Local

ALACHUA – A major early morning accident occurred shortly after 6 a.m., on Tuesday, June 20, on Interstate 75 near mile marker 391. An overturned tractor-trailer and hazardous chemical spill between State Road 222/Northwest 39^th Avenue and Alachua stopped traffic in both directions.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), all southbound traffic was routed off of I-75 at the 399 exit (U.S. Highway 441, Alachua) and all northbound traffic was routed off at the 399 exit (State Road 222/Northwest 39^th Ave.).

The Alachua Police Department reported Tuesday afternoon that according to FHP the semi was carrying liquid Styrene at the time of the accident. The accident included two semi-trucks, two pickup trucks, one SUV, and one passenger vehicle. Heavy rainfall and storms occurred overnight, and it is believed that the cause of the accident was due to a vehicle that hydroplaned.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), liquid styrene is a chemical used to make latex, synthetic rubber, and polystyrene resins. Breathing high levels of styrene may cause changes in color vision, tiredness, feeling drunk, slowed reaction time, concentration problems, or balance problems. Hearing loss has been observed in animals exposed to very high concentrations of styrene.

The chemical spill assessment and cleanup operation was reported to take as long as 12 hours to complete. FHP advised motorists to avoid the area until further notice.

Fire rescue teams from High Springs, Gainesville, Alachua County and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and FHP were dispatched to the site. The Hazmat team evaluated the scene according to High Springs Public Information Officer Kevin Mangan.

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ALACHUA ‒ The Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe recently welcomed Jamie Kraut, Family Liaison from Alachua Elementary School, to talk about a school nutrition program.

Kraut shared with the Club that the school’s cupboard used to store healthy snacks for students is now empty. These snacks are used for children who regularly come to school without having breakfast, or for children who get hungry during the day. The snacks are also used as positive reinforcement by teachers in classroom activities.

The Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe requested a grant from the Florida Kiwanis Foundation of $750 to restock Alachua Elementary’s cupboard with fresh fruit and healthy foods.

The grant application was successful, and the local Kiwanis Club received a check in the requested amount. Kiwanis club member Linda Hewlett bought and delivered the food to Kraut and Alachua Elementary and helped stock the school’s cupboard.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ At 8:57 p.m. on June 17, the High Springs Fire Department (HSFD) was dispatched to 16264 N.W. 202^nd Drive in the High Springs’ Weston Oaks neighborhood for a reported fire alarm activation. At 8:58 p.m. officers from the High Springs Police Department (HSPD), which had been dispatched to the same address just moments earlier for a burglar alarm, arrived on the scene.

HSPD officers reported that smoke and fire were showing from the roof. The call was then upgraded to a residential structure fire and High Springs Heavy Rescue 29 and Alachua County Fire Rescue units were dispatched to the home.

At 9:06 p.m. High Springs firefighters arrived on the scene of the single-story 2,200-square foot home, advising of a heavy fire load from the roof. Firefighters quickly deployed a hose line to quell the blaze, putting water on the fire within five minutes of arrival.

Due to the size of the structure and weather conditions, an additional engine company and Alachua County Fire Rescue’s Heavy Rescue 23 were requested on the orders of incident commander Chief Bruce Gillingham. The call provided for additional manpower and a light tower.

No injuries were reported due to the blaze. “The cause of the fire is believed to be a lightning strike,” said High Springs Public Information Officer Kevin Mangan.

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NEWBERRY ‒ The City of Newberry has received state funding worth $2 million to fund critical infrastructure projects that city officials say will promote economic growth and improve regional utility services.

A $1 million Florida Legislative appropriation will be utilized to construct an elevated water storage tank on State Road 26, marking a key investment toward enhancing economic development along the main corridor. This elevated tank will provide the required water storage and pressure to foster economic development opportunities between the University of Florida, unincorporated Alachua County and Newberry. The new tank will also support the City’s efforts to expand the City’s Agri-Tech Innovation Park, projected to generate 1,600 direct jobs and 7,905 indirect/induced jobs over its lifecycle.

