Local

NEWBERRY ‒ The City has noticed Elite Pro Ball Academy to vacate its baseball training facility at Easton Newberry Sports Comple. In May 2011, the City entered into an agreement with Elite Pro Ball Academy in which the City would provide land at its Easton Newberry Sports Complex for Elite Pro Ball to construct a baseball training facility. The agreement included an initial term of 20 years with options to renew for an additional 20 years. A condition of the agreement provided that Elite Pro Ball would pay ad valorem taxes on the business and the property.

According to the City of Newberry, the company failed to pay the taxes for several years. When the City became aware, it noticed Elite Pro Ball of its failure to pay the taxes and requested that they cure the default. The company failed to pay the taxes despite follow-up notices from the City requesting that the taxes be paid.

According to City Attorney Scott Walker, the company’s failure to cure the default within 30 days after proper notice is grounds for termination of the contract.

“Despite the City’s best efforts to work to resolve the issue,” said Recreation Director Travis Parker, “the company has refused to vacate the property. They are not paying rent and have recently paid some of the taxes owed, but still owe for one more year’s taxes.”

City Attorney Scott Walker said that the agreement calls for mediation and he has contacted Tommy Bond from Ocala to mediate the issue. Mediation fees range from $3,000 - $5,000, depending on length of discussions.

Commissioners authorized direction to proceed with mediation and legal action required to terminate the master operating agreement.

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alachuatoday.com

NEWBERRY ‒ A 29-year-old Newberry man was arrested on Saturday, Feb. 10, at 9 p.m. after he allegedly pointed a gun at his wife and her cousin.

According to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO), Belsar Francisco Cruz Vicente reportedly had been arguing with his wife over money for their son’s birthday party when he became physically aggressive toward her, placing his hands around her neck in order to strangle her, and then pointed a loaded firearm to her face.

The victim said she was on her front porch trying to get Cruz Vicente to provide money for their son’s birthday when he became upset and put his hands around her neck, intentionally impeding her breathing and blood circulation.

According to the victim, her cousin came out of the house to help her, and Cruz Vicente went to his vehicle, grabbed a semi-automatic pistol, loaded it and pointed it at her cousin.

The woman said she told Cruz Vicente to stop threatening her cousin since he was just trying to help her. Cruz Vicente then pointed the firearm at his wife’s face.

Thinking that Cruz Vicente was going to shoot her, she went inside the house and locked herself in the bathroom. Cruz Vicente entered the home, and his wife told him to get out. She said that Cruz Vicente took their 5-year-old child into his vehicle and drove to the gas station, taking the firearm with him.

The victim had minor bruising around her neck that was consistent with her description of the incident. The victim’s cousin, who was on the scene when the incident took place, verified that the victim’s description of the incident was accurate, but did not want to fill out a written statement since he did not want to be part of the investigation.

After deputies advised Cruz Vicente of his Miranda rights, Cruz Vicente said he did not have a firearm with him at any point that night, and that he used to own a firearm but he no longer had possession of it. The defendant said he was just having an argument with his wife and she was the one who physically attacked him, so he attacked her back. Cruz Vicente claimed he was not the primary aggressor and that he did not use a firearm to point it at his wife.

Cruz Vicente’s 5-year-old son, who was in the vehicle when the defendant left the house to go to the gas station, said he saw Cruz Vicente throw the firearm into the woods when they were far away from the house.

Cruz Vicente was charged with domestic battery by strangulation, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and tampering with evidence.

Cruz Vicente has a local history of traffic citations going back to 2022, with all of them noting that he has no Florida driver’s license. He was arrested twice in 2022, once for driving without a valid license in June and once for hit and run with property damage and cocaine possession in September.

Court documents describe attempts to interview him as unsuccessful, noting a language barrier and an unwillingness to participate in the interview during his two arrests. There is a notation that he has a federal criminal history (“ICE: Immigration”) from 2019.

Following the June 2022 arrest, Cruz Vicente failed to appear at a hearing and a warrant for his arrest was issued. After he was apprehended, adjudication of guilt was withheld, and he was fined $358. He has not paid the fines and fees in that case.

Following the September 2022 arrest, Cruz Vicente successfully completed a deferred prosecution agreement, resulting in the charges being dropped. A few weeks later, a warrant for his arrest was issued when he failed to appear at a court hearing in another case of driving without a valid license.

Bail was set at $12,099 on the new charges by Judge Craig C. DeThomasis who also ordered Cruz Vicente held without bond on the warrant.

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alachuatoday.com

GAINESVILLE – Dr. J. Nathaniel “Nate” Southerland has been selected as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Sutherland has served in multiple leadership roles in higher education, including four and a half years as Provost at Coconino Community College in Flagstaff, Arizona, which followed five years as Associate Provost during his nine-year career in academic leadership at Salt Lake Community College in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

“Dr. Southerland’s vast experience in leadership positions throughout Academic Affairs and his experience working with university and community partners will advance our mission and bolster our academic enterprise,” SF President Paul Broadie II said. “He will be an advocate for Santa Fe as we launch our new innovative semiconductor program, build our Automotive Technology Training Center, and prepare for the opening of the Cellon Institute for Skilled Trades and Advanced Technology.”

