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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The City of High Springs has, for the second time in a month, denied a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for a tobacco and vape shop. The City Commission first denied a permit on Sept. 25, 2023. The City Commission denied a different request by a separate business on Oct. 26. This shop location would have been located at Gator Plaza, 18467 N.W. U.S. Highway 441.

The High Springs Planning and Zoning Board first considered this application and recommended against approval to the High Springs City Commission. Another Gator Plaza business owner, Natalia Castalia, pointed out that the location would be within 20 feet of a daycare center.

The property’s landlord, Dave Chadri, argued that the shop would be on the other side of the Plaza from the daycare center and every gas station and convenience store in High Springs has tobacco and vape products for sale.

The argument failed to sway the Commission, and the denial was by a unanimous vote.

School Resource Officer Agreement

The Commission unanimously approved an agreement between the City and Alachua County School Board to provide two school resource officers (SROs) to the High Springs Community School. The agreement calls for the School Board to pay up to $132,005 as its share of funding for the SROs for the 2023-24 school year.

The School Board’s funding will go toward the cost for salaries, benefits and operating expenses for the SRO.

Mutual Aid Agreement

The Commission also unanimously approved a mutual aid agreement between the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) and the City of High Springs. The agreement permits voluntary cooperation and assistance across jurisdictional lines and provides law enforcement assistance in an emergency between the two agencies.

A mutual aid agreement was in force with previous ACSO Sheriff Clovis Watson, Jr. A new agreement was required since Emery Gainey is now in that position.

Local Business Impact Estimates

The Commission unanimously approved a local business impact estimate ordinance upon second reading. The ordinance is in compliance with Florida Statutes. The ordinance requires municipalities to prepare business impact estimates prior to adopting ordinances that impact business owners.

The law also provides a procedure to challenge ordinances that are adopted by local government, while also setting challenge and waiting periods.

Vacating Undeveloped Right-of-Way

The Commission unanimously approved an ordinance on second reading that allows for the vacation and abandonment of an undeveloped public right-of-way.

The ordinance was created subsequent to an application by Judy Swoyer made vacate the southern half of Whitlock Street and internal alleys within Columbia Heights subdivision. The two applicant-owned parcels are located just north of Tractor Supply and south of 210^th Lane, also called Boat Ramp Road.

Surplus Police Vehicles

High Springs Police Department (HSPD) Chief Antoine Sheppard received authorization to surplus four department vehicles including a 2004 BMW police motorcycle and three Crown Victoria cars from 2008, 2006 and 2010.

As these vehicles were all purchased through the General Fund, and income from the sale of these vehicles will be returned to that fund.

Sheppard said that a grant funded 100 percent of the cost of a replacement motorcycle with all equipment included, so there would be no cost to the City. Also, he reported that a grant had been obtained for $20,000 for vests, which are required to be replaced every five years.

Final Comments

City Manager Ashley Stathatos announced that a Hometown Hero Salute, presented by High Springs Mercantile and the GFWC High Springs Woman’s Club, will be held at 3 p.m. at the High Springs Brewery on Saturday, Oct. 28. Just under $1,000 was earned from this event. Proceeds will go toward the High Springs Fire Department for turnout gear and the High Springs Police Department for the purchase of another canine officer.

Stathatos also offered kudos to Kim Arnold who recently became fully certified in urban search and rescue, which requires 200 hours of training.

Mayor Gloria James informed the Commission that two Habitat for Humanity homes held ribbon cutting ceremonies in the past week. She said she was proud that the City provided the properties on which the homes were built.

The next City Commission meeting is scheduled for Nov. 16. Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, the second meeting in November will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 28.

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ALACHUA ‒ Alachua’s Mebane Middle School held its Annual Halloween Door Challenge on Friday morning, Oct 27.  Over 20 classrooms participated in this epic event with the stakes increasing yearly. 

Judges Alachua Police Department Chief Jessie Sandusky, Recreation & Culture Director Damon J Messina and Mayor Gib Coerper had their hands full throughout the entire morning scoring doors that fit this year's theme—Be Kind to Your Mind.

This year's winner went to Ms. Reynold’s 8th grade classroom with Mrs. Rush and Mrs. Hoffman in a dead heat tie for 2nd place with 3rd place claimed by Mrs. Carter’s classroom. 

Over the weekend, the City of Alachua Recreation & Culture Department partnered with the Alachua Raiders Football & Cheer Organization. Together they produced a 36-team tournament out of the American Youth Football First Coast Conference (A.Y.F.). Teams from Jacksonville as well as Baker, Clay, Putnum and St. Johns counties participated. 

This coming weekend City of Alachua's Recreation & Culture Department and the Santa Fe Soccer Alliance will host the first round of A.C.T.F.O.R. Soccer playoffs at the Hal Brady Recreation Complex and Legacy's Multipurpose Fields.  Youth soccer teams throughout the entire county and sister counties will participate.

