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HIGH SPRINGS – Residents will have an opportunity to celebrate Florida’s Arbor Day later this month with a community tree planting event and free tree distribution hosted by the City of High Springs Tree Advisory Board in partnership with several local and county organizations.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, from 10 a.m. to noon at the High Springs Civic Center, located at 19107 N.W. 240^th Street. It is being organized in collaboration with the Alachua County Environmental Protection Department, High Springs Parks & R.E.C., and Santa Fe Tree Farm.

Participants may receive a complimentary tree, while supplies last, and will have the opportunity to hear brief presentations from guest speakers with expertise in environmental stewardship, tree care, and local conservation efforts. Light refreshments will also be provided.

“Trees add value to a community through shade, improved air quality, and reduction in runoff,” said Tree Advisory Board Chair Joanne Tremblay.

Although Florida’s Arbor Day is officially observed on the third Friday of January, organizers noted that Florida’s climate makes the cooler winter months the most favorable time for planting trees. Planting during this season allows root systems to establish before the heat of summer, improving long-term survival and growth.

City officials encourage residents to attend the event to learn more about the environmental and community benefits of trees, as well as proper planting and maintenance practices.

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HIGH SPRINGS – Fire crews from multiple agencies worked for hours Sunday night to extinguish a blaze that tore through an abandoned home in a rural area of High Springs, after initial 911 callers reported an outdoor fire but were unable to provide its exact location.

High Springs firefighters were dispatched at 7:33 p.m. to the area of Northwest 230^th Street and Northwest 189^th Avenue. Crews reached the scene within five minutes and cut through a locked gate to access the property, where they found smoke and flames coming from a large structure. The discovery prompted an immediate upgrade to a full residential structure fire response.

Because the incident was first reported as an outdoor fire, High Springs firefighters arrived in a brush truck, which offered a smaller profile and 4-wheel-drive capability that allowed them to begin attacking the flames quickly.

The fire involved an abandoned home of nearly 4,100 square feet and presented several obstacles due to overgrowth and the building’s condition. High Springs Public Works assisted by using a tractor to clear a route for a ladder truck to access the property safely and helped remove portions of the structure to support extinguishment efforts.

More than two dozen firefighters from High Springs, Alachua County and Newberry responded. High Springs Police and Duke Energy also assisted at the scene.

No injuries were reported, and firefighters contained the blaze to the building of origin. The fire was declared fully extinguished at 1:05 a.m. Monday. The cause remains under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.

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HIGH SPRINGS – City of High Springs officials continue to work through questions surrounding a nearly $1 million invoice tied to a municipal sewer improvement project, as concerns grow about internal procedures, recordkeeping, and financial controls.

The issue first surfaced publicly in early December 2025, when Commissioner Tristan Grunder asked City Manager Jeremy Marshall what steps were being taken to prevent unexpected bills from surfacing in the future. Marshall responded that staff had begun reviewing thousands of emails and project records to ensure no additional invoices remained undiscovered.

“Before I can fix it, I have to make sure there’s nothing else out there,” Marshall said during the December meeting. The invoice at issue was dated Sept. 10, 2025, roughly three months before the commission and public became aware of it.

At that time, Marshall stated he believed the breakdown may have occurred in the purchase order process. Finance Director Diane Wilson, however, initially said the invoice was tied not to a procedural error but to confusion over the funding source. Wilson told commissioners a previous city manager advised staff the project was fully covered by grant funds, which later proved incorrect. Wilson noted the situation created a cash-flow shortfall rather than a purchasing error.

When the Commission reconvened Jan. 8, 2026, the explanation shifted. Marshall said the City’s Springbrook financial software may have closed out the purchase order prematurely. According to Marshall, when a purchase order includes multiple items listed on a single line, the system closes the PO when a partial payment is entered, incorrectly indicating that all project costs have been paid.

Multiple former City officials contacted by Alachua County Today disputed that interpretation, saying the software had long been sufficient for the City’s needs. City purchasing records reviewed by Alachua County Today show that several purchase order numbers were issued for project-related equipment and services.

Tensions rose during the January discussion, with Commissioner Tristan Grunder expressing strong dissatisfaction with how the matter has been handled.

“I’m concerned there are things out there we still do not know,” Grunder said. He stated the situation was “unacceptable,” questioning accountability and describing staff responses as “excuses.” He also highlighted the impact of the costs on City reserves and resident trust. A heated exchange followed between Grunder and Wilson.

Wilson responded by noting that the project was initiated before she joined the City and stated her department was “just paying the bills.” However, the job description for her office assigns responsibility for all accounting records, including grant and contract administration. High Springs has also experienced repeated delays in completing its annual audits, and Wilson acknowledged the invoice was missed because it was not included in the financial data reviewed in the most recent filings.

The sewer project traces back to a January 2023 vote in which the commission unanimously approved funding. Staff at that time advised that costs would be covered through a mix of grant dollars, American Rescue Plan Act funds, impact fees, and contingency money. A progress report filed with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in April 2024 indicated the project was moving forward, but by mid-April all staff with direct knowledge of the undertaking had left City employment.

Emails obtained through public records requests show that outside project monitors continued to track progress. On May 23, 2024, project consultant Mittauer & Associates reported to the finance department that the project remained within budget and had a surplus of more than $64,000. The correspondence also indicated that impact fees and contingency funds may be needed if additional grants did not materialize, and that the City “should have previously expended $1,566,678” toward construction.

