A PREEMPTION OF THE ALACHUA COUNTY
HOME-RULE CHARTER
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Please take 5 minutes to understand this preemption of the Alachua County Home-Rule Charter.
At the State affairs Committee meeting on Monday, Feb. 21, House Bill 1493, sponsored by Rep. Chuck Clemons, was presented. It seeks to go around the Alachua County Home Rule Charter's process by placing a charter amendment referendum on the ballot. The video highlights the enormous opposition to this bill.
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Agriculture and Equestrian Center Arena Dedication in honor of Former Alachua County Commissioner Lee Pinkoson |
Alachua County, in partnership with the City of Newberry, is dedicating the arena at the Alachua County Agriculture and Equestrian Center (23100 W. Newberry Road, Newberry) in honor of former Alachua County Commissioner Lee Pinkoson. The dedication is on Friday, March 4, 2022, at 5:45 p.m. The public is invited to attend. Face masks are strongly encouraged when social distancing is not possible.
Speakers at the event include Alachua County Commission Chair Marihelen Wheeler, City of Newberry Mayor Jordan Marlowe, and UF/IFAS Alachua County Extension Director Dr. Cynthia B. Sanders.
“Commissioner Pinkoson was instrumental and a driving force in re-locating the Alachua County Fairgrounds, and in signing the agreements to purchase the Agriculture & Equestrian Center property as his final act as Chair and a Commissioner,” stated Chair Wheeler. “He was known county-wide by citizens for his knowledge and support of agriculture in Alachua County, which is why this dedication is so fitting.”
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Veteran Resource Fair and Homeless
Veteran Stand Down
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Alachua County Community Support Services’ Veteran Services Division, in collaboration with multiple Veteran, non-profit, and community organizations are hosting the 2022 Veteran Resource Fair and Homeless Veteran Stand Down on Thursday, March 10, 2022, at the Martin Luther King Jr Center (1028 N.E. 14th Street Gainesville). This event will be open to attendees from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Numerous resource and service organizations will be in one location to connect with area Veterans. There will be VA benefits assistance, employment assistance, housing resources, medical registration and screening, social services, and more.
Alachua County Veteran Services Director Kim Davis said, “We are proud to again have this event as it helps and empowers our Veterans who served and who deserve all that we can do to support them.”
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Fire Rescue Completes Vehicle and
Machinery Rescue Training
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Alachua County Fire Rescue is proud to announce that members of the department recently completed vehicle and machinery rescue (VMR) training to prepare for highly-involved vehicle collisions. While all department members receive training to rescue crash victims from vehicle entrapment, this specialized instruction is utilized during severe incidents requiring advanced technical skills and equipment. This training also prepares them for Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) certification.
In the event of a collision, cars are designed to absorb crash impact by “crunching” and sustain severe compaction as a result. While general extrication procedures utilize the Jaws of Life and other cutting tools to remove patients from compacted vehicles, the severe circumstances of VMR require that crash vehicles first be stabilized using specialized equipment such as struts and other supporting structures before emergency personnel may attempt patient retrieval.
“As in all crash situations, the goal of VMR extrication is to safely remove and transfer critically-injured patients to hospitals within the ‘golden hour,’ or the time frame associated with the highest chance of survival for those sustaining significant, life-threatening injuries,” said Alachua County Fire Chief Harold Theus. “Emergency personnel certified in vehicle and machinery rescue are prepared to effectively serve Alachua County citizens in the event of an extreme collision.”
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The Alachua County Environmental Protection Department (ACEPD) is hosting its first-ever Storm Drain Art Contest. The purpose of this contest is to increase awareness of water quality issues in Alachua County, specifically stormwater pollution while recognizing local artists who are passionate about environmental stewardship. Artists ages 16 and up are invited to submit a mural design that communicates the importance of protecting and preserving the health of our waterways.
The deadline for artwork submission is Friday, March 18, 2022. Entry forms, artwork templates, and submission guidelines are available on the County’s Storm Drain Art Contest webpage.
Two winning designs will be selected. Each winner will have an interpretation of their artwork reproduced on a storm drain inlet near the entrance of the new parking area at Sweetwater Preserve (on S.E. 16th Ave. in Gainesville). Winners also receive prizes, including a free guided river tour led by Adventure Outpost. The completed murals will be unveiled to the public in May 2022.
“Many storm drains in Alachua County lead directly to our creeks and groundwater recharge areas,” said ACEPD’s Water Resources Division Environmental Specialist Haley Cox. “This is a great opportunity to showcase public art and draw attention to the connections between people and our watersheds.”
