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ALACHUA COUNTY - It’s a new year for Alachua County Parks and Open Space with new and continuing programs for children. 

Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center is continuing its popular Homeschool Junior Naturalist Program for grades K-6. Each month, a different topic, hands-on activities, and science-based programming are offered. Students will explore topics like life cycles, habitats, trees and more. These programs are offered the second Wednesday of every month, beginning in February 2025 through April, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.  

Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center is also offering a new program for preschoolers. Preschool Environmental Education Program Series (PEEPS) will be offered on the first Wednesday of each month, starting in February 2025. This is a program for ages 2 to 4. PEEPS encourages outdoor exploration that supports child development and helps children grow independence and confidence while helping them build a relationship with the natural world. This program begins Feb. 5 and runs from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. 

 Both programs cost $4 per Alachua County resident and $5 per nonresident. 

 Another new program, Park Play Pals, is a playgroup tailored for youth with special needs. Park Play Pals will be located at a different playground throughout Alachua County each month. This program is for ages ten and under and requires parental participation. It will occur on the third Wednesday of each month, starting in February, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. The first program will occur at Veterans Memorial Playground on Feb. 19, 2025. The second program will occur at Squirrel Ridge Park on March 19, 2025. The third program will occur on April 16, 2025, at Cynthia Moore Chestnut Park. This is a free program, but participants are encouraged to register online using the link below. 

Register for the programs online. 

 For more information, contact Cuscowilla Manager Jamie Bass at 352-574-2372 or jbass@alachuacounty.us.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ A devastating house fire on Sunday morning, Dec. 29, 2024, has claimed the life of a female victim and displaced a frightened dog. The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Combined Communications Center began receiving multiple 911 calls at 9:53 a.m., reporting a fire near Northwest 183^rd Road and Northwest 238^th Street in High Springs.

Responding police officers arrived on the scene by 9:56 a.m., encountering substantial black smoke billowing from the residence. Reports en route indicated that a person and a dog were trapped inside the structure. Firefighters arrived shortly thereafter and launched an aggressive effort to contain the blaze to the right side of the home.

At 10:14 a.m., firefighters located the dog, which was alive but visibly frightened. Tragically, at 10:22 a.m., they discovered a deceased female victim near the fire's origin. The fire was fully extinguished by 10:28 a.m.

The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office, working in conjunction with the High Springs Police Department, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Alachua County Fire Marshal, has launched an investigation to determine the fire's cause. Authorities are also examining the circumstances surrounding the victim's death, which is standard procedure in such incidents. As of now, the deceased individual has not been positively identified.

High Springs officials expressed gratitude to the Alachua County Fire Rescue, Newberry Fire Department, Alachua Police Department, and Alachua County Sheriff’s Office for their coordinated efforts during the emergency.

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ALACHUA ‒ The holiday spirit was in full swing on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, as sirens and flashing lights from the Alachua Police Department (APD) accompanied a busload of excited children to the entrance of the Gainesville Walmart on U.S. Highway 441. But the kids weren’t in any trouble—far from it. They were participants in the annual “Shop with a Cop” event, a heartwarming holiday tradition designed to ensure a brighter Christmas for families in need.

The event has become a holiday tradition for APD, City of Alachua staff, and volunteers. The festive outing began as children loaded on a school bus to be escorted by squad cars and police SUVs—lights flashing—to the Walmart parking lot. APD reported that children from local schools were treated with the shopping spree armed with a gift card to spend on any items they wished, which for many included gifts for family members.

Inside the store, each child was teamed up with a uniformed officer. Armed with gift lists, shopping carts, and big smiles, they strolled aisle after aisle, picking out toys, clothing, and other holiday essentials. Laughter, high-fives, and excited chatter filled the air. And as children, fortified with their newfound purchasing power, browsed the store aisles, their joy was evident in their smiling faces. Today, they went beyond simply peeking at displays; they could finally explore the aisles and bring home that perfect gift.

For many of the participating students, the gifts they purchased weren’t just for themselves. Some were eager to buy items for siblings, parents, or grandparents.

The event was made possible through donations from local businesses and private sponsors. In a season often filled with both warmth and financial stress, “Shop with a Cop” aims to lighten the load for families who could use extra help.

“Shop with a Cop” will undoubtedly be a day to remember in the lives of the children who had the opportunity to not only make their Christmas a happy one, but also a joyous occasion for their families as well. And for the officers, it’s a poignant reminder of the impact they can make, one holiday wish at a time.

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ALACHUA ‒ The Alachua Police Department is appealing to the public for assistance in identifying a suspect involved in an armed robbery that occurred late Wednesday night, Dec. 18, 2024, at the Marathon Gas Station located at U.S. Highway 441 and Northwest 43rd Street.

