BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor STARKE— Bradford deputies arrested a Starke woman after her child shared THC-laced candy with other neighborhood children, prompting some of the victims to be treated at a hospital. THC is the psychoactive compound in marijuana. Adrienne Leigh Jones, 27, was arrested for five counts of child neglect, possession of marijuana … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor STARKE— A 35-year-old Starke woman was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading to killing her sister by two stab wounds to the victim’s chest. Amanda Lee Godwin pleaded no contest to the March 21, 2021, offense of second-degree murder. According to an arrest report, the victim: Rachel Combs … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— The Keystone Heights city manager said she was quitting, and two council members told Mayor Karen Lake she should resign over late-night texts sent from the mayor to City Manager Lynn Rutkowski over the last several months. Council Member Tony Brown brought up the issue of Lake’s messages … Read more
Feb. 5 through Feb. 11 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
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor GREEN COVE SPRINGS— Commissioners approved 4-1 a five-year trap-neuter-vaccinate-and-release program which will cost $75,000 in the current fiscal year, $160,000 next year, $255,000 in 2023-24 and around one-half million dollars each in fiscal years 2024-25 and 2025-26. The $75,000 for the current year was already approved in the county’s budget. … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor GREEN COVE SPRINGS— Around 150 people learned about voter registration, vote-by-mail, how voting machines are tested and other election procedures during an election expo, held by the supervisor of elections office on Wednesday, Feb. 9. Supervisor Chris Chambless told attendees that a lot has changed on election night since he … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor GREEN COVE SPRINGS— The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is pointing out a little-known and under-reported crime that victimizes children, some under 13 years of age. The agency said that one common scheme of online criminals is sextortion: persuading a minor to send nude images online and then using the images … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor PALATKA— Putnam deputies said John Junior Williams III of Keystone Heights exposed himself and performed a sex act while a female passenger was riding in his tow truck. The victim recorded the act on her cell phone. A tow truck camera also captured the crime on video. According to the … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor GREEN COVE SPRINGS— Margaret Whipple was hired by the county in 1989 as a clerk in the Keystone Heights library and was promoted to branch manager in 2007. County commissioners recognized Whipple’s 33 years of service during their Feb. 8 meeting. Whipple officially retired on Jan. 31. Commissioner Betsy Condon … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor GREEN COVE SPRINGS— Audry Cisco of Keystone Heights High School and Iolanthe Cushman of Keystone Heights Elementary led Lake Region students in the Clay County Science Fair held at the county fairgrounds in Green Cove Springs. Cisco finished first in Junior, Biomedical and Health Sciences. Cushman won the Junior B … Read more
