www.AlachuaCountyToday.com 25¢Thursday, January 15, 2015Vol. 15 No. 7

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8 2013 Alachua Today, Incorporated

Index insideon A2

Alachua, Florida, two sections

AlachuaCounty

odayTServing the Heartland Communities

BRYAN BOUKARI/Alachua County Today

A much anticipated Publix supermarket slated for Alachua appears to be underway as site preparation has begun on the property located along U.S. Highway 441 and adjacent to Santa Fe High School in Alachua. Land clearing crews were at work on the property where the proposed Publix is to occupy 46,031 square feet of a 56,431 building. It is expected that another 10,400 square feet will be divided among eight retail bays. Michael Ryals of Bosshardt Realty confirmed that the developer has closed on the real estate, and that they have commitments on roughly three quarters of the retail spaces. Among the shops planned for the space is a restaurant, salon services, nail services and a liquor store. On Nov. 18, the City of Alachua’s Planning and Zoning board gave the nod to a site plan presented by developers of the property. Ryals said actual construction could begin as early as this month or next.

Publix site work beginsCoquí Radiopharma receives 25-acre land transfer from UF

ALACHUA – Coquí Radiopharmaceuticals has officially secured a 25-acre plot of land for their future facility in Alachua.

The University of Florida transferred the land to the company with the conditions they develop the road needed to access the land and they receive approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

President and CEO of Coquí, Carmen Bigles, said she is thrilled about the land transfer.

“I’m ecstatic,” Bigles said. “I’m so happy to be part of Alachua, and I can’t wait to break ground.”

Coquí Radiopharmaceuticals is a medical isotope company and will be the first commercial company to

COQUI:Continued on page A6

By JESSICA HUNDLEYToday Reporter

HIGH SPRINGS – The discovery that some High Springs residents are not paying for garbage pick-up service is spurring changes to the city’s current waste removal ordinance. Under the current ordinance there are no exceptions

to allow property owners who may either own vacant properties or who are out of town for three months or more to opt out of paying for waste removal services when they are not needed.

The City has been attempting to get those property owners not currently paying for waste removal services to do so. Some property

owners have been receiving the services, but were never billed. That realization led City staff to research which property owners were not paying for services. When it was determined that more than 250 property owners were not

High Springs to get tough on garbage pickup billing

By C.M. WALKERToday Reporter

BILLING:Continued on page A3

Social media at center of controversy

ARCHER – A relatively short agenda for Archer’s first city commission meeting of 2015 ended up in a 2 1/2-hour. battle to get to and stay on agenda items. At every juncture, citizens brought up issues relating to firing the assistant city manager or questions as to the exact city process that had been used to make commission or city government decisions. In particular, realtor Laurie Costello stood up on each issue to condemn the city for their actions, which she characterized as irresponsible, not

proper procedure, not transparent or just plain wrong.

The focus of much of the meeting surrounded comments made by Evelyn Foxx, President, Alachua County Branch of NAACP. Foxx addressed commissioners early in the evening to further her request for the City to fire Assistant City Manager John Mayberry for comments she deemed “racist” on Mayberry’s personal social media site.

Foxx had made her initial request at the last

NAACP:Continued on page A5

By C.M. WALKERToday Reporter

NAACP threatens reprisals in Archer

C.M. WALKER/Alachua County TodayEvelyn Foxx, President, Alachua County Branch of NAACP (at podium) calls for the firing of Assistant City Manager of Archer, John Mayberry.

Archer turns off water

ARCHER – Archer residents and businesses have been alerted that the city’s water will be turned off at 7 a.m., Jan. 14, in an effort to locate a leak and stem the tide of water flowing from the west side of SR 45. Despite all efforts by the City and subcontractors to locate the source of the leak, engineers believe shutting off the water is the only way to locate the problem so the problem can be resolved.

“Citizens should also be aware that the city is still under a ‘Boil Water’ notice,” said City Manager Al Grieshaber. Water lines lost pressure on Saturday and the City has not yet completed tests to check for bacteria in the water. “All drinking water should continue to be boiled for one minute at a rolling boil before drinking,” he said.

“We have gone door-to-door to businesses and residences to alert as many people as we can to the 7 a.m. turn off,” said Grieshaber.

WATER:Continued on page A6

By C.M. WALKERToday Reporter

Residents urged to boil drinking water

A2 Alachua County Today LOCAL NEWS Thursday, January 15, 2015

Jesse says,“The difference between gossip

and news is whether you hear

it or tell it.”

