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ALACHUA ‒ The Alachua Police Department is investigating an early morning homicide that occurred on Northwest 126^th Terrace near Research Drive. At approximately 4:30 a.m., officers were on-scene in the area due to a large number of people attending an unauthorized block party near the entrance to Copeland Park.

While attempting to manage and disperse the large crowd, officers heard multiple rounds of gunfire. Officers made their way through the crowd to the area where shots were heard and observed a male victim sitting in a white Honda who appeared to be suffering from a gunshot wound to his torso.

Officers immediately began treating the victim using their trauma kits until Alachua County Fire Rescue responded. The victim, Kionne Atkins, DOB 2/14/02 of Gainesville, was transported to UF Health Shands Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Deputies from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office as well as officers from the Gainesville Police Department and the High Springs Police Department assisted in dispersing the large crowd.

No information about the suspect or motive is known at this time; however, detectives with the Alachua Police Department continue to sift through evidence and follow up on leads. This is an on-going investigation and no further information can be released at this time. Updates will be made as more information becomes available.

If anyone has any information related to this homicide, they are asked to call the Alachua Police Department at 386-462-1396 or remain anonymous by calling Alachua County Crime Stoppers at 352- 372-STOP.

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NEWBERRY ‒ For the third school day in a row Newberry High School was evacuated on Monday, Sept. 27, due to a bomb threat. Monday’s threat was called in at 8:30 a.m. In each case, Alachua County Sheriff Office (ACSO) deputies have swept the school to determine if the threats have been credible and have cleared the buildings.

More than 700 students, teachers and school personnel were evacuated to Jimmy Durden Park (West Park), 26333 S.W. 4^th Avenue, as ACSO deputies took tactical positions at the school following receipt of the threat. Air 1, an ACSO helicopter, circled overhead as the school was searched.

After a screen shot with a threat to get out of the park began circulating at the park, the group was moved to the gymnasium.

At approximately 11:30 a.m., ACSO deputies gave the all clear and everyone was returned to their classes.

During the Sept. 27 Newberry City Commission meeting, Newberry Mayor Jordan Marlowe said that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was working with ASO to investigate the source of the threats.

ACSO has a “deputy that is assigned to the FBI that is assisting us,” explained ACSO Public Information Officer Art Forgey, “but we remain the lead investigative agency on the threats.”

Marlowe commended the City for bringing in water, as well as chairs for the older teachers while the group was in the hot sun in the park. “City staff also thoughtfully opened the park restrooms,” Marlowe said.

The mayor said anyone who knows the source of the threats can leave a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers, which will pay up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest. The number is 352-372-STOP.

“Detectives continue to investigate this one [Monday’s bomb threat] and the two prior,” said Forgey.

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GAINESVILLE ‒ Dig into a hands-on prehistoric activity with a free Take & Make Fossil Box from the Alachua County Library District. Families can register for a Fossil Box between Sept. 21-Oct. 5 at www.aclib.us/takeandmake.

Each box includes a fossil block and tool to unearth real fossils, plus a guide to identifying these ancient organisms. Fossil Boxes also include passes to the Florida Museum of Natural History and the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention. This take-home activity is designed for families and elementary school-aged children. Participants can select which library branch to collect their boxes from when they register, and Fossil Boxes will be available for pick up from Oct. 9-16.

After excavating fossils, uncover the mysteries of Florida's prehistoric past and learn how fossils are made at two special Live Virtual Programs in October on Zoom or Facebook with the museums. Registration is not required for these programs.

Florida Museum 360°: Giants of Florida’s Prehistoric Past, Sunday, Oct. 17 at 2:30 p.m.

Take a virtual tour and meet the spectacular giants in the Florida Museum of Natural History’s “Florida Fossils: Evolution of Life and Land” exhibit hall. Discover the stories of the Megalodon Shark, Terror Bird, and Giant Ground Sloth, including how they got so big and why they went extinct. Presented by Florida Museum Youth Outreach Coordinator Alberto Lopez Torres.

