BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor STARKE— The State Attorney’s Office recently dropped pending felony cases against Ryan Michael Duford Jr., Jodi Ann Miller and Deborah Ann Wood. Duford, a Fort White resident, was arrested on Sept. 30, 2021 for the alleged Feb. 21, 2021 offenses of burglary and larceny. According to a sworn affidavit, … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— City public works employees began tearing down playground equipment at Keystone’s Theme Park last week, located behind city hall near the municipality’s tennis courts. City Manager Lynn Rutkowski said the old equipment will be replaced by one, large, reconfigurable piece previously owned by Community Church. She added … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— The Lake Region Development Corporation said it is sponsoring a new Clay County Chamber of Commerce council that will focus on expanding economic development in Keystone Heights. The corporation’s Executive Director Scott Kornegay said the Lake Region Prosperity Council will increase education, foster connections and coordinate business development … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— A Capital City Investments financial advisor spoke to the members of the Keystone-Lake Region Business Association during the group’s Jan. 11 meeting at the Montgomery Center. Chris Klinck briefed the group on Capital City Investments, which is a separate entity from Capital City Bank. He said he is … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— The Mission of the Dirt Road is offering a class in January and February to help adults parent their teenagers. The sessions entitled “Active Parenting of Teens” will cover methods of respectful discipline, skills for clear communication, strategies to prevent risky behavior and how to be an encouraging … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor MELROSE— The Florida Highway Patrol said a 22-year-old man was killed when his pickup ran off State Road 21 Sunday morning and ran into a ditch on the highway’s west shoulder. The crash occurred around 2:30 a.m. near County Road 214, midway between Keystone Heights and Melrose. Troopers said the … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor GREEN COVE SPRINGS— Clay County Utility Authority Executive Director Jeremy Johnston told Clay County Commissioners during their Jan. 11 meeting that water demand today is 3.26% less than what it was in 2008-2009. “That’s very impressive,” he told commissioners, “when you start thinking that we (now) have 9,500 additional accounts … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor TALLAHASSEE— A bill sponsored by the Lake Region’s state senator that would change the way utilities pay owners of solar energy systems for power cleared the Senate’s Regulated Industries Committee by a six to two vote on Jan. 11. Opponents of Jennifer Bradley’s Senate Bill 1024 argued that if passed, … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— The Rotary Club installed Keystone Airport board member Chad Rischar as its newest member during the club’s Wednesday, Jan. 12 meeting at the Montgomery Center. Rischar is a business development manager in the Gainesville office of DRMP, an Orlando-based engineering, surveying and construction firm. He chairs the airport … Read more
Jan. 1 through Jan. 7 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
