Local

NEWBERRY ‒ The Newberry City Commission met Monday, June 12, to consider a number of issues including rezoning of a small parcel, a replat to cure encroachment, the City’s waste collection contract, the upcoming joint City/County meeting and renovation of Newberry’s historic electric generating plant.

The City’s contract for waste collection services with WastePro USA is expiring this month. The Commission authorized City Manager Mike New to negotiate a five-year contract extension with the firm and bring the proposed extension agreement back to the Commission for consideration by Sept. 1.

The City’s current contract for solid waste collection services is through an exclusive franchise agreement and contract with WastePro USA, which was initiated on July 1, 2017, has been amended twice and extends to June 30, 2024.

The contract allows for two five-year extensions beyond the initial term and for a 95-day negotiation period to consider an extension. This allows 270 days for the City to solicit bids from vendors should negotiations fail or the City Commission decides not to extend the contract and allow it to expire.

In other City business, the Commission approved rezoning three properties of 0.9 +/- acres at the southwest corner of State Road 26/West Newberry Road and Southwest 257^th Street from Commercial, General (CG) to Commercial, Central Business District (C-CBD). The application for rezoning was made by Norfleet Construction Group, LLC on behalf of Bounds Properties, LLC, owner.

“At this time, no development is proposed in the petition, and a Site and Development Plan is required for new development of the site,” said Newberry Principal Planner Jean-Paul Perez.

Also approved was a replat of Lot 1 of the Bartley Lane Subdivision. The encroachment was due to the relocation of the house foundation during construction and the house now encroaches into the front yard setback. Approval of the replat will now provide the developers with a clear title so the property can be sold.

In other business, Newberry is preparing for its annual Newberry City Commission and Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) joint meeting, which is scheduled for Monday, July 10 at the Easton Newberry Archery Center.

New offered items for discussion during the joint meeting for Commission consideration. Teed up are discussions about several projects including the Newberry Environmental Park. Commissioners agreed to discuss the proposed Alachua County meat processing facility, the proposed Alachua County Rural Collection Center/Small Quantity Hazardous Materials Collection Center, the proposed Alachua County/Newberry Fire Training Facility and County Road 337 improvements.

Other areas of discussion will be a Newberry projects/initiatives update, which includes the Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion/Regional Treatment Facility, Advanced Metering Infrastructure Deployment (AMI), State Road 26 road improvements, impact fees, transportation projects, City Hall, Urban Services Area, Comprehensive Plan update, Champions Park and Veterans Memorial Park.

In other business, the City has recently submitted a grant application to the U.S. Department of State to help fund repairs and upgrades to the City’s historic electric generating plant. Costs for those renovations are estimated to be close to $700,000. Grant terms require a 1:1 match with the City footing $350,000. New offered there is still some $200,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds available.

Various uses for the restored building could include citizens’ use for meetings, a conference center, and a museum. New said there have been inquiries about using the building as a restaurant or brewery. The Commission suggested that if someone wanted to turn the building into a business, they may be willing to come up with the $350,000 matching funds for the grant and to also possibly consider a minimal to no rent agreement for the use of the building.

The next Newberry City Commission meeting is scheduled for June 26 at 7 p.m.

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GAINESVILLE ‒ A Hawthorne man has been sentenced to prison. Ny’trell Eugene Perry, 23, has been sentenced to five years in prison, followed by 10 years of probation, after pleading nolo contendere to aggravated battery with a deadly weapon during an incident that resulted in the shooting death of Michael Reed, Jr., on May 1, 2022, at Gainesville’s Southwest Downtown Parking Garage.

Perry was part of a group of four men from Hawthorne and Gainesville who became involved in an altercation with four Ocala men in the parking garage. Perry was carrying a Glock 19 with a 30-round extended magazine and swung it at one of the Ocala men, at which point the gun fired and hit the wall behind the Ocala man. Perry’s gun malfunctioned at that point, and although he attempted to shoot the Ocala man, who had also pulled out a gun, the gun would not fire.

The Ocala man shot at Perry, but his bullet hit Reed in the chest. Reed later died. Perry ran from the parking garage without rendering aid to Reed or telling the other members of the group that Reed had been shot.

Perry was originally charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and carrying a firearm during the commission of a felony, but only the aggravated battery charge was officially filed. Perry posted $50,000 bail and was released.

