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ALACHUA ‒ Just over a year after breaking ground, construction is steadily advancing on Alachua County Fire Station 21, a long-planned project aimed at enhancing emergency response and modernizing fire rescue infrastructure in the growing northwest portion of the county.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the new station, located at 16121 N.W. 173rd Street (County Road 235-A) in the city of Alachua, was held on March 19, 2024. It was attended by members of the Alachua County Commission and staff, Alachua County Fire Rescue, the Alachua City Commission, Chamber of Commerce representatives, and members of the public.

Now well into its construction phase, the $7 million project will replace the current Station 21 at 15040 N.W. U.S. Highway 441, across from Alachua Elementary School. Once complete, the new station will enhance emergency coverage in western Alachua while complementing Fire Station 25, which recently opened in the Tech City area to serve the eastern side of the city and surrounding county.

Station 21 is the second Alachua County Fire Rescue facility to follow the county’s new prototype fire station design, with Station 80 in Gainesville being the first. The 11,500-square-foot, single-story structure is designed to meet modern safety and efficiency standards and is expected to serve the community for 50 years or more.

Features include three drive-through bays, 10 bunkrooms, backup generator power, and energy-efficient equipment and systems. The building also incorporates sustainable design elements to meet environmental goals.

At opening, the station will be staffed 24/7 by six fire rescue personnel and will house an Advanced Life Support (ALS) Fire Engine, an ALS Ambulance, a brush truck, a water tanker, and a District Chief. The design allows for future expansion as the community continues to grow.

“The station is designed to house 10 people, and as this area continues to grow, strong consideration is needed in adding an aerial apparatus to serve this area,” Alachua County Manager Michele Lieberman said at the groundbreaking ceremony. “We have recognized the need for a new Station 21 for decades and with the addition of Fire Station 25 in the Tech City area, it makes sense to move to a different location within the city.”

Alachua County Fire Chief Theus previously estimated a 12-month construction timeline, placing completion sometime in early to mid-2025. The new location was strategically selected to better align with the city's development patterns and to reduce response times in key areas.

As construction progresses toward completion, county officials say the new facility marks a significant investment in public safety and reflects a commitment to long-term planning for emergency services in Alachua County.

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NEWBERRY ‒ The Newberry City Commission held its regular meeting on Monday, March 24, 2025, with a full agenda that included upcoming election candidate introductions, financial updates, infrastructure agreements, and a recognition for workplace safety.

At the start of the meeting, the commission allowed time for candidates in the upcoming municipal election to introduce themselves. Mayoral candidate Joy Glanzer, a former city commissioner, and current Commissioner Tim Marden each shared their vision for the city and reasons for seeking the mayor’s seat. Group V candidates Rosa Marie Campbell and incumbent Commissioner Tony Mazon also spoke about their qualifications and goals.

Newberry was honored with the 2024 Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) Safety Award, marking the ninth consecutive year the city has received the recognition. Mayor Jordan Marlowe presented a plaque to Assistant Director of Utilities and Public Works Rance Green in appreciation of the team’s continued commitment to workplace safety.

Barbara Boyd of Purvis Gray CPAs presented the Community Redevelopment Agency’s (CRA) comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2024. Boyd reported that the audit received a clean opinion, with no findings requiring correction.

Amanda Boon of Woodard & Curran presented the results of a vulnerability assessment identifying critical city assets and their risk levels in the event of severe weather. The commission unanimously approved adoption of the assessment.

Assistant City Manager for Public Works and Utilities Jamie Jones presented Ordinance 2025-03, granting Central Florida Electric Cooperative an electrical franchise within the city. The ordinance outlines the terms, conditions and penalties related to the franchise and was unanimously approved by the commission.

The commission adopted three completed elements of the city’s Comprehensive Plan, presented by Director of Community Development Stacey Hectus. She also discussed the need to update the city’s Land Development Regulations (LDRs), estimating the process would take two years. Commissioners requested cost estimates for completing the updates in one year instead of two. Hectus said she would provide those figures at a future meeting.

