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BROOKSVILLE – A team from Cross City Correctional Institution has earned statewide recognition after capturing first place at the 2025 Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) Statewide K9 Tracking and Training Event, an elite annual competition and professional development program for the agency’s top-performing K9 tracking units.

The event, held in Brooksville, brought together the eight best-performing teams from FDC regional contests across Florida. Designed to enhance readiness, teamwork, and technical precision, the training combines timed field challenges with advanced skill demonstrations that reflect real-world law enforcement scenarios.

“Our K9 tracking teams are an integral part of public safety in Florida and we are greatly appreciative of the support we receive from Governor DeSantis and the incredible sheriffs we partner with to serve the local communities where our teams live and work,” said Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Ricky D. Dixon. “These events are a testament to our dedication to continuous improvement. During every activation our K9 teams respond to, there are lives on the line that depend on us to be at our best.”

FDC Special Teams Coordinator Jonathan “Danny” Rummel said the competition represents not only excellence in performance but also a shared commitment to public safety and professional growth.

“This event brings together the top eight teams from regional competitions across the state, culminating in a showcase of the state's absolute best,” Rummel said. “Each year, these teams compete to see who has trained the hardest and perfected their skills. It's not just about winning; it's about public safety and ensuring that our facilities and communities remain secure. This event highlights the dedication and hard work of our teams, and we are incredibly proud of their accomplishments.”

Cross City’s Excellence Recognized

The Cross City Correctional Institution team, based in Dixie County, achieved top honors in the 2025 statewide event, marking another milestone for the facility’s K9 program. Their victory highlights both the handlers’ professionalism and the K9s’ exceptional capabilities in real-world operations.

FDC’s K9 tracking teams are primarily tasked with pursuing escaped inmates, though such cases have become increasingly rare thanks to improved technology and modern security measures. Today, these teams often serve a broader role in Florida’s law enforcement network — assisting sheriff’s offices and police departments in tracking dangerous fugitives, recovering evidence, and locating missing children or vulnerable adults.

The Cross City team’s performance in Brooksville reflected the results of rigorous preparation and field experience. During the competition, teams faced a combination of day and night tracking courses that simulated complex search operations through rough terrain and variable conditions. Events tested endurance, scent detection, and decision-making under pressure, with additional stations evaluating firearms proficiency and handler conditioning.

Commitment to Continuous Training

The annual FDC K9 event underscores the department’s emphasis on training and interagency collaboration. Teams from across the state benefit from shared best practices and scenario-based exercises that ensure readiness for emergencies.

“This event is about ensuring every team is at its best when called upon,” Dixon said. “Lives depend on it, and our teams take that responsibility seriously.”

In addition to Cross City’s first-place finish, the 2025 competition recognized:

• Second place: Mayo Correctional Institution (Mayo)
• Third place: DeSoto Correctional Institution (Arcadia)
• First place shooting team: Okeechobee Correctional Institution (Indiantown)

For the Cross City Correctional Institution, the recognition reinforces the skill, dedication, and teamwork of its K9 handlers — qualities that extend beyond the competition field and into their service to the public.

“These K9 units are a vital part of FDC’s mission,” Dixon said. “Their commitment to excellence and community safety is something every Floridian can be proud of.”

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Athletes and volunteers celebrate at Legacy Park in Alachua during the Northeast Regional Special Olympics, where teams from across the region competed in softball, flag football, deadlifting, and pickleball. / Photo special to Alachua County Today

ALACHUA – The spirit of inclusion and community came alive at Legacy Park this past weekend, as the City of Alachua hosted the Northeast Regional Special Olympics, drawing athletes, families, and supporters from across the region.

The event was a powerful display of teamwork, made possible through a partnership between the City of Alachua’s Recreation & Culture Department, the Alachua Police Department, High Springs Police Department, and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Department. Together, they delivered one of the most uplifting and well-attended Special Olympics gatherings in the area’s history.

Throughout the day, athletes competed in softball, flag football, deadlifting, and pickleball, each contest filled with determination, encouragement, and joy. Viewing areas were packed with cheering families and volunteers, creating an electric atmosphere that celebrated every participant’s courage and hard work. The event was not defined by medals or scores but by moments of perseverance and shared pride.

Behind the scenes, dozens of volunteers and city staff worked tirelessly to coordinate logistics, manage events, and ensure that athletes and families felt welcomed and supported. Their dedication underscored the city’s ongoing commitment to inclusion and community-building through recreation.

Legacy Park, a centerpiece of Alachua’s recreational life, provided an ideal backdrop for the games, with its accessible facilities and open layout giving participants the space and visibility they deserved. For many families, the day represented more than competition—it was a celebration of human spirit and connection.

Organizers noted that the success of this year’s Northeast Regional Special Olympics has set a new benchmark for future events in Alachua. Dates for the 2026 and 2027 competitions will be announced in the coming months, with the community already expressing enthusiasm for continuing the tradition.