Alachua County Today (ISSN 1534-7567) is published week-ly by Alachua Today, Inc., 14804 Main Street, Alachua, FL 32615. All material herein is the property of Alachua County Today. Reproduc tion in whole or in part is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher. Periodicals Postage Paid at Alachua, FL 32616.

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Crime Stoppers began in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in September, 1976, as a partnership of the community, media and law enforcement designed to combat crime and keep our streets safe. Officially, January was adopted as National Crime Stoppers month at the 1986 international conference. Someone somewhere always has some piece of information that can help solve a crime. These

are the people who should call Crime Stoppers and provide an anonymous tip that will help investigators identify those responsible. In any investigation, police and other law enforcement agencies encounter individuals who will not directly provide information. The three key reasons are:• Fear of reprisal.•An attitude of apathy.•Reluctance to get involved.

Crime Stoppers breaks through these barriers by giving people the opportunity to provide information without speaking directly to police or having to testify in court. Obviously, investigators need witnesses to help prove their case in court. However, they need information that can help them to zero in on a suspect or criminal operation, like a drug trafficking network, even more. Tips to Crime

Stoppers do not give police the evidence they require to arrest an individual, but they do put them on the right track to solve a crime. Cash rewards from Crime Stoppers also motivate some people to call with information that will be vital to investigators. Callers can remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest by calling Crime Stoppers at 372-STOP (7867).

A message from the desk of Sheriff Sadie DarnellJanuary is National Crime Stoppers Month

Q: What is an oral surgeon?

A: An oral surgeon is a dentist who specializes in performing surgery in the mouth and on the face, especially in the area of the upper jaw. This is why oral surgeons are also called maxillofacial surgeons.

Oral surgery is one of the numerous specialties that exist within the general practice of dentistry. Specialists complete the training that all dentists get, but then go on for several more years of education and training to learn a specialty. There are, for instance, dentists who specialize treating the pulp of the tooth–endodont is t s ; those who specialize in the use of appliances–orthodontists; and so on.

The most likely

circumstance under which your dentist might refer you to an oral surgeon would be for removal of an impacted wisdom tooth. Your wisdom teeth are the last ones in the back of each group of molars. It is not uncommon for theses teeth to be crowded or fail to come in properly. An impacted wisdom tooth can cause a painful infection which may require surgical removal. An oral surgeon may also be called in to treat a facial injury from an automobile accident or some other trauma. He is also the specialist who might be turned to correct a congenital facial malformation. Talk with your dentist about the various areas of dental specialty.

The Oral Surgeon

Railroad tracks are currently being removed by CSX Railroad in High Springs. Booth says by the time they are finished, CSX will have pulled the tracks and smoothed crossings with asphalt. They are also going to clean everything up and remove overgrown

weeds and small trees that have grown up along the tracks. The city will then be responsible for maintaining those areas, said Booth. “Our code enforcement officer is overseeing the work to make sure everything gets done properly before they leave,” he said. The removal project is likely to take three months to

complete.“The railroad has

the option of selling the property and then the Department of Transportation could purchase it for a Rails-to-Trails route,” he explained. The other option is that the property could be saved as part of a rail bank in case the railroad needs it in the future. The

Alachua County Planning Department will work with CSX to help determine the future of the property, he

said.# # #

Email cwalker@alachuatoday.com

ObituarySandra Lynn Earles

Mrs. Sandra Lynn Earles, 53, of Fort White, Florida, passed away Jan. 1, 2014 following an extended illness. Mrs. Earles was born in Hamilton, Ohio, but had lived in the Fort White area for the past eight months after moving there from Bell, Florida. Mrs. Earles was preceded in death by two sons, John Smith and Steven Philpot, and was of the Catholic faith.

Mrs. Earles is survived by her husband Rodger Earles of Ft. White, Florida, her son James (Michele) Gressler of Walton, Kentucky, her daughter Amanda “Justin” Brown of Ft. White, her step-sons Jeremy Earles of Westchester, Ohio and Jesse Earles of Hamilton, Ohio, her step-daughters Amber (Stephen) Smith

of Trenton, Florida and Mandy Earles of Hamilton, Ohio, her brothers Frank (Shirley) Shipley of Trenton, Ohio and John Shipley of Middleburg, Ohio, her sisters Dawn Shipley of Trenton, Ohio and Joan (Jeff) Hoffman of Bell, her step-sister Melinda Dalton of Hamilton, Ohio, and her grandchildren Tatum Brown, Kendall Brown, and Emma Smith.

