Asked for a ride to store, carjacked truck 

BY DAN HILDEBRAN  Monitor Editor  KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— A Lake Region woman was arrested after Clay deputies said she and two other people carjacked a man’s truck.  Amber Marie Caudill, 29, was arrested by Clay deputies in Keystone Heights  on Dec. 7 for the Nov. 4, 2021 offense of armed carjacking.    According to court papers, the victim agreed … Read more

Recent arrests in Bradford, Union and Clay 

Dec. 4 through Dec. 10  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 public records.     … Read more

Keystone man killed in hit-and-run 

BY DAN HILDEBRAN  Monitor Editor  MELROSE— The Florida Highway Patrol said it is looking for the driver of a Dodge, Plymouth or Chrysler that struck and killed a Keystone Heights man on Friday, Dec. 10.   The agency said in a news release that the collision occurred around 7 a.m. on State Road 26, a mile west of County Road 1469 … Read more

Keystone parade: ‘No Place Like Home for Christmas’

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— Lake Region Kiwanis organized the annual nighttime Christmas parade up South Lawrence Boulevard Saturday night. This year’s theme was “No Place Like Home for Christmas and the Starling Family claimed the first prize for closest to the theme.  Other winners were: Best marching unit: First: (Tie) Keystone Heights … Read more

­­­Melrose parade celebrates school

MELROSE— The Melrose Business and Community Association celebrated the survival of Melrose Elementary School during the Merry Melrose Christmas parade Saturday.  The MBCA-sponsored parade, back this year after a pandemic-induced break in 2020, designated the school’s principal as the parade’s grand marshal and proclaimed as the theme for the event: “Be True to your School.” … Read more

Additional charges for former Starke lawyer

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor STARKE— A former Starke attorney already serving a 21-month sentence for grand theft was arraigned recently on additional and unrelated charges. Johnie Steven Cooper, 61 was arraigned on Dec. 8 for a case involving investment fraud and another claiming he overbilled an estate for his services. Took money for stock … Read more

City puts brakes on school road closure

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— The Keystone Heights City Council tabled an interlocal agreement with the Clay County School Board that would have allowed the school to erect barriers across Southwest Pecan Street during school drop off and pick up hours. The barriers would have blocked traffic from entering Pecan between Southwest Highland … Read more

Meth dealer gets 2 years in prison

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor STARKE— A 38-year-old Starke man was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading to driving and drug charges. Joshua Allen Matthews pleaded no contest to the Jan. 14 offenses of sale of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell and to the Sept. … Read more