Co-op announces big changes to annual meeting

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor KEYSTONE HEIGHTS—Clay Electric Cooperative said that for the first time in its history, its in-person annual meeting will not be held at the co-op’s headquarters in Keystone Heights. Instead, the Saturday, March 26 meeting will take place at the football stadium at Keystone Heights Junior-Senior High School. The starting time … Read more

Volunteers clean up High Ridge neighborhood

Mission of the Dirt Road volunteers walked through High Ridge Estates Saturday morning on a neighborhood cleanup. Volunteers split into two groups as they walked along street sides, picking up trash. Pictured are (l-r) Keystone Heights Mayor Karen Lake, Layla Morford, Tanya Dennis of Lake Area Ministries, Teri Sapp and Mission of the Dirt Road … Read more

Clay electric lineworkers place in state competition

FORT PIERCE— Clay Electric lineworkers won first place in the crossarm change out event at the annual Florida Lineman Competition this weekend in Fort Pierce, besting competitors from across the state. The team, consisting of David Poncher, Lee Lambert and Joel Baker, took third place overall in the Journeyman Team Competition. Clay’s apprentice line workers, … Read more

Sheriffs seek tougher penalties for selling drugs

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor STARKE—Bradford County Sheriff Gordon Smith said that during the winter conference of the Florida Sheriff’s Association, sheriffs discussed seeking tougher penalties for those selling opioids and amphetamines. He added that sheriffs are seeking changes in state statute that would impose manslaughter penalties to those who sell the drugs to overdose … Read more

Recent arrests in Bradford, Union and Clay

Feb. 19 through Feb. 25 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 and court documents, which are … Read more

5-acre fire on Gas Line Road

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— Clay County Fire Rescue said the blaze, north of Keystone Heights off State Road 21 was knocked down around 4 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 24. No property damage or injuries were reported. The Florida Forestry Service and Camp Blanding personnel also responded to the fire.  

Prosperity partners focus on security

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— The Feb. 22 meeting of the Lake Region Prosperity Partners featured advice on offline and online security. Susan Aarons, a treasury management banker with Capital City Bank spoke to the Clay Chamber group about trends in fraud that she is seeing across the state. She said two types … Read more

Keystone student wins county spelling bee

LAKE ASBURY— Rena Reddish, a Keystone Heights Junior High School 7th grader won the county’s spelling bee competition on Tuesday, Feb. 22. Thirty-three school champions competed at Lake Asbury Junior High for the title.  The competition lasted 13 rounds before Reddish successfully spelled “trivia” to win the event. Runner up Riya Patel and Reddish went … Read more

Clay commissioners kill utility tax increase

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor GREEN COVE SPRINGS— After hearing from county staff about their options for increasing the county’s utility tax from the current four-percent rate to up to 10%, Clay County commissioners said they were not interested in discussing the rate increase any further. Commissioner Jim Renninger supported increasing the levy up to … Read more

JROTC presents colors at Daytona

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor DAYTONA BEACH—The Keystone Heights JROTC color guard presented the colors prior to the NEXTera Energy 250 on Friday, Feb. 18 and made a second appearance at the superspeedway the following day prior to Saturday’s Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner 300. The group’s instructor, Lt. Col. Richard Hall said the trip … Read more