A memorial service was held for Mrs. Earles at 6 p.m., Friday, Jan. 9, 2015 at the Summit Baptist Church in High Springs, Florida. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Knauff Funeral Home 715 W. Park Ave, Chiefland, FL 32626, 352-493-4777. Please sign the guestbook at knaufffuneralhomes.com.

Obituaries: The obituaries in this section are considered news and are published free of charge by Alachua County Today. Obituaries may be edited for style, space and policy.

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CSX removing section of railroad in High SpringsBy C.M. WALKER

Today Reporter

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A3Alachua County Today COMMUNITY CORNER Thursday, January 15, 2015

Meetings & Events in the Heartlands ■ Jan. 18: High Springs Music in

the park Series: “Blues in the Old Schoolhouse.” Location: Historic High Springs Elementary School and Community Center, 120 N.W. 2nd Ave. Times: 2-4 p.m. A real southern-style blues show featuring the best in the area.; Cracker the Box and Rick Randlett. Cost: Free. More information can be found on Facebook at High Springs Music in the Park Series.

■ Jan. 18: St. Luke AME Church, Alachua, Rev. Jessie Steele, Pastor,will be celebrating their annual MLK Service on: Jan. 18 at 4 p.m. The guest speaker will be Argatha Gilmore, Lake City Police Chief. Sis. Jennie Williams, Chairperson.

■ Jan. 20: High Springs Commission Workshop at High Springs City Hall, 110 NW. 1st Ave. at 6:30 p.m. Subject: Costs/benefits of local police dispatch system. The workshop is open to the public.

■ Jan. 21: Book Chat & Chew. Location: High Springs Library Branch Meeting Room, 135 N.W. 1st Ave. Time: 12 – 12:45 p.m. Discuss books you have read and enjoyed with other readers. Whether you are a mystery, fantasy or fiction reader, we want to hear your story. Everyone is encouraged to bring a bag lunch

to munch while sharing. Drinks will be provided. We’ll also have some brand new books for you to checkout. Further information is available by calling Alyce Brown at 386-454-0794. Appropriate for ages 19 and up. No registration required.

■ Jan. 22: Teach English at the Library! Alachua Branch Meeting Room, 14913 NW 140th Street, 6-8 p.m. Free training is offered to volunteers interested in working with adult English language learners at the library branches in Alachua and High Springs. Training is offered at the Alachua Branch. It is not necessary to speak another language and we provide all materials for ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) tutors. Volunteers may serve learners one-on-one or in a small group setting. For more information or to register contact ACLD Literacy Coordinator Theresa Sterling at 352-334-3929 or tsterling@aclib.us. Appropriate for ages 19 and up. No registration is required.

■ Jan. 22: After School Fun. Location: High Springs Library Branch Meeting Room, 135 N.W. 1st Ave. Time: 3 – 4 p.m. After school fun and games. Appropriate for ages 5 - 11. Contact Jean Hunt at 386-454-1629 for further information. No

registration required. ■ Jan. 23: Healthcare Navigator.

High Springs Library Branch Meeting Room, 135 NW 1st Ave., 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Open enrollment ends Feb. 15, 2015. A Healthcare Navigator will be at the library to help consumers find answers to insurance and Affordable Care Act questions, as well as assist in signing up for a Marketplace account and applying for insurance. Navigators will explain the application process and results as well as provide guidance on next steps based on the consumer’s choice. Appropriate for ages 19 and up. For further information, contact Beth Noll at 386-454-2515. No registration is required.

■ Jan. 27: The Seed Savers local gardening group will meet at the High Springs Public Library on Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. Mid-March is planting time here in North Central Florida, so it’s time to get some seeds started indoors now. Save money and enjoy .greater variety by starting your own seedlings. Hear tips from Master Gardener Brenda Campbell on indoor seed starting. All meetings are free and open to the public. If possible, bring snacks, and transplants or seeds from your garden to share. For more information, call 386-462-1828.