Marshall says additional invoices are still expected as the contractor works through punch-list items, and the final total remains unknown.

Questions also arose during the January meeting after Wilson said she had removed payroll functions from the Springbrook software because the City does not have the cloud-based version. Former officials contacted by Alachua County Today expressed surprise, saying the system had previously met the City’s needs.

In recent months, residents have seen higher utility rates, a fire assessment increase, and a millage rate adjustment — all prior to the discovery of the invoice. Since news of the bill became public, some residents have begun calling for a forensic audit, stating they have lost confidence in the City’s handling of financial matters.

The Commission is expected to continue discussion as staff reviews remaining project expenses and determines what steps may be needed to address internal processes.

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GAINESVILLE – A High Springs man has been sentenced to three years in state prison for shooting a man who siphoned gas from his car. The victim reportedly said he had run out of gas and could not find any open stations because of the hurricane, so he decided to siphon gas from a vehicle in the parking lot of the Days Inn, 1901 S.W. 13^th Street, Gainesville.

Jonathan Velez-Rodriguez, 37, received the sentence last week after entering a plea of nolo contendere to aggravated battery in connection with the Sept. 27, 2024, shooting near the Days Inn. Judge Robert Groeb also ordered two years of probation following his release.

Gainesville Police responded just after 7 a.m. that morning and found a man suffering from a gunshot wound to the thigh on the 1400 block of Southwest 18^th Place. Three spent shell casings were discovered in the roadway nearby.

The victim told police he had run out of gas and, unable to find open stations due to the hurricane, attempted to siphon fuel from a parked vehicle at the motel. When the owner confronted him, the victim said he walked away. He reported that Velez-Rodriguez then followed him in his car as he ran across Southwest 13^th Street and into a nearby neighborhood, where shots were fired from about 20 to 30 feet away.

Officers located Velez-Rodriguez near his vehicle shortly afterward. According to the arrest report, he immediately acknowledged his role, telling the officer, “It’s me… I’m who you’re looking for… I messed up.” He said he had seen the man siphoning gas, returned to his motel room for his keys, and then drove around searching for him.

Post-Miranda, Velez-Rodriguez told investigators he retrieved a firearm from his glove box and fired out the window as he drove onto Southwest 18^th Place. He said he believed he fired twice and that he intended only to scare the victim, not hit him.

Police recovered the handgun from Velez-Rodriguez’s glove box, and investigators noted that the ammunition matched the casings found at the scene.

Velez-Rodriguez was released on $50,000 bail after spending about 11 days in jail. He entered his plea on Nov. 20 and was sentenced the same day.

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ALACHUA – The Alachua community recognized two volunteers this past Saturday whose years of service and commitment have left a lasting mark on local youth and neighborhoods.

Blake Oswalt and Rudy Rothseiden were be honored for their sustained volunteer efforts and the positive influence they have had on generations of young people.

For more than 35 seasons, Oswalt has been a familiar and encouraging presence within local recreation programs, particularly through youth volleyball. His involvement with the High Springs Recreation Department and the City of Alachua Recreation Department has spanned decades, during which he consistently devoted time and energy to mentoring young athletes.

Rothseiden, the second honoree, was recognized for his role for investing significant time and effort into improving his neighborhood and fostering a sense of community.

The recognition serves as a reminder of the vital role volunteers play in sustaining youth programs and building supportive, engaged neighborhoods.

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ALACHUA – A 43-year-old homeless woman was arrested Monday evening after police say she vandalized a pickup truck following an argument with its owner in the parking lot of an Alachua restaurant.

According to an arrest report from the Alachua Police Department, officers were called at about 7:05 p.m. on Dec. 8, 2025, to Sonny’s BBQ, located at 15935 N.W. U.S. Highway 441, in response to a report of an armed disturbance. The caller reported that a woman armed with a knife was threatening to slash the tires of his vehicle.

An officer arrived at the scene and made contact with the victim, who pointed out the suspect, later identified as Janelle-Joy Alexandra Summers, as she was driving out of the parking lot. The officer conducted a traffic stop and detained Summers, removing her from the vehicle and placing her in handcuffs.

Police reported recovering a knife clipped to the right side of Summers’ pants.

The victim told officers he had dated Summers intermittently for several years and had agreed to meet her at the restaurant. He said that when she arrived, she appeared to be in a manic state and became angry, yelling inside the restaurant. Employees asked her to leave the dining area, according to the report.

After leaving the restaurant, Summers allegedly sent the victim a series of text messages, including one threatening to slash the tires on his pickup truck.

The officer reported observing deep scratches along one side of the victim’s gray Chevrolet Silverado, as well as multiple messages written on the vehicle in nail polish. One of the messages reportedly included the word “die.”

After being advised of her Miranda rights, Summers reportedly admitted she was upset with the victim and acknowledged that she used a pocket knife to scratch the vehicle and wrote messages on it using nail polish.

Summers is described in the arrest report as homeless. She was charged with property damage of $1,000 or more, a felony offense. While she has an unspecified criminal history in other counties between 2021 and 2025, court records indicate she has no prior criminal convictions.

Judge Susan Miller-Jones set Summers’ bail at $15,000 but ordered that she be released if accepted into Mental Health Court. The judge also ordered an evaluation to determine whether Summers requires emergency mental health treatment.

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