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NEWBERRY ‒ An 18-year-old Newberry man was arrested on Monday, Jan. 8, on a warrant for residential burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and charged with drug possession when arrested.

Edwin Lee Daniels was on pre-trial diversion for a June 2023 incident in which he was charged with possession of a firearm and a separate extended magazine after being convicted as a juvenile of a crime that would be a felony for an adult.

The Newberry burglary took place on Dec. 3, 2020, when Daniels was 15-years-old. It was moved to the adult judicial system in December 2023, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

When Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies served the warrant at Daniels’ Newberry residence, they reportedly saw a bag of marijuana in plain view on the floor of his bedroom.

Post Miranda, Daniels reportedly said the substance in the bag was “weed” and that it was for his personal use.

Daniels has been charged with burglary, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Daniels has juvenile convictions in 2019 and 2020 but no adult convictions other than the pending pre-trial diversion case.

Bail was set at $75,000 on the burglary charge, $1,500 on marijuana possession and $1,000 on drug paraphernalia by Judge Susan Miller-Jones

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Photo special to Alachua County Today

NEWBERRY ‒ The Newberry City Commission on Jan. 8, 2024, received an in-depth briefing about a controversial Florida Commission on Ethics form that has caused some elected officials to resign.

City attorney Danielle Adams of Folds Walker law firm reviewed the Florida Commission on Ethics Form 6 Financial Disclosure that is required for mayors and elected members of governing bodies of municipalities. The disclosure form has led to a number of resignations by elected officials in Florida, including some individuals in Alachua County.

Adams said that those officials serving as of Dec. 31, 2023 must file Form 6 in 2024. Controversy among public officials stems from the public nature of the document and some individuals find the disclosure of private information to be over reaching.

Adams said financial disclosure forms will be filed electronically in 2024 via the Commission on Ethics Electronic Financial Disclosure Management System (EFDMS) and that all disclosures filed in EFDMS will be published on the Commission on Ethics website.

Newberry Mayor Jordan Marlowe questioned why the City Attorney and City Clerk were specifically not able to help filers with questions, to which Adams said she did not know. However, filers may use their own attorney or accountant to aid them in completion of the form.

In other City business, the Commission unanimously approved on first reading a Comprehensive Plan Amendment changing the future land use classification on 161 +/- acres voluntarily annexed to the City from Alachua County Rural/Agriculture to City of Newberry Agriculture.

The property owned by Whitehurst Cattle Company is located east of County Road 337/Southwest 282^nd Street and south of 67^th Avenue. This is a like-for-like change that allows less than or equal to one dwelling unit per five acres.

Following approval of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment, the Commission approved on first reading a request to rezone Alachua County’s “Agriculture” classification to City of Newberry “Agriculture” zoning on the same 161 +/- acres.

The Commission also unanimously approved on first reading a Comprehensive Plan Amendment submitted by Herbert A. Marlowe, Jr., owner of 29 +/- acres of land located along County Road 337/Southwest 282^nd Street.

The amendment changes the future land use classification from Alachua County Rural/Agriculture to City of Newberry Agriculture on 29 +/- acres voluntarily annexed to the City. This is a like-for-like change that allows less than or equal to one dwelling unit per five acres.

Following approval of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment, the Commission approved on first reading a request to rezone Alachua County’s “Agriculture” classification to City of Newberry “Agriculture” zoning on the same 29 +/- acres.

In other City business, Mellina Parker was appointed by the Commission to both the Planning and Zoning and Historic Architectural Review Boards to fill out the remainder of the term. This action comes following the resignation of board member Jordan Fairfield, who is moving to another city.

Seats on both boards come up for appointment in 2025. At that time, the City will advertise for applicants for those board seats.

Looking ahead, City Hall will be closed on Jan. 15 in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and waste pickup will be adjusted accordingly. Participants walking in the Martin Luther King, Jr. march are to meet at the Martin Luther King Community Center on Jan. 15 at 11 a.m. and will walk to the city’s Municipal Building for a presentation.

This week the Florida Public Utilities Corporation is beginning construction on natural gas facilities in the city. They will start working on Northwest 3^rd going over to their office on State Road 45. Connections are planned in subsequent phases for Newberry Oaks and New Town 1895.

On Feb. 15 the City will hold a State of the City event with a Taste of Newberry event to be held first. With four new restaurants in town, it is expected that they will want to participate in this event.

City Manager Mike New distributed handouts to the Commission on items as part of the 2024 State Legislative Session. New recommended that Commissioners monitor several matters that involve agri-tourism and municipal water and sewer rates.

On May 13 at 7 p.m., a joint City/County Commission meeting has been scheduled.

The next Newberry City Commission meeting is scheduled for Jan. 22 at 7 p.m.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The High Springs City Commission will remain one commissioner short following a special commission meeting held Thursday, Jan. 4.  The Commission voted unanimously not to appoint a fifth commissioner and to continue with only four until a special election could be held in February or March to fill the empty seat.

The special City Commission meeting was scheduled after former Commissioner Steve Tapanes, who was elected in November 2023, resigned on Dec. 30.  Tapanes said he had issues with the State Commission on Ethics financial disclosure form referred to as Form 6, which was required to be filled out in order to continue in the position. 