Also, 399 Youth Sports Basketball Registration are available at the City of Alachua's Legacy Multipurpose Building. Deadline for registration is Dec 7.  For more information, contact Alachua’s Program Coordinator Jennifer Applebee at je_-applebee@cityofalachua.org.

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GAINESVILLE ‒ Justin Harold Krumwiede, 42, of Newberry was sentenced to 60 years imprisonment for two counts of production of child pornography. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

Krumwiede was initially arrested on March 25, 2022, and charged with raping an 11-year-old girl in 2019-20. He was released on bail and re-arrested in May 2022 after images of child pornography were found on his electronic devices.

A second victim came forward in July 2022, and additional charges of lewd and lascivious exhibition, possession of child pornography and directing a sexual performance by a child were added. Krumwiede has been in the Alachua County Jail since that time. He is still facing charges in all three cases.

“There is no greater charge than the protection of our children,” said Coody in a press release. “This sentence is yet another example of the unwavering commitment to the protection of our most vulnerable and should serve as a significant deterrent to those who would attempt to harm them. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who engage in such heinous conduct.”

In March 2022, law enforcement officers in Gainesville, Florida, commenced an investigation of alleged sexual abuse of a minor girl by Krumwiede. A search warrant was obtained for Krumwiede’s cell phones and computers. The devices were examined and found to contain hundreds of images of child pornography.

Further investigation led to the identification of two different children whose sexual abuse had been filmed by Krumwiede in New Mexico in 2016 and Texas in 2017. The children had since become adults and were located and interviewed by law enforcement. They confirmed they had been the victim of sexual abuse by Krumwiede and identified themselves in the images that he had created.

“This significant sentence is a result of HSI’s relentless pursuit of those who choose to victimize children,” said HSI Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge K. Jim Phillips. “Law enforcement partnerships, like the one between HSI [Homeland Security Investigations] and the Gainesville Police Department, as well as our HSI partners in Waco and Pittsburgh, are key to identifying and removing predators from our communities.”

“This successful prosecution is the result of the hard work and dedication of many law enforcement professionals from both state and federal agencies,” said North Florida ICAC Task Force Commander Chris King. “The safety of our children is a common priority and through unified effort this dangerous child predator was ultimately brought to justice.”

Krumwiede’s prison sentence will be followed by a Lifetime of supervised release. He will also be required to register as a sex offender and be subject to all sex offender conditions.

The case was investigated by Internet Crime Against Children Task Force Gainesville Police Department and Department of Homeland Security. Assistant United States Attorney Frank Williams prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The GFWC High Springs New Century Woman’s Club hosted a meet and greet followed by a candidates’ forum at their clubhouse located at 23674 West U.S. Highway 27 on Tuesday evening, Oct. 24.

The event was billed as an opportunity for citizens to meet the candidates running for election to fill two seats on the High Springs City Commission on election day, Nov. 7.

Incumbent Ross Ambrose is being challenged for Seat 1 by Andrew Miller. Incumbent Gloria James is being challenged for Seat 2 by Steve Tapanes.

Moderator Vickie Cox introduced the candidates and allocated a few minutes for each to make introductory statements about their history and reasons for running.

Cox read three questions individually asking each candidate to respond after each question was read. The order of candidate responses was altered with each question.

Pressing issues facing the City were listed as infrastructure, which James said the Commission is working on, but, she said, she’d like to help move that forward. She also said she’d like to continue to work with the Commission to get debt taken care of.

Steve Tapanes also mentioned infrastructure, but said he’d like to slow down growth until the infrastructure can catch up. He said he’d like to see High Springs stay a small town, but that he’d like to see a multi-use recreation center built in High Springs similar to Legacy Park in Alachua.

Andrew Miller also listed infrastructure as a pressing issue and thought that the City should manage spending and take care of the current citizens.

Ross Ambrose also listed infrastructure, which he said includes roads and the downtown area, specifically improving and maintaining buildings in downtown High Springs through the CRA and other available programs. He said the City could use Wild Spaces Public Places funds to create a recreation center, which would help to improve the quality of life for citizens.

Identifying key problems and opportunities related to growth Tapanes said increased traffic comes with growth. He’d like to alleviate the bottle neck areas involving trucks and would work with City staff to alleviate the issue.

Miller commented that he believes schools are at capacity. He thought a roundabout in the downtown area would help alleviate the traffic issues and wanted to work toward job development.

Ambrose identified road capacity as an issue related to growth. He said the schools are at capacity. He said High Springs is the busiest fire station in the county and there is a need for fire and police department buildings.

James said the City has been working with FDOT to get the trucks out of High Springs, but the City is still waiting for signs from FDOT to tell truckers where they can and can’t go. She also wants the City to work on development of jobs that pay enough so that a person is able to sustain a family.

In response to a question about opportunities for decreasing City expenses, Ambrose said the County has been paying the City a set amount for the City providing tag agency services. He thought that contract should be reviewed. He also suggested the City negotiate a more equitable set of fees with the County for times when the High Springs Fire Department responds to the scene of a fire in the county. He mentioned automating some of the services the City provides. He said he has seen an AI program that reviews construction plans in a very short time period as opposed to days.

