Local

NEWBERRY – A change to how the City of Newberry handles fireworks within the city failed to get traction at the June 26 City Commission meeting. A text amendment to the City’s Code of Ordinances on fireworks displays was heard on first reading, but ultimately, no vote was taken on the measure.

Planning and Economic Development Director Bryan Thomas submitted the amendment, which provided for suggested exemptions for fireworks displays on New Year’s Day (Jan. 1), Independence Day (July 4) and New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31). The proposed text amendment provided exemption for private firework displays on the designated holidays, but did not permit firework display outside of state-defined designated holidays.

The proposed amendment did not allow for public display of fireworks. These terms are defined by law. “Private fireworks display means an exhibition or discharge of low hazard, consumer fireworks or display fireworks on private property not open to the public,” said Thomas. “Public fireworks display means an exhibition of fireworks in an open-air assembly, occupancy to which the public is invited, attends or admitted, with or without a fee being charged.”

The Commission voiced concerns about whether fireworks displays should be allowed only in the center of town to minimize problems with livestock and farm animals in rural areas.

Fire crackers and sparklers that don’t make noise garnered support while cannon-style booming fireworks weren less favored. Mayor Marlowe said that young children, veterans suffering from PTSD and parents of autistic children often have problems with booming fireworks, while quieter celebratory fireworks that can be purchased from stores or tent sellers may be more acceptable.

Fireworks on Veteran’s Day and Labor Day were also suggested to be added to the list of suggested exemptions for fireworks displays.

As no action was taken on the amendment as presented, Thomas was tasked with developing an ordinance for future Commission review.

In other business, the Commission approved an ordinance on first reading amending the City of Newberry’s Urban Service Area (USA) boundary to follow distinct parcel lines. Originally, the USA was designated by a circle in which development was encouraged. This change identifies those parcels within that circle along their property lines.

USAs designate a geographic region within a municipality that encompasses developed and developing urban areas. Its primary purpose is to concentrate urban infrastructure, services and resources to efficiently cater to the needs of a growing population, while also managing growth and development.

USAs help to preserve rural areas, deliver efficient services (sewer/water), use resources more efficiently and enhance the livability of a city.

The Commissioners suggested changes that included extending the line down Northwest 202^nd Street and Northwest 46^th Avenue. Mayor Marlowe stressed that the City maintain green space between Jonesville and Newberry to help delineate the City and provide more of an identity for residents.

Thomas will make those changes prior to sending the proposed new USA to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity for review and comments.

The Commission unanimously ratified the contract negotiations between the City and the Fire Union. Newberry Fire Chief Mike Vogel said the City recently concluded contract negotiations and that the agreement was recently accepted by Union members in a 9-4 vote.

Vogel listed the high points of the agreement, noting the items that tended to benefit the City and those that tended to benefit Union members.

Following ratification, Vogel said all provisions will take effect immediately, excluding financial items, which will start beginning Nov. 1.

In other business, the Commission pledged $347,500 in grant matching funds to the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources, should a grant application for funding support for the renovation and rehabilitation of the Historical Electric Plant be awarded.

If awarded, the funds will be used to aid in rehabilitation of the historical structure to include water line rehabilitation, gravity sewer extension, door rehabilitation, window rehabilitation, ADA compliant bathroom addition, masonry work, electrical improvements and ADA compliant parking, sidewalks and ramps.

The grant program requires a project fifty-percent match contribution. The City’s share is $347,500 of the estimated $695,000 total cos, with the City’s share coming from the Infrastructure Sales Surtax.

City Manager Mike New said the City still has $200,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and Mayor Marlowe said there are two companies waiting for a Request for Proposal (RFP) to be put out by the City for this project. He said putting up $347,500 for $695,000 in building upgrades was a good investment.

In other business, a joint meeting is planned between the Newberry City Commission and the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners at Easton Sports Complex on July 10.

#     #     #

Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com

ALACHUA ‒ The fun returns this summer at Legacy Park Summer Camp as area youth take advantage of a variety of outdoor and indoor activities structured to entertain and educate. With school out, children often face limited activities and social interaction with other children, and parents are left with few options to watch their children on work days.

For some parents it becomes a choice between working to earn an income or staying with their children when school is out for the summer. To help parents and offer a variety of activities and programs catering to youth, the City of Alachua's Recreation and Culture Department, in partnership with the Children’s Trust of Alachua County (CTAC), is offering eight weeks of summer camp June 12 through Aug. 4.