An additional $1 million in Legislative appropriated funding will be directed toward the City's regional wastewater treatment plant project. This project serves to bolster Newberry’s utility services and introduces centralized and regional treatment options for neighboring communities and unincorporated areas of Alachua County. This upgrade is poised to drive regional economic growth while resolving pressing environmental challenges, such as failed septic systems and impaired waterways. The new plant will utilize innovative treatment processes to reduce harmful nutrients, remove approximately 600 septic tanks from neighboring communities and serve future growth for the next 30 years.

“We are delighted with the support we've received from the State Legislature,” said City Manager Mike New. “These grants are a testament to Newberry's future-focused planning and our commitment to environmental stewardship and economic vitality.”

Newberry Mayor Jordan Marlowe expressed his gratitude to Senators Keith Perry and Jennifer Bradley as well as Representative Chuck Clemons, saying, “We sincerely thank Senator Bradley, Senator Perry, and Representative Clemons for their tireless advocacy on behalf of Newberry. Their support was instrumental in securing these grants, which will significantly enhance our infrastructure and contribute to the regional economic and environmental sustainability."

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BY JENNIFER CABRERA/Alachua Chronicle

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Alachua County Commission on June 13 instructed staff to draft an interlocal agreement with the City of High Springs that would permit an extension of the City’s sewer and water utilities to the area around the I-75 interchange at mile marker 404.

A representative from the City of High Springs said that the project was initiated by the owners of a hotel that has been trying to get a permit to build at the interchange since 2019 but has been unable to meet wastewater requirements. The Welcome Center in the same area has been under a Consent Decree since 2018 because of issues with its package plant, and access to a sewer system will also allow that business to do some remodeling. Connecting that area to the City’s water system will also enable fire hydrants to serve the businesses in that area and provide water for fires on the interstate.

“Available for connection”

The staff recommendation had eight parts, but commissioners were mainly interested in #5 and #6, specifically the “available for connection” wording. Commissioner Ken Cornell said he thought the intention should be that property owners who don’t meet the condition in #4 (“Existing or proposed development around the interchange of I-75 and CR 236 on property with a ‘Tourist/Entertainment’ land use designation”) would not have to connect to the system, but they could “if they paid for it.”

The original ordinance passed by the High Springs City Commission on March 9 required “all persons or corporations living or doing business within the district” to connect to the City’s water and sewer system, a provision that generated a great deal of concern among residents. The ordinance paved the way for the City to apply for a grant for the water/sewer system, but the City won’t find out whether they won the grant until later this year.

The current proposed ordinance (amended from the ordinance passed on March 9) does not require residential property owners to connect to the City’s water/wastewater system, but they have the option to connect; multi-family and commercial uses would be required to connect to the system.

County Manager Michele Lieberman explained that if a sewer line is “available,” state statutes require property owners to connect to it within 365 days. She continued, “If we make it unavailable, then you don’t have to connect, but if somebody connects, it’s hard to argue that it’s an ‘unavailable’ line.”

Motion to draft interlocal agreement

Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler made a motion to move forward with the staff recommendation to prepare an interlocal agreement with the City of High Springs and Commissioner Chuck Chestnut seconded the motion; both the High Springs City Commission and Alachua County Commission will take this issue up again when the interlocal agreement is ready for approval.

During discussion on the motion, Cornell said he wanted to have further discussions about the map and how the proposal will affect properties along CR 236. He proposed having a joint meeting with the High Springs City Commission to talk about the reasons for proceeding with the project.

“Is the intention to address the Consent Order, which I think everyone can get their hands around, and limit any other impacts? Or is the idea to actually create an area where we could have future annexations or future growth?…

“Maybe it’s just a matter of kind of slowing this down so we can have some discussions with the public, both in the city and outside the city,” said Cornell.

Although an exact map wasn’t available at the meeting, Cornell amended the motion to use a different map that includes the Tourism and Entertainment District and a 50-foot right-of-way along CR 236.

