First Federal celebrates entry into Bradford County market
Dan Hildebran
March 20, 2026
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] First Federal Bank marked its entry into the Bradford County market with a ribbon-cutting celebration that drew elected officials, chamber members, and community supporters to the new branch. Incorporated as First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Live Oak in 1962, the nonprofit mutual bank, owned...
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Starke employee will be missed
Mark J. Crawford
March 17, 2026
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD [email protected] The city of Starke mourned the sudden loss of one of its employees this past week. City Manager Drew Mullins said Cory Adams — a meter reader — died right after work March 11. The death was not related to his job, and as he...
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Sheriff affirms right to open carry, defends staff
Mark J. Crawford
March 17, 2026
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD [email protected] It was the first fair under Bradford County’s ownership of the fairgrounds and the management of a new fair board, but a policy posted at the gates has led to a lawsuit. Christopher Rose II is suing both the county and the Bradford County Fair...
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Bradford awarded funds to replace truck driving school
Mark J. Crawford
March 17, 2026
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD [email protected] Bradford County School District has funding to build its new commercial driving range. The news came last week as part of a $9 million Florida Job Growth Grant announcement. Gov. Ron DeSantis awarded $3 million so Bradford can continue training applicants for commercial driver’s licenses...
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Soil and Water Conservation District saddened by dissolution decision
Mark J. Crawford
March 17, 2026
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD [email protected] Citing the inability to fill its seats, the Bradford Soil and Water Conservation District has been dissolved. Amy Morie chaired the board and said despite their efforts, they have been unable to fill vacant seats. The law was changed in 2023 requiring the conservation district...
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Sports:
KHHS defeats Eagle’s View 16-6 in baseball
Cliff Smelley
March 13, 2026
BY CLIFF SMELLEY [email protected] Brock Screen hit a three-run homer for the Keystone Heights High School baseball team in a 16-6 win over host Eagle’s View on March 13. The Indians (3-10) took a 5-1 lead on Screen’s long ball, which he hit as part of a five-run second. Cooper...
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UCHS baseball team drops 11-3 game to Celtics
Cliff Smelley
March 13, 2026
BY CLIFF SMELLEY [email protected] Union County High School’s baseball team dropped its third straight game, losing 11-3 to host Trinity Catholic on March 13. The Tigers (11-4) took advantage of two errors to score the game’s first run in the top of the second, but the Celtics (10-3) answered with...
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BHS baseball team loses to Menendez
Cliff Smelley
March 13, 2026
BY CLIFF SMELLEY [email protected] Bradford High School’s baseball evened the score with a three-run fifth before losing 10-4 to visiting Menendez on March 13. The Tornadoes (5-6), trailing 3-0, got back-to-back singles from Cannon Sapp and Kaedan Parks to start their half of the fifth. Sapp put Bradford on the...
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Features:
BHS welcomes new members of National Technical Honor Society
Dan Hildebran
March 20, 2026
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] Bradford High School held its 2025-2026 National Technical Honor Society induction ceremony on Thursday, March 19, welcoming 13 new members to Chapter 5123 and installing officers for the coming school year. Science teacher Camara Casson, one of the chapter’s faculty advisors, opened the ceremony by noting...
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Hope 4-H spends day at the Capitol
Mark J. Crawford
March 17, 2026
Latoya Foster and her Agriscience Foundations class attended a field trip to the Capitol for 4-H Day. “The students had an amazing opportunity to learn about their state government and have first-hand experience of the political process,” she said. “We toured the House of Representative and Senate chambers, the historical...
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Union Co. Master Gardeners graduate
Mark J. Crawford
March 17, 2026
Nine Master Gardeners completed the first Union County Master Gardener training in December 2025. The course included 50 hours of horticultural training and a field trip to the University of Florida campus for the graduation ceremony and a tour of the poinsettia production greenhouses. Master Gardeners help county extension agents...
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Physician assistant briefs senior group on colorectal cancer
Dan Hildebran
March 17, 2026
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] Lake Butler Hospital recognized Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month with a presentation during its monthly “Let’s Thrive” seniors’ meeting on March 12. Physician Assistant Angelica Kraus, PA-C, noted that incidence rates among adults under 50 have been climbing for decades, while the disease remains one of the...
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Miss KHHS crowned in Keystone Heights
Dan Hildebran
March 17, 2026
BY JENN SAMSEL [email protected] Several women competed for the title of Miss KHHS. Kherrington Norman of Keystone Heights was crowned the winner. on Friday, March 8, at Keystone Heights Junior Senior High School. The participants showcased their talents through personal showcases, on-stage questions, casual-wear, and formal-wear competitions. Part of this...
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The 3rd Annual “Say Yes to the Dress” event a smashing success
Dan Hildebran
March 17, 2026
BY JENN SAMSEL [email protected] It’s that time of year when schools are coming to a close, prom is just around the corner, and weddings are happening in the community. However, buying a dress can sometimes go beyond the budget. The return of “Say Yes to the Dress” has been a...
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Crime:
Recent arrests in Bradford, Union and Clay
Dan Hildebran
March 17, 2026
The following individuals were recently arrested by local law enforcement officers in Bradford, Union, or Clay (Keystone Heights area) counties. All defendants are considered innocent until convicted in a court or until pleading guilty or no contest. Information in this report is from law enforcement agencies and court documents, which...
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2 years for threatening to kill with a hammer
Dan Hildebran
March 10, 2026
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] A Melrose man who threatened a family member with a hammer last fall has been sentenced to two years in with the Department of Corrections followed by two years of probation after entering a no contest plea to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. According to...
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Obituaries:
Obituaries — March 10, 2026
Cliff Smelley
March 10, 2026
Arnola Hall Arnola Hall, 85, of Keystone Heights died Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Middleburg. She was born March 14, 1940, in Cairo, Georgia, to James Arnold and Manola Boynton. She was preceded in death by sons, Richard Wayne (Shelli) Hall Jr. and James Scott (Pam) Hall. She was...
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Obituaries — March 3, 2026
Cliff Smelley
March 3, 2026
Wayne Alvarez Stanley Wayne Alvarez, known fondly as Wayne to those who had the pleasure of knowing him, passed away quietly at his beloved farm in Bradford County on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, at the age of 78. Born Nov. 2, 1947 in Bradford County, to the late Donald and...
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Editorial:
Public deserves better notice
Mark J. Crawford
January 20, 2026
Dear Editor: Whether for or against an issue, don't we all want officials to follow the law? This past week, the Bradford County Commission voted on a controversial issue to convert the old Douglas Warehouse into a 3,000-bed ICE/DHS detention center. The agenda was only published to the county website...
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Historic loss for community
Mark J. Crawford
January 20, 2026
Dear Editor: Within the next few weeks, the community of Melrose will lose one of its most precious, historic buildings; the Mediterranean Revival Historic School House that sits on the corner of 26 and 21. This building has stood as a reminder of the importance of education and historic pride...
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POSTED 5/12/2022: CLICK HERE to download the BC Personal Taxes Display & Notice
