Around the Region

One person was injured and two dogs died in a mobile home fire outside Archer on Tuesday afternoon, according to Alachua County Fire Rescue officials.

Alachua County Fire Rescue District Chief Joe Cox said it took 15 to 20 firefighters nearly 45 minutes to get the blaze under control and another 45 minutes to extinguish it completely. He said the mobile home at SW 170th Street and 83rd Avenue was completely destroyed.

Cox said one person was transported to an area hospital following the 5:30 p.m. fire. Cox said he didn't know whether the person was a resident of the home.

Cox said the state Fire Marshal's office is investigating the cause of the fire.

- Amy Reinink

Man convicted of child sexual battery gets life

A Gainesville man will spend the rest of his life in prison after he was convicted last week of two counts of sexual battery on a child under 12, the State Attorney's Office reported.

Joe Barnes III, 42, was sentenced to life in prison without parole in the case Monday, said State Attorney's Office spokesman Spencer Mann. He also will be listed as a sexual predator.

An Alachua County jury found Barnes guilty last week, according to Assistant State Attorney Lua Mellman.

Barnes had been accused of molesting a female relative, Mann said. The incidents occurred in 2004 and 2005 when the child was 7 and 8 years old.

The child ultimately reported the molestation to a relative after attending an Alachua County school presentation given by police where an officer explained about "good touches and bad touches," Mann said.

- Lise Fisher

Man taken to hospital after being Tasered

An Archer man was taken to the hospital early Tuesday morning after Williston police officers Tasered him, according to police.

Williston police spotted Thomas Fletcher, 47, of Archer driving away from a church on State Road 121 at 1:50 a.m. Tuesday, and attempted to block his truck from passing to ask what he was doing in the church parking lot, police said. Fletcher drove around the police car, beginning a chase that lasted several minutes, police said.

Fletcher eventually ran from his truck and into a wooded area east of State Road 121. Officers Tasered him twice to stop him, police said.

Fletcher was transported to Shands at the University of Florida as a precaution after he told police he had a heart condition and was under the influence of crack cocaine, officers said.

Police said a passenger in Fletcher's truck told them she had been picked up by Fletcher in order to perform a sex act.

Fletcher faces charges of felony fleeing and eluding, loitering and resisting arrest. Charges against the passenger are under review, police said.

- Amy Reinink

COMMUNITY

Group helping tornado victims gets grant

A program assisting victims of a tornado that struck the Lake City area earlier this year has received a $25,000 grant.

The Florida Disaster Recovery Fund provided the grant to the Suwannee Valley Long-Term Recovery Committee/United Way of Suwannee Valley Inc., the disaster recovery group reported.

A check presentation was scheduled Tuesday in Lake City.

The money will be used to pay administrative costs associated with case management during a long-term recovery effort, according to the disaster recovery group.

Storms hit the North Florida area on March 7, causing a tornado in Lake City and record rainfall in Gainesville.

- Sun staff report

Boat ramp to close to get rid of snails

The Windsor boat ramp will be closed this week as officials again try to get rid of island apple snails at the site, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported.

The lake had been treated in April. But egg masses from the snails are still being found. The treatment will take place later this week with the ramp expected to be closed both Thursday and Friday. The ramp and canal should reopen Saturday.

"Officials from the St. Johns River Water Management District, FWC and the University of Florida have discussed the current situation and agreed it's imperative to conduct another treatment before the snail population moves out of the Windsor ramp area," said Allen Martin, FWC regional freshwater fish biologist, in a statement.

The snails can strip away large areas of aquatic vegetation in waterways.

Officials believe the snails were released from aquariums and are asking people never to release them into the waterways.

- Sun staff report

COUNTY COMMISSION

Public hearing set for panhandling matter

Alachua County commissioners Tuesday took a step toward allowing anyone - including panhandlers - to solicit money in the streets on Labor Day weekend by agreeing to hold a public hearing on the matter.

The county last year passed an ordinance banning all solicitations on roads in unincorporated areas after panhandling grew excessive. The ban includes firefighters, who used to collect money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association - particularly on Labor Day weekend. Firefighters and others said the ban will greatly reduce the amount they collect. However, the commission could not legally allow some people to solicit but not others.

Under a proposed amendment, the ban will be lifted over the Labor Day weekend every year and anybody will be allowed onto the streets to solicit money.

The public hearing will be held May 27.

- Cindy Swirko

Next step in church acquisition declined

Alachua County commissioners indicated Tuesday they are not inclined to buy a former church on Tower Road at SW 24th Avenue for use as a community center as sought by area residents.

County Manager Randall Reid said the owner indicated the county could auire the land for about $3 million. Reid said the next step would be to auire appraisals, which the commission declined to do.

"I would hope we wouldn't ask you to do anything prior to the budget process. We would need to see how this stacks up against other requests and services we need to provide," Commissioner Lee Pinkoson said to Reid.

The land had been slated for commercial development. Residents are instead pushing the county to buy it, saying a community area for meetings, classes and other activities is needed.

- Cindy Swirko

STATE

Ex-owner of dealership gets 11 years for fraud

TAMPA - The former owner of a Polk County car dealership has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for wire and bank fraud.

A federal judge in Tampa also ordered 53-year-old John Giovanetti on Monday to pay restitution of more than $1 million. His lawyer's request for a new trial was denied. Giovanetti has 10 days to file an appeal.

Giovanetti owned the Big Oaks Buick Pontiac GMC Inc. in Bartow. Prosecutors say he stole more than $2.5 million by having two employees file fake documents to receive financing from SunTrust Bank. Those employees pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and testified against Giovanetti.

He was found guilty in February of 11 counts of wire fraud, 11 counts of bank fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit both.

- The Associated Press