Alachua County board selects new director to direct transportation organization
The Gainesville and Alachua County MTPO hired Anoch Whitfield as its new executive director starting in January with a $140,000 salary. Whitfield will lead a new four-member staff managing $2 million in funding and expanding MTPO's focus to the entire county. MTPO considered two finalists but unanimously chose...
Gainesville’s The Paper Bag deli expands to Magnolia Parke
The Paper Bag deli will open its fourth Gainesville storefront in January at Magnolia Parke, joining locations downtown, Tower Road, and UF campus. Founder Richard Sterck plans a unique menu item for Magnolia Parke and expects to hire six employees with hours from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Saturday. The...
Sonny’s BBQ founder Floyd ‘Sonny’ Tillman remembered at funeral in Gainesville
Friends and family remembered the life of Floyd “Sonny” Tillman, founder of Sonny’s BBQ, at his funeral on Tuesday. Tillman died last week at the age of 96.
High Springs woman arrested for child neglect after store customers asked deputy to check...
Jennifer Jean Reeder, 39, was arrested yesterday after customers at Bass Pro Shops asked a deputy to check on her, saying she had a small child with her, was having trouble walking, and appeared to be talking to herself. The post High Springs woman arrested for child neglect after store customers asked deputy to...
Man sentenced to life in prison for ordering a deadly Gainesville home invasion
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - An Alachua County jury convicted the man accused of orchestrating a deadly home invasion robbery in Gainesville in 2022. On Tuesday, jurors found Patrick Watson, 52, guilty on the charges of first-degree murder, armed home invasion, solicitation to commit armed burglary, and a weapon...
We can’t afford our property taxes in Marion County
Multiple individuals have written letters to Ocala-News.com in the past few weeks sharing their opinions about property tax increases. Here are a few of those letters:. “As two seniors who have lived in the same house for 46 years, put down our roots here in Marion County, both worked jobs, raised our family, spent...
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.
