Local

NEWBERRY ‒ Justin Harold Krumwiede, 40, of Newberry, was arrested Friday, March 25, shortly before noon. Krumwiede was charged with two counts of sexual battery on a victim under 12 years of age and one count of distributing obscene material to a child.

The alleged incidents occurred in 2019-2020, when the victim was 11, but she only recently told a doctor about them. According to the arrest report, the victim’s mother is a longtime friend of Krumwiede who moved back to Florida from New Mexico after his father died. Krumwiede lived in a small apartment behind the victim’s family house for a few months.

The mother told investigators that her daughter would sometimes watch movies with Krumwiede in his apartment and that he would take her with him to clean up his deceased father’s property, sometimes spending weekends at the property.

The victim told investigators that Krumwiede raped her three times, twice in the apartment and once in Marion County. The mother also said she found a tablet in her daughter’s room in November 2020 that had explicit photos on it. Searching further, she found a vibrator and lingerie. Her daughter said Krumwiede had given her the tablet and the other items. The mother then kicked Krumwiede off her property and ended all contact with him.

Krumwiede is being held in the Alachua County Jail on $250,000 bond.

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FORT WHITE ‒ The rivers and springs are an integral part of life in North Central Florida. They are the life blood of communities providing water for agriculture, wildlife and people. They are also vital to the economy. Florida leads the southeast in farm income, produces about 67 percent of the U.S. oranges and accounts for about 40 percent of the world's orange juice supply as well as numerous other crops. Tourism brings over 131 million visitors to the state, with an economic impact of $98.8 billion. The north central area of Florida brings many tourists to the pristine springs and rivers for camping, kayaking and cave diving.

But periodic droughts, groundwater pumping to satisfy ever increasing residential, agricultural, and industrial water demands, along with groundwater pollution from urban and agricultural factors, impact Florida's spring systems. Water flow in many of Florida's springs has been declining, while nutrient loading to the springs has been growing, affecting the condition of aquatic ecosystems and water clarity in the springs and downstream bodies of water.

RiverFest songwriting contest sponsor Our Santa Fe River (OSFR) was founded in 2007 as a grassroots educational organization to help raise awareness of the importance of the springs and aquifer. For the past 10 years the organization has sponsored the contest to raise awareness of the rivers and fund projects to protect and preserve the rivers and springs. The contest is open to all song writers, but the songs have to be original compositions about the Santa Fe River. The winning songwriter gets a prize of $300 and all songwriters who perform receive a video of their performance.

Originally a canoe and kayak sales and rental place that offered trips down the river, Rum 138 has grown and diversified over the years, adding a concert stage, art gallery, and a café. This year saw a larger crowd of several hundred people over the course of the day from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on a perfect sunny Sunday.

The Rum 138 bar offered locally crafted beer, national brand beer and wine and several area restaurants served food for the crowd. The event also featured a silent auction, with 74 pieces donated by the area’s leading artists and craftsman. A 50/50 raffle produced over $500, and booths from the Florida Springs Council’s member organizations provided information about the springs and aquifer to attendees of the event. Under a tent covering, Danielle Shmalberg was dressed as a mermaid, complete with fin tail for people to take photos with for a $10 donation. On either side of the songwriters contest, the band “In the Moment” provided additional music to stay with the event's theme.

One by one, the nine contestants took the stage to sing their original songs about the river with the audience applauding each performance. Ellen Bukstel took first place with a prize of $300, which she immediately donated back to OSFR as a donation. Mike Manetz and Alivia Hunter took second and third place respectively.

“Our goal is to make it easy for area residents and visitors to have fun and learn more about our precious water resources,” said Rhonda Long, event co-coordinator. “The events also will enable us to raise funds so we can continue our grassroots efforts to protect the aquifer, springs and waters in this area.”

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HAWTHORNE ‒ A Hawthorne man was shot by an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy on Friday, March 25, after his wife called 911 saying her husband was intoxicated, had a gun and was threatening to kill himself.