Cade Fossil Fun, Sunday, Oct. 24 at 2:30 p.m.

Step into the Cade’s Lab to learn about Florida limestone, how rocks and fossils are formed, and what they tell us. Presented by Cade Museum Director of Experiential Education Patty Lipka.

“Children can play paleontologist with this free at-home activity and discover what kinds of creatures inhabited the Earth millions of years ago,” said Youth Services Librarian Sarah Grainger. “Continue your fossil explorations with our special programs in October and with books and movies from the Alachua County Library District.”

The Take & Make program is supported by a donation in celebration of Suzanne Stockdale's 75th birthday.

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GAINESVILLE – The Alachua County Legislative Delegation met at Santa Fe College on Monday, Sept. 27, to consider local bills and give local residents and officials an opportunity to request legislation or state funding and express opinions on issues to be considered by the Florida Legislature during the 2022 session.

Delegation Chair State Representative Chuck Clemons, Senator Keith Perry, and Representatives Chuck Brannan and Yvonne Hinson were on hand for the meeting.

In addition to the City of Gainesville, three rural cities in the outlying Alachua County area responded with requests for support for their cities.

Although the City of Newberry had a lengthy list of items to present to the Legislative Delegation, the list was pared down to four main items, which they presented for consideration.

Mayor Jordan Marlowe asked for $5 million in funding for expansion of Newberry’s Wastewater Treatment Facility, which is expected to cost $25 million. Currently the City is under an Administrative Order by the state to enhance its treatment capability.

In addition, Marlowe said Newberry is partnering with High Springs, Archer and Trenton to construct a regional wastewater treatment facility that will provide enhanced treatment to serve all of western Alachua County and eastern Gilchrist County.

He also requested an allocation of construction funding for the FDOT State Road 26 widening/one-way pairs project, which is now in the design and right-of-way acquisition phase. Construction funding is estimated at $35 million.

Marlowe also asked for support for funding a Jobs Growth Grant Application being submitted by the City. He said a meat processing facility, which is still in a conceptual stage, is being championed by a county Commissioner and project manager. It could be a perfect addition to the Ag Park and fits with the City’s agricultural focus as it may benefit cattle ranchers in the region.

Alachua Interim City Manager Mike DaRoza and Mayor Gib Coerper did not request financial support for a specific project. Instead, DaRoza asked that the legislature support the growth of biotechnology and life sciences in any way possible, particularly in this region. He referenced launching the Alachua Bio Partnership later this fall. They also asked for continued support of the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, for which the City benefitted in 2017 by receiving a $6.7 million grant to allow construction of the San Felasco Parkway.

“We also asked for continued support of Enterprise Florida,” DaRoza said, which aids companies looking to locate their businesses in Florida. “They partner with area chambers of commerce and municipalities to try to locate areas for relocation.”

Coerper referenced the 285 acres in Alachua that is being developed by Concept Construction and thanked the University of Florida for working with them. He said the City is moving forward with that project, which he believes will be “something special, not only for the City of Alachua but way beyond that, as far as jobs.” The mayor also asked that the legislature preempt bills that are going through the legislature that negatively impact home rule. “I hope you’ll fight for us,” he said.

Waldo City Manager Kim Worley asked for approval of their applications for Round 2 of the Rebuild Florida General Infrastructure Program, one for sewer manhole rehabilitation and replacements and one upgrades to their potable water system. She also requested funds for the FDOT Complete Streets program to make their streets safer for pedestrians. She also said her City would like to see the bike path extended from the Gainesville Airport to other existing bike paths.

The two senior members of the Delegation introduced two possible proposals for local bills in the upcoming session. Local bills affect a specific geographic location and are not statewide laws.

Senator Perry explained a possible proposal for the Alachua County Commission to be reorganized into single member districts while Representative Clemons said there may be a case for consolidation of county and city services similar to the consolidation of Duval County and Jacksonville in 1968.

