Alachua County Fire Rescue Chief Harold Theus has instituted a Countywide Burn Ban.

The countywide burn ban prohibits all types of unpermitted and/or non-exempted open incineration where the burning of any matter results in the products of combustion being emitted directly into the outdoor atmosphere without passing through a stack or chimney. This includes, but is not limited to: campfires, bonfires, unpermitted controlled burns, burning of yard and household trash, burning of construction debris, burning of organic debris, and igniting of fireworks. 

Read more about the Countywide Burn Ban.

In advance of the 2021 Hurricane Season, Alachua County Emergency Management (ACEM) is informing the public about a new resource for real-time weather information within the County. ACEM has installed three new WeatherSTEM stations funded by the Florida Division of Emergency Management. The newest stations are located in Archer, Hawthorne, and Waldo.

These WeatherSTEM stations provide real-time information on temperature, wind speed, lightning strikes, and more. Each station is also equipped with a live stream camera, enabling anyone to see current weather conditions at station locations.

Learn more about the three new WeatherSTEM stations.

Alachua County Public Works would like to bring attention to the importance of wearing seatbelts in recognition of the national Click it or Ticket campaign, which runs from May 17 to June 6, 2021.

Find out more about seatbelt safety.

On March 12, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) authorized State WIC Agencies to enhance the WIC benefit for four months, expanding the vegetable and fruit voucher from $9/month for children and $11/month for women to $35 per month, per participant. WIC’s vegetable and fruit voucher is known as the Cash Value Benefit (CVB). The CVB is credited with improving the dietary quality of WIC participants and reducing the prevalence of childhood obesity among WIC toddlers.

Florida WIC will be implementing the CVB increase beginning June 1, 2021, until September 30, 2021. All women and children between 1 and 4 years old who participate in the WIC Program will receive an increase in their fruits and vegetables cash vouchers to $35 per participant per month. For example, a pregnant woman and her 2-year-old child will receive a total of $70 cash voucher to use on fruits and vegetables per month from June until September 2021. Fruits and vegetables can be fresh, frozen, or canned. Any brand, variety, size with no added sugar, syrup, artificial sweeteners, fat, or oil are eligible. Organic fruits and vegetables are allowed. 

For more information, contact customer service representatives Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at 352-225-4343 or 1-800-494-2543.

Commercial Horticulture Program.