#Alachua (City) – Meets the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. #Alachua County - Meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 9 a.m. at the County Administration Building, 12 SE 1st Street, Room 209, Gainesville. Citizen comments are taken at 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.#Archer - Meets the 2nd Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 16870 SW 134 Ave.#Gainesville - Meets the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month at 1 p.m. at City Commission Chamber, 200 East University Avenue.#Hawthorne - Meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.#High Springs – Meets the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall.#LaCrosse – Meets the 2nd Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.#Micanopy - Meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall.#Newberry – Meets the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at City Hall#Waldo - Meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Yerkes Center.

pUBLIC MEETINgS

LOCAL FLORIDA STATE pARKS ■ Ichetucknee Springs State Park: Located 4

miles northwest of Ft. White, off S.R 37 and 238. From the south take I-75 north to exit 399. Take U.S. 441 north to the City of High Springs. Take U.S. 27 north to Ft. White, stay on U.S. 27 north approximately 4 miles to the South Park Entrance.

■ O’Leno State Park: Northbound – O’Leno is located on US 441, 8 miles north of High Springs; Southbound – O’Leno is located 8 miles south of I-75 at Exit 414 (Ellisville) on US 441.

■ Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park: Located on U.S. 41 in White Springs. From I-75 to S.R. 136 (Milepost Exit 439 - Old Exit 84), travel east on S.R. 136 for 3 miles. Turn left on U.S. 41. Park entrance is on the left.

■ From I-10 to U.S. 41 North (Milepost Exit 301 - Old Exit 43), travel 9 miles to White Springs. Park entrance is on the left.

■ Dudley Farm Historic State Park is located due west of Gainesville at 18730 W. Newberry Rd.

CITY OF HIgH SpRINgS

CHANgE OF UTILITY BILL

DUE DATE In January 2015, utility bills for the City of High Springswill be due on the 15th of the month instead of the 21st.

__________________________________If the 15th falls on a weekend or holiday the customer will have the ability to pay up to 6:00 pm on the business day following the weekend or holiday and not receive a late

charge. If not paid on or before the due date of the 15th, a $10 late fee will be charged to the account.

Accounts that are not paid on or before the 22nd of the month shall be disconnected and shall be charged a Ser-vice Charge of $25. If the reconnection is made anytime

outside of regular business hours, or on holidays or week-ends, the Service Charge shall be $50. Prior to disconnect-ing service, the City shall send a second notice to all water accounts holders who have not paid their bills by the due

date, which notice shall state the deadline for payment prior to service being disconnected.

If the 22nd day falls on a weekend or holiday the customer will have the ability to pay up to 6:00 pm on the business day following the weekend or holiday and not be charged

the service charge.

paying for waste removal, those property owners were sent notices alerting them that the City would be issuing billings.

The letter, which was sent out around Thanksgiving, has prompted comments from citizens to the commission during the past few city commission meetings. Some residents believe they should not be charged for garbage services for one reason or another.

Some people live close to the Alachua/High Springs Rural Collection Center on U.S. Highway 441 and take their trash there themselves. They point out that the roads to their properties will not easily support large garbage trucks.

Other people have commercial or residential properties that are for sale and are vacant. Still others travel away from their homes for 3-6 months of the year.

City Manager Ed Booth was directed to explore solid waste billing options and bring a report back to the commission in 45 days addressing opting out of waste collection under certain limited circumstances.

“We need to determine the best way we can keep track of those folks who need a temporary interruption of their waste removal services so their services come back on line when they return to their property,” said Booth.

Other issues discussed

at the High Springs Commission meeting included employee policies, relocation of the police department, use of the Civic Center and the CSX railroad tracks.

An amendment to the city’s Personnel Policy and Procedure Manual was approved, bringing all employees into alignment with some of the changes made to accommodate the city employee union.

Commissioners are looking to the future and requested the city

manager look into possible relocation sites for the High Springs Police Department. Booth will also work to help determine the design needs for the future building. The new police chief will be on board soon and is expected to have a hand in determining the department’s needs. A report is expected back to commissioners in six months.

Minor changes to the city manager’s contract were made to bring his contract into compliance

with the Personnel Policy and Procedure Manual. The changes convert the categories of Vacation and Sick time to a category called Paid Time Off.

Resident Olen Barber received approval to use the Civic Center on a 90-day trial for a seniors program.

For more information regarding the CSX railroad tracks, see "CSX removing section of railroad in High Springs" on Page A2

# # #Email cwalker@alachuatoday.com

BILLING:Continued from page A1

City to begin eyeing police department relocation sites

We want to hear from you!

Share your ideas and suggestions for the

schools serving Alachua’s students with the new Superintendent

of Alachua CountyPublic Schools

Dr. Owen Roberts

Thursday, January 15 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

Alachua Woman’s Club14565 Main Street

Citizens of Alachua!

