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Photo special to Alachua County Today / (L-R) High Springs City Manager Ashley Stathatos, High Springs Parks and Recreation Director Elliot Harris, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board member High Springs Mayor Katherine Weitz and Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Chair Linda Hewlett cutting the ribbon to officially open the courts for play.

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ Pickleball is continuing to gain its status as a popular sports pastime. On Thursday, Dec. 7, more than 60 community leaders, High Springs city department heads and Pickleball enthusiasts gathered at the High Springs Civic Center, 19107 N.W. 240^th Street, to open the High Springs new Pickleball courts to the public.

High Springs Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Chair Linda Hewlett, her husband Tom Hewlett and High Springs Parks and Recreation Administrator Jennifer Corbett organized an exciting afternoon of fun and fellowship.

Linda Hewlett cut the ribbon to officially open the courts on behalf of the City. Speakers included High Springs City Manager Ashley Stathatos, Pickleball sportsman Jorge Milanes who discussed the history of the sport and how to play, Pickleball enthusiast Maurita Lanoue, who discussed the health benefits of playing the game, and High Springs Parks and Recreation Director Elliot Harris, among others.

Attendees joined in for Pickleball games to help break in the court.

High Springs Public Information Officer Kevin Mangan said, “We would like to thank City staff and supporters, past and present, including former Commissioner Ross Ambrose and Assistant City Manager Bruce Gillingham, for laying the groundwork for this project.”

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HIGH SPRINGS – At the Dec. 7, General Meeting of the GFWC High Springs New Century Woman’s Club, a new Board of Directors was installed for the 2024 – 2026 term.

Shown in the photo, board members are listed left to right: They are President Patti Lamneck, First Vice President Bonnie Josey, Second Vice President Jeannine Mallory, Recording Secretary Laura Schweitzer, Corresponding Secretary Marlene Hackland, Treasurer Mary Sears and Historian Shirley Macrides.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The City of High Springs, the High Springs Police Department and the High Spring Fire Department once again made Christmas bright for area children through Operation Holiday Cheer. The holiday season brings family and friends together, and it is a time for celebration and joy. In this season of giving, Operation Holiday Cheer brought holiday magic to several families in the High Springs area, ensuring they could experience the joy of this special time of year.

Since 2008, High Springs first responders have been making dreams come true through Operation Holiday Cheer. Beginning in the fall, they ask for donations, and collect donations of new toys, shoes, clothing and books from the community so they can gift them to local children. Prior to delivery day, police department staff arranged the planned the distribution route, organizing deliveries to the homes to be visited.

All donated toys, clothing and gift cards were made possible by the generosity of many individuals, including local businesses, service organizations, churches, volunteers, and community members.

When kicking of this year’s Operation Holiday Cheer, High Springs Police Chief Antoine Sheppard said, “HSPD appreciates the support we receive from our community that makes Operation Holiday Cheer possible.”

Operation Holiday Cheer is made possible through the commitment and hard work of first responders and a generous community that helps support it through donations. While children and their families were the ultimate recipients of those efforts, all those involved undoubtedly experienced the joy of giving as well.

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The High Springs City Commission honored two teachers at their Dec. 14 Commission meeting. L-R: Santa Fe High School teacher Elizabeth Treese, High Springs Mayor Katherine Weitz and High Springs Community School teacher Sarah Rendek. / Photo special to Alachua County Today

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ Two local educators have been recognized for their excellence in teaching. The High Springs City Commission awarded two local teachers with certificates at the Dec. 14 High Springs City Commission meeting.

Sarah Rendek and Elizabeth Treese received the certificates presented Mayor Katherine Weitz, “In appreciation of your remarkable contributions and commitment to the students at High Springs Community School and Santa Fe High School, and the students of our community. Your efforts have made a significant impact and we are grateful for your dedication and service.”

Sarah Rendek is a team leader and seventh grade reading teacher at High Springs Community School as well as the Community School Middle School Reading Department Chair. She has taught for 13 years, with the last nine of those years at High Springs Community School.

School Principal Lynn McNeill was unable to attend due to family illness but asked Mayor Weitz to read what she would have said had she been able to attend.

“Sarah has been instrumental in developing a successful approach to ensuring that our struggling readers, as well as all other students, make the most possible learning gains each year. Her success has not gone unnoticed as District level supervisors often observe and arrange for teachers to observe in Sarah’s classroom.

“Mrs. Rendek focuses on building strong relationships with students and creates a strong learning community in her classroom. This relationship building stretches out further than her classroom as she and her team members go above and beyond to build trusting relationships with all of our seventh graders.

“Sarah serves as a personal role model for her students and provides daily encouragement as her seventh graders navigate these in between middle school years.

“And just on Monday, High Springs Community School learned that Sarah was selected as the Alachua County Public School’s Middle-School Teacher of the Year. This means that Sarah’s one of the three finalists for the Alachua County Teacher of the Year.”

Santa Fe High School Principal Dr. Timothy Wright was on hand to talk about Business Instructor and Department Chair Elizabeth Treese.

In summary he said, “I have the privilege and was asked to come and talk about Santa Fe High School’s Teacher of the Year, Beth Treese. Beth started teaching in 2009 in Lake City and she joined the staff at Santa Fe in 2014.