Clemons said that should momentum build for either of these measures, there would be a public hearing for discussion with the Delegation to determine if further action by the Legislature is warranted. If the Legislature passes one or both bills, the electorate will have the final say as each bill would go on the 2022 ballot for a vote by local residents to determine if they approve or disapprove of the measures.

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ALACHUA ‒ The Alachua City Commission met Sept. 13 to discuss city finances. Interim City Manager Mike DaRoza presented the City’s proposed 2021-22 fiscal year budget totaling $41,302,014 — a $5,009,067 reduction from the prior fiscal year’s amended budget of $46,311,081. The General Fund tentative budget is based on a tax rate of 5.3900 mills which is 5.37 percent more than the rolled-back rate of 5.1155 mills.

In other City business, the Commission adopted the TK Basin Annual Maintenance Service Assessment Resolution. On Sept. 13, 2010 the City Commission adopted Resolution 10-25, which provided for funding of the TK Basin Maintenance Assessment Area. Each fiscal year the City must adopt the assessment resolution to be paid by each property owner within the maintenance assessment area. In 2010 The City Commission also approved an automatically renewing agreement with the Alachua County Tax Collector to reimburse the Tax Collector for administrative and actual costs incurred to collect the assessment on the ad valorem tax bill. The reimbursement cost is 2 percent of the total assessment and is included in the total assessments to be collected. The annual rate for the 2021 budget is $25,000.

On July 20, 2021, the City received formal proposals from qualified vendors to provide Grant Administration Services for the 2019 Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The City received one proposal in response, which was received from Summit Professionals, Inc. The Commission approved entering the contract with Summit Professionals in the amount of $52,500, which will be paid by the grant funds.

On July 19, 2021, the City solicited formal requests from qualified vendors to provide professional architectural, engineering, landscape architecture, or surveying and mapping covering 13 different services. The City received 10 qualification packets of which nine of the 10 qualified. One firm was disqualified as it was located outside the qualifying geographic area. The Commission directed city staff to enter into negotiations with the qualified firms for services they were most qualified for. Cost for these projects will be determined once negotiations are finalized.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The High Springs Lions Club supports many charitable causes under the organization’s motto “We Serve” by helping provide for the needs of others. With service in mind, club members are turning their support to those impacted by a recent hurricane. Hurricane Ida hit the Louisiana cost on Aug. 29, 2021with heavy rain and winds of over 150 mph. It was a deadly and destructive Category 4 storm that became the second-most damaging and intense hurricane to make landfall in Louisiana on record, behind hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Throughout its path of destruction in Louisiana, more than a million people had no electricity and widespread heavy infrastructural damage occurred throughout the southeastern portion of the state, as well as extremely heavy flooding in coastal areas. Ida is the sixth costliest storm on record, having caused at least $50.1 billion in damages.

Club members are currently collecting supplies for the hurricane victims with an event called the Emergency Hurricane Relief Drive. They have a trailer to fill with donated supplies, and once full, it will be driven to New Orleans to be distributed to those in need. Household items such as soap, toothpaste and brushes, and toilet paper are welcomed. Sanitary wipes and diapers for babies, pet food and bottled water are needed as well. All types of clothing are also welcomed.

They are asking the community to show their support to the victims of Ida. “You can go to the Dollar store and get a few things, or maybe you have some extra food or clothing that you feel compelled to donate,” said Lions Club member Barbara Kowats. “Just remember when others helped you recover from a storm, maybe it is time to pay it forward. The feeling of giving is joy and your gift could multiply or change someone's life in a way that makes the world a better place is just an added bonus to doing and feeling good.”

Article donations or cash /checks can be dropped off at the High Springs Lions Club at 26900 West U.S. Highway 27 in High Springs Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 4 p.m. To 7 p.m. More information and a large list of donation items can be found at the High Springs Lions Club Facebook page or by calling 386-454-4521.

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