The program, which is held at Legacy Park, is the combined effort of the City of Alachua, the Alachua Teamworks program and CTAC. Alachua sponsors the camp and provides the facilities and staff with funding assistance from CTAC and Teamworks. The Legacy Park Recreation Complex offers an indoor area with basketball courts, a stage and classrooms for movies and learning activities as well as a concession stand. Outside amenities include an all-inclusive playground, sports fields and an amphitheater.

The camp offers an opportunity for children to make their summer break from school an adventure to be remembered and also to stay active. Camp activities include sports games, music and dance, playground time, artwork, and visits to the splash park, swimming, movies and other weekly field trips. Camp also provides kids opportunities to make new friends and to work off a little of that stored up energy. Over 180 elementary and middle school students signed up for the camp for both half-day and full-day sessions.

To make the summer program possible and affordable to as many families as possible, CTAC provided a grant for summer enrichment programming in various areas of the county and Alachua was awarded $66,665. Those funds are used to provide scholarships to cover most student enrollment fees, field trips and equipment, as well as paying senior counselor staff. Teamworks provided funding for junior counselor staff, which is made up of high school students.

Senior staff are hired as counselors and administrators for the summer and are comprised largely of employees of the Alachua County school system. Alachua Recreation and Culture Department Director Damon Messina said, “Besides giving us an experienced staff that deals with children on a regular basis, it also provides summer employment for eight or nine people for the period they are not employed by the school system.”

Summer camp director Liz Dioguardia is an employee at Mebane Middle School and has worked for the school system for 22 years. “We have a junior staff of high school students who work directly with the kids, organizing their activities and supervising,” said Dioguardia. “The idea is to have counselors closer to the kids’ age groups while also giving the junior counselors their first job.” Dioguardia added that the experience also gives the young counselors responsibilities they can carry on to future jobs. “I mentor them, and if they do well, we give them more responsibility,” Dioguardia said.

Both Dioguardia and Messina give credit to DeDe McClain for the success of the summer camp program. Messina said that McClain was an Alachua County school system employee for 26 years and is now a full-time Alachua Recreation Department employee who has been running the summer camp program for the past five years.

“DeDe is what really makes this program run smoothly, and she spends months preparing for the camp,” said Messina. “She also runs the seniors’ program, often going from one to the other each day.”

Although the program costs $400 for the entire full-time camp, CTAC sponsored over 100 full and partial scholarships based on household income and need, increasing the opportunity for youth to participate in the program. The full-day program runs from 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Breakfast, lunch and snacks are part of the package in compliance with the Alachua County School Board's summer nutrition guidelines.

Messina said the camp is another example of the Alachua’s focus on providing resources, opportunities and activities that directly benefit residents.

#     #     #

Email rcarson@

alachuatoday.com

NEWBERRY ‒ At 3:06 p.m. Monday, June 26, fire rescue units from Alachua County Fire Rescue, Newberry, and High Springs were dispatched to Southern Fuelwood, Inc., 28826 West Newberry Road. The business has been described as a large manufacturing plant with large metal warehouses approximately 30 – 35 feet tall with wood stacked to the ceilings on pallets. Inside the warehouses the wood goes through a heating process to dry the wood so it can be used for firewood, mulch, compost and wood chips.

The doors on the metal buildings are estimated to weigh 400 – 500 lbs. and are 25 feet in height. As firefighters saw smoke billowing out of the warehouse doors a firefighter from Newberry and another from Alachua County pulled the doors to open them. It is believed that the hinges failed which resulted in the doors falling onvb two firefighters.

Southern Fuelwood workers on the scene used a forklift to lift the doors off of the men as fellow firefighters pulled the injured men out from under the doors. Both firefighters were sent to UF Health. The Alachua County firefighter was trauma alerted to UF Health and suffered a lower leg fracture and rib fractures. According to Alachua County Fire Chief Harold Theus, surgery was performed to repair the fracture on Tuesday morning, June 27. The Newberry firefighter was treated and released on Monday.

“This fire required the assistance of 30 firefighters to bring it under control, which took approximately 1.5 hours in the hottest part of the day,” said Theus. “I would imagine it was still smoldering into the night.”

As to the cause of the fire, Theus said he believed it was accidental but “we don’t know the exact cause.”

“I have concerns regarding the frequency of the fires that take place at Southern Fuelwood, which require a lot of resources to combat,” Theus said. “I am concerned about the safety of our firefighters in extinguishing fires at that location. Since Jan. 1, 2020,” Theus said, “we have responded to 15 structure fires at Southern Fuelwood.”

