Cool days and classic moments at annual Strawberry Festival
Mark J. Crawford
March 30, 2026
BY MELISSA PYLE Special to the Telegraph Opening day at the 28th Annual Strawberry Festival began with blue skies, sunshine and a cool breeze, but was replaced with cooler temperatures and cloudy skies throughout the remainder of the weekend. But that didn’t change the warmth of the festival spirit, reflecting...
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23-year-old Firefighter tragically killed in Melrose
Dan Hildebran
March 26, 2026
BY JENN SAMSEL [email protected] A 23-year-old from Florahome, a firefighter with Jacksonville Fire Rescue, was killed in a traffic crash on State Road 26 in Melrose. The incident occurred on Wednesday, March 25, at 2:30 a.m. As a result, the road was closed for several hours, diverting traffic to other...
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Lake Geneva Restoration Project Underway
Dan Hildebran
March 25, 2026
BY JENN SAMSEL [email protected] The Lake Geneva Restoration Project has officially commenced in Keystone Heights at the Lake Geneva Boat Ramp of State Road 100 and State Road 214. On Thursday, March 19, crews went to the Lake Geneva Boat Ramp and began cutting down trees. According to the proposal,...
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Bradford County seeks community input on comprehensive, strategic plans
Dan Hildebran
March 25, 2026
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] Bradford County officials and consultants gathered residents and civic leaders on Tuesday, March 24, to solicit public input on two parallel planning documents intended to shape the county's direction over the next two to three years and beyond. The event, held in an open-house format at...
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Brush Fire in North Keystone Prompts Evacuations
Dan Hildebran
March 24, 2026
BY JENN SAMSEL [email protected] A brush fire prompted evacuations for residents in the north end of Keystone Heights. The fire started in the Bondarenko Court area on Saturday, March 21, at 1:50 p.m. Multiple units from Clay County Fire Rescue and the Florida Forestry Service were deployed to fight the...
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Sports:
BHS defeats Columbia in Jaguars Game of the Week
Cliff Smelley
March 31, 2026
BY CLIFF SMELLEY [email protected] In what was the Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation/Farah and Farah Prep Game of the Week, the Bradford High School flag football team got two touchdown passes from Riley Shuford and two interceptions from Ny’asia Lopey in a 27-15 win over visiting Columbia on March 19. Shuford completed...
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BHS softball team falls to number-1 Baker
Cliff Smelley
March 31, 2026
BY CLIFF SMELLEY [email protected] Bradford High School’s softball team was no match for the top overall team in the Florida High School Athletic Association/MaxPreps power rankings as the Tornadoes lost 17-1 to host Baker County in four innings on March 30. The Class 4A Wildcats (15-0) scored nine runs in...
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BHS girls split tennis matches vs. Santa Fe, Ridgeview
Cliff Smelley
March 30, 2026
BY CLIFF SMELLEY [email protected] Bradford High School defeated visiting Santa Fe 4-3 in girls tennis on March 3, but couldn’t make it two in a row, losing 4-3 at Ridgeview on March 10. The Tornadoes (2-6) went 3-2 in singles play against Santa Fe, with Kaiya Thompson winning 8-1, Jaimee...
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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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Crime:
Report: Walmart employee stole PlayStation to feed cat
Dan Hildebran
March 27, 2026
Michael Glover, 18, of Hampton, was arrested by Bradford deputies on March 18 for dealing in stolen property and larceny. According to the arrest report, a sheriff's deputy responded to Walmart after staff reported Glover, who was employed there, had taken merchandise without paying. Video surveillance showed Glover walking out...
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Accused of Pocketing McDonald’s drive-through money
Dan Hildebran
March 25, 2026
Shi'Kira Jones, 22, of Starke, was arrested by Bradford deputies on March 14 for 18 counts of fraud-swindle, larceny and a probation violation. According to the arrest report, the investigation began when a store computer flagged suspicious transactions at the Starke McDonald’s drive-through register occurring between Feb. 24 and March...
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Obituaries:
Celebration of Life — Theresa Long
Cliff Smelley
March 24, 2026
Theresa Long Celebration of Life As we continue to remember and honor the beautiful life of Theresa Long, we invite all who knew and loved her to join us for a memorial and celebration of her life. Saturday, March 28, 2026, at 5 p.m. at her home in...
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In Memory — Al Coston Jr.
Cliff Smelley
March 24, 2026
In loving memory of Al Coston Jr. Aug. 10, 1946 - March 29, 2016 Those we love don't go away, They walk beside us every day Unseen, unheard, but aways near, Still loved, still missed and very dear.
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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
