HIGH SPRINGS ‒ A local youth robotics team is headed to a statewide championship competition. The Swampbots Frogmen Robotics team, a member of the FIRST® LEGO® League, is a youth robotics league supported by the High Springs Parks & Recreation Department. FIRST® LEGO® League introduces youth to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through hands-on learning.

Recently, the Frogmen team, made up of nine boys and girls from the area, competed in the Northeast Florida Regional Championship, placing third overall, out of 40 teams. With the Frogmen’s third-place finish, the team has earned the right to compete in the upcoming Florida State Championship, March 31 and April 1, with the overall winner earning a bid to the World Championship in Houston, Texas.

In addition to their state championship appearance, The Frogmen have also been invited to compete against some of the best teams from around the world at the Long Beach Invitational in Long Beach, Calif., May 12-14. Only 80 teams were invited to participate in this event.

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ALACHUA COUNTY ‒ Just after 3 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 20, fire departments from High Springs, LaCrosse and Alachua County Fire Rescue responded to a residential structure fire in the 15000 block of Northwest 193^rd Street between Alachua and High Springs in unincorporated Alachua County.

While en route to the fire, firefighters reported heavy black smoke visible from U.S. Highway 441. The first arriving fire engine found a single-family wood frame structure fully involved with fire. All occupants were out of the structure. The fire was contained to the building of origin which was a total loss. Several vehicles were also destroyed. There were no injuries.

Wind gusts up to 15 mph caused small spot fires to ignite on the ground and trees nearby. These small fires were quickly brought under control.

American Red Cross was contacted to assist the family. The Alachua County Fire Marshall was requested to help determine the cause.

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ALACHUA ‒ Police Chief Jesse Sandusky began the Feb. 27 Alachua City Commission meeting with a special presentation for a member of the Alachua Police Department (ADP) who is retiring. The presentation was for K-9 Thor, a Belgian Malinois who has been in service with the APD since 2014. Thor, now 10 years old, officially retired from service at the meeting. In honor of Thor's service to the community, Sandusky presented a shadow box of his years with the department to his handler, Sgt. Justin Horn. Thor will now become Horn’s family pet with a life much more relaxed than as a police K-9.

That ceremony was followed by presenting certificates to 12 student artists from the Alachua Learning Academy who had their artwork featured on display in the foyer of City Hall.  Mayor Gib Coerper and Ms. Kovie of the Alachua Learning Academy called each student up to present the certificates while they displayed their artwork and posed for photos.

During the City’s fiscal year, which runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, the Finance and Administrative Services Department periodically prepares fiscal analysis reports conveying the City's general fiscal operating condition to the City Commission.  City Accounting Manager Tyler Williams gave the report for the quarter ending in January, showing that the City currently has $60,659,853 in its budget, which includes both available cash holdings of $26,754,588 as well as investment portfolios of $1,639,825.

In other business, the Commission heard from City Planner Adam Hall regarding the consideration of the preliminary plat and Final PD Plan for the Peggy Road Planned Development project, which proposes the subdivision of a 51.26-acre property into 150 single family lots with associated common areas and road right-of-way.  The property is located south of Peggy Road, north of CSX rail right-of-way, east of Interstate 75.and directly across from Legacy Park, The proposed subdivision will consist of lots ranging in size from 6,000 square feet to 9,335 square feet, with the majority of lots being 6,000 square feet.

The preliminary plat proposes common areas along the eastern, southern and western boundaries of the property with one access point onto Peggy Road.  A pedestrian pathway will connect the internal sidewalk system to the public right-of-way of Peggy Road and will include a connection to the Hal Brady Recreation Complex and Legacy Park.

There will be a 50-foot buffer zone, owned by CSX, between the proposed lots and the eastern property line. The plan also proposes creating a turn lane and flashing caution light on Peggy Road to improve safety for cars entering and exiting the development as well as a crosswalk for pedestrians to access Legacy Park. The Commission approved the preliminary plat, which will now submit construction plans before getting final approval by the Commission.

On another development issue, Fletcher Development, LLC. entered into a Subdividers Agreement with the City of Alachua to provide the requirements for the construction of infrastructure for a project known as Savannah Station Phase 2A, Unit 2. This infrastructure was completed in accordance with the Subdividers Agreement and the City’s Land Development Regulations on Dec. 7, 2021. The one-year maintenance period has expired and any items in need of repair have been completed by Fletcher Development, LLC.