Most recently, Southerland served St. Johns River State College as Assistant Vice President for Workforce Development.

“I am thrilled to be joining Santa Fe College at this pivotal moment and look forward to working alongside President Broadie and the faculty and staff as we continue Santa Fe's long tradition of excellence while growing in our capacity to meet the needs of our students and community stakeholders,” said Southerland. “This is an exciting time to be working side-by-side with our government, business, nonprofit, K-12, and university partners to set a new bar for transforming the lives of individuals and the communities in which we live, work, and serve. It's great to be a Saint!”

Southerland has led efforts in developing academic master plans, launched multiple innovative academic programs, promoted the importance of dual enrollment, and has 20 years of teaching experience, including nearly a decade of experience as an adjunct in both community college and university settings.

In an announcement to the college community, President Broadie thanked the members of the Provost Search Committee for their diligence, as well as interim Provost Dr. Mercedes Quiroga, who stepped into the role last July and provided stability for the institution throughout the search process.

Southerland will take leadership of Academic Affairs Monday, March 11.

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NEWBERRY ‒ The City of Newberry was one of 16 Florida public power utilities recently recognized by the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) with a Restoring Communities Award. The award recognizes public power utilities for their exemplary power restoration efforts in their communities and for providing or receiving mutual aid following significant weather events or when fellow public power communities needed extra assistance.

Florida public power utilities were honored for their efforts to restore power quickly and safely when called on in 2023. This included providing mutual aid assistance following the unprecedented landfall of Hurricane Idalia in the Big Bend region and other weather- and non-weather-related emergencies. The 2023 Restoring Communities Awards also recognized public power utilities providing supplemental crews to fellow utilities for large-scale projects like infrastructure upgrades.

In addition to sending line workers and equipment to several communities and cooperative electric systems, Newberry also provided firefighting staff and water system employees in areas hit the worst to help.

“A strong network of in-state and out-of-state mutual aid support, along with millions of dollars in continuous investments into their electric grids and system infrastructure, has led to fewer outages and faster restoration times for Florida public power communities, often surpassing service reliability metrics of other utilities in Florida,” said Amy Zubaly, FMEA Executive Director. “Thanks to all of our utilities for the work they do each day to strengthen their systems and the extra hours they put in to get the power back on after weather or other emergency events. Also, my sincere admiration and appreciation go to the utilities that supported other FMEA member utilities while completing their significant resilience and reliability projects. Our congratulations to Newberry and all the award recipients recognized.”

“Lending a helping hand to one another goes to the very core of what it means to be a public power community. Sometimes, we are the ones to send out a call for assistance, and sometimes, we are the ones answering. Knowing that a fellow public power utility will always be there for you when needed is very reassuring and helps us ensure we are providing our customers with reliable service,” said Jamie Jones, Newberry Assistant City Manager for Utilities & Public Works.

Mutual aid agreements enable electric utilities to call on each other for skilled emergency workers and supplies. Public power utilities nationwide benefit from the strong network of mutual assistance partners through the American Public Power Association. These connections have created a reliable system where member utilities request and offer assistance when needed. FMEA proudly serves as the mutual aid coordinator for Florida’s 33 public power utilities.

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Photo special to Alachua County Today

ALACHUA ‒ A.L. Mebane Middle School’s Concert Band performed for the City of Alachua Commission as a part of the most recent Commission meeting, held on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024.

The Commission Chambers were filled with students, their instruments, proud parents and other members of the community.

Students in the band performed Imperium, a concert band piece composed by Michael Sweeney. Music filled the room as pictures were taken and videos were recorded by the audience. It was a memorable experience for all in attendance.

“Our Commission has a strong commitment to cultural arts in our community,” said Alachua City Manager Mike DaRoza. “It is especially nice to have the opportunity for students from our community schools to perform during our Commission meetings.”  

Jacqueline Holbrook, Director of A.L. Mebane Middle School’s band, was elated to showcase her students’ talent and hard work. “Thank you so much,” Holbrook said. “It was a privilege to play for you all.”

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. - City of Gainesville officials anticipate severe weather conditions, including temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit during evening hours Sunday, Feb. 18-Wednesday, Feb. 21. The anticipated temperatures will lead to the activation of the city's Cold Night Shelter (CNS) Program, and it is expected to remain in effect until overnight low temperatures rise above 45 F. The CNS program normally runs from Nov. 1 through March 31.

 St. Francis House and GRACE Marketplace at the Empowerment Center will provide Cold Night Shelter services to people in need of shelter as long as overnight temperatures remain below 45 F. The CNS program providers serve additional persons in need of shelter so that families and individuals desiring shelter will have a warm place to stay. St. Francis House provides temporary shelter that is appropriate for families, women and children. GRACE Marketplace primarily serves individual adults.

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