Sports volunteer accused of stealing ice machine, equipment- Fired from high school coaching job
Dan Hildebran
March 13, 2026
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Dan@BcTelegraph.com A Lawtey man has been arrested for grand theft after investigators say he took more than $5,600 worth of equipment from the Edwards Road sports complex, where he had previously managed a youth baseball league. Braxton Leon Britt, 44, faces one count of grand theft between...
Read More
New Strawberry royalty crowned
Mark J. Crawford
March 10, 2026
The 2026 Miss Strawberry Pageant of North Florida was held Feb. 28 at the Union County High School auditorium with the theme “Strawberry Bowl,” a sports-inspired celebration highlighting confidence, talent and community involvement. The annual scholarship pageant provides young women the opportunity to showcase their abilities while competing for titles...
Read More
Lawtey swears in new council member
Mark J. Crawford
March 10, 2026
BY MELISSA PYLE Special to the Telegraph The city of Lawtey swore in its newest council member at the March meeting — Sheri Wilson. Wilson has lived in Lawtey four years and has been an active member of the community, serving on the Lawtey Recreation Board. The seat previously...
Read More
Commission candidates filing to run for Bradford races
Mark J. Crawford
March 10, 2026
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD mark@bctelegraph.com Two seats are open on the Bradford County Board of Commissioners, and three candidates so far have filed to run. Commissioners Kenny Thompson and Danny Riddick representing Districts 2 and 4 have confirmed they will not seek reelection, retiring at the end of their current...
Read More
Tougher subdivision standards on hold for now
Mark J. Crawford
March 10, 2026
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD mark@bctelegraph.com North Florida Professional Services has been at work updating the Bradford County’s land development regulations and preparing a periodic evaluation and appraisal report of the comprehensive plan required by the state. Planning and Grants Manager Brandon Stubbs and Senior Planner Justin Tabor visited the commission...
Read More
Sports:
KHHS defeats Eagle’s View 16-6 in baseball
Cliff Smelley
March 13, 2026
BY CLIFF SMELLEY cliff@bctelegraph.com 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...
Read More
UCHS baseball team drops 11-3 game to Celtics
Cliff Smelley
March 13, 2026
BY CLIFF SMELLEY cliff@bctelegraph.com 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...
Read More
BHS baseball team loses to Menendez
Cliff Smelley
March 13, 2026
BY CLIFF SMELLEY cliff@bctelegraph.com 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...
Read More
Features:
Telegraph’s Miller receives Pillars of Service Award
Cliff Smelley
March 13, 2026
BY CLIFF SMELLEY cliff@bctelegraph.com John Miller has served his community through his involvement with the Bradford County Telegraph, but his civic engagement has encompassed much more, including his support of Santa Fe College. Miller, who has been owner and publisher of the Telegraph since 1973, was honored by Santa Fe...
Read More
Copeland, Desire, Morris are tops in Very Berry Bakeoff
Cliff Smelley
March 12, 2026
This year’s Bradford Agricultural Fair/Bradford 4-H Very Berry Bakeoff had 17 entries from 11 participants, with Lucian Copeland, Jorden Desire and Noah Morris placing first in their respective divisions. Entries had to feature strawberries in honor of Bradford County’s agricultural heritage. Categories were Breads, Cakes, Cookies, Candy/Dipped Items and Pies....
Read More
BHS senior Nicolas attends program at MIT
Cliff Smelley
March 12, 2026
BY CLIFF SMELLEY cliff@bctelegraph.com Imagine a trip to the Boston area, taking in the sights and enjoying the local cuisine, but spending most of your time devoted to math and science classes. A lot of us would be on board with sightseeing and eating, but Bradford High School senior Alixiyah...
Read More
Starke Kiwanis members hear about Blanding’s POWs
Cliff Smelley
March 12, 2026
BY CLIFF SMELLEY cliff@bctelegraph.com Members of the Kiwanis Club of Starke heard some interesting facts about Camp Blanding during its World War II days, including that it housed more than 1,000 German prisoners of war. Camp Blanding Museum Historian George Cressman presented a program at the Kiwanis Club’s Feb. 17...
Read More
DAR hosts Veterans Affairs representatives
Dan Hildebran
March 10, 2026
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Dan@BcTelegraph.com The Colonel Samuel Elbert Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution held its March 2, 10:30 a.m., regular monthly meeting at Keystone Heights City Hall. Special guests and speakers included: Robin Stephens, Gainesville Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Representative to the Veterans...
Read More
Crime:
2 years for threatening to kill with a hammer
Dan Hildebran
March 10, 2026
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Dan@BcTelegraph.com 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...
Read More
4 years for choking partner, damaging patrol camera
Dan Hildebran
March 10, 2026
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Dan@BcTelegraph.com A 23-year-old Starke man was sentenced last month to more than four years with the Department of Corrections after pleading no contest to choking and imprisoning his live-in partner during a September altercation that also led to a criminal mischief charge stemming from an unusual encounter...
Read More
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...
Read More
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...
Read More
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...
Read More
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...
Read More
POSTED 5/12/2022: CLICK HERE to download the BC Personal Taxes Display & Notice
