BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor GREEN COVE SPRINGS— The Clay County Supervisor of Elections recently declared that when Clay County residents are disappointed in their government officials, they have no one to blame but themselves. “Sometimes we have to be honest;” Chris Chambless wrote in a news release, “maybe it is not them, but we … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— The city council gave the go-ahead for more detailed plans to a landscape architect after approving her initial concepts for the South Lawrence Boulevard street scape project. Elizabeth Manley said her recommendations should be viewed as an overlay that will enhance recent improvements to the road by a … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— Students from Keystone Heights Elementary, McRae Elementary and Keystone Heights High competed in a district robotics competition on Jan. 11. Keystone Elementary Coach Eric Scamahorn said he is in his fifth year coaching fourth, fifth and sixth graders. “This is done through FIRST LEGO league,” he said. “It … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor STARKE— A Starke man was sentenced to 13 months in prison for starting a fight with a deputy that caused the death of his own dog. Robert Pittman Jr., 52, pleaded no contest to the Aug. 12, 2021, offenses of resisting arrest with violence, battery on a law enforcement officer … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— Members of the Keystone Heights High School Indian Battalion told a civic group that the primary goal of JROTC, contrary to popular belief, is not to create future soldiers but rather to develop future citizens and leaders. The battalion’s leadership team made a presentation to the Lake Region … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor Three monkeys escaped into the Pennsylvania countryside after a Keystone Heights man driving a pickup with an enclosed trailer ran into a dump truck near Interstate 80. Pennsylvania State Police said Cody Brooks, 31, of Keystone Heights was driving the pickup on State Road 54 at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, … Read more
New hires keeping pace with separations BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor TALLAHASSEE— Florida’s Secretary of Corrections told a Senate committee last week that for the first time in over a year, more people were hired in the department’s Region 1 than employees who retired or resigned from the region’s facilities. Region 1 covers the panhandle. … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor STARKE— Police arrested a 19-year-old Starke woman after she allegedly punched a 12-year-old boy of whom she was babysitting. Aaliyah Shante Martin was arrested for battery, child cruelty and child neglect on Sunday, Jan. 23. According to an arrest report, the victim’s mother told police she went out to … Read more
Jan. 15 through Jan. 21 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 LAKE BUTLER— The Florida Highway Patrol said a 22-year-old Starke woman was killed in an early-morning crash on State Road 121 north of Lake Butler. Troopers wrote in a news release that at around 6:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 21, a 32-year-old Lake City man driving a Dodge pickup southbound … Read more