The initial estimate for the value of the infrastructure was $1,284,669. The required infrastructure improvements by the developer included the water system, wastewater system, electric system, roadways, stormwater conveyance system and sidewalks. Since the work has been completed, the City approved returning the $1,284,669 surety to the developer.

The Commission also approved acceptance of three recent grants to the City. The Children's Trust of Alachua County (CTAC) provided the City with a grant of $66,665 for Alachua's summer camp and enrichment services to be held at Legacy Park. Additional funding of $20,000 is projected to be received from non-CTAC funded enrollment fees.

In October 2022, staff submitted an application to the Duke Energy Foundation and the Greater Gainesville Chamber Foundation for a grant to help, strengthen, and uplift the community's awareness for climate and environmental resiliency in the Mill Creek Wetland Park. On Jan. 23, 2023, representatives from the Duke Energy Foundation and the Greater Gainesville Chamber Foundation presented the City Commission with an award of $20,000 to assist with the cost of educational exhibits and signage throughout the park.

On Nov. 16, 2022, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) executed a grant agreement with the City for the Alachua West Wastewater Improvement Project to design and construct a new pressurized wastewater main and make improvements to existing life stations. This grant is in the amount of $850,000 and requires no City matching contribution.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ Transitioning from law enforcement to God’s work was a natural progression for Adam Joy. Working as a High Springs police officer and school resource officer was his career, but Joy’s heart was always with the church, and he diligently pursued his dream of becoming a pastor. He became a Licensed Minister in 2007 and an Ordained Elder in 2012. In April 2017, he resigned from the police force and founded the Deeper Purpose Community Church. Furthering his spiritual instruction, in December 2018 he graduated from the Church of God by Faith Theological Institute of Jacksonville.

Joy’s goal was to create an all-inclusive church open to everyone. “Our Mission is to be a church seeking the unchurched, in a casual, friendly and non-judgmental atmosphere,” said Joy. “More than that, we want to be a community church for the entire community, not just our members.”

The church started with a congregation of families that sought to provide charitable services to the community. The congregation provided meals and conducted food and clothing drives for those in need. The church also started an annual community Easter egg hunt and an annual carnival, as well as events supporting first responders.

As the church grew, so too did its goals. Based on Joy's time as a school resource officer, the church developed youth services to help troubled teens and give them a safe environment for activities. They offered youth church services as well as creating a school for children from pre-k to high school and after-school care for children of working parents.

By 2020 the congregation had outgrown their rented facilities and they began to look for land of their own to build the Deeper Purpose Community Complex, which would house the church and a number of new programs. The complex would accommodate the Deeper Purpose Christian Academy as well as a community and outreach center, a commercial kitchen, a youth center and student ministries.

It was a big dream, and in April 2022, the church launched Part 1 of a Building Purpose Campaign asking 100 individuals, families, businesses, and organizations to donate $1,000 in 100 days. They received enough money to purchase nearly 14 acres fronting U.S. Highway 441 between High Springs and Alachua and to clear two-thirds of the property, leaving the remainder in trees for a natural recreation area.

Now the church is focusing on another fund-raising campaign, this time for a new school. “We originally planned to do it all at once,” said Joy. “We have decided that our priority and one of the greatest needs right now in our community is a new school.” Joy says the school will be Phase 1 of a continuing plan and he hopes it will be completed by 2025. In the meantime, Joy hopes to put modular portable classrooms on the property by August for the start of the new school year.

A permanent 10,000 square-foot building will house all ages of students. Joy says they also plan on a 5,000 to 7,000 square-foot pole barn for children’s activities, after schoolers, summer camp, and community events.

Part 2 of the church’s building project, is a $300,000 capital campaign, of which $90,000 Joy says has already been pledged.

“We are not putting a deadline on it at this time,” said Joy. “We are committed and dedicated to the families and children in our community here, and this will happen, but only with the support of the community.”

He said that anyone interested can contact him at 386-454-5300 or 352-474-9040, or by email at deeperpurposecc@yahoo.com.

Joy added that no donation is too small, saying “God doesn’t look at the amount, just the heart.”

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