Lack of drivers delaying restart of curbside recycling

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor GREEN COVE SPRINGS— Representatives of Waste Management told Clay County Commissioners during their March 8 meeting that the company is losing ground on recruiting and retaining drivers. Because of a lack of drivers, the county suspended curbside recycling service last year, with the goal of restarting the pickups as soon … Read more

April is water conservation month

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor PALATKA—The St. Johns River Water Management District said in a news release that for the past 22 years, April has been designated as water conservation month due to traditionally low rainfall and higher water demand because of springtime planting. “More than half of all residential water use is outdoors for … Read more

Police: Mom hired hit man to get son released

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor STARKE— Starke police arrested one man awaiting trial on murder conspiracy charges, in addition to his mother and sister for allegedly hiring a hit man to kill a witness in the son’s upcoming murder trial. Demetrius Dewayne Wilson, Valerie Vanessa McCutchen and N’Crisha T. McCutchen were all arrested on March … Read more

County recognized for 2021 animal rescue

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor GREEN COVE SPRINGS— During its conference on March 5 in Orlando, the Florida Animal Control Association awarded Clay County government departments and organizations with the association’s Outstanding Cooperative Team Achievement Award. The award recognized the county’s response to the discovery of around 200 animals found in deplorable conditions at a … Read more

Ax attacker threatens second neighbor with knife

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor STARKE— A Bradford County man released on bond after attacking his neighbor with an ax was arrested a second time after threatening another neighbor with a pocketknife. Bradford deputies arrested 71-year-old Alton James Boles on Friday, Feb. 25 for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. The victim told deputies that … Read more

Clay Electric trustees approve $12 million capital credits refund

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— Clay Electric Cooperative’s Board of Trustees has declared a $12 million capital credits refund for members who received service from 1992 through 2020. The co-op said in a news release that capital credits reflect the cooperative’s not-for-profit and member-owned status and represent each member’s pro-rata share of any margins left over at the … Read more

August start date for Black Creek project

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor PALATKA— An official with the St. Johns River Water Management District said the district hopes to break ground on the Black Creek Water Resource Development Project in August. When completed, the project will capture up to 10 million gallons of water a day from the south fork of Black Creek … Read more

Man denies drilling hole in wife’s leg

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— A Keystone Heights man who inflicted a puncture wound in his wife’s leg told deputies that even though he picked up a drill during a fight with his wife, he did not use the power tool on the woman. Tracy (Tray) Deland Viddler, 46, was arrested on March … Read more

Former Bradford coach pleads to sex charges

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor STARKE— A former Bradford High School girls’ weightlifting coach was sentenced to five years’ sexual offender probation and will be designated as a sexual offender on the state’s sexual offender and predator database after pleading to charges of sexual misconduct with a student. Autumn Brooke Rodgers pleaded no contest to … Read more

County grant to replace mobile homes

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor GREEN COVE SPRINGS— Clay County officials said that under the county’s federal Community Block Development Grant, it is setting aside $100,000 for the demolition and replacement of mobile homes. Other housing funds will be used for housing rehabilitation ($271,055), administration and planning ($213,825), public infrastructure ($300,000) and code enforcement ($200,000). … Read more