HIGH SPRINGS -  Election results are in for the City of High Springs election.  Newcomers Bob Barnas and Linda Clark Gestrin have been elected to the commission.  Barnas received 469 votes, Gestrin received 511 votes, Larry Travis received 276 votes and Byran Williams received 313 votes.

According to an Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) report, Ronnie M. Hammond, 59, of High Springs was arrested after repeatedly pumping a shotgun and threatening a neighbor.

Deputies say a 24-year-old sleepwalking neighbor walked up to Hammond’s home asking for help just after midnight Tuesday morning.  Another neighbor, who allegedly witnessed the incident, said Hammond walked out of his residence carrying a shotgun.

The neighbor claims that Hammond then pumped the shotgun and pointed it at the sleepwalking neighbor and said he was going to kill him.

The 58-year-old father of the man who was sleepwalking reportedly approached Hammond stating that his son was sleepwalking and was not trying to do anything except ask for help.  According to the report, Hammond then turned the gun on the father and said he was going to kill him as well.  After making that statement, Hammond allegedly pumped the shotgun two more times.

The father and son both ran away from the area, the report states.  The neighbor witnessing the incident said Hammond continued walking up and down his property, pumping the shotgun until law enforcement officers arrived, at which point, he went back into his residence.

Deputies report that they made numerous announcements for Hammond to surrender himself.  “At one point, he exited the residence and pumped the shotgun again,” the report states.

Hammond only surrendered himself after first returning to the residence and discharging one shotgun round into his couch, according to the police report.

The shotgun was located with four rounds still in the chamber, deputies said.

After being arrested, Hammond reportedly said someone kidnapped his son and told him they were coming for him too, but deputies said Hammond doesn’t have a son in the immediate area.

Hammond was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.  He was taken to the ACSO Department of the Jail.  He was released Tuesday following a first appearance and posting a $10,000 bond.

Alachua’s Trick-or-Treat on Main Street was a popular Halloween destination for costumed youngsters to gather sweets from merchants located downtown.

The downtown area’s Scarecrow Row, which has been decorated for weeks, set the stage with costumed scarecrows adorning lampposts along the winding street, greeting visitors along the way.

Trick-or-treaters, including young and old alike, dressed in their spookiest or most creative costumes, joined in the festivities.  Buoyed by the upbeat atmosphere permeating the downtown area, youngsters, families and friends scuttled back and forth along both sides of Main Street, from one end to the other, trick-or-treating door-to-door in search of sweet treats from local businesses.

Highlights of the evening included the announcement of Scarecrow Row winners and costume contests sponsored by the Alachua Chamber of Commerce.  A long line formed outside the haunted house jointly sponsored by the Alachua Chamber of Commerce and the Alachua Police Explorers.  As the courageous waited to be beckoned into the darkened building by a ghoulish zombie, shrieks of horror forewarned of the frightening experience to come. A few steps away, an historic house transformed into a pirate’s lair was a popular spot to catch a glimpse of ghostly pirates and listen to a pirate’s chantey.  At the Alachua County Today building, spooky music, laser lights and blow-up monsters added to the festive atmosphere.

City of Alachua Recreation Director Hal Brady and Alachua Vice-Mayor Ben Boukari, Jr., delivered the much anticipated announcement naming the winners of Scarecrow Row.  This year’s winners were Capital City Bank in first place, D.W. Ashton Catery in second place and Andrews Paving in third place.

Costume contestants were divided into age groups, and Alachua Chamber of Commerce President Jim Brandenburg called each of the groups to the stage for viewing by the judges as camera flashes illuminated an assortment of characters.  In the Pre-K category, the winner was Vincent Tarallo, dressed as Raggedy Andy.  The winner in the K- 2nd grade division was Elliott Browne, dressed as King Tut. In the 3^rd – 5^th grade division the winner was Alexis Greenberg, dressed as a shower curtain.  In grades 6-8, the winner was Kacie Geelhoed, dressed as a can-can girl.  In the high school through adult category, winners were Robert Ferry, Meghan Abernathy, and Gaura Ely, dressed as Scooby Doo.

Trick-or-Treat on Main Street is a longtime annual event sponsored by the Alachua Chamber of Commerce and City of Alachua offering children a safe environment to enjoy Halloween festivities.  It is one of a series of events taking place in downtown Alachua during the fall season, along with the Alachua Harvest Festival sponsored by the Alachua Business League, Shop - Dine - Stroll sponsored by the Alachua Chamber of Commerce and the Alachua Christmas Parade sponsored by the City of Alachua and the Alachua Chamber of Commerce.

Linda Clark Gestrin and Bob Barnas are running against the incumbents, Mayor Larry Travis and Vice Mayor Byran Williams, for their seats.

While it will not affect this election, the commission is putting to vote an ordinance requiring commission candidates to run for specific seats. At this time, High Springs commission candidates run for a general seat. The individual with the most votes receives the seat with the longest term.

Currently, the City Charter prohibits city commissioners from becoming employed by the City until a year after their term expires. An amendment will be on the ballot disqualifying commissioners from working as contractual employees for the same time period.

The city manager’s duties could be further clarified by an amendment to be put to vote, including giving the individual the power to sign contracts for the City.

Also on the ballot is an amendment adding a preamble to the City Charter, expressing the purpose of the municipal government to serve the governed and not the governing. An additional amendment, if passed, will require the city commission to review the City’s Charter every eight years.

This means the charter would have to be reviewed in March 2016. Travis explained at the Aug. 25 commission meeting that under the proposed amendment, the City is still permitted to review the charter at any time.

“The commission is trying to be proactive,” he said, “to do some things with our charter that are more in line with where we are today.”

Also on the ballot will be an amendment allowing citizens to initiate petitions to propose City ordinances. Under the amendment, citizens gathering 50 electors of the city can bring a petition to the commission for consideration.

Citizens can vote on Nov. 8 at the High Springs Civic Center. The poll will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.