In 2023 the Floria Legislature passed a law requiring mayors and elected city or town council members to file Form 6.  Prior to the new law, those elected officials were required to file Form 1.  Form 6 requires a more in-depth report of the filer's finances, including disclosure of net worth, information not required by Form 1.  Form 6 filers must also disclose assets over $1,000, while the Form 1 threshold is over $10,000.  Form 6 also requires filers to disclose clients that make up more than 10 percent of the filer's income.

The High Springs city attorney explained that the City Charter allows the commission to appoint someone to fill the position until an election could be held.  With Tapanes’ seat empty, the city charter mandates a special election to fill the seat.  The election must happen within 60 to 90 days of the vacancy, between Feb. 28 and March 29.  

Although Commissioners Tristan Grunder and Byran Williams both expressed concerns that a stalemate might occur with only four commissioners voting on matters, citizens overwhelmingly expressed a desire to elect the person who will fill Tapanes’ seat.

With the presidential primary election also falling within that window on March 19, it is making it difficult for Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Kim Barton to schedule elections for the smaller municipalities facing election requirements.

High Springs City Clerk Angela Stone has contacted Barton for an election date for High Springs.  Although it would seem ideal to add High Springs’ election to the ballot for the presidential primary, Stone said the ballot for that election has already been set, dictating that the City election be held independent of the presidential primary.

Stone said she expects to confer with Barton and have a firm election date selected prior to the Jan. 11 regular city commission meeting.

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Photo special to Alachua County Today

NEWBERRY ‒ What has been touted as Alachua County’s largest Publix grocery store officially broke ground in Newberry on Thursday morning, Jan. 4. A crowd of citizens, local officials, a county commissioner and a state representative were in attendance to witness the event.  In addition to Newberry City Commissioners and Mayor Jordan Marlowe, Alachua County Commissioner Anna Prizzia, Alachua County Sheriff Emery Gainey and U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack were in attendance.

The chain store bought the nine-acre plot on the corner of West Newberry Road and County Road 235 in August and is working with Carolina Holdings to develop a 55,000-square-foot grocery store and 7,700 square feet of retail space on the site.

Although Publix has not yet announced an official timeline, it estimates the store will be open about nine months after the groundbreaking. The Florida-based grocery chain has a spate of new store openings scheduled in Florida this month. New locations include Fort Myers, Sanford, Wesley Chapel, and Panama City.

Publix itself is not only expected to be a source of jobs, but it will also attract other businesses to the retail areas within the shopping center to provide additional income sources for the community.

In an earlier interview, Marlowe said a Publix in Newberry is more than a grocery store. Publix does extensive vetting of an area’s growth rates and demographics before establishing a location there, so this move signals a shift in growth patterns.

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Photo special to Alachua County Today

WALDO ‒ Two men were arrested at 11:50 p.m. on Dec. 29 after the pair broke into Right Price Auto Sales, 16240 N.E. US Highway 301, Waldo. During the break in, the pair stole keys while the business owner watched the break in on his security camera.

Jalon Ezekiel Williams, 21, and Daven Cole Garner, 26, exited the business location in a 2013 Silver Toyota Forerunner using the stolen keys. An Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ASO) Deputy and K-9 were in the area and located a vehicle matching the description next to a wrecked gold Cadillac sedan, where personal items were being transferred from the Cadillac to the Forerunner.

The deputy attempted contact, activating the overhead emergency lights of his K-9 marked patrol vehicle. Once the emergency lights were activated, Williams, who was driving the Forerunner, put the vehicle in reverse and slammed into the Deputy’s patrol car in an effort to flee.

Following the collision, Williams continued to flee from the ASO Deputy, driving through thick underbrush before eventually crashing into a tree. After the secondary collision, Williams and Garner exited the Forerunner and fled on foot.

According to the ASO, the pair were both apprehended after a K-9 track through the swampy terrain, without incident.

Following apprehension, it was discovered that the Gold 2006 Cadillac and the Florida License Plate were also stolen. The Cadillac was reported stolen out of Polk County and the license plate was reported stolen out of Largo, Florida. The suspects were in possession of both the license plate and vehicle prior to burglarizing the auto sales business.

Post Miranda, Williams admitted to burglarizing the business through an exterior window, after pushing the window air conditioner unit out. He also admitted to stealing the key to the Forerunner, stealing the vehicle itself and knowing the Cadillac and license plate were stolen. Garner refused to answer any questions during a Post Miranda Interview.

Garner is charged with Grand Theft of a motor vehicle, stolen tag and resisting arrest without violence.

Williams is charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, stolen tag, burglary of a business, fleeing and alluding, resisting arrest without violence, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and a law enforcement K-9. Both men were listed as homeless on the arrest reports.

Bond was set at $315,000 for Williams and Garner’s bond was set at $60,000. The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office released a video of the incident at https://www.facebook.com/AlachuaCountySheriff/videos/325055813701982/

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HIGH SPRINGS, FLA. -- 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, please visit highsprings.gov/boards.

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