Newberry High School Criminal Justice Academy students unpacking some of the $1.2 million worth of inventory from Plalanx. (Photo special to Alachua County Today)

NEWBERRY – New law enforcement duty gear was recently donated to an area high school to be used as part of their law enforcement career magnet program, which was founded in 1996. On Monday, Sept. 26, 30 Newberry High School students and staff off-loaded a truckload of new equipment which was donated by Phalanx Defense Systems CEO James Coats to the school's Academy of Criminal Justice (ACJ) program.

“Phalanx is a Gainesville-based company that produces body armor and equipment for the military and law enforcement,” said Patrick Treese, ACJ Director.

Some of the equipment will be used by students in the program, some will be made available for sale to help fund the purchase of a new patrol vehicle for the program, which currently boasts 150 students, 93 females and 57 males. “We need a vehicle similar to an F-150 that is large enough to transport students, 7-month-old German Shepherd K-9 Kora and equipment,” said Treese.

The ACJ program enrolls high school students from all over Alachua County who are interested in law, law enforcement, forensics and related fields.

“We are very grateful for James Coats' generous donation to our program,” he said.

Treese, who is in his eighth year as ACJ director, is also a reserve police officer at the High Springs Police Department.

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A preview of "Blithe Spirit" was on tap Saturday as the High Springs Women's Club hosted the season opening "Party with the Stars." Today photo/RAINA BARNETT 

HIGH SPRINGS – A “Party with the Stars” was held in the High Springs Women’s Club the evening of Saturday, Sept. 7. The cast from the season’s first show, “Blithe Spirit,” performed a sneak peek from a scene in the play. Small segments from the other shows, which include “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol,” “Six Women with Brain Death or Expiring Minds Want to Know,” “Lend Me a Tenor,” “A Rehearsal for Murder,” and “Annie, Jr.,” were also performed to entice the audience to buy tickets and attend the plays.

Julia Anderson, 30, an Alachua County Resident, was pulled in and performed on the stage for her first time just for the preview.

“Now I have plans to audition for ‘Six Women with Brain Death or Expiring Minds Want to Know,’” she said. “I love how excited the audience gets.”

Mary Jane Simone, the actress playing Elvira in the upcoming play “Blithe Spirit,” was dressed in full ghost attire, complete with a white flowing gown and sparkly makeup.

“I’m from New York, and used to do television work,” she said. “I like the off-camera aspect of a play.”

The gala offered fresh hors d'oeuvres, sweets and veggies. Brochures were passed out with information about the plays and how to donate to the playhouse.

Board member of the High Springs Playhouse, Alison Horvath, said she has been involved with the playhouse for seven to eight years.

“I was also treasurer for five years, and I’ve been on stage a few times,” she said. “I really want to see ‘Blithe Spirit.’”

‘Blithe Spirit’ comes just in time for Halloween, with running dates from Sept. 30 to Oct. 23.

“This theatre is one of the most exciting and rewarding adventures,” Simone said.

Tickets and more information on how to get involved can be found at highspringsplayhouse.com.

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L-R: Mike Cannon and Barry Hopper, both of Hurst Jaws of Life demonstrate to area fire departments how the life-saving tool is used in a mock rescue operation. (Photo special to Alachua County Today )

HIGH SPRINGS – Local first responders now have another tool at their disposal to help save lives. Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation has issued a grant to provide one area fire department with state-of-the-art vehicle extrication tools. The High Springs Fire Department (HSFD) applied for the grant in June. In July they were notified they had been awarded the grant to purchase the requested new battery powered eDraulic by Hurst Jaws of Life.

Inclusive of the Jaws of Life are a Hurst eDraulic cutter, Hurst eDraulic spreader, Hurst telescoping eDraulic ram and C-Frame Ram Support, valued at up to $30,327.

On Thursday, Sept. 22, representatives from Hurst demonstrated how the equipment is used in a mock rescue operation. Firefighters from High Springs and other area fire departments, along with the media and members of the public attended as Hurst representatives dismantled a car as they would in an extrication situation. Not only were the doors removed, but the front quarter panel was dismantled to demonstrate how a person could be extricated, even if their legs were trapped.

The demonstration was held at the Historic High Springs Elementary School and Community Center, located next door to the High Springs Police Department.

Those in attendance who wished to participate were outfitted in actual turnout gear and worked with the team in using the equipment to extricate a patient from a vehicle.

“These new extrication tools from Hurst are battery powered and require no extra hoses or power unit, enabling firefighters to work freely and quickly with a stronger, smaller and lighter tool,” said John Montgomery, Municipal Emergency Service (MES). MES carries Hurst equipment and Montgomery is the sales representative for northern Florida.

The battery included in the eDraulic extrication tools provides enough power for a one-hour rescue operation before needing to be replaced.

“Considering the amount of power and capabilities of these tools, this is a truly remarkable feat,” said Kevin Mangan, Public Information Officer (PIO), High Springs Fire Department.

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Area resident Jake Kaminski won silver medals in London in 2012 and most recently in Rio in 2016. He is also a three-time World Cup Team gold medalist. (Photo special to Alachua County Today)

NEWBERRY – One area resident, who previously trained at the Easton Newberry Sports Complex Archery Range, won silver medals at the London 2012 Summer Olympics and, more recently, at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Jake Kaminski has been a multi-time United States Archery Team member and a three-time World Cup Team gold medalist.

In addition to his most recent wins, the 28-year-old won a gold medal at the 2014 Pan American Championships (individual), and the same year won a bronze medal at the Archery World Cup Stage 2 (team) and gold again in the Arizona Archery Enterprises (AAE) Arizona Cup (team). He has won too many other archery medals to list. He also coaches up and coming archers in his own backyard.

This year's Rio Silver Medal was in the category called Team Round Three-person. He was one of three people on the United States team to compete against three people from teams from several other countries.

Said Kaminski about his participation in the Olympics, “It's a once in a lifetime experience and I've been able to compete for the U.S. twice and received medals each time, which very few people do. So it’s a dream come true, for sure.”

“It was quite a spectacle,” he said. “They made do with what they had. It was quite picturesque. We were able to shoot the final stretch [of the competition] at the same venue in which they hold Carnivale each year.

Kaminski has been training full time since 2006 and lived at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California from 2006 to 2012. He moved to the Daytona Beach area, where his parents live, for another three months and moved to this area for a possible job opportunity at Easton in Newberry. He now shoots full-time in his backyard.

He got started in archery after his dad won a bow in a gun raffle when he was six years old. “I found a bow in department store. I started shooting in my backyard and never stopped,” he said.

“Easton is a great facility,” he said, “but I get more out of shooting in my own backyard right now.”

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