#     #     #

Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com

GAINESVILLE ‒ Alachua County Sheriff Clovis Watson, Jr., on June 20, notified employees he will not seek re-election. In April, Watson filed to run for re-election in 2024, but in a separate letter dated June 20, 2023, to Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Kim Barton, Watson provided notification of his withdrawal from the race for Sheriff of Alachua County. Watson has not stated why he will not run for re-election or his future plans.

Watson sent the following letter to employees of the sheriff’s office on Tuesday:

To our dedicated team,

Over the last few months, I have had the great opportunity to reflect on the last two and one-half years of my time as your Sheriff. We have had some incredible highs and some unfortunate lows, but through it all, we have always found comfort in taking great care of one another.

Throughout my many years in leadership, I have learned that while you may find yourself as the head of an organization or entity, sometimes you must make the tough decision to step aside and prepare the organization for new leadership that will continue to advance our agency toward the future. It is an honor to be your Sheriff as I continue to watch the incredible work that each one of you do to ensure that our citizens are well-protected.

After much prayer and thought, I want to announce to each one of you that I will not be seeking re-election as Sheriff of Alachua County. This decision was not made lightly and I want each one of you to know that I will continue to serve you all with honor and professionalism throughout the rest of my time as your Sheriff.

I am confident that this agency will continue to grow and develop into a law enforcement agency that others around our great state will look toward as an example.

I want to thank each one of you for the courageous and dedicated service that you provide to our agency and our citizens. Alachua County is certainly a better place thanks to men and women like each one of you.

Sheriff Clovis Watson Jr.

Watson defeated former Alachua County Sheriff Sadie Darnell in the 2020 Democratic primary election. Prior to his successful bid for sheriff, Watson served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2012 – 2020, representing District 20, which covered parts of Alachua and Marion counties. Watson also formerly served as the City of Alachua city manager, police officer, sergeant and deputy chief of police.

#     #     #

Email editor@

alachuatoday.com

LEVY COUNTY ‒ Recently, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officers in Levy County received the Division of Law Enforcement’s distinguished 2023 Team of the Year Award. Squad members include Officer Corrie Bell, Officer Hailey Carroll, Officer Landon Smith, Officer Specialist James Fox, Officer Specialist Morgan Willis and Lieutenant BJ Johnston.

“Thanks to the hard work of these officers, 13 derelict vessels were removed from the Levy County coastline in 2022,” said Col. Roger Young. “The pride they take in protecting the resources cherished by the local community is evident through their actions and professionalism.”

FWC reports that the officers service ranges from one to 18 years with the FWC, saying that this group of officers exemplifies leadership through service. From focused resource operations, boating under the influence enforcement, derelict vessel removal, outreach event participation, and raising money for local charities in events like the Chiefland Rotary Club Fishing Tournament, their passion and teamwork shine through.

“You know you have a great team when they continuously self-evaluate and strive to improve their work area,” said Capt. Rama Shuster, North Central Region Area Supervisor. “I could not be prouder of the dedication and ownership this team has taken for the residents of Levy County.”

#     #     #

Email editor@

alachuatoday.com

ALACHUA – A major early morning accident occurred shortly after 6 a.m., on Tuesday, June 20, on Interstate 75 near mile marker 391. An overturned tractor-trailer and hazardous chemical spill between State Road 222/Northwest 39^th Avenue and Alachua stopped traffic in both directions.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), all southbound traffic was routed off of I-75 at the 399 exit (U.S. Highway 441, Alachua) and all northbound traffic was routed off at the 399 exit (State Road 222/Northwest 39^th Ave.).

The Alachua Police Department reported Tuesday afternoon that according to FHP the semi was carrying liquid Styrene at the time of the accident. The accident included two semi-trucks, two pickup trucks, one SUV, and one passenger vehicle. Heavy rainfall and storms occurred overnight, and it is believed that the cause of the accident was due to a vehicle that hydroplaned.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), liquid styrene is a chemical used to make latex, synthetic rubber, and polystyrene resins. Breathing high levels of styrene may cause changes in color vision, tiredness, feeling drunk, slowed reaction time, concentration problems, or balance problems. Hearing loss has been observed in animals exposed to very high concentrations of styrene.

The chemical spill assessment and cleanup operation was reported to take as long as 12 hours to complete. FHP advised motorists to avoid the area until further notice.

Fire rescue teams from High Springs, Gainesville, Alachua County and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and FHP were dispatched to the site. The Hazmat team evaluated the scene according to High Springs Public Information Officer Kevin Mangan.

#     #     #

Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com