Bruce Gillingham in October, followed by City Manager Ashley Stathatos in November and City Commissioner Steve Tapanes in December.

Public Works Director Thomas Henry, aided by High Springs Parks & Recreation Administrator Jennifer Corbett, will handle the City’s recreation programs.

Meanwhile, the Commission has advertised the City Manager position and has received more than 12 applications. At the Jan. 25 commission meeting, Commissioners are expected to whittle the applicants to five and schedule a date for in-person or Zoom interviews during that meeting.

Stathatos will officially be leaving her post on Feb. 29 but has offered to stay longer if that is the will of the commission. She will be taking time off during the next two weeks for a family medical issue. In her absence, Henry, Building Official Allan Alligood and Police Chief Antoine Sheppard will share her duties.

In discussions about a new city manager, Commissioner Byran Williams suggested that the City should wait for the special election to fill former Commissioner Tapanes’ seat before a final decision on the next city manager is made.

“I just don’t feel it’s fair to the person who is going to be sitting there,” Williams said. “They didn’t have a part in the process.”

As the tentative Special Election date is March 26, that means a new city manager may not be in place until May said Commissioner Andrew Miller. The election date is tentative due to scheduling conflicts with the presidential primary election on March 19.

Due to the turmoil surrounding vacancies, a joint meeting between the City Commission and Alachua County Board of County Commissioners, which was scheduled for April 4, may be moved to a later date. Commissioner Tristan Grunder suggested the meeting be postponed until June.

In other business, the Commission voted unanimously to place a purchase offer on the Priest Theatre. The motion directs staff to offer $350,000, which includes closing costs, a screen and two projectors. The last appraisal on the structure was $310,000.

The City received $1,040,000 in a State Legislative Appropriation to purchase and renovate the theater. Funds will be used to replace the roof, which is in danger of collapsing, and other actions to stabilize the structure. The purchase of the screen and projectors helps to establish that there is no change in the use of the building. According to local architect Paul Stressing, the structural integrity needs to be enhanced, but the City doesn’t need to make the structure ADA compliant as long as the use doesn’t change. The Commission has said they intend to sell the building once the renovations have been made.

Also, by unanimous vote, the Commission approved an ordinance giving authorization to install cameras for speed detection in High Springs school zones. Although the cameras will be in use all the time, speed infractions will only be monitored 30 minutes prior to and after school times. A High Springs Police Officer will review the infractions prior to sending notification to drivers.

The ordinance also provides for a local hearing officer in case drivers who are ticketed wish to question the tickets. The code enforcement officer will likely serve as the hearing officer.

In other business, Public Works Director Thomas Henry reported that the wastewater treatment plant project is on schedule and that Phase 1wetlands is about 60 percent completed. The area was flooded during testing and eight sinkholes were found on the wetland area. Henry said two have been remediated and the others are in process. He said engineers have assured him that the area of the treatment plant is not in danger of sinkholes.

Henry also reported that the Douglas Center is moving along. The plumbing, electrical and air conditioning duct work have been roughed in and the new walls are framed up.

The next regular city commission meeting is scheduled for Jan. 25.

#     #     #

Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The City of High Springs is seeking community volunteers to serve on two city advisory boards.

The Charter Review Board seeks five board members. Members will review the City Charter and make recommendations to the City Commission for any alterations, revisions, and amendments to the Charter. 

The High Springs Plan Board, which also serves as the Historical Preservation Board, needs one member. Members of the board review amendments to the land use and zoning maps; review and recommend developments; and hear and consider code variances. 

Interested parties must live within the corporate limits of High Springs to qualify. To apply, visit highsprings.gov/boards.

#     #     #

Email editor@

alachuatoday.com

HAWTHORNE – An 81-year-old Hawthorne man was arrested at 11:23 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 8, at his residence and charged with a sex offender violation, specifically, failure to report an internet web page.

Larry Wayne Robinson was also charged with 13 counts of providing false registration information after a child pornography investigation allegedly found that Robinson was using an unreported Facebook account.

The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) reported that on Dec. 7, a Cyber Tip was received from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) of an individual who was using Facebook to upload child pornography.

“NCMEC provided an IP address, email address, home address and telephone number of the person who attempted to upload child pornography files through Facebook. The individual was identified as Larry Wayne Robinson.” Facebook automatically cancelled the account created by Robinson.

Robinson was convicted of sexual battery and two counts of lewd/lascivious conduct in 1993 out of Duval County and deemed a Sexual Offender. Robinson is required to register with local law enforcement for the rest of his life and is required to report all internet accounts within 48 hours of using them. On 13 occasions he failed to disclose the internet site and stated that he acknowledged and understood the requirements he must abide by per Florida Statutes.

The Cyber Tip indicated that Robinson created a Facebook account on Sept. 8, 2020, thereby failing to report the account 13 different times.

Post Miranda, Robinson reportedly admitted that he had a Facebook account and showed the investigating ACSO Deputy his phone with an active Facebook account. ACSO added, “Additionally, the defendant stated he does read all of conditions thoroughly when he signs his Sexual Offender packet.” Robinson also said that he uses chat rooms with other men.

Robinson has three felony convictions for sexual offenses.

Bail was set at $420,000 by Judge Susan Miller-Jones. She also stipulated a condition that Robinson “shall not have access to or use the internet/computer.”

#     #     #

Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com