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ALACHUA - Annually, schools throughout Alachua County select a "Teacher of the Year" to represent their respective schools.  At the May 22 Alachua City Commission meeting, the Commission honored four teachers from Alachua schools as Mayor Gib Coerper presented certificates of appreciation to Jazzlyn Harrell of Alachua Elementary School, Kimberly Young of W.W. Irby Elementary School, Natalie Watkins of A.L. Mebane Middle School, and Ellen Frattino of Santa Fe High School.  These are teachers who inspire students of all backgrounds, and who have the respect and admiration of parents and colleagues alike.

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BY JENNIFER CABRERA/Alachua Chronicle

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jatavius Jabaré Austin, 24, was arrested May 11, 2023 and charged with money laundering over $20,000 and fraudulent possession of more than five bank cards after he was allegedly found in possession of 24 debit cards that didn’t belong to him and tens of thousands of dollars in cash.

Austin was a passenger in a vehicle that was pulled over on I-75 at about 9 a.m. by an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy working as part of the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office ACTION Unit.

The deputy pulled over the vehicle for a possible window tint violation and reportedly confirmed that the window tint was too dark. Austin reportedly told the deputy that he had rented the vehicle from someone on Instagram.

The deputy reported that he could smell burnt marijuana coming from the interior of the vehicle, and a probable cause search reportedly produced 25 debit cards, all with different names (one belonged to Austin); most had four-digit PIN codes written on the card in black marker.

Nine of the cards had receipts with them showing that nine deposits had been made to various financial institutions over a span of two hours and 45 minutes on May 9, totaling $12,526. Another $31,712.49 was deposited at two financial institutions over a span of 11 minutes on May 10. The owner of the card used on May 10 told a deputy that she had requested a new card but had never received it.

Two other victims were contacted and also said they had never received debit cards they had requested.

Austin reportedly had $14,400 in cash in his pocket, all in $100 bills and wrapped with rubber bands; when asked how much cash he had, he reportedly said he did not know. More rubber bands and black markers were reportedly found in the center console.

The deputy noted that the debit activity is indicative of money laundering and charged Austin with money laundering over $20,000 and possession of five or more cards belonging to other people.

Austin’s address is listed as Valdosta, Georgia, and he reportedly said he had only been in Alachua County for a day, but two of the victims that spoke with deputies live in Gainesville.

Judge Walter Green set bail at $200,000.

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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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NEWBERRY ‒ The City of Newberry is moving closer to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection-required Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion and development of the remaining land for an environmental park.

At the May 22 City Commission meeting, the Commission approved a large-scale Future Land Use Map Amendment that changes from Agriculture to Public 93+/- acres located on the east side of County Road 336/Southwest 266^th Street, between Southwest 18^th Road and Southwest 30^th Avenue. The development will include the municipal wastewater treatment facility expansion, an educational wetland exhibit and retention area, an Alachua County rural collection center and potential composting and small-farm meat processing facility.

The Newberry Planning and Zoning Board considered this petition on March 6 and unanimously voted to recommend approved of the petition to the Commission at that time. At the March 13 regular meeting of the City Commission, a public hearing was held to consider the request. After receiving a presentation and deliberations, the Commission approved the petition on first reading and authorized staff to transmit the petition to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity for review. The reviewing agencies responded and found no objection to the request.

The City also requested to rezone the existing cemetery, wastewater treatment facility and future environmental park from Agricultural (A) and Residential, Single-Family (RSF-2) to Public Facilities (PF) on 217 +/- acres.

The property is located on the east side of County Road 337/Southwest 266th Street, between Southwest 15th Avenue and Southwest 30th Avenue. This request aligns the existing and proposed uses of the site with the appropriate zoning districts and includes the 93 acres listed above.

The Planning and Zoning Board also considered this petition on March 6 and unanimously voted to recommend approved of the petition to the Commission at that time.

Environmental Park Master Plan

Commissioners authorized the City Manager to execute a Task Order with CHW Professional Consultants for the Newberry Environmental Park Master Plan for $220,000. Based on the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Administrative Order issued in May of 2021, the Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) design is underway. The new facility is to be constructed and operational by March 1, 2026.

The new facility required the purchase of additional adjacent property for plant expansion and wastewater effluent disposal. The City purchased 96 acres adjacent to the existing wastewater plant in 2022. Any acreage not needed for the WWTP expansion is being considered for other City uses such as the relocation of the City Public Works Facility, a proposed privately-operated composting facility, which will accept vegetative waste and the biosolids from the City of Newberry.

The City is also working with Alachua County on locating a County meat processing facility, County communications tower, a joint City/County fire training facility, County solid waste rural collections center and household hazardous waste collections center.

The environmental park design effort must occur in parallel with the WWTP expansion design process to prevent delays on that project.

Funding for this project is identified in the already adopted budget and as a part of the WWTP expansion project. A portion of the funding is eligible for future grant reimbursement. Additionally, the Newberry Environmental Park Master Plan is a required element of the City land development regulations, as well as for future grant and other funding mechanisms.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The Florida League of Cities (FLC), the united voice for Florida’s municipal governments, recently recognized High Springs Vice-Mayor Ross Ambrose with a 2023 Home Rule Hero Award for his hard work and advocacy efforts during the 2023 Legislative Session.