James suggested that some City-owned buildings are being used by non-City entities. She though some of those buildings could be repurposed to provide new services or events such as plays, dances, musical events. She would like to see multi-function businesses in town.

Tapanes suggested the City use less expensive vehicles. He also thought that each department should figure out how to reduce their budget by five percent.

Miller suggested the City should maximize properties like the old school building. He also thought the City could provide wedding licenses and drivers’ licenses to make more income.

In closing comments Miller said he would listen to the citizens and make decisions with the citizens in mind.

Tapanes said he would listen to the citizens and would meet with them. He said he thought the City needed new faces and ideas.

James said that if someone brings an issue to her, she would do her very best to help resolve the issue.

Ambrose said there are no simple answers for a community of 8,000 people. He said he would continue to participate with the Florida League of Cities to see what other cities are doing to resolve the same issues. He pointed out that cities are restricted in some areas, but that he believes the Commissioners address and help resolve complex problems with good decisions.

Attending citizens were able to mingle with the candidates after the forum to ask questions.

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Photo special to Alachua County Today / High /Springs CRA's Amy Bohanon, accompanied by son Hudson, as she displays the award for STEAK OUT, winning pumpkin that Most Represented High Springs

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ Downtown High Springs was Halloween headquarters this past Saturday, Oct. 28, as people participated in the Fourth Great Pumpkin Decorating Contest, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe and the High Springs Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). The Kiwanis Club and supporting downtown High Springs businesses handed out candy and treats to young trick or treaters.

The Pumpkin Decorating Contest was held along Railroad Avenue in the area referred to as Greenspace west of Main Street. Painted, carved and decorated pumpkins were submitted for judging in several categories including Children ages six and younger, Youth for children seven to 12-years-of age, Family for folks 13 or older and City Departments and Businesses.

“The turnout was excellent,” said Linda Hewlett, one of the organizers of the event. People were able to vote for their favorite pumpkins in each category by casting a ticket as their vote. The pumpkins with the highest number of tickets won. In addition, a special prize was awarded for the pumpkin most representing High Springs.

Winners in the Ages 0 – 6 Category were Aria Bates, Elliot Chum, Ezekiel Forrest and Hudson Hoffman. Winners in the Ages 7 – 12 Category were Ella Bredehoft, Paisley Osteen, Lydia Cook and tied also for third place was Coen Zekic.

In the Adults ages 13 and up Category winners were Mitch Knitson, Carla Bridehoelt and Alachua Mayor Gib Coerper. In the City Employees Category Chris Tatum from the High Springs Fire Department took top honors. In the City Business Owners Category, Zachary Baker from Bryan’s Ace Home Center took top honors. The CRA Award for the Pumpkin that best represented the City of High Springs went to Terry Gianos from Steak Out’s Water Tower Pumpkin.

In addition to bragging rights, winners in the Ages 0 - 6 Category received small Halloween buckets with plastic toys and stuffed animals. Winners in the 7-12 Category received larger buckets with ice cream coupons from the Creamery, a Florida Springs Booklet, Hardees coupons and more. All contestants in the Adult Category received a white rose with a 10 percent discount from Thompson's Florist.

The First Place Winner received a $40 certificate from El Patio and a $50 certificate for Madison's Boutique as well as gift cards from ACE Hardware. Second Place was awarded coffee and accessories from The Mercantile and a $50 gift card from Winn Dixie. The adult Third Place Winner received a basket of gifts from Unique Notions, a $15 card from Zaxbys and Santa Cards from Lanza Gallery.

The Winning Business Category was Bryan's ACE Home Center who received a plaque commemorating the win. The High Springs Fire Rescue Department won the City Employee Category and received a coupon for five extra-large pizzas from Pepperoni's Pizza.

Proceeds from this event go toward Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe, which benefit children.

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GAINESVILLE ‒ An Alachua man has been sentenced to 364 days in the Alachua County Jail followed by five years of probation after he entered a plea of nolo contendere after leaving the scene of an accident in June 2018.

In June 2021, 25-year-old Tyler Patrick Hughey was charged with the June 6, 2018, vehicular homicide of Paola Detarso-Palmo after he left the scene of an accident with serious bodily injury.

On Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, Hughey pled to a lesser charge of leaving the scene of an accident with serious bodily injury in exchange for a year in jail and five years of probation. The maximum sentence for the charge is 15 years in state prison. In addition, Hughey paid $7,500 in restitution to the estate of the victim as part of the plea deal.

Hughey will also be required to serve 120 hours of community service at a trauma center or hospital with at least 20 of those hours spent speaking to youth groups. He must also attend a victim impact panel and advanced driver improvement course. He also received a three-year suspension of his driver’s license to begin upon his release from jail.

Judge Phillip Pena accepted the plea agreement.

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