Local

NEWBERRY ‒ Newberry will soon be home to the longest zipline park in Florida. And the attraction is opening this fall. Zipline will be situated east of Northwest County Road 235. At the Newberry Planning and Zoning meeting on April 3, 2023, it was announced that the site would include construction or installation of an approximately 1,000-square-foot building, three towers and walking trails.

The “Dragon” is the longest zipline in the park, and it will be a dual line for two people to zip at the same time.

A specialized landing zone has been constructed to accommodate riders with special needs.

Newberry Mayor Jordan Marlowe is attempting to convince the owners of a small beach located in the same vicinity as the zipline park that it would be an amazing spot to open up to customers for an after zipline swim. Marlow is hoping that Alachua County residents will spread the word to help encourage the owners to consider the idea.

“I will keep making the case that the quarries in our community are Newberry’s best untapped resource,” said Marlowe. But I also believe this zipline park is about to change that.”

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NEWBERRY ‒ In her wake, along with damaging winds and localized flooding, Hurricane Debby left a large sinkhole in the City of Newberry. Authorities closed West Newberry Road/State Road 26 on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in both directions near the Gilchrist County line due to the large sinkhole opening up. The sinkhole, which was 35 feet wide and 15 feet deep on Monday, is expanding.

The sinkhole is currently on the shoulder, but the road has been determined to be unstable. The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office was on the scene and the Florida Department of Transportation is assessing the situation.

Making landfall in the Big Bend area, the hurricane pelted communities with heavy rain and flooding as well as strong wind gusts and has been blamed for four deaths in the state.

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HAWTHORNE ‒ A 61-year-old Hawthorne man was arrested on Monday, July 29, 2024, following a multi-day search and two violent incidents at a Grove Park residence.

At about 5:20 p.m. on Saturday, July 27, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a residence in the Grove Park area, where the victim said Michael Gregory Wilkinson had thrown a dinner plate at him, resulting in an injury that was bleeding severely. The victim said he’d had to place a makeshift tourniquet on his arm.

The victim reportedly told the deputy that he and Wilkinson had gotten into an argument in the backyard of the residence and Wilkinson threw a plate at him and then left on foot. The deputy noted that the victim lives at the residence and Wilkinson stays there “sporadically.”

Alachua County Fire Rescue reportedly told the deputy they needed to keep the tourniquet on the victim’s arm and would transport him to the hospital for treatment.

The deputy reported that Wilkinson was not found after “an extensive canvass of the area was completed.”

At about 12:15 p.m. the next day, a deputy responded to the same residence, where the victim said he had seen Wilkinson sitting in the backyard and asked someone inside the residence to call 911. He said he told Wilkinson not to leave, but Wilkinson allegedly picked up a metal pipe, swung it at the victim five times, then threw the pipe at him and ran.

A K-9 team was unable to locate Wilkinson at the time, but he was arrested the following day at a residence on Southeast County Road 2082.

Wilkinson has been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault with the intent to commit a felony. He has two felony convictions and seven misdemeanor convictions, four of which were violent.

He was arrested for felony battery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in 2022, but the charges were later dropped.

Bail was set at $90,000 by Judge Kristine Van Vorst.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ In an effort to reduce costs, the High Springs City Commission voted on July 11, 2024, to terminate leases on four vehicles and purchase replacements. The decision, proposed by City Manager Jeremy Marshall, aims to save the city approximately $6,000 per month.

The four leased vehicles, currently with Bancorp, will be returned without any penalties for early termination. The Commission approved the purchase of three new vehicles to replace them: two 2023 Dodge Rams and one Ford Ranger. The funding for these purchases will come from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The vote to acquire the new vehicles was unanimous.

In other City business, the Commission unanimously voted on Jully 11 to approve the City’s mutual aid agreement. The renewal of the City’s mutual aid agreement allows the City to receive and provide mutual aid through the Florida Division of Emergency Management. The agreement allows High Springs to assist other cities in times of crisis and also to receive aid from other cities if High Springs is in crisis.

