Local

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ Following nearly a year of workshops, meetings, drafts of ordinances and discussions, the High Springs City Commission on Dec. 8 approved a final ordinance regulating murals in the city. One substantial change from the previous draft was the removal of the prohibition that murals could not be placed on any building façade within 50 feet of a residential structure.

Although the City’s Planning and Zoning Board had referred the proposed ordinance to the Commission with several suggested conditions, none of those made it into the final ordinance. Criticism of the ordinance by some citizens listed “ambiguous language” as a reason for denial, but that criticism did little to impact the final 4 – 1 vote with Commissioner Katherine Weitz casting the dissenting “nay.”

Non-profit Heart of High Springs President Nancy Lavin questioned the Commission if the City of High Springs would partner with the organization by allowing historic murals to be placed on two City-owned buildings. According to Lavin, the buildings under consideration are the Historic High Springs Elementary School and Community Center, located at 23760 N.W. 187^th Avenue and the High Springs Fire Department, located at 18586 N.W. 238^th Street.

The suggested murals would honor Tom “Pop” Diedeman and Essie Mae Williams Gassett, said Lavin. Both were educators and community leaders, having served as commissioners and one as mayor. Lavin suggested that one or both could be memorialized on the Community Center.

Weitz countered by suggesting that instead, a wall that is particularly unattractive at the Community School might be a better location if the School Board would agree. Lavin said she would contact the School Board and seek their approval.

The Heart of High Springs would also like to showcase the Santa Fe River at the fire station and display the river’s role in shaping the history of the community. Lavin suggested that three panels could be produced for the side of the fire department building that would be eight feet by four feet in size depicting the Santa Fe River.

Although Lavin said that the Heart of High Springs would be financially responsible for maintenance of murals on City buildings, concern about the long-term ability of the organization to do so if the organization was disbanded was called into question.

Commissioner Byran Williams asked Lavin to see if other locations could be found in place of the fire station and suggested that Lilly Springs be added to the list of springs in the area. Lavin agreed to take these suggestions back to her board.

The request to partner with the City on public building murals was voted down 2-3 with Williams, Weitz and Commissioner Tristan Grunder casting the dissenting votes. The matter may be revisited at the Dec. 12 meeting, if Lavin provides the Commission with answers prior to the meeting.

In other City business, Public Works Director Henry Thomas requested and received approval to hire Florida Fill & Grading, the low bidder, to repair and replace several roads within the city. Three bids were received ranging from approximately $200,000 - $425,000. Florida Fill & Grading’s low bid was $195,882.

Roads listed for repair are all in the northwest area of the city and identified as 237^th Street, 240^th Street, 233^rd Street, 222^nd Street, 244^th Street, 210^th Lane and Railroad Avenue.

City Manager Ashley Stathatos requested and received approval to add Saltus Engineering LLC to the City’s list of engineers in order to be able to utilize their services in the future. Originally, Saltus worked on the City’s Asset Management Plan, Water/Wastewater Facility Plan and Water/Wastewater Impact Fee Study through the City’s contract with Florida Rural Water. This agreement would allow the City to contract directly with Saltus for future projects.

The agreement calls for a three-year term with the option to extend the agreement for an additional three years. The fee for engineers ranges from $100 an hour for a project engineer to $150 per hour for a principal engineer. Scope of work estimates will be received prior to any notice to proceed are given on future projects. “Costly projects will require a separate task assignment that will be brought to the Commission for approval,” said Stathatos.

Referring to Saltus Engineering LLC, Stathatos said, “Through their planning efforts, they have provided information long needed by the City. They went above their scope of work and performed additional services at no additional cost.”

Former High Springs City Commissioner and current Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe member Sue Weller presented the George F. Hixson Fellowship Award to the City. “This award is given by a $1,000 donation to Kiwanis Club International Children’s Foundation by our club in recognition of the support the City, Commission and [City] employees have provided to our organization,” she said as she presented the plaque to Mayor Gloria James.

In other business, Shawn Cowles of the Heart of High Springs spoke about the organization and said there are eight private firms expressing interest in having murals placed on their buildings. Cowles also referenced a four-day festival and how that is likely to bring people into the city during the event.

#     #     #

Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com

GAINESVILLE – Amanda Reann Messer, 21, was sentenced on Thursday, Dec. 8, to two years in state prison, followed by four years of probation, after entering a plea of nolo contendere to charges of armed burglary and armed robbery. A charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor was dropped.

Messer was arrested on July 26 and accused of driving two juveniles to a residence in Archer and waiting in the car while one of them robbed the victim of cash and the keys to his vehicle by holding him at gunpoint. The juvenile, Anthony Ricchiuti, 16, of Old Town, then allegedly took the victim’s wallet from his truck, got back into Messer’s car, and fled the area.

The vehicle and tag were seen on a surveillance video at the robbery site and the vehicle was later located in Newberry. A search of the vehicle reportedly found a ski mask, the victim’s wallet, a handgun and cash in several denominations.

Messer reportedly said that one of the juveniles had come up with the idea to rob the victim. She was released on her own recognizance with a curfew until her recent court date.

Judge James Colaw accepted Messer’s plea agreement, which included a stipulation that she be sentenced as a youthful offender. She was also ordered to pay $235 restitution to the victim.

Ricchiuti is being charged as an adult and has been formally charged with armed burglary and armed robbery as he was in actual possession of a firearm. He is awaiting trial and is currently in the Alachua County Jail on $500,000 bail.

#     #     #

Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com

ALACHUA ‒ The holiday season is in full swing in Alachua. Dec. 10 marked the 38^th year the Alachua Chamber of Commerce has hosted the annual Christmas Parade on downtown Main Street. Each year local businesses, the City of Alachua, civic groups and churches sponsor floats to entertain onlookers.

