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ARCHER - On Feb. 4, 2023, a State of Florida Historic Marker was unveiled at Archer’s Bethlehem Methodist Episcopal Cemetery (BMEC). The historical African American cemetery, located at 14309 S.W. 175^th Terrace in Archer, dates back to the early 1800s and is the final resting place of 125 people.

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MILTON, Fla. ‒ On Feb. 2, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the first set of awards through the Broadband Opportunity Grant Program to expand access to broadband internet for Florida’s underserved communities. More than $144 million was awarded for 58 projects in 41 Florida counties for broadband internet expansion that will impact nearly 160,000 unserved residential, educational, business, and community locations.

Administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), the Broadband Opportunity Program funds the installation and deployment of broadband internet infrastructure in unserved Florida communities, providing valuable access to telehealth, economic, educational, and workforce development opportunities to offer a brighter future for all Floridians.

“Broadband internet access creates jobs and enhances educational opportunities for Floridians,” said DeSantis. “I look forward to continued investments through this program to ensure Florida families have access to important resources no matter where they live.”

The following projects will be awarded through the Broadband Opportunity Program:

• City of Archer; Town of Micanopy ($4,672,393) – to add 132 miles of fiber optic cable to their existing network to provide fiber broadband (FTTH) services to 1,701 unserved locations within Alachua County with minimum symmetrical download and upload speeds of 100 MBPS.
• City of Gainesville ($1,438,610) - to add 27 miles of fiber optic cable to their existing network to provide FTTH services to 193 unserved locations within Alachua County with minimum symmetrical download and upload speeds of 100 MBPS.
• Cities of Archer and Newberry ($4,822,632) - to add 78 miles of fiber optic cable to their existing network to provide FTTH services to 795 unserved locations within Alachua County with minimum symmetrical download and upload speeds of 100 MBPS.

“Broadband internet service is essential for workforce development, education, and healthcare” said Department of Economic Opportunity Deputy Secretary Ben Melnick. “…Florida has taken monumental steps to bring reliable, high-speed internet to all Floridians,” he said. “There is no doubt that the projects awarded today will shape the future of broadband in Florida…”

For additional information about the Office of Broadband, visit www.FloridaJobs.org/Broadband.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ On Wednesday, Feb. 1, officers from the High Springs Police Department (HSPD) located 

two abducted Missouri children and their abductor after a routine vehicle tag check described the vehicle owner as a fugitive.
HSPD officers located the trio shopping in Winn Dixie, after disguising their identities.

The non-custodial mother, Kristi Nicole Gilley, 26, was detained and arrested on an active kidnapping warrant out of Clay County, Missouri.

The children were turned over to the Florida Department of Children and Families Services and will be reunited with their birth family.

The children, 12-year-old Brooke and 11-year-old Adrian Gilley, had been missing from Missouri since March 15, 2022. They were in the company of their non-custodial mother when found.

Although her arrest warrant indicates that her home address could not be provided, it has been determined that Gilley and the children were living in a nearby county in an Air B&B.

Gilley was booked into the Alachua County Jail at 2:31 a.m. on Feb. 2.

Upon first appearance before Judge Pena, the Gilley pled not guilty to the felony charges through her court appointed attorney. The original Missouri charge was Failure to Appear – Parental Kidnapping according to her arrest report.

An out of state fugitive warrant of extradition has been filed. At the time of writing, Gillry remains in the Alachua County Jail. Bond was not set in this case.

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NEWBERRY ‒ The Newberry Planning and Zoning Board heard two items at their Feb. 6 meeting and unanimously recommended both for approval to the City Commission for consideration.

The Board approved an application by Marcus Hayes and Carlos Gonzalez of Always Bet on Yourself Franchise, LLC, acting as agents for the Ross family. The application was to conduct an outdoor concert and festival on the Ross’ property located at 304 S.W. 174^th Street.

In the past, the Ross family has conducted their own concert and festival, but this year Hayes and Gonzalez will be providing professional event coordination said Hayes. The event is held to benefit the, “Kids in Positive Places,” charitable organization.

Hayes said the event will be a family-oriented festival with no alcohol allowed and will encompass several different parcels of approximately 6.33 acres owned by the Ross family and will operate from 1 – 10 p.m. on Sunday, April 9. He included a parking and traffic circulation sketch and said they will be contracting with the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office for traffic control on Newberry Road. Hayes will have a staff of about 20 people, some of which will be directing on-site parking and some of which will provide private security during the event.

A list of 19 stipulations was reviewed by Thomas, which included lighting, noise control, safety inspections, signage, bathroom facilities, etc. Hayes said he agreed with everything on the City’s list and would abide by the stipulations.

In other business, the Board approved a petition to replat a section of an existing subdivision. Cedar Estates Addition Replat will be located on approximately 2.5 acres located on the east side of Cedar Estates. The property has a future land use designation of Residential Low Density which permits a maximum of four dwelling units per gross acre.

Newberry Planning and Economic Development Director Bryan Thomas said the proposed plat meets the minimum lot size and width requirements for the eight lots proposed in the replat. “The current lot configuration has six buildable lots. The replat will contain seven lots for construction of detached single-family residences and one lot designated for stormwater retention,” said Thomas. Electric, potable water and sanitary sewer services will be provided to this project by the City of Newberry.