For more information, contact: Jackie Johnson/(352) 955-7545

or jackie.johnson@gm.sbac.edu

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A4 Alachua County Today VOICE OF THE HEARTLANDS Thursday, January 15, 2015

Alachua County TodayEstablished in 2000

Ellen B. Boukari Bryan Boukari Executive Editor Publisher

Alachua Today, Inc.

Alachua County Today Policy Statement

Alachua County Today is dedicated to reporting news and events relevant to all citizens of the Heartland Commu nities. Above all, the staff is dedicated to policies of fairness and objectivity, and to avoiding what is sometimes characterized as "agenda journalism."

Alachua County Today is not a Republican newspaper, not a Democratic paper. Nor is it a liberal or conservative paper.

Alachua County Today is

a newspaper dedicated to: (1) balanced reporting of news and events relevant to the community, and (2) reporting on all significant social, economic and political issues and problems that the staff believes should be of concern to our readers.

The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the management, ownership, reporters, or staff of Alachua County Today.

I am one of those who mourn the passing of Mario Cuomo, and celebrate his life. Among the more enjoyable experiences of my time as a younger reporter were various conversations I was privileged to have with him during the quiet that would precede the storm of news. He could argue without offending, unless he wanted to, be provocative without provoking. He was an unabashed progressive and will be remembered as one of his generation’s most exciting speakers, inspiring with his rhetorical style as well as his ideas.

Unfortunately, when it comes to

the causes he championed, he leaves behind a society that is still struggling. After all, this is the man who thrilled the 1984 Democratic Convention in San Francisco by deriding President Ronald Reagan’s repeated references to the United States as “a shining city on the hill.” He brought the house down with his description of an out-of-touch president who had a limited view from “the portico of the White House or the veranda of his ranch,” continuing, “There is despair, Mr. President, in the faces that you don’t see, in the places that you don’t visit in your shining city.” Instead, he roared, America is a “tale of two cities,” of rich and poor, the haves and have-nots.

Here we are, slightly more than 30 years later, where the same “two cities” description is used to paint a picture of a worsening divide. The nation’s wealth inequality is far greater than it was then, fewer and fewer hold more and more while the bulk of our society struggles to get by on scraps.

As we’ve seen, the lives of whites and people of color still are separated,

both culturally and physically. Even though Barack Obama will go down in history as America’s first black president, his contention during a recent NPR interview that we are “less racially divided” than when he took office in 2008 must be juxtaposed with the bitter feelings between blacks and police.

New York Police Commissioner Bill Bratton, who is assuming a role as bridge builder, argues that the problem is “just the tip of the iceberg.”

“This is about the continuing poverty rates, the continuing growing disparity between the wealthy and the poor,” he said. “It’s about unemployment issues. There are so many national issues that have to be addressed that it isn’t just policing, as I think we all well know.”

It is also about a society so divided that our various communities have become isolated enclaves where no one is even willing to consider the experience of “them,” meaning anyone else. It’s hard to think about bridging cultural gaps when no one understands why that’s a good thing.

We seem to have hit a wall when it comes to embracing our differences. We are obviously failing when it comes to sharing our wealth. Along the way we have lost much our luster, falling behind in health care, education and, as the polls show, hope for a better life.

Mario Cuomo said one time that he would like his epitaph to read “He tried.” As much as we note his remarkable life and aspirations, when it comes to his vision, we are failing.

(c) 2015 Bob FrankenDistributed by King Features Synd.

Mario Cuomo’s Unfinished Business

Obamacare has come to Harvard, and the faculty is in a state of shock and dismay.

In what has to be considered an early contender for the most hilarious and enjoyable news story of the year, The New York Times recounts the tumult over Obamacare in Cambridge.

“For years,” the Times writes, “Harvard’s experts on health economics and policy have advised presidents and Congress on how to provide health benefits to the nation at a reasonable cost. But those remedies will now be applied to the Harvard faculty, and the professors are in an uproar.”

In other words, they are getting the change they believed in -- good and hard. As a wag commented on Twitter, karma is a pre-existing condition. The Harvard imbroglio is a little like the famously free-market University of Chicago economics faculty launching a revolt against tax cuts or deregulation.

The enrollment guide from Harvard’s human-resources department explains that rising health-care costs, some caused by Obamacare, account for the changes hitting the pocketbooks of the custodians of learning at Harvard. It cites specifically free preventive services and the extension of coverage for younger adults up to age 26 (as well as the impending “Cadillac tax” on pricey health plans).