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NEWBERRY ‒ In recognition of National Community Planning Month, Newberry Community Development Director Stacey Hectus highlighted the city’s progress in planning, zoning, and development during the Oct. 13, 2025, City Commission meeting. As part of her presentation, Hectus introduced a new Planning Projects Dashboard, a public tool designed to make information about local development more accessible and transparent to residents.

The online dashboard allows citizens to look up zoning and land use, determine whether a property is within the Historic District, review approved and proposed projects, monitor upcoming city initiatives, read relevant ordinances, and even watch meetings. The tool is part of an ongoing effort by the Community Development Department to enhance civic engagement and streamline access to planning data.

The Dashboard can be accessed through the City’s website, clicking on the Departments heading and Community Development and follow the links to Current Projects Map. For those used to using a QR Code, scanning that will also take citizens to the same location.

The presentation followed a City Commission proclamation designating October as National Community Planning Month, recognizing the importance of coordinated planning and growth management in shaping Newberry’s future.

Hectus also presented the department’s Fiscal Year 2024–25 Annual Report, which encompasses the divisions of Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement. She focused her remarks on planning and zoning activities completed during the year, emphasizing the teamwork of staff, including Principal Planner Jean-Paul Perez and GIS Analyst Nicki Bailey, who was hired in-house this year to support multiple departments.

Bailey’s work has improved the accuracy of zoning and land use maps and refined the city’s utility mapping for water, sewer, and electric infrastructure.

Among the department’s major accomplishments for FY 2024–25 were:

• Finalization of the City’s Comprehensive Plan.
• Creation of a new zoning category for Agricultural Technology to support development of the AgFoodTech Park.
• Economic development approvals for several local and regional projects, including Zeezeenia Sofra Small Scale Rural Event Center, Progressive Orthodontics, Hedges Eye Care, O2B Kids Child Care Center, Whittles Storage Expansion, Norfleet Industrial, Gatorback Motocross Park (special exception extension), Advance Auto Parts, and Wawa.

The department also reported the following activity:

• Fourteen parcels annexed into the City totaling approximately 185 acres.
• Eighteen future land use changes affecting roughly 473 acres.
• Twenty-one rezonings covering about 857 acres.
• Seven site and development plan approvals and three variances.
• Review of 10 subdivision projects, including Avalon Woods Phases 5A and 5B, Walker’s Ridge, and Morlynn near the Historic District.
• Four construction plan reviews, including Tanglewood, CountryWay South Phase 2, Highland Park Residential, and Avalon Woods Phase 5A.

Looking ahead to 2026, Hectus said the department anticipates another active year, including a comprehensive rewrite and reorganization of the Land Development Code permitted under Florida legislative SB180 (2025).

Hectus also discussed the impact of recent Florida legislative changes on local development.

• Under SB784 (2025) regarding plats, staff has created a process that maintains the intent of the law by having preliminary plats reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Board and City Commission, while final plats receive administrative approval from the City Manager.
• SB180 (2025), which restricts more stringent development requirements following the 2024 hurricanes, has delayed completion of the Comprehensive Plan’s Capital Improvements and Infrastructure elements. The department is working with the state to resolve the issue and plans public engagement sessions in early 2026 to prepare for future adjustments once restrictions are lifted.

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~ The following is a press release provided by the Hippodrome Theatre. It has been published here as received, without additional reporting or editing by Alachua County Today staff. ~

From Sundance Grand Jury winners to Venice Film Festival's Golden Lion, the Hippodrome presents a curated selection of must-see films throughout November

 GAINESVILLE, FL - The Hippodrome Theatre announces its November film series, showcasing an exceptional lineup of award-winning films from major international festivals alongside beloved classics. The carefully curated program features eight distinctive films, including multiple festival winners and highly anticipated releases starring some of cinema's most celebrated actors.

 "This November, we're thrilled to bring audiences a remarkable collection of films that have captivated critics and festival goers around the world," said Naheed Mojadidi, Cinema Director at the Hippodrome Theatre. "From the sweeping romance of The History of Sound with Paul Mescal to Benny Safdie's powerful The Smashing Machine starring Dwayne Johnson, these films represent the very best of contemporary cinema. We're especially proud to present Jafar Panahi's Palme d'Or winner It Was Just an Accident and the Sundance double-award winner Twinless."

 The series opens November 1-2 with Victor Kossakovsky's contemplative documentary Architecton, which explores humanity's relationship with concrete and stone. The weekend also features the heartwarming The Paper Bag Plan, about a father helping his son achieve independence, and multiple screenings of The History of Sound, the decades-spanning romance starring Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor, directed by Oliver Hermanus (Living).

 November's second weekend highlights include Twinless, which won both the Grand Jury Award and Audience Award at Sundance, and The Smashing Machine, Benny Safdie's biographical drama that earned the Golden Lion at Venice. Also screening is It Was Just an Accident, Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi's Palme d'Or-winning thriller that has been selected as France's entry for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards.