“The League and its legislative team appreciate the individual advocacy efforts undertaken by municipal officials throughout the state,” said FLC Chief of Legislative Affairs Casey Cook. “Home Rule Heroes are some of our biggest advocates for protecting local decision-making. They are League members who stand out for their high level of participation, knowledge and effectiveness. This year’s Home Rule Heroes continuously advocated for their communities throughout the 2023 Legislative Session.”

Home Rule is the ability for a city to address local problems with local solutions with minimal state interference. Home Rule Hero Award recipients are local government officials, both elected and nonelected, who consistently responded to the League’s request to reach out to members of the Legislature and help give a local perspective on an issue.

“This is the second time I’ve been honored with this recognition and it means a lot,” Ambrose said. “Public service is hard and complex. Advocacy for the community, even if outside of the public eye, is critical and I do this because our citizens need to be represented. I’m honored that the Florida League of Cities is again recognizing this silent effort,” he said.

Ambrose was elected to the High Springs City Commission in 2021 and elected vice mayor in October 2022. He has been a resident of High Springs since 2002 and is Vice Chair of the Alachua County Tourist Development Council and treasurer of The Heart of High Springs. In addition, Ambrose is president of the Portable Sanitation Association International (the largest trade association in the world supporting the portable sanitation industry), Managing Partner of Porta Serve, providing services to 7,000-square miles of North Central Florida, serving agriculture, industry, construction and events.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The City of High Springs sponsored a workshop on Thursday, May 18, to ask citizens, farmers and vendors for input on the High Springs Farmers Market, 23517 N.W. 185^th Road. Approximately 35 people attended the meeting to share their ideas on ways in which the farmers market might best address the needs of the community.

Sharon Yeago, the originator of the market, was on hand along with the City’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Manager Amy Bohannon and City Manager Ashley Stathatos.

Yeago addressed ways in which farmers markets work throughout Florida and asked for input from attendees, which were then listed on various large paper sheets displayed around the room for review. Ultimately, workshop attendees identified some items they believed were important to the City and the market.

Items identified included a restriction to limit only produce grown by local farmers and gift items that were handmade exclusively by local craftspeople. Participants also requested additional advertising and signage and recruitment of more local farmers to participate in the market.

Yeago said a survey would be designed to obtain more information from the public. Surveys will be online and also in print and will be available during June and July. “We are hoping our citizens will tell us exactly what they want in their farmers market so we can make sure that the market is meeting their needs,” said Yeago. “We will be seeking out community groups, churches and organizations to let them know what we are doing and to get their input.”

A variety of ideas were suggested and every aspect of the market will be reviewed to standardize rules, requirements, hours of operation, and ways in which the Farmers Market pavilion can be used in addition to the market. Some suggestions have included featuring other types of markets, a venue for musical entertainment and a Christmas market to name a few.

Part of the challenge is finding people who used to go to market and don’t any longer. Also, locating farmers who used to be part of the market but are no longer involved would be helpful.

Yeago pointed out that the previous week there were 19 vendors at the market, but only eight were farmers. In 2005, the market was generating $250,000 in sales for its vendors, which at that time, was a growers’ only market. “One of the things we hope to determine is the amount being generated currently,” Yeago said.

The City plans to hold another public meeting in August after they have received the survey responses from the community. The results of the research, including the workshops and surveys, will then be presented to the City Commission in September.

“Any changes that the City decides to make to the Farmers Market will take effect in October, at the beginning of the next fiscal year,” Yeago said.

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NEWBERRY ‒ Jimmy William Hayes, 50, of Trenton and Johnie Steven Hayes, 50, of Newberry, were arrested on Friday, May 19, after Johnie allegedly interfered with Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies who were arresting Jimmy on a warrant.

Deputies went to a Newberry home to arrest Jimmy on domestic battery and domestic assault charges. He was charged with two counts of aggravated domestic battery in Gilchrist County where Jimmy allegedly rammed the victim with his vehicle. Deputies made contact with Johnie at the back door of the home. Johnie allegedly said that Jimmy is his twin brother and that he was in High Springs at a friend’s house. He said the only other person inside the residence was his mother.

However, deputies at the scene could see through a window that Jimmy was walking around inside the home, and he was also reportedly seen sitting at a table inside the home.

A deputy told Johnie not to go back inside the home. Johnie reportedly replied, “It’s my twin brother, man,” and quickly went inside, locking the door behind him.

After deputies made multiple announcements that both brothers were under arrest, Jimmy came out of the residence and Johnie quickly shut the door behind him. Johnie reportedly continued to refuse commands to come out of the house until deputies spoke with him on the phone. He reportedly came outside shortly after the phone call.

Johnie, who has a federal criminal history, has been charged with resisting arrest without violence. Judge Thomas M. Jaworski released him on his own recognizance.

Jimmy remains in the Alachua County Jail on the Gilchrist County warrant.

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