Commissioners approved a cost-sharing agreement with Publix for a traffic signal at State Road 26/Newberry Road. Under the agreement, Publix will contribute $134,000 toward the signal’s installation.

A $2.4 million contract was also awarded to Watson Construction for a roadway improvement project on Southwest 15^th Avenue. The contract was approved unanimously.

Due to the Memorial Day holiday, the May 26 City Commission meeting has been rescheduled for Tuesday, May 27. Commissioner Mark Clark announced the grand opening of the Newberry Veterans Memorial, set to take place on Memorial Day, May 26.

Chris Mack, president of the Newberry Main Street Organization, announced a Spring Festival to be held Saturday, April 5, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Newberry Historic District. The event will feature more than 100 vendors, food trucks, live music and a family fun zone.

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ALACHUA – The City of Alachua Commission recognized Cayden Parker, a Santa Fe High School senior, during its regular meeting on Feb. 24, 2025, celebrating his academic achievements and contributions to the community. Parker was awarded the prestigious Edna M. Hart Keeper of the Dream Award and became the first recipient of the Alumni Scholarship, securing more than $15,000 to further his education.

The Edna M. Hart Keeper of the Dream Award honors students who exemplify leadership, resilience and a commitment to making a positive impact. Parker’s recognition highlights his dedication to academic success and his role in inspiring others in the community.

Surrounded by family, friends and local residents, Parker took the podium to reflect on his journey and express gratitude. “I realize that my success is a product of my community,” Parker said. “I also want to thank my mother and my grandfather.” His remarks underscored the importance of community support in shaping his achievements, as he acknowledged the encouragement of his family, particularly his mother and grandfather.

Parker’s recognition comes just days before the City of Alachua’s Education Task Force (ETF) is set to convene for a community workshop, where members will update the group’s strategic plan for strengthening local education. The ETF, established to support schools through grassroots initiatives, plays a key role in enhancing student success and fostering partnerships between the city and its educational institutions.

City officials say that education remains a top priority for the City of Alachua, as outlined in its annual strategic plan and that the City reaffirms its commitment to providing resources and opportunities for students, ensuring initiatives like the ETF continue to serve future generations.

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ALACHUA – The Alachua City Commission sitting as the Alachua Community Redevelopment Agency voted unanimously to approve of a “test run” for parking time limits on a portion of the town’s Main Street.

Once in effect, parking in the affected area would be limited to two hours per day. The move comes in response to complaints by a few business owners that some people have been parking all day in select areas of Main Street.

The measure calls for the installation of six 24” x 18” two-hour parking signs to be installed in the larger landscape beds on the west side of Main Street from Northwest 150^th Avenue to the area across and north of the Alachua Chamber of Commerce. In addition to the installation of signs, the commission voted to amend existing city codes to give effect to the restrictions.

Commissioners directed that an ordinance be drafted with the staff’s suggested language, which states, “No person shall park a vehicle on the public right-of-way of Main Street, between the public right-of-way of Northwest 150^th Avenue and 250 feet north of the public right-of-way of Northwest 147^th Avenue, for a period of time longer than 120 minutes between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., when signs are erected in each block giving notice thereof.”

The commission appeared wary of implementing any enforcement mechanism, concerned that ticketing violators could result in ill will with the public visiting Main Street. The commission also cautioned the staff against pursuing technology measures that would track individual parking habits. Instead, commissioners expressed a desire to gain voluntary compliance with short term parking by sending letters to the businesses explaining the implementation of the new rules and the placement of signs in the affected sections.

The cost of the parking signs is estimated at $350.

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ALACHUA – Alachua City Commissioners on March 24, 2025, failed to adopt a staff recommendation that would have resulted in the City contracting with an independent engineering firm to fill in the gap in the City of Alachua’s planning department. In a narrow vote of 2-3, commissioners did not approve of securing professional services from Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. to support the Planning & Community Development Department.