 The series continues with Rose Byrne's Berlin International Film Festival Silver Bear-winning performance in If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, and Cocktails and Classics presentation of Richard Linklater's romantic masterpiece Before Sunrise on November 15 in which a specialty cocktail is included with every ticket purchase. The month concludes with Blue Moon, reuniting Linklater with Ethan Hawke for a biographical drama about lyricist Lorenz Hart and composer Richard Rodgers.

 NOVEMBER FILM SCHEDULE:

 Architecton: November 1 - 2

 The Paper Bag Plan: November 1 - 6:30 PM

 The History of Sound: November 1 - 2

 Twinless: November 7 - 16

 The Smashing Machine: November 7 - 16

 It Was Just An Accident: November 8 - 29

 If I Had Legs I'd Kick You: November 14 - 29

 Cocktails and Classics

Before Sunrise : November 15 - 6:30 PM

 Blue Moon: November 21 - 30

 Complete screening times and ticket information are available at the Hippodrome Theatre box office (352) 375-4477 or www.thehipp.org/cinema

 The Hippodrome Theatre is located at 22 SE 2nd Place in downtown Gainesville.

 About the Hippodrome Theatre: The Hippodrome State Theatre is a historic landmark and cultural hub in downtown Gainesville, Florida, dedicated to enriching the community through exceptional live theatre productions and curated cinema programming. As a professional, not-for-profit organization, the Hippodrome presents year-round performances and film series that celebrate artistic excellence and diverse storytelling.

HAWTHORNE ‒ A Hawthorne couple face multiple felony drug charges following a series of arrests and recorded jail phone calls that allegedly linked them to a cocaine trafficking operation.

According to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, Shawanna Latisha Williams, 47, was first arrested on July 26, 2025, after deputies conducted a traffic stop for an expired tag. Although she denied consent to search her vehicle, a K-9 unit alerted to the presence of narcotics, leading deputies to search the car. The search reportedly uncovered 3.25 grams of crack cocaine, a loaded revolver, and a marijuana pipe.

Williams was charged with possession of cocaine, possession with intent to sell, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, maintaining a drug vehicle, and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was released on $67,500 bail pending trial.

However, investigators later obtained recordings of Williams’ jail phone calls to Patrick Lendell Green, 49, in which the pair allegedly discussed the seized drugs. In one call, Green reportedly asked whether deputies had found “all of it,” to which Williams replied “No.” Green allegedly went on to comment that others were now “calling to buy some” and warned that they were likely being watched.

The following month, on Aug. 20, deputies conducted another traffic stop—this time involving Green, who was driving with a suspended license. When an officer activated lights and sirens, Green allegedly fled for nearly three-quarters of a mile before being boxed in by another patrol unit. Deputies reported finding 3.22 grams of marijuana in the vehicle.

Green was charged with fleeing and eluding, possession of marijuana under 20 grams, and driving with a suspended license. His bail was set at $5,000 by Judge Susan Miller-Jones.

The investigation escalated the next day when deputies obtained a search warrant for the couple’s home—a property owned by the Alachua County Housing Authority marked with a “Zero Drug Tolerance” sign. Inside, deputies reportedly discovered 48.2 grams of cocaine, 12.8 grams of marijuana, a pressed fentanyl pill, and a razor blade with cocaine residue. The evidence was allegedly found mixed among personal items belonging to both suspects.

While in custody, Green reportedly made another phone call, asking an unknown person, “What did they find… everything?”

Following the search, Green’s charges were upgraded to include trafficking in cocaine, possession of a controlled substance, maintaining a drug dwelling, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Court records show Green has six prior felony convictions, six misdemeanors, and previously served a state prison sentence, from which he was released in 2016. Judge Jonathan Ramsey added $132,000 to Green’s previous bail amount.

A warrant for Williams’ arrest was issued on Aug. 28, and she was taken into custody on Oct. 6. She now faces additional counts of trafficking in cocaine, possession of a controlled substance, maintaining a drug dwelling, and possession of marijuana and paraphernalia. At the time of her arrest, she was on pre-trial release from the July incident.

Judge Ramsey set Williams’ bail at $210,000. Both defendants remain in custody pending further court proceedings.

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Flames light up the night sky north of Alachua on Friday as firefighters and forestry crews work to contain a five-acre brush fire near County Roads 241 and 236. / Photo special to Alachua County Today

ALACHUA — Units from Alachua County Fire Rescue (ACFR), LaCrosse Fire Rescue, and the Florida Forest Service responded Friday night to a large brush fire in a rural area north of Alachua.

The fire was reported around 7:30 p.m. in the vicinity of County Road 241 and County Road 236. When crews arrived, they found approximately five acres of vegetation burning in a location that was difficult to reach.

Three bulldozers from the Florida Forest Service were deployed to assist firefighters in containing the blaze. With their help, the fire was brought under control in just under three hours.

Authorities said no injuries were reported and no structures were threatened during the incident.

ACFR officials are reminding residents to exercise caution when burning outdoors. Before conducting any outdoor burns, citizens are encouraged to visit the Florida Forest Service website to review the state’s regulations and safety guidelines.

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