MediaUpdate

​Alachua County officials say it's coming from a fire just east of Micanopy called the Lochloosa West Fire.

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​During the evening session of the April 28 Alachua County Commission meeting, the board approved a land use change for the Hickory Sink property that will allow UF to build a golf course; FloridaCommerce quickly responded to the proposed amendments with no comments, opening the path for a second hearing on the changes.

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​Crews with the Florida Forest Service and Alachua County Fire Rescue on May 5 continued to battle a wildfire that had grown to more than 200 acres south of Hawthorne.

The fire that broke out May 4 was initially estimated at 2 to 3 acres, but the Forest Service said it was “slowly spreading” and had expanded to about 100 acres by 3:30 p.m.

As of about noon on May 5, the fire was estimated at 228 acres and was 30% contained, according to the Forest Service.

Due to the fire, County Road 325 west of Lochloosa Lake was closed on May 4 between County Road 346 and Southeast 152nd Lane. The road was reopened later that day at about 9 p.m.​

​Firefighters remained on scene overnight continuing work to strengthen containment lines.

Earlier May 4, crews used forestry resources such as 14 bulldozers and six engines, engine crews from the South Florida Brush Strike Team, and additional support from the St. Johns River Water Management District with two engines and one dozer. Air operations included three helicopters and an air attack aircraft. Crews worked to construct containment lines with heavy equipment, while helicopters are making water drops to slow the fire’s advance.

Residents that live within a three-mile radius of the fire were notified by a reverse 911 call. Evacuations have not been ordered.

​The Florida Highway Patrol, working with the Forest Service and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, is monitoring the Interstate 75 and U.S. 441 area near Paynes Prairie for residual smoke.

Motorists traveling through the area may encounter significantly reduced visibility and are urged to use caution by slowing down, increasing following distance and using low‑beam headlights.

​​Officials warn that visibility can worsen quickly, especially at night and during early morning hours, as smoke mixes with moisture to create hazardous driving conditions.

​“We are looking at a deficit of almost 20 inches of rain, so this is a severe drought across the entire county,” said Jen Grice, the director of emergency management for Alachua County.

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​Jen Grice, director of emergency management for Alachua County, said the agency stays prepared year-round for a range of disasters, including both hurricanes and wildfires.

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​County leaders extended the ban for another week through Friday, May 8.

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​After reviewing Alachua County’s current wildland fire conditions and in consultation with state officials, the mandatory countywide burn ban has been extended and will remain in effect through May 8, 2026.

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​Seasonal pool memberships and swim lesson registrations at the Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center are now available for purchase, offering residents the opportunity to plan for a summer of outdoor recreation.

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​Free kitchen caddies will be available for Alachua County residents at the county’s five rural collection centers on Saturday.

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​The University of Florida’s proposed 36-hole championship golf course moved one step closer to becoming reality after the Alachua County Commission voted to allow state and regional agencies to review the land use for the 580-acre project.

Located on the east side of Southwest 122nd Street (Parker Road), south of Myra Terwilliger Elementary School, the new course would provide the UF men’s and women’s golf teams with a new, state-of-the-art facility while also allowing the public limited access through UF/IFAS, First Tee and other educational opportunities.

In a unanimous vote April 28, county commissioners first heard from UF Vice President for Government and Community Relations Chuck Clemons, who said he appreciated the welcoming three-year partnership on the project.​

​Kicking off the presentation, Clemons introduced UF men’s golf coach J.C. Deacon, who has led the program for 12 years, winning one national championship and two SEC titles while coaching the team to more than 30 tournament victories.

​Referencing an “unfortunate” loss to the Ole Miss Rebels in the SEC championship on April 26, Deacon told commissioners the project would be a game-changer for the program, saying the current facility continues to hold the team back, especially in recruiting and the student-athlete experience.

“We’re currently using a facility that’s over 100 years old, and all of our competition in the Southeastern Conference — and that other school up north here in Florida (FSU) — have facilities that are just so far above and beyond us,” Deacon said.

​Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler asked Deacon what would happen to the Mark Bostick Golf Course. Deacon said the program would keep the course and continue to use it, noting UF would be able to utilize both facilities.

Earlier in the discussion, Wheeler said there had been concern the new UF golf course would not be open to the public and asked whether the Mark Bostick Golf Course could be opened to non-university golfers.

​Deacon said golfers can play at the course as long as they have “ties to the University of Florida.”

Representing the planners and engineers for the project, England-Thims & Miller Inc. CEO Tyler Matthews said in a presentation the proposed course would include stormwater ponds designed to protect karst areas, avoid fertilizer and irrigation use, and establish areas of avoidance and caution to reduce nutrient and animal movement, control erosion and improve water quality.

​League of Women Voters President Janice Garry voiced her disagreement with the dais, asking for a plan to address how animals would be affected by disturbances to the golf course area.

Another commenter emailed the commission, saying the project may seem like a great idea for Realtors and land speculators but questioned the logic of destroying “good farmland for 18 students” when UF already has a golf course and several Gainesville courses need new ownership.

Thanking UF and county staff, Commission Chair Ken Cornell said the decision followed two and a half years of discussion.

“I think this is a great opportunity for us to show the community what we can do together,” Cornell said. “We have an 800-pound gorilla in the University of Florida, and when they lean in on things, we get a better result.”

​The County Commission is expected to vote on the proposal June 23.

​The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) voted on Tuesday to submit the University of Florida’s 580-acre golf course to the state of Florida for review.  

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​The UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County Master Gardeners’ Volunteer Spring Plant Sale is slated for Saturday, May 2, in Newberry.

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​University of Florida plans for a new 18-hole golf course were presented to Alachua County commissioners at their meeting on Tuesday.

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​ Following the General Public Comment period at the April 28 meeting of the Alachua County Commission, Commissioners made two motions based on requests from the public: one asked staff to move forward with five demands in an anti-ICE petition from Gainesville Immigrant Neighbor Inclusion (GINI), and one asked County staff and the School Board to review “underutilized” facilities to address family homelessness.

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​ O-Town Compost will distribute free 2.5-gallon Kitchen Caddies to Alachua County residents on Saturday, May 2, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Rural Collection Centers across the county.

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