The obstructionists on the Faculty of Arts and Sciences voted by a lopsided margin against the health-care changes, but they were too late.

According to the Times, history professor Mary D. Lewis is a leader of the faculty opposition, which makes her practically the Mitch McConnell of

Harvard University. Let’s hope she has a plausible repeal-and-replace plan and isn’t merely campaigning on the power of sheer, nihilistic rejectionism.

Richard F. Thomas, a Virgil scholar, said the health-care changes are “deplorable.” (Quoth the poet, “Each of us bears his own Hell.”) They are “deeply regressive.” (“It never troubles the wolf how many the sheep be.”) And they are “a sign of the corporatization of the university.” (“O accursed hunger of gold, to what dost thou not compel human hearts!”)

Don’t worry, Harvard faculty, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is coming to the rescue. Who better than a Harvard Law graduate to swoop in to save professors at his dear old alma mater from the consequences of their own folly?

Actually, the changes Harvard is experiencing are quite mild. By any measure, the school’s plan is still incredibly generous. Faculty will, for instance, now have an annual deductible of $250, which is hardly exorbitant. Perhaps the Harvard faculty foolishly

believed that other alum, President Obama, when he said Obamacare would save the average family $2,500?

In a properly constructed market, consumers -- even including Harvard professors -- should indeed bear more of the costs of their health care directly. But in today’s system, consumers tend not to have free choice of their plans, and Obamacare layers on top of that system costly mandates that make no sense.

The Harvard faculty can whine and stew all it likes, but the president has sent an unmistakable message to such malcontents: The law is the law. Harvard won the health-care debate years ago, and there’s no going back on it now.

Rich Lowry is editor of the National Review.

(c) 2015 by King Features Synd., Inc.

When Obamacare Came to Harvard

Letter to editorAlachua area thank you

We want to thank our businesses and local individual who donated food for the holidays - Thanksgiving and Christmas. And the City of Alachua’s Hathcock Community Center thanks you. Businesses and individuals who donated included:

Wal-Mart Distribution Center in Alachua - over 100 turkeys and

bags of fixings.Mike Peterson Family

Foundation & Hitchcock’s Markets - over 100 turkeys and fixings.

Trinity Methodist - 15 turkeysLowe’s and Winn Dixie - 17

turkeysDollar General Distribution

Center Water – Alachua FestAllen Hitchcock’s family – meat

for over 300 people Alachua fest

Gainesville Harvest – Wal-Mart – Bread of the Mighty, Tuesday food giveaway

Progress Corporate Park food giveaway.

Mebane High School Reunion, Alachua Fest, and fish fry cook, volunteers.

Hal BradyCity of Alachua Recreation Director

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A5Alachua County Today LOCAL NEWS Thursday, January 15, 2015

NAACP:Continued from page A1

commission meeting in 2014 and was back to see what the commission had decided.

She indicated that although she knew only the city manager could actually fire Mayberry, she also knew that City Manager Grieshaber served at the pleasure of the commission. She was hopeful that commissioners had directed Grieshaber to fire Mayberry. In addition, Foxx requested Mayberry publicly apologize to the citizens of Archer and remove the comments on his social media page.

Since Mayberry was sitting directly behind the podium as she spoke, it was clear he had not been fired, which dismayed Foxx and many of the citizens who were seated and overflowed into the commission lobby listening to the proceedings.

The large crowd

appeared due to Foxx’s invitation to a “mass meeting” of 50-60 people earlier in the evening at a local church. She confirmed later that many residents of Holly Hill subdivision showed up to that meeting. Several members of the press had also been invited. Approximately 15 minutes before the commission meeting was to begin, the group followed Foxx to City Hall.

The City was prepared with a statement after listening to Foxx’s second request to dismiss Mayberry.

“The City of Archer stands with the NAACP to ensure political educational, social and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination. Likewise, Archer stands with the NAACP to educate persons as to their constitutional rights and to take all lawful action to secure and allow

the exercise of them. “In the U.S. where we

have the first amendment, the remedy for speech with which we disagree or find offensive is not censorship. The remedy instead is counter speech to add more speech to the marketplace of ideas. There is no democracy without words printed or uttered. Silence is the end of freedom.

“The U.S. Supreme Court noted that ‘the fact that the society might find speech offensive is not a sufficient reason for suppressing it. Indeed, if it is the speaker’s opinion that gives offense, that consequence is a reason for according it constitutional protection.’”

