News:
Clay emergency manager retires
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Telegraph Staff Writer KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— Clay County’s Emergency Management Director announced his retirement, and the county said his deputy will move into the top job. John Ward said in an email that it is time to move on. “It is with both excitement and sadness that I...
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Clay taxable values up 13%
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Telegraph Staff Writer KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— Clay County Property Appraiser Tracy Drake said the 2023 taxable value of all properties in the county is estimated at approximately $16.5 billion - an annual increase of more than $1.9 billion, or 13% from the 2022 assessment roll. “The statutory date...
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Council approves $3 million financing for airport
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Telegraph Staff Writer KEYSTONE HEIGHTS—The city council approved a $3 million bridge loan with Capital City Bank to assist the airport with improvements to the facility’s taxiways, lighting, and signs. Federal Aviation Administration and Florida Department of Transportation grants are funding the improvements. Airport board chair David...
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Clay sports complex called budget turkey
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Telegraph Staff Writer KEYSTONE HEIGHTS—Florida TaxWatch said a $1 million state appropriation for a regional sports complex in Clay County is a budget turkey. The watchdog group said the park, under construction now near Camp Blanding, is one of 30 housing and community development projects totaling $41...
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Foundation donates $90K to education groups
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Telegraph Staff Writer KEYSTONE HEIGHTS—The Clay Electric Foundation said it donated $90,400 to nonprofits focused on education during the foundation’s May grant cycle. The Bradford County Education Foundation, Union County 4-H Association, and Alachua 4-H Association each received $20,000 from the co-op’s charitable arm. The Bradford group...
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Telegraph–Times–Monitor for June 8, 2023
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Sports:
Donors fully fund BHS football locker room project
BY CLIFF SMELLEY Telegraph Staff Writer Bradford High School’s varsity football program got its first win of the season early this year in the form of a renovated locker room that came about because of the generosity of individuals and businesses. The project involved the installation of new, wood lockers...
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Tornadoes rally for 27-20 spring win over Buchholz
BY CLIFF SMELLEY Telegraph Staff Writer Bradford High School fell behind by two touchdowns before scoring 21 straight points in defeating visiting Buchholz 27-20 in a May 25 spring football game. The Tornadoes’ final two scores came when the teams pulled their starters, with quarterback Damarion Hankerson rushing for two...
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Features:
Rhoden sisters are Versatility champs at 4-H horse show
BY CLIFF SMELLEY Telegraph Staff Writer Horsing around can get some children in trouble with their parents, but when there’s a literal horse involved, it can lead to championship belt buckles. Sisters Saylor Rhoden, 11, and Ryleigh Rhoden, 17, earned the grand-championship and reserve grand-championship belt buckles, respectively, in Versatility...
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Tinsler hoping for living kidney donor
BY CLIFF SMELLEY Telegraph Staff Writer Julee Tinsler doesn’t want to wait for up to five years. Five years, for Tinsler, would equate to more than 1,000 dialysis sessions, totaling more than 3,300 hours. Five years is how long it could take for her to receive a donor kidney from...
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UC residents gather to honor our nation’s fallen
BY TRACY LEE TATE Times Staff Writer LAKE BUTLER — Union County residents gathered together Monday morning at the annual Memorial Day Ceremony hosted by American Legion Post 153 to commemorate the service of residents who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. Brian Reagan, Post 153...
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Juneteenth Pageant showcases youth
The Juneteenth Committee and the Shirley Ann Brown Livingstone Scholarship Foundation are hosting their inaugural Juneteenth Pageant Gala 2023 in Starke. This year’s theme is Doers and Dreamers. The event will be held on Saturday, June 17, at 5 p.m. at Bradford Fairgrounds Building 3. This will be an after-five...
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Charter school holds kindergarten meet and greet
BY CAROL MOSLEY Telegraph Staff Writer BROOKER — Teachers, parents and prospective kindergartners came together for a Meet the Kindergarten open house at the Brooker Community School to get a taste of what’s in store for the school year. The room was brightly prepped with eye-catching props and hands-on activities....
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Crime:
Dirt bike deal gone bad – Buyer accused of kidnapping sellers at gunpoint
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Telegraph Staff Writer STARKE—A 20-year-old Waldo man is behind bars after two people accused him of kidnapping them while the victims were selling two dirt bikes. Aaron Tyler Higgins was arrested for robbery with a firearm, kidnapping, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. According to an...
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Charges dropped for man who threatened restaurant manager
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Telegraph Staff Writer STARKE—The State Attorney’s Office in Bradford County notified a judge on June 6 that it had withdrawn charges against a Starke man accused of threatening an IHOP manager with a chair. State Attorney Brian Kramer’s office entered a nolle prosequi notice for Ronald Eugene...
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Obituaries:
Obituaries — June 6, 2023
Johanne Artman Johanne Irene Sheboy Artman, 81, born Oct. 4, 1941, in Cleveland, Ohio passed away on Monday, May 29, 2023 at her home in Starke with Marvin Wayne Artman, her husband of 59 years, by her side. She was a disabled veteran, having served in the US Air...
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Obituaries — May 30, 2023
Luther Cadle Luther Leeander Cadle, 74, of Starke died Friday, May 19, 2023, at UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville. He was proceeded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Linda Kay Cadle of Starke; four sons, Luther N. (Brandy) Cadle, James W. Cadle, Marty (Susan)...
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Editorial:
Opposes moving veterans park
To the residents of the city of Starke and Bradford County: I am a U.S. Army Vietnam War veteran, an active member of American Legion Post 56 and VFW Post 10082. Since 2003, the city has owned and maintained the Charles J. Schaffer Veteran’s Memorial Park on Call Street next...
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Don’t move memorial
Dear Editor: I attended the Memorial Day ceremonies at our Veterans Park and learned something awful. The Starke city commissioners want to uproot this beautiful memorial and set it down on a residential street where it will hardly be seen. Are they insane? This memorial area is witness to all...
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POSTED 5/12/2022: CLICK HERE to download the BC Personal Taxes Display & Notice