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FDA Warns Consumers Not to Use Certain Powdered Infant Formula Produced in Abbott Nutrition’s Facility in Sturgis, Michigan |
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a press release alerting consumers to avoid purchasing or using certain powdered infant formula products produced in Abbott Nutrition’s facility in Sturgis, Michigan. This is an ongoing investigation, and Abbott has initiated a voluntary recall of the potentially affected product. The FDA’s full press release can be found here.
The FDA is advising consumers not to use Similac, Alimentum, or EleCare powdered infant formulas if:
- The first two digits of the code are 22 through 37
- The code on the container contains K8, SH, or Z2
- The expiration date is 4-1-2022 (APR 2022) or later
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Harmful Blue-Green Algal Toxins in Newnan’s Lake |
The Florida Department of Health in Alachua County has issued a Health Alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins in Newnan’s Lake. This is in response to a water sample taken on February 21, 2022. The public should exercise caution in and around Newnan’s Lake.
- Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercraft, water ski or boat in waters where there is a visible bloom.
- Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have contact with algae or discolored or smelly water.
- Keep pets away from the area. Waters, where there are algae blooms, are not safe for animals. Pets and livestock should have a different source of water when algae blooms are present.
- Do not cook or clean dishes with water contaminated by algae blooms. Boiling the water will not eliminate the toxins.
- Eating fillets from healthy fish caught in freshwater lakes experiencing blooms is safe. Rinse fish fillets with tap or bottled water, throw out the guts, and cook fish well.
- Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms.
Blue-green algae are a common type of bacteria in Florida’s freshwater environments. A bloom occurs when rapid growth of algae leads to an accumulation of individual cells that discolor water and often produce floating mats that emit unpleasant odors.
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Alachua County Fire Rescue Installs New Stryker Power Load Systems in Emergency Vehicles |
Alachua County Fire Rescue is proud to announce the installation of five Stryker Power Load systems in the department’s critical care trucks. This rescue equipment enhances the safety of both EMS providers and patients by hydraulically lifting patients up to the level of the transport. The providers will still manually move the patients into and out of the patient care compartment.
This rescue equipment will be instrumental in reducing workplace injuries and fatigue to emergency personnel who must otherwise physically lift the entire weight of the patient and stretcher before loading into the truck. Following a user demonstration, EMT Driver Elizabeth Duenas states that she is looking forward to utilizing the new Power Load systems. “The equipment will be extremely helpful, especially when it’s only a two-person team getting a patient in and out,” she says. “It prevents us from suffering back pain every night.”
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State Historical Marker Dedication |
The Alachua County Historical Commission is pleased to announce the dedication of two new state historical markers. The dedications are on February 27, 2022, at 2 p.m., at Spring Hill United Methodist Church & Spring Hill Cemetery (23300 Old Bellamy Road, Alachua).
One marker commemorates the history of the Spring Hill United Methodist Church and the Old Bellamy Road. The second is the history of early settler William Henry Traxler. These markers were sponsored by a descendant of WH Traxler.
“These markers include the history of an early settlement of our County and State,” said Staff Liaison to the County Historical Commission Kathleen Pagan. “Since the 1826 Bellamy Road was the first federal road in Florida, following Indian trails. The church began in 1860 and was rebuilt later following storm damage. A bygone country store started by WH Traxler was important to the agricultural community.”
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Fire Rescue Undergoes Specialized PPE Training |
Members of the Florida Infectious Disease Transport Network (FIDTN) team at Alachua County Fire Rescue recently underwent specialized training to prepare ambulances and apply personal protective equipment (PPE) for the safe transport of highly infectious patients within the state of Florida.
Personnel practiced strategies to ensure the safety and cleanliness of transport units while also receiving instruction on the proper deployment of PPE.
FIDTN-approved PPE comprises of an encapsulated suit with a breathing apparatus and specialized communication devices, eliminating the need for handheld radios. The hands-free design reduces user impediments and allows personnel to remain fully responsive to the patient’s needs.
Having completed this training exercise, our FIDTN team is well-prepared to serve citizens of Alachua County and the state of Florida in the event of a highly-infectious disease patient. Crews are scheduled for an upcoming FIDTN transport drill in conjunction with other local partners in March.
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Alachua County Youth Fair and Livestock Show |
The Alachua County Youth Fair and Livestock Show Association is pleased to announce the upcoming 2022 Alachua County Youth Fair and Livestock Show on March 3, through March 8, 2022, at the Alachua County Agriculture and Equestrian Center (23100 W. Newberry Road, Newberry). The event is free. All exhibitors and spectators are strongly encouraged to wear masks.
The Youth Fair and Livestock Show is at the new facility. The event this year will be available to view streamed live on the Alachua County Youth Fair and Livestock Show website for those who do not feel comfortable attending in person.
The fair is an educational platform for the youth in Alachua County who are interested in agriculture. Youth will exhibit both livestock and non-livestock 4-H & FFA projects.
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