Gainesville Man Sentenced to Over Ten Years for Role in Clearwater Store Robbery
A Gainesville man, Jhakheem Smith, age 26, has been sentenced to a term of over ten years following his involvement in the armed robbery of a Clearwater convenience store, as detailed in a report by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. Store surveillance footage from the November 2023...
Two men arrested for robbing Dollar General store, customers at gunpoint in Marion County
SUMMERFIELD, Fla. (WCJB) — Two men were arrested for robbing a Dollar General store at gunpoint in Summerfield on Friday, according to Marion County Sheriff’s deputies. Christopher Collins Jr., 20, and Nicholas Davis, 26, were both arrested on Saturday on charges of armed robbery, aggravated assault, and weapon...
Newberry community school board approves updated policies and teacher pay scale
The Newberry Community School Board set its teacher salary scale at 5% above Alachua County Public Schools to attract and retain staff. The board approved reducing office staff positions from three to two, planning to hire a finance specialist with budget management experience. The board unanimously adopted four new...
Man climbs on roof of vehicle during attempted carjacking, Alachua County deputies say
Sheriff’s deputies say a man running from a traffic stop attempted to carjack a moving vehicle on Monday afternoon.
Three kidney recipients meet their living donors
Last week, three kidney donors and three kidney recipients — participants in a rare three-way paired exchange — greeted one another with heartfelt gratitude and warm smiles. The post Three kidney recipients meet their living donors appeared first on Alachua Chronicle .
Two sentenced for killing man, dumping body in Marion County
OCALA, Fla. (WCJB) - A man is being sentenced to life in prison and a woman is facing a 30 year sentence for killing a man in Marion County in 2023. Last year, Michael Montgomery, 48, and Jessica Long, 39, were arrested and charged with the 2023 murder of Wayne Barlowe, 40. Barlowe’s body was found dumped on the side...
Mojo Hogtown Bar-B-Que says goodbye after a decade in downtown Gainesville
A downtown Gainesville favorite for more than 10 years, Mojo Hogtown Bar-B-Que announced via social media on Dec. 15 that it will soon be closing its doors for good. "Thanks for the memories, Hogtown. We’re saddened to announce that after 10+ years, our time in the swamp has come to a close, a Facebook post said....
Generational small farms in Florida keep innovating for survival
Alex Venable pulls his daughter Genevieve on their wagon at Ducky’s Farm. (Martine Joseph/WUFT News) On a family-owned farm in Rochelle, a tiny unincorporated area in Alachua County southeast of Gainesville on the way to Hawthorne, Keilyn Fuller is learning what it takes to sustain a century-old legacy. His...
Williston toy giveaway organizers accuse volunteers of stealing toys; AMVETS disputes allegation
WILLISTON, Fla. (WCJB) — Who stole Christmas? Levy County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a dispute that broke out during a Christmas toy giveaway at AMVETS Post 444, with organizers and venue members offering conflicting accounts of what happened. Organizers say members of AMVETS Post 444 had a no...
Gainesville man arrested for violating new organized retail theft law, claimed drug-induced amnesia
Jack Caverly Mason II, 61, was arrested yesterday on multiple retail theft charges, including a new law making it a felony to steal from more than one location in a 48-hour period; he reportedly said he did not remember the thefts because of his drug-induced amnesia. The post Gainesville man arrested for violating...