Terms of the agreement provide that the city receiving aid will pay for the support they receive from another municipality in times of natural disasters or emergencies.

The signing of this agreement also allows Alachua County to receive the same type of support from other counties in times of disasters or emergencies.

City Manager Marshall updated the Commission regarding the Priest Theater and reported that the Priest Theater Committee met and determined that it will take six to eight months to make the required basic repairs to the structure. An architect and engineer will be needed to accomplish that goal. Commissioner Andrew Miller asked the Commission to consider whether they still wanted to repair and sell it or do something with the structure once it’s fixed.

In other news, the City’s Parks and Recreation Department will likely be moving into the Canoe Outpost building as their new headquarters.

Also on tap is a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Douglass Community Center on Saturday, Aug. 10 at 11 a.m. Commissioner Byran Williams reminded the Commission that they needed to name the Center.

The High Springs Youth Council will be holding a 9-11 commemorative event; possibly along with Boy Scout Troop #69.

A proclamation was read into the record honoring Sam Nichol, who just attained his Eagle Scout designation. The proclamation listed several of his projects that won him that honor and he was applauded by the Commissioners and audience members for his achievement.

The High Springs City Commission has scheduled two budget workshops at 6:30 p.m. on July 16 and 18. The next regular City Commission meeting is set for July 25 at 6:30 p.m., preceded by a Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting at 5:30 p.m.

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MICANOPY ‒ A 63-year-old Micanopy man was arrested on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, and charged with sexual battery on a victim under 12 years old after allegedly touching a young girl who was sleeping over with a friend at his house.

The victim reportedly disclosed the incident on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, and said she had slept over with a girl who sometimes visited Reese’s house. She said that she and the other girls were watching a movie when Willie James Reese called for them. The other girls appeared to be asleep at that time.

Reese eventually called the victim and told her to come to his room and sit on his bed. She said he touched her inappropriately and it hurt; she said she asked him to stop, but he continued until he decided he was done. The victim said this only happened once, but Reese had previously touched the girls’ buttocks, over their clothes, “as a game.”

Reese has six convictions for infractions related to driving without a valid license between 1994 and 2008 but no other criminal history.

Judge Kristine Van Vorst ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial.

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ALACHUA ‒ After an action-packed summer filled with engaging activities, the City of Alachua’s Recreation & Culture Department is celebrating the success of its programs and expressing gratitude to the organizations and individuals who contributed to their success.

With significant support from the Children’s Trust of Alachua County and Good News Art, local youth experienced an exceptional Summer Arts Camp. “With lots of behind-the-scenes efforts and dedication to the community, we feel this past summer session was a huge achievement,” said a Recreation & Culture Department spokesperson.

The Children’s Trust of Alachua County provided crucial funding and support, making the camp affordable and offering numerous scholarships and field trips. Good News Art supplied skilled art teachers who helped campers tap into their creativity. The camp was divided into two three-week sessions, resulting in a six-week summer camp filled with fun, education, and camaraderie.

Campers explored various art mediums, including sculpting, drawing, painting, music, dance, photography, and writing. They also enjoyed Alachua’s outdoor spaces for adventures and team sports. The program kept campers engaged and excited throughout.

While saying goodbye to the Summer Arts Camp, there are other programs ending the summer season as well. The 399 Sports & Recreation Youth Basketball Summer Clinic/Academy came to an end last Thursday with a celebration banquet.

Local youth from ages 7 to 15 had the amazing opportunity of working with Santa Fe High School Hall of Famers for a six-week grind on strict basketball fundamentals. The all-inclusive academy provided guidance for all participant regardless of skill level. Every child received the same attention, and the result was a monumental success.

The Recreation & Culture Department spokesperson highlighted the dedication of the coaching staff, including Coach B, Coach Horace Jenkins, Coach Rudy Rothseiden, Coach Dontrell Jenkins, and High School Girls Varsity Head Coach Brandalyn Williams. “The coaching staff was genuinely welcoming and vibrant with the youth, and pushed them to reach their full potential,” added the spokesperson. “Looking forward to next summer.”

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