With recent retirements and resignations in the City of Alachua’s Planning & Community Development Department, the City finds itself short staffed with only one city planner. According to city staffers, the City currently has 31 development review applications under the purview of the Planning & Community Development Department. Of those 31, 11 applications are in the project assistance team review stage and being circulated to other departments for input, four are on hold, three are incomplete and awaiting resubmittal, nine are scheduled for upcoming public hearings, two are currently in review for completeness, and two have only been received but not undergone any review.

City Manager Mike DaRoza emphasized to commissioners that the assistance of an outside firm would be temporary, until adequate and qualified planning staff could be onboarded.

The City is under statutorily mandated guidelines for at least some of the projects currently under review, which is why DaRoza requested the commission provide relief to the department.

Assistant City Manager Rodolfo Valladares presented the commission with the plan that would have engaged Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc., a global professional services firm, to review building permits and planning applications for compliance with city regulations and alignment with the Alachua Comprehensive Plan.

Both Valladares and DaRoza said the hiring of the outside firm would help bolster the City’s commitment to maintain a level of services expected of the City. The terms of the contract called for Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. to commit at least two American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), including one onsite and one of whom also hold a law degree.

As part of their role, Jacobs would have evaluated a variety of planning applications, including Comprehensive Plan Amendments, Infrastructure Plans, Lot Splits, Minor Site Plans, Minor Subdivisions, Rezoning Requests, Site Plans, Special Exception Permits, and Variance Permits. Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. would not have been permitted to conduct reviews of plans they have prepared themselves.

Although not passed by the Commission, the contract would have cost approximately $160,000 over six months, similar to the salaries, retirement, benefits, and taxes that would have been paid over that same period of time to the staffers who retired and resigned.

As a result of the Commission’s failure to approve the staff’s recommendation, the city manager will likely have to go back to the drawing board for a new plan to fill in the staffing gap.

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NEWBERRY ‒ A 69-year-old Newberry man with a history of run-ins with law enforcement was arrested Friday afternoon and charged with stalking, following a series of alleged incidents involving threats, harassment and repeated unwanted contact with a former girlfriend, according to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.

Murray Edward Sapp was taken into custody around 3:30 p.m. on March 21, 2025, while driving in the Jonesville area, deputies said. His arrest follows multiple reports from the victim, who told authorities that Sapp had been following her, showing up at her home and workplace, and contacting her incessantly over the past month.

Deputies were first alerted to the situation in connection with a March 19, 2025, incident, in which Sapp allegedly opened the victim’s car door while she was inside and refused to leave until her employer intervened. The woman reported that Sapp had been leaving flowers and notes on her vehicle, parking outside her apartment at all hours, and appearing at stores she frequents.

According to an incident report, Sapp had previously told the woman he loved her and could not live without her, despite her repeated insistence that they were only friends. The woman told deputies the repeated harassment has severely impacted her mental health and sense of safety.

The stalking charge stems from continued behavior after she explicitly told him to stop contacting her, according to the sheriff’s office.

On March 21, deputies responded to The Crossing at Santa Fe Apartments following a report that Sapp was threatening to commit suicide. When a deputy arrived, Sapp had already left the scene. A neighbor who confronted Sapp at the apartment complex said he declared he would kill himself if he couldn’t be with the victim and added, “Good, maybe this time the law will shoot me,” when told police were being called. He also reportedly said, “If I can’t have her, nobody can.”

Deputies located and arrested Sapp shortly afterward.

Court records show Sapp has two prior felony convictions, one of which was violent, and nine misdemeanor convictions, including one violent offense. He previously served time in state prison, though his release date is not listed. His most recent felony conviction dates back to 1978.

Sapp was also arrested in May 2024 following a four-hour manhunt that led to the lockdown of two Newberry schools. In that case, he was charged with domestic battery, deprivation of communication and resisting an officer without violence. A sheriff’s office K-9 unit located Sapp in a wooded area, where he was bitten after allegedly ignoring repeated commands to surrender. Those charges were dropped in July.

At that time, Judge Susan Miller-Jones initially set bail at $95,000, but Judge William Davis later released Sapp on his own recognizance following a defense motion.

In the current case, Judge Adam Lee has set bail at $100,000.

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