In other business, it was announced that the Spring Festival is scheduled for April 1and the Newberry Watermelon Festival date this year would be May 20.

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NEWBERRY – The 2023 Newberry commissioner election is scheduled for Tuesday, April 11, 2023.  Voters will have the opportunity to cast ballots to fill three seats currently held by Mayor Jordan Marlowe, Commissioner Group IV Tim Marden and Commissioner Group V Tony Mazon.  

Anyone interested in becoming a candidate for this year’s election must either call the City Clerk’s Office at (352) 472-2446 or email CityClerk@NewberryFL.gov to make an appointment.  The qualifying period begins at noon on Monday, Feb. 20 (by appointment) and ends at noon on Thursday, February 23 (by appointment).  

Florida law limits how early the City may accept qualifying papers prior to qualifying period officially opening.  For Newberry’s 2023 election, the earliest the City could begin accepting qualifying papers from potential candidates was Feb. 6, 2023.

The election will be held at Mentholee Norfleet Municipal Building, Precinct 6, located at 25420 West Newberry Road, Newberry.  Polls are slated to open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. on April 11.

Voters may update their registration at any time, but the deadline to update or register to vote for the 2023 City of Newberry Municipal Election is Monday, March 13, 2023 at 5 p.m.  To register to vote or update voter registration, voters are asked to visit the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Office at the Josiah T. Walls Building, 515 North Main Street, Suite 300, Gainesville.

Additional information about the City of Newberry election is available at the City Clerk’s web page at NewberryFL.gov/clerk/page/2023-city-newberry-municipal-election-information or by calling (352) 472-2446.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The High Springs Annual 5K frozen foot race lived up to its name this year. It was a brisk 40 degrees when over 50 runners gathered in the early morning of Feb. 4 at the High Springs Civic Center to compete in the aptly named 5K Frozen Foot Race. The weather was cold enough that they moved the registration indoors.

The 3.1 mile run winds through the High Springs Sports Complex, around Bailey Estates and back into town covering varying terrains and elevation changes. Each runner paid a $35entry fee for the 5K run or $15 for a one-mile run. Groups were separated by age and gender into eight groups, with competitors in both male and female categories starting at age 1 to 17, then 18-39, 40-49 and finishing with over 50 years old. Younger kids could accompany their parents in strollers. Awards were given for the top three runners in each group who completed the course. This year they also added a one-mile fun run for kids.

The 1^st place winners received a $25 gift cards to McDonald's, a $30 cash prize and free entry to next year’s race. But aside from the fun, the competition for cash and bragging rights, participants are also contributing to the community’s recreation programs.

The $35 entry fee is for improving and maintaining the City High Springs parks and recreation facilities. High Springs government is the only municipality in Alachua County that sponsors a marathon with the revenue benefiting the community’s recreations programs and facilities.

The event was started in 2016 and all proceeds that year went to the Parks and Recreation Department’s budget to purchase playground equipment and fund facility improvements at parks. Each year the event has grown with increasing numbers of the community participating.

First across the finish line was the overall winner and 1^st place in the Men's 40-49 category, Demarco Andrews, while the winner of the Women’s 40-49 category was Patrice Resendez. The overall female winner and 1^st place in the Women’s 18-39 was Celina Pargo and the winner of the 18-39 Men’s category was Chad Gaither. Winners in the over 50 category were Tom Story and Kathy Hellriegel. In the children’s 1-17 category the winners were Hunter Williams and Olivia Alexander. High Springs Police Chief Antoine Sheppard won 2nd place in the 40-49 category.

While High Springs Fire Department Lt. Kevin Pearson didn’t get any awards for speed, he should have gotten one for endurance. Pearson ran the 3.1-mile course in full turnout gear and on-air tank, similar to a scuba tank. The combined weight of the gear and air pack is over 60 pounds.

“This is what we would wear to an actual fire so doing it for the marathon was good practice to stay fit,” said Pearson. “We wanted to challenge ourselves and always be physically prepared for an actual emergency and this was a cause that benefits the community as well with funding for our parks.”

With High Springs’ recent purchase of the Canoe Outpost on the Santa Fe River off U.S. Highway 441, city officials may also be considering developing a triathlon that would include bike riding to the river, a swim and then back to the Civic Center for the footrace. No decisions have been made, but it is a possibility for the future.

The 5K frozen foot race is a Parks and Rec Department event that enjoys support and sponsorship from local organizations. The Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe has been involved since the first event, as has the High Springs Police and Fire departments. Additional organization that sponsored this year’s event with either funding or supplies were AAA Porta Serve; Campus USA Credit Union; Pepperonis Pizza; Pink Flamingo; The High Springs Brewery; Outdoor Life 4 guys and gals; Heart of High Springs; Decades on Main; and Lloyd Clark Sports.

“We greatly appreciate all these sponsors, and we also want to make sure to thank the Santa Fe Kawanis Club and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, especially Linda and Tom Hewlitt who put a lot of effort into making this event happen,” said Parks Director Damon Messina.

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