City Attorney Scott Walker also was prepared with several cases indicating decisions that had been made by the courts in similar circumstances which supported Mayberry’s right to free speech when he was expressing his personal opinion separate from the city government.

Foxx said she understood Mayberry had not broken any laws, but felt that Mayberry’s social media comments showed his true feelings about African-Americans and others and may be responsible for why the residents of Holly Hills felt they were being neglected by the city. Foxx said later the Holly Hills residents commented to her that in earlier times, their part of town was not neglected, but that had now changed.

When asked why she did not accept the invitations by the City to sit down and talk about this after it was brought up at the 2014 meeting, she responded, “This is not 1963 where white men call in a few blacks behind closed doors and discuss

things. Things need to be transparent. What are you going to talk about behind closed doors that you can’t discuss in public?”

In a later interview, Foxx also pointed to comments made by Commissioner Fletcher Hope indicating he had not seen the City’s statement until just before the meeting and he felt the comments reflected the opinion of Mayor Frank Ogdon. He said he personally agreed with the first paragraph of the statement, but not the rest.

Foxx said that statement by Commissioner Hope indicated to her there had been a meeting “out of the sunshine” if everyone else knew about the statement except Commissioner Hope.

Hearing that the city was not planning to fire Mayberry, Foxx left the podium indicating that the full force of the NAACP would be focused on the City of Archer. “We don’t want to have another Ferguson,” she said. Later she said, “Commissioners are angry. Citizens are angry. When both sides are as angry as they are, there’s no telling what might happen.”

In a later interview, Ogdon said, “I’m saddened by the statement by Ms. Foxx that we are going to have another Ferguson on our hands in Archer. Are we to expect violent unrest, looting, burning and total mayhem because we live in a city, state and country that protects Mr. Mayberry’s right to free speech? Ms. Foxx said she realized Mr. Mayberry’s action were not illegal, but she thought we should fire him anyway because his freedom of speech offended her and some others. I am sorry people are offended by Mr. Mayberry, but I

am offended Ms. Foxx would threaten the City with another Ferguson-type response. I am also sorry Ms. Foxx did not choose to meet with city officials to help resolve this issue earlier, as the City requested, rather than further divide our community by her threats.”

In a subsequent interview, Foxx indicated she would have to talk to the NAACP’s state conference president as to how to proceed. “If we have to do something drastic, it will be through the national organization. I am not going to stop just because they [the city] want[s] me to,” she said.

Foxx said a rally would be held on Monday, Jan. 19, at around 2 or 3 p.m., which will include a voter registration drive. “The only way that things change is through the ballot box,” she said. She said their focus would probably be on unregistered voters in the Holly Hills neighborhood, but details had not been worked out yet.

“The controversy that has been brought to our attention stems from postings, albeit insensitive to one or another, were expressions by an individual as are opinions of others that the postings were offensive,” commented Grieshaber. “Free speech is about fair debate and comment. It is not about censorship.”

He also confirmed that he and the city attorney are in the process of crafting a policy to address social media. Once it has been completed, it will be put before the commission for a vote. If it is approved, it will be added to the City of Archer Personnel Policy and Employee Handbook.

# # #Email cwalker@alachuatoday.com

City is crafting policy to address social media

C.M. WALKER/Alachua County Today Archer Assistant City Manager John Mayberry (far right) listens to debate at the Archer commission meeting Monday, Jan. 12.

HIGH SPRINGS – Do you have proven comedic skills (stand-up comedians, ventriloquists; magicians; etc.)? Are you looking to further your comedy career exposure and gain valued experience? Then, consider performing one-night (Saturday evening 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.) in mid-March 2015. Performers will be paid.

Event to be held indoors at a 75- seat auditorium seating facility in High Springs, Florida. This one-night charity sponsored event is designed to “showcase” local upcoming, non-professionals and to raise critically needed funds to help rescue unwanted, suffering and abandoned animals.

If you have an interest and need total information for this event including compensation, and how to get an audition, go to www.geneandmax.com and click on the “Open Call” option. We will respond to all applicants.

# # #Email editor@

alachuatoday.com

Open call for local stand-up comedians

Special toAlachua County Today

March 2015 fund raising event hosted by Humane Animal Treatment Charity, Inc.

A6 Alachua County Today LOCAL NEWS Thursday, January 15, 2015

“This will be a major inconvenience to our citizens because we may have to keep the water off for a day in order to commence repairs,” he said.