This past Saturday, children anxiously awaited the parade for a chance to see Santa Claus and collect sweet treats tossed from decorated floats or handed out by people walking alongside.

The parade traditionally starts with motorcycle patrolmen leading the procession, complete with flashing lights and wailing sirens, as they clear the way for parade participants. Next come the police cars from Alachua and High Springs and then a flag color guard of three Marine veterans. Another member of the Marine Corps League of Veterans followed in a World War II army jeep.

The City of Alachua sponsored float was decorated with a Frosty the Snowman. City Commissioners, stationed at the rear of the float, waved at the crowd while City Manager Mike DaRoza walked alongside handing out candy to the children.

The procession included floats and decorated vehicles from the All Stars Twirling Academy, Santa Fe Babe Ruth baseball team, the Santa Fe High School marching, Matchmaker Realty, Capitol City Bank, William Thomas Funeral Home, Gainesville Raceway, Boy Scout Troop 88, the Girl Scouts and the High Springs Gift Shop Plus. The 4-H club had both a float and riders on decorated horses.

A comical float was the Retirement Home for Horses, which provides a home for older horses that are retired from their former working activities. On their float, multiple people wore costume horse heads while imitating typical retirement activities like golf, bingo, fishing and beauty shop visits, while others wearing the horse heads walked the parade route using wheeled walkers.

Another group that always enters a large and colorful float is the Hare Krisna who chanted a song for peace as they walked down the street.

Decorated motorcycles weaved in and out on the street as did the ever present Shriners Club on a variety of vehicles.

While everyone enjoyed the floats and festive mood, the part of the parade the children had been waiting for finally arrived as Santa Claus waved to the children as he rode by on top of a fire truck. Children responded, waving and calling out Santa's name to try and catch his attention. It was an exciting ending to a fun filled hour that brought out hundreds of people to enjoy the parade and the festive atmosphere.

#     #     #

Email rcarson@

alachuatoday.com

NEWBERRY ‒ Shantiel Brushea Head, 38, was arrested Friday night, Nov. 25, after allegedly stabbing a man at The Duck in Newberry.

At about 6:30 p.m., Head and the victim were at The Duck, 455 N.W. 252^nd Street, when Head reportedly became angry at a third person and started arguing with her.

Head allegedly “shoulder-checked” that woman at one point by intentionally bumping into her because the woman was talking to Head’s boyfriend. Head reportedly continued to behave aggressively toward the woman until she allegedly tried to attack her.

At that point, the boyfriend tried to get between Head and the woman and Head allegedly stabbed the victim in the back. The victim was trauma-alerted to UF Health Shands. Head reportedly fled the area after the attack.

Head reportedly returned a short time later and told Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies that the victim had been choking her and that she stabbed him in self-defense. However, the deputies reported that her version of events was not consistent with the statements of several witnesses who had seen the altercation.

Head has been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon without intent to kill. She has one felony conviction from 2012 for dealing in stolen property. This is a second-degree felony.

#     #     #

Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com

ALACHUA ‒ One man is dead and another remains in critical condition after a Friday night shooting in Alachua. At approximately 6:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 9, the Alachua Police Department (APD) and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Combined Communications Center (CCC) received several phone calls reporting multiple gun shots and others reporting that someone had been shot inside One 51 Apartments located at 15139 N.W. 150^th Road, Alachua.

Arriving officers found a male near building 15139 who was suffering from a gunshot wound to his left side. Alachua County Fire Rescue arrived on the scene and began first aid. The wounded man was transported to UF Health Shands Hospital by ambulance. On the way to the hospital, the victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased by paramedics. The deceased man was identified as 22-year-old Jaquan Janario Robinson, of Fort White.

While officers and paramedics were attending to Robinson, CCC received a phone call from a second individual saying he had been shot in the back. Officers located the second man suffering from a gunshot wound to his armpit area in the pasture adjacent to building 15139. First aid was provided by law enforcement and paramedics. The wounded man was transported to UF Health Shands Hospital in critical condition.

As of the last update to APD, he was still listed as critical condition.

The Criminal Investigations Division has conducted several interviews with on-scene witnesses and persons of interest. Following several interviews, it has been determined that the incident occurred after a drug transaction gone wrong. “This is not being investigated as a drive-by shooting,” said APD Public Information Officer Det. Thomas Stanfield.

APD reports that no suspects have been arrested and the shooting is an on-going investigation. No further information is available, but as details emerge more information will be released at a later date.

#     #     #

Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com

NEWBERRY ‒ Ernesto Angel Morales Alejo, 19, was arrested Friday night, Nov. 25, and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon after allegedly intentionally hitting a man with his car.

At about 8 p.m. Friday night, Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a call from an address in Newberry about an armed disturbance. The deputies interviewed the victim and witnesses and determined that following a brief physical fight, Morales Alejo had gotten into his car and started revving the engine in the front yard of the victim’s home. He then allegedly began driving across the yard, leaving tire tracks several inches deep that went across the yard and all the way to the front door.

The victim, who was trauma-alerted to UF Health Shands, reportedly told deputies that Morales Alejo intentionally drove toward him and hit him with the front of his car. Morales Alejo’s vehicle reportedly had a broken headlight on one side and a large dent in the fender. A witness also reportedly told a deputy that Morales Alejo had intentionally hit the victim with his car at high speed.

Another witness told a deputy that he had seen Morales Alejo “driving crazy” in the front yard and then heard yelling and screaming as if someone were in pain.

Morales Alejo, who gave a Gainesville address, was later arrested at Hitchcock’s Grocery in Newberry and has been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. He has no local criminal history and has been charged with a second-degree felony.

#     #     #

Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com