Cornell said that if they moved forward with the amended map, they could build some consensus around applying for the grant for the purpose of providing water and sewer service to the businesses at the interchange, which is better for the environment than package plants.

“So if this can continue that dialogue and get us to a place where we have a draft interlocal that we can look at in a joint meeting… I think that would be a good thing.”

The motion passed unanimously.

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ALACHUA ‒ Who doesn’t love happy hours? It’s a chance to relax after a long workday and spend time with friends. On Sunday, June 11, San Felasco Tech City was the scene of a special kind of happy hour at the Daft Cow Brewery and Beaker and Flask Wine Co. Guests had a chance to relax and enjoy craft beer and wine while their four-legged furry friends enjoyed dog treats, toys and interacting with other dogs. The Yappy Hour charity event welcomed both pet owners and their dogs to socialize and enjoy the day.

Yappy hours are often hosted by hotels, bars, apartment complexes or breed play groups with guests paying a fee to attend. The event at the Daft Cow Brewery was held by the Shakespeare Animal Fund, a non-profit that helps pay emergency veterinary costs for elderly, disabled and others who have a suffering pet and no funds to get help.

“Our mission is to help pet owners with emergency veterinary bills due to accidents, sickness and other emergencies,” said Shakespeare Animal Fund founder Jennifer Webb. “We are active in 13 northern Nevada counties and now in North Central Florida as well.”

Webb started the organization in 2003, while living in Reno, Nevada after the loss of her own dog, Shakespeare, a cocker spaniel who jumped into his new companion’s arms from a pet shop counter in Harlem three days before Christmas.

Shakespeare became Webb’s constant companion as he travelled the streets of New York with Jennifer. The two of them spent countless hours in Central Park on weekends. He was allowed to attend dance classes in the evenings, and he even rode the streets of the city in a little red wagon as he got too old to walk

In November 2003, Shakespeare became ill, and nothing the vet could do seemed to help. In desperation, Webb took him to a large medical facility where they did extensive testing including an MRI before finding there was nothing left to do. The medical bills were expensive, but Webb says she would have done anything, borrowed from anywhere, to help him recover.

“When he died on Nov. 14, 2003, my heart was forever broken at his loss,” said Webb. “I heard stories from others who had watched their beloved pet suffer and die because they simply couldn't afford the vet bills.”

Out of this heartrending experience, Webb founded the Shakespeare Animal Fund. “I hoped that many others who love their animal companions as much as I loved Shakespeare, but perhaps can't afford to pay for an unexpected illness or any other medical expense, can be helped,” said Webb.

“Often those who need our help are elderly, disabled, returning veterans or simply those who find themselves in an emergency situation without the funds to get the help their pets desperately need. For many people their pets are their only family, and a constant source of unconditional love,” said Webb. “We believe no one should ever have to choose between taking care of their four-footed family member or putting food on the table.”

Under Webb's direction, fundraisers have brought in more than $1million to help pet owners in need in Nevada, Webb’s previous home. Recently Webb moved to Alachua for work and is now also creating events in North Central Florida. At the recent Yappy Hour, pet owners made a donation of $25 for beer, wine and snacks, while their canine family members enjoyed a variety of treats. Attendees could also contribute additionally by bidding on a variety of silent auction raffle items.

“Although this is our first Yappy Hour event in Alachua, we are establishing our headquarters here and letting other members in Nevada continue events out there.” Webb is currently planning a Yappy Hour event at the Black Adder Brewery in Gainesville in August and hoping to expand to Marion County as well.

“We also welcome anyone who would like to join, either as a board member, staff support or as volunteers for the events,” said Webb

Anyone who is interested in additional information, joining or contributing can email helpshakefund@gmail.com with the subject line Yappy Hour or visit www.shakespeareanimalfund.org. The website also has contact links for people who need emergency help, and there is also a crisis phone line at 775-342-7040.

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