On April 25, Perry entered a plea of nolo contendere to the charge, which has a maximum sentence of 15 years, in exchange for five years in state prison and 10 years of probation. A series of financial assessments has been levied against Perry which he can repay by performing service hours in lieu of costs at a rate of $11 per hour. Judge James Colaw sentenced him on May 11.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ Local miniature therapy horse Magic is an official selection of the Manhattan Film Festival. “Hero Horse: A Magical True Story” will be presented on Sunday, June 18 at 1 p.m. at the Manhattan Film Festival, Cinema Village in New York City. She will walk the red carpet in her tuxedo in New York City.  Adding to her accolades, on June 23, Magic will be honored by the Florida Bar with the Rikki Mitchell Animal Achievement Award at their annual conference with 2000 lawyers in attendance in Palm Beach. She will be the first horse to receive the award and the first horse ever allowed inside the famous Boca Raton hotel for the presentation.

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LA CROSSE – Benjamin Iziea Queen, 38, was arrested on Wednesday, May 31, and charged with two counts of aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony and possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana.

An Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to an address in La Crosse at about 10 p.m. after a caller said Queen had threatened him with a box cutter. The victim reportedly told the deputy that he and Queen had been arguing on-and-off all day and that Queen had swung a bat in his direction, threatening to beat him. The deputy reportedly found a bat in the kitchen.

The victim reportedly said that later in the day, Queen had pulled a “box cutter” style knife from his pocket, saying he would cut the victim’s stitches and kill the victim. The victim described the knife as red with a silver blade that Queen extended as he walked toward the victim. The victim said Queen held the knife within an inch of his leg. The victim said he was “in fear of his safety and his life at this time.”

The deputy reportedly found Queen outside the residence and saw a plastic baggie of marijuana in his pocket, which reportedly weighed 24.7 grams. Queen also reportedly had a red folding knife in his front left pocket.

Post Miranda, Queen reportedly admitted becoming “aggressive” during an argument with the victim and admitted that the knife was his but denied threatening the victim with the knife.

Queen has eight non-violent felony convictions and 10 misdemeanor convictions, one of which was violent. He has served two state prison sentences for selling cocaine and burglary, with his most recent release in 2016.

Judge Meshon T. Rawls set bail at $60,000.

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LACROSSE ‒ Freddie Lee Moore, Sr., 72, was arrested on Monday, June 5, and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault on a person over the age of 65 after allegedly threatening his wife with a machete.

At about 3:15 p.m., Moore and his wife were reportedly arguing about a missed telephone call when he went outside to the front porch and came back with a machete. When Moore’s wife exited the kitchen, she saw him with the machete and said he allegedly threatened to “slice” her.

He then sat down in his chair to wait for law enforcement. The victim told deputies that she was in fear of physical harm because he has a history of violence toward her.

Post Miranda, Moore reportedly admitted that he had a machete in his hand during the argument.

Moore has three violent felony convictions and three violent misdemeanor convictions. He was sentenced to five years of probation in 2013 for domestic battery.

On June 6, Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $180,000.

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DAYTONA BEACH – Local resident Archie Matthews has been recognized for his service to the Florida Records Management Association. Matthews was presented with the inaugural President’s Award from the Florida Records Management Association at their 2023 Annual Conference for his service as the Alachua County Records Specialist. The conference was held in Daytona Beach May 23 – 26 at the Hilton-Daytona Beach Oceanfront Hotel.

The award, which was presented to Matthews by Immediate Past President Les Vaughn, exemplifies the outstanding level of service provided to the organization and Vaughn during his term as president.

The award states that it was given “in recognition of Matthews’ exemplary leadership, service, and dedication to the Florida Records Management Association for over 20 years.”

Matthews is currently serving as the Director of Administration for the organization and has attained a high level of excellence as a Florida Certified Records Manager.

Alachua County residents and employees may recognize Matthews as the retired Records Bureau Chief for the Alachua County Clerk of the Court from 1993 – 2019.

Prior to serving in that capacity Matthews worked in the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Office from 1983 – 1993 and pioneered their records management program.

Upon receiving the recognition, Matthews said, “I was honored and surprised to receive this award, especially since this is the first time the award has been given to anyone.”

Regarding his service to Alachua County Matthews said, “It was a privilege to serve the people of Alachua County and to participate with the Records Management Association.”

Never one to rest on his laurels, in addition to his continued service to the Florida Records Management Association, Matthews volunteers his time with a number of groups including the Future Farmers of America, his church, Pine Grove Baptist, the City of Alachua Historical Society, the Alachua Soil and Water Conservation District and the Association of Florida Conservation Districts.

Matthews lives with his wife, Emelie, on the outskirts of Alachua.

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