“She was an algebra and geometry teacher, and for the last six years, our computer teacher. She teaches digital information technology, digital design which, as [one] can imagine, spans a large field of opportunities for students.

One of the amazing things about Mrs. Treese is that for all of the classes that she teaches and all of the certifications that her students have the opportunity to earn as high school students, certification in Microsoft, the whole suite of Microsoft, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, all of those students that have Mrs. Treese have the opportunity to earn those certifications by passing the test at the end of the year.

But to be able to teach those classes, Mrs. Treese has to be certified. So in all of the courses that she teaches and the certifications that her students have the opportunities to take, she’s already earned certification.

“I know she would never ever say it about herself, but last year in the Microsoft Suite” (i.e., word, power point, excel) “her students have a 97 percent pass rate for earning certifications. In the Adobe Suite, she had a 96 percent pass rate.”

Elective teachers like Mrs. Treese survive on students wanting to be able to be a part of their classroom. “In Mrs. Treese class, 100 percent of the students are there because they want that class. And so, “I’m very thrilled that Beth was chosen by our faculty to represent Santa Fe High School as Teacher of the Year.”

Weitz presented the certificates to each of the teachers to a round of applause from Commissioners and audience members.

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By JENNIFER CABRERA

Alachua Chronicle

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Amanda Marie Janzen, 38, was arrested in Alachua Dec. 25, 2023,following a 13-mile high-speed chase after allegedly killing a woman and injuring a man at a Gainesville Walgreens over a custody dispute.

According to the arrest report from Gainesville Police Department (GPD), Janzen and the male victim have been together since September 2021 and have an 11-month-old child. However, after the baby was born, Janzen came to believe that her baby.

y’s father and another woman, the female victim, had been involved in an extramarital affair for years. Janzen reportedly told the female victim’s husband that she was having an affair, and

 several weeks later, her baby’s father filed paperwork in Putnam County for custody of the baby.

On Dec. 20, a court ordered Janzen and the baby’s father to share custody 50/50, and the parents agreed that Janzen would turn over the baby at Walgreens at 3909 N.W. 13^th Street at 2 p.m. on Christmas Da

Janzen reportedly drove from her home in Alachua to the Walgreens store with her five children in her car. On the way, she reportedly pulled into a nearby store and gave her oldest son her debit card, food stamp card, and instructions on how to pay his cell phone bill. Her son reportedly told officers that she had never done this before.

Janzen reportedly arrived at the Walgreens store first and took a gun from her bag while still sitting in her car.

The victims arrived in the female victim’s car, with the woman driving and the man in the front passenger seat. The man got out of the car, then Janzen reportedly got out of her car with the gun in her hand but hidden behind her back and walked toward the driver’s side of the female victim’s car. Janzen allegedly shot at the female victim three times, then went around the back of the car toward the passenger side, where the male victim reportedly jumped into the car before Janzen allegedly shot him three times. Janzen reportedly said, “You made this happen!” while shooting the male victim. The incident was reportedly captured on surveillance video at the store.

The female victim died; the male victim’s condition has not been made public.

Janzen reportedly returned to her car and drove northbound on Northwest 13th Street at high speed. A GPD officer nearby reportedly heard the gunshots and saw the car leaving Walgreens. GPD officers, Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies, and Alachua Police Department officers reportedly pursued Janzen for 13 miles with her five children in the car at speeds of up to 100 mph.

During the pursuit, Janzen reportedly called 911 and said she had just shot two people, giving their first and last names, and said the police were following her. Her children could reportedly be heard pleading with her to pull over during the call.

Janzen was arrested near the Taco Bell in Alachua, where officers reportedly found a discarded firearm. A search incident to arrest reportedly produced two additional loaded magazines.

Post Miranda, Janzen reportedly said the police already knew what happened because they had reviewed surveillance video.

Janzen has been charged with first-degree homicide, attempted first-degree homicide, and five counts of child neglect without great bodily harm; a charge of fleeing is on the original arrest report but was crossed out. She has no recent criminal history but was convicted of passing worthless checks in 2004 and convicted of assault and resisting arrest in 2005. Judge Thomas Jaworski set bail at $2 million.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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GAINESVILLE – Rebuilding Together North Central Florida’s Executive Director R.D. Bonnaghan announced Tuesday, Dec. 12, that the organization has received the Business Award for Small Nonprofit of the Year by the Greater Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Bonnaghan said at the end of the day our whole community is the winner because of the support the organization has received to help make homes and neighborhoods safer and healthier for our neighbors.

“Our shared impact has truly made a difference this year!” he said.

Big shout out to Rebuilding Together’s incredible, dedicated staff, AmeriCorps members, board, contracting partners, interns, volunteers and supporters who bring our organization’s vision to life—safe housing and communities for all. “This win is a reflection of the support we receive from our community,” said Bonnaghan.

The organization’s mission is repairing homes, revitalizing communities and rebuilding lives. Their vision is safe homes and communities for everyone.

To apply for assistance, volunteer or learn more about Rebuilding Together’s programs, area residents can go online at rebuildingtogetherncf.org/.

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