The man was initially inside their home on Southeast 218^th Street, but he went outside following the arrival of law enforcement. A tense standoff ensued in which deputies say the 69-year-old man refused repeated commands to put the handgun down. Deputies reported that he made statements that he was going to shoot law enforcement and himself, while also saying he wanted the deputies to shoot him.

At approximately 5:30 p.m., deputies shot the man and he was taken to the hospital with an abdominal gunshot wound.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the case and considering whether to file charges. All deputies involved are being placed on administrative leave pending the results of the investigation, which is standard policy.

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NEWBERRY ‒ A woman who has made significant contributions to the City of Newberry over the years was honored on March 24 at a retirement party given by City management and staff. Principle Planner Wendy Kinser-Maxwell has served the citizens, staff and Commissioners for more than 15 years.

“Wendy’s list of accomplishments with the City are too numerous to list,” said Mayor Jordan Marlowe. As for the highlights of her career with the City, “She is responsible for helping Newberry establish our professional planning department,” said Marlowe. “Our Planning Department operates at a level that is unmatched for small cities. It has been crucial in enabling the strong development that we have realized over the past decade, development that has elevated Newberry.”

In addition to her role as Principal Planner, Kinser-Maxwell also served as the City’s grants manager. In that role she secured more than $10 million in grants that provided critical utility and recreational infrastructure for the City and improved housing for residents in need.

“It will be difficult to find someone as experienced to fill Wendy’s shoes,” said Planning and Economic Development Director Bryan Thomas at the Feb. 28, City Commission meeting, the last meeting before her March 3 retirement.

Marlowe read a proclamation into the record during the Feb. 28 meeting honoring Kinser-Maxwell and naming March 3, her last day with the City, as Wendy Kinser-Maxwell Day in Newberry. He also presented her with a plaque and an award for her years of service and wished her well. This was her last official City meeting before retiring.

Attending the March 24 retirement event in her honor were several dignitaries, developers, current and previous city commissioners and citizens. Several City employees touted her as a great resource to assist them when they were new to the City and beyond.

The retirement event was held in the Metholee Norfleet Municipal Building, which was recently named in honor of the City’s first and only female mayor to date.

“We are going to miss her, but we will also forever be grateful for all that she has done for our community,” said Marlowe. “Enjoy your retirement, Ms. Wendy! You have definitely earned it!”

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GAINESVILLE ‒ An Alachua man was arrested by the Gainesville Police Department (GPD) on Friday, March 25, after repeated attempts to start fights at the Salty Dog Saloon. Brandon Harry Driggers, 29, was arrested and charged with battery, resisting arrest without violence and disorderly conduct after several customers at the University Avenue saloon complained that Driggers was attempting to start fights with customers.

At a little past 10 p.m. Driggers was removed from the bar and told he could not return. Driggers subsequently attempted to start fights with people who were waiting outside to enter the bar.

Driggers allegedly continued to shove the employee who had removed him from the bar. That man grabbed Driggers by his wrists to defend himself and suffered abrasions and bruises in the ensuing struggle.

When GPD officers arrived on the scene, Driggers was held on the ground by the employee and two off-duty law enforcement officers. It was reported that Driggers was allegedly spitting and calling the officers racial epithets. As Driggers was being placed in the back of the patrol car, he reportedly continued to physically resist the officers.

The transporting officer reported that while being taken to the jail, Driggers banged his head repeatedly against the interior of the car and kicked the windows as he also continued to threaten to fight the officer.

According to records, Driggers has been adjudicated guilty in eight local cases as far back as 2018 and he is wanted in Georgia and Ohio for larceny and auto theft. He was last convicted for a 2020 incident on charges of battery on an officer, disorderly intoxication and trespassing. He was sentenced to 286 days in jail with credit for 286 days of time served in January 2021.

A sworn complaint in January 2022 for property damage while he was being treated in the psychiatric unit at North Florida Regional Medical Center was dropped earlier last week.