At approximately 10:50 p.m., an unidentified black male entered the gas station and brandished a firearm, confronting the store clerk. The clerk escaped the building through the back door, but the suspect chased after him, stopping him by placing the firearm to the clerk’s back. The suspect forced the clerk to return to the store, where he demanded money from the register and lottery tickets.

The situation escalated when the clerk managed to activate a silent panic alarm. However, the suspect noticed the action and fled the scene, heading toward a roadway behind the gas station. Responding officers, assisted by a K-9 unit, discovered fresh tire tracks at the location, indicating that the suspect likely escaped in an unknown vehicle.

The suspect is described as a light-skinned black male, approximately 6 feet tall, with a slender build. At the time of the robbery, he was wearing a black Reebok sweater with white writing, light-colored soiled shoes, and a face mask resembling a medical covering.

Law enforcement is urging anyone with information about the incident or the suspect's identity to come forward. The Alachua Police Department can be reached at 386-462-1396. Alternatively, tips can be submitted anonymously through Alachua County Crime Stoppers at 352-372-7867, their website, or their mobile app.

Anonymous online tips can also be submitted via the department's website at https://loom.ly/7uR9tR4.

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ALACHUA – Excitement is building as the community prepares for the 2025 Regional Robotics Championship, slated to take place Jan. 17-18, 2025, at the Legacy Multipurpose Facility in Alachua.

This thrilling event, hosted by the local Swampbots Robotics team, promises to bring together over 450 talented young competitors in a dynamic showcase of robot games, innovation projects, engineering presentations, and core values challenges.

The championship is more than a competition—it's a celebration of creativity, problem-solving, and the potential of the next generation of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) leaders. Each aspect of the event is designed to inspire students to innovate, collaborate, and apply their skills in real-world scenarios. From designing robots to presenting engineering solutions, participants are immersed in hands-on learning experiences that spark curiosity and build confidence.

The event celebrates the creativity and ingenuity of future STEM leaders and offers an incredible opportunity for local businesses and organizations to contribute by becoming sponsors.

Sponsorship directly impacts more than 2,000 youth participants and attendees, fostering vital skills in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) while promoting leadership and innovation. Last year’s championship increased a remarkable 400 percent growth in participation, underscoring the enthusiasm for youth robotics.

The Swampbots team has outlined several sponsorship tiers, ensuring visibility and engagement for supporters. Event Sponsor starts at $15,000. Enjoy premier logo placement, mentions and award presentation opportunities. Additional tiers starting at $2,500 include escalating levels of perks and recognition, making a greater number of sponsorship options available to businesses and organizations.

By supporting the Regional Robotics Championship, sponsors help shape the future of STEM in the community, creating an unforgettable experience for these young innovators.

For more details on sponsorship opportunities, contact Jason at Jason@Swampbots.org or call 352-231-2424

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GAINESVILLE ‒ Large trucks will be prohibited from using many of the smaller roadways in Alachua County. In a press release, the Alachua County Public Works Department announced that it installed more than 240 “No Trucks” signs across 44 road segments within the county. The release states that the initiative is designed to redirect large commercial trucks onto wider, “more suitable” state and county roads, reducing the risks posed by heavy vehicles on narrow roadways.

The new prohibitions are dispersed throughout all of Alachua County, and near Alachua and High Springs, include large sections of Northwest County Roads 236, 235A, 237, and 239 north of U.S. Highway 441. All of Old Bellamy Road and a portion of Northwest/Northeast 56^th Avenue are also restricted.

Additional restrictions are in place along all of County Road 337 south of Newberry and significant portions of Southwest County Roads 346 and 346A.

Trucks are prohibited from using all of Millhopper Road west of Northwest 43^rd Street in Gainesville and most of Wacahoota Road near Micanopy. Near Hawthorne, Southeast County Roads 234 and 2082 as well as South County Road 325 and County Roads 219A and 1474 have similar new restrictions.

According to the press release from Alachua County, the move comes in response to numerous citizen concerns about the dangers of large trucks traveling at high speeds on roads with limited width. In light of these concerns, the Alachua County Commission directed the Public Works Department to implement “No Trucks” restrictions on collector roads with travel lanes measuring 11 feet or narrower. These roads constitute approximately 14 percent of the county's collector road system.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol’s Bureau of Commercial Vehicle Enforcement in the Ocala District, the “No Trucks” designation is more straightforward and effective to enforce compared to weight-based restrictions. Consequently, some roads previously governed by weight limits are now marked with “No Trucks” signage, making enforcement by law enforcement agencies more efficient.

Importantly, these restrictions apply exclusively to commercial trucks passing through the area and do not affect local deliveries. Trucks making deliveries to addresses on these roads, including those during the busy holiday season, are exempt from the new regulations.

For more information, residents can contact Alachua County Civil Engineer Tony Flegert at 352-548-1218.

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