News:
Starke commissioner faces investigation
Mark J. Crawford 
November 23, 2021 BY MARK J. CRAWFORD Telegraph Editor STARKE — A Starke city commissioner appears to be in hot water with employees as well as his fellow commissioners, who have launched an investigation. According to the allegations, Commissioner Danny Nugent angrily confronted employees of the city and tree trimming contractor Asplundh over...
Read More
Child well-being ranked in Florida counties
Mark J. Crawford November 23, 2021 BY MARK J. CRAWFORD Telegraph Editor Each community has its strengths and weaknesses when it comes to the well-being of its children, and a recent report published by the Florida Policy Institute shines a light on the strengths and weaknesses of Florida counties. Information in the 2021 County Rankings for...
Read More
Dixon takes over at DOC
Dan Hildebran November 23, 2021 BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor TALLAHASSEE— Twenty-five-year Department of Corrections veteran Ricky Dixon is taking the top spot at the Florida Department of Corrections. Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed the deputy secretary to the agency’s top job pending the retirement of current Secretary Mark Inch. Inch was appointed in January 2019....
Read More
Troopers looking for hit-and-run suspect
Dan Hildebran November 23, 2021 BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor STARKE— The Florida Highway Patrol said it is looking for the driver of a pickup that hit a cyclist that was pulling a child. FHP said the black Ford F-150 struck a woman on a bicycle after swerving off County Road 100A around 1:50 p.m....
Read More
Town hall covers progress and the need to work together
Mark J. Crawford November 23, 2021 Representatives of Bradford County District 1, and the City of Starke District 2 gathered for an event entitled “Home Town Meeting,” sponsored by the Concerned Citizens of Bradford County on Nov. 14, 2021. The purpose of this meeting was to allow the citizens of the community to ask questions and...
Read More
Sports:
Tigers come up short, lose 29-27 in Region 3-1A final
Cliff Smelley November 27, 2021 BY CLIFF SMELLEY Telegraph Staff Writer Union County High School failed to complete a pass on a two-point conversion attempt with 1:08 to play as the Tigers lost 29-27 to host Chiefland in the Region 3-1A football championship on Nov. 26. The Tigers (12-1) turned the ball over three times...
Read More
Indians’ record season ends with 34-6 loss to The Villages
Cliff Smelley November 22, 2021 BY CHUCK DOWLING Special to the Telegraph-Times-Monitor The most successful season in Keystone Heights' football history came to a disappointing end on Nov. 19 when the Indians fells 34-6 to the host Villages Charter Buffalo in the Region 2-4A semifinals. The loss came just one week after a resounding 50-0...
Read More
Bradford dominant in 3-0 girls weightlifting start
Cliff Smelley November 22, 2021 BY CLIFF SMELLEY Telegraph Staff Writer Bradford High School won every weight class and earned four second-place finishes as well in defeating visiting Fleming Island 65-26 in a Nov. 18 girls weightlifting meet. The Tornadoes, who improved to 3-0, had the following winners: Abbie Markham with a 155 total (80...
Read More
Features:
Two receive top recognition at the Little Miss Union County Contest
Mark J. Crawford November 23, 2021 The Little Miss Union County Contest was recently held as part of the Union County 100th Anniversary Celebration. Applications were received from 12 girls aged 5 to 10 years old. Each generation included on the application was verified to have lived within the geographical boundaries of Union County as declared...
Read More
Hillcrest sign unveiled
Dan Hildebran November 23, 2021 BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor HILLCREST— Clay County officials unveiled two new signs along State Road 100 marking the community of Hillcrest, during a Nov. 16 ceremony. County Commissioner Betsy Condon said the signs were along the highway, just east of Lake Geneva before the state widened and resurfaced the...
Read More
Students attend Ag Expo
Dan Hildebran November 23, 2021 KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— The Keystone Heights FFA traveled to Moultrie, Ga. on Wednesday, Oct. 20 to attend the Sunbelt Ag Expo. The Expo is known as North America’s Premier Farm Show and 50 Keystone Heights FFA members had the opportunity to interact with over 1,200 exhibitors showcasing the latest in farming...
Read More
Keystone Heights observes Veterans Day
Dan Hildebran November 17, 2021 BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— A retired U.S. Army Lt. Colonel told a Lake Region gathering that he loved his time in the Army, and wishes he was still serving. Mark Alexander said during a Veterans Day service at the Keystone Heights Cemetery that he knew he was...
Read More
Veterans’ service hard to define
Mark J. Crawford November 16, 2021 BY MARK J. CRAWFORD Telegraph Editor Recently retired Master Chief Navy Counselor Marvin Philpot told the crowd at the Starke Veterans Day ceremony that the dictionary definition of the word veteran is a little lacking. A veteran is more than a former member of the armed forces or someone with...
Read MoreCrime:
‘Y’all are going to have to kill me’
Dan Hildebran November 23, 2021 Man attempts escape from Starke Police Department BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor STARKE— A 31-year-old Keystone Heights man tried to break out of Starke police headquarters after being told he was under arrest. Johnathan Joseph Brooker was arrested for battery, possession of a weapon by a felon, resisting and officer,...
Read More
Recent arrests in Bradford, Union and Clay
Dan Hildebran November 23, 2021 Nov. 13 through Nov. 19 The following individuals were arrested recently 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...
Read MoreObituaries:
Obituaries — Nov. 22, 2021
Cliff Smelley November 22, 2021 Kenneth Brown HAMPTON Kenneth Jerry Brown, age 70, of Hampton passed away at his home on Friday, November 19, 2021. Kenneth was born in Belmont, Mississippi on August 25, 1951 to the late William Kenneth and Lois “Bates” Brown. Mr. Brown was an amateur radio operator, a veteran...
Read MoreObituaries — Nov. 17, 2021
Cliff Smelley November 17, 2021 Phillip Arnold KEYSTONE HEIGHTS Phillip Woodrow Arnold passed away Saturday, October 30, 2021 at North Florida Regional Hospital in Gainesville surrounded by his loving family. He was born and raised in Troy, Ohio and was a long time resident of Keystone Heights. Phil was preceded in death by his...
Read MoreEditorial:
DeSantis, do your job
Mark J. Crawford November 3, 2021 Dear Editor: Our Governor is calling for an expensive and pointless November Special Session of the FL Legislature to fight proposed federal vaccine requirements and those put in place by local businesses and governments in Florida. Most of us know the best way to move out of this pandemic and get our freedom back...
Read MoreThe importance of Florida forests
Mark J. Crawford November 3, 2021 Dear Editor: People in this area understand the significance of Florida’s forests. We are blessed to live in the heart of our state’s woodlands. Many of our families, like our own, have a rich history and heritage in the forest industry. Many more, again like our own, are proud to...
Read More