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ALACHUA ‒ After a two-year absence, the Alachua Lions Club held its largest charity fundraiser of the year to a packed house at Valley View, just outside of Alachua. The annual Cattlemen's Banquet is the longest continuous Lions Club fundraising event in Florida, with all profits from the banquet supporting charitable sight, hearing, youth and community service activities. The Alachua Lions Club is a member of the International Lions Club, a global organization whose charitable mission is to serve others.

It all started 1940. The Alachua Lions Club sought to bolster Alachua High School Future Farmers of America (FFA) students in their quest to raise a steer for auction. Lions Club members attended the auction and drove the bidding higher. Not only did their winning bid cover the FFA's cost, but it also provided additional funds to the FFA.

Each year the event grew, bringing many of the area’s cattle ranchers, politicians and residents to the event. For years the event was held at the Alachua Woman’s Club and attracted the attention of local and state officials as guest speakers including President Jimmy Carter, Florida Governors Buddy McKay, Lawton Chiles and Bob Graham. Eventually the event outgrew the Woman’s Club and was moved to a bigger venue at the Santa Fe River Ranch. Due to Covid-19, the banquet was canceled for the past two years. But in 2022 the fundraising event came back strong with record attendance and was moved to an even larger venture at Valley View near Santa Fe River Ranch.

It was another fun filled evening of laughter and good food as nearly 400 people attended the event that was kicked off with a cocktail hour on the veranda overlooking rolling pastures dotted with sprawling oak trees. An event of this size takes months of planning as well as coordinating support from the 28 corporate sponsors who provided either funding or services for the banquet. The Alachua Woman’s Club sponsored a silent auction featuring an assortment of items and specialty wines available for bidding. Local businesses pitched in with Capital City Bank sponsoring the cocktail hour, Conestoga’s Restaurant providing the dinner’s Caesar salad, and Alan Hitchcock providing the steaks.  In keeping with tradition, the Santa Fe High School Chapter of FFA was on hand to assist as guests helped themselves to the choice aged controlled steaks, loaded potato casserole, salad and dessert.

A number of local and state politicians mingled in the crowd as well as city leaders, Alachua County Sheriff Clovis Watson, Jr., and police chiefs from High Springs and Alachua. When the doors opened to the main hall, guests were welcomed by Alachua Lions Club President and Alachua City Commissioner Dayna Miller. After a Pledge of Allegiance ceremony and an invocation led by Alachua Lions Club member Joel DeCoursey, Jr., the buffet line was opened. Longtime banquet grill masters led by Alan Hitchcock provided sizzling steaks to accompany the meal. The banquet steak committee has been grilling for years and announced this was their final go round as they are hanging up their tongs and aprons. The group was honored by the Lions Club with an award for their service over decades of Cattlemen’s Banquets

Former Alachua County Clerk of the Court J.K. “Buddy” Irby served as Master of Ceremony. Tribute was paid to rancher C.E. Ed Calendine as Miller presented his widow with flowers to the standing ovation of the entire crowd. A twist to this year’s presentation of the Cattleman of the Year award was the presentation of two awards due to the cancellation of the prior years. Longtime Lions Club member and banquet favorite Ralph Cellon did the presentation honors, handing out the awards. For 2020, the award went to longtime Alachua ranchers Tom and Buckley Shaw of Shaw and Shaw Farms. The 2021 award went to Marty Smith.

The evening’s keynote speaker was Chiefland’s Luther Beauchamp, a lawyer, author and professional speaker with a humorous slant, often employing self-deprecating humor referencing his short stature. His two books are entitled “I'll Try to Be Short” and “Legal Shorts, Not Briefs.” Beauchamp knew many of the guests attending and his jokes often included good natured jabs about them as well. And an appreciative audience laughed continuously throughout his entertaining presentation.

The Cattlemen’s Banquet is back and a bigger success than ever. “It has just been a blessing the past six months to bring it all together again,” said Miller as the crowd began to leave. “This was a great success for the Lions Club,” said former Alachua Lions Club President Jim Emerson. “We raised around $25,000 tonight for the charity causes we support. This will go a long way in improving people’s lives”

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