The Florida Department of Transportation will be out in the morning to close off a portion of SR 45 and the city expects to commence repairs at 7:30-7:45

a.m.At the Jan. 12 commission meeting,

Assistant City Manager John Mayberry explained that the line is 8 inches, larger than the city has equipment or training to handle. “We can handle 6-inch lines,” he said.

Water intrusion from the west side of SR 45 is washing under the roadway. “That’s what we have to stop,” said Grieshaber. He also admits that the City’s

30-year-old water distribution maps do not show water lines in that area, but the water continues to flow.

“It could be an old well that was capped and is leaking. It could be a galvanized water line. We don’t know what is causing the leak,” he said. Between the rain and the leaking water, engineers say they can’t dry out the hole well enough to get a good look. Fill dirt that was added to the hole has since washed out, complicating things

further. Andrews Paving, underground utility

contractors, are assisting the City in locating the source of the leak. Meanwhile, the City continues to urge residents to boil their drinking water.

# # #Email cwalker@alachuatoday.com

eBankingBillPay ServiceeStatementDirect DepositDebit CardOverdraft ProtectioneCourtesy PayeAlertsNickel back on signature debit card transactions1 box of free checks per year (SFCU de�ned style)

www.SunStateFCU.org14230 NW US Hwy 441, Alachua - (386) 462-3900

Membership is open to everyone who lives, works, worships, attends school, orregularly conducts business in Alachua, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist or Levy County.

WATER:Continued from page A1

Isotope used in diagnosing cancer, Alzheimer's, coronary disease

produce Molybdenum-99, an isotope used to create Technicium-99m.

Technicium-99m is used in the diagnosis of many illnesses such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, coronary disease and even Parkinson’s. According to Bigles, it is used in approximately 50,000 medical diagnostic procedures per day in the U.S.

T e c h n i c i u m - 9 9 m is currently not being produced in the U.S. and many major producers of the isotope are shutting down.

Bigles said there are many other benefits to producing Technicium-99m domestically. The isotope has a very short shelf life and cannot be stockpiled, Bigles said. Therefore, producing it within the U.S. will make it more readily available to patients around the country.

The production of Technicium-99m within the country will benefit more than just the patients who need it, Bigles said.

“[It] is really important, not just for the patients that need it, but it’s also really

important to progress in medicine,” she said. “You need this to also do the research and studies of it.”

When deciding on a location for their facility, Bigles said they originally wanted to do it in Puerto Rico. When it became apparent that would not work, she said they were drawn to Florida because of the University of Florida.

She said they were excited about the possibility to partner with the university’s research groups and scientists.

Bigles also said she felt a pull to the area when she came for her first meeting. Rick Staab, who is part of Tyler’s Hope Foundation, had offered her his boardroom to hold the meeting.

Staab’s children have Dystonia, a neurological movement disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions. Tyler’s Hope is a foundation working toward the cure for dystonia.

Bigles said when she went into the building, there is a poster Tyler had made in the third grade perfectly describing what Molybdenum-99 was and what it did and why it was

important. “I always think of it

as if it was meant to be,” Bigles said.

Win Phillips of the University of Florida said the university agreed to the land transfer because the growth of business is exactly what that land was intended for. According to Phillips, the parcel of land is adjacent to Progress Corporate Park.

“The whole intent of Progress Park is economic development and attracting business and opportunities in this town,” Phillips said.

“The deal is that Coquí locating there brings appreciation to that property. And the fact that they are willing to bring in development of that property increases the value of that property and the adjacent lands and the opportunity that other companies will locate there,” he added.

Phillips also said the university is looking forward to the partnering of their researchers and resources with Coquí.

“We think it’s a great opportunity for the joint

development between Coquí Pharmaceuticals and ourselves,” he said.

Bigles said the facility is expected to bring 200 new permanent jobs to Alachua with average salaries around $80,000. This facility will draw new families to the area as well, creating more business.

Bigles says they hope to have all the necessary documents submitted to the NRC by the end of

2015. The NRC will then look over and evaluate the plans. If everything goes accordingly, Bigles said they hope to break ground in 2017, being operational by 2020.

“I’m just ecstatic that we will be part of all the brainpower that is emerging from Alachua.”

# # #Email jhundley@alachuatoday.com

COQUI:Continued from page A1

City officials don't yet know what is causing the leak

Father-Daughter DanceNewberry’s Inaugural

at

For more information and to register, contact 10 Can at 352-219-1138 or visit www.ci.newberry.fl.us