Dan Hildebran

Union residents wary of Jacksonville wastewater plan 40 million gallons a day of Duval treated and filtered sewer could be discharged

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BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected]  A project that could pump up to 40 million gallons of wastewater a day from Jacksonville to North Central Florida has Union County residents worried that their area could be the destination for Duval County sewage. Union County Commissioner Donna Jackson told her colleagues during the February 2 county commission meeting … Read more

Keystone Heights Elementary awards two Spelling Bee Champions

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BY JENN SAMSEL [email protected] Two students from Keystone Heights Elementary School excelled in the local Spelling Bee championships. Memorizing 450 words in a short amount of time was no easy feat, but these Spelling Bee participants rose to the challenge. Fifth grader Bristol Wasdin secured first place, while sixth grader Ashlynn Frysinger took second, impressively … Read more

Barbara Franklin Named Board Director of the Year by Melrose Fire Department

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BY JENN SAMSEL [email protected] Few individuals dedicate as much time and effort to helping the community as Barbara Franklin. A resident of Keystone Heights and the owner of Keystone Heights Insurance, she was awarded the Board Director of the Year Award in December 2025. For the past eight years, Barbara has volunteered and served as … Read more

Keystone Heights Teachers Win Teacher and School-Related Employee of the Year Awards

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BY JENN SAMSEL [email protected]   Each Year in Clay County, teachers and school-related employees are nominated by their peers for their exceptional commitment to their schools and communities, as well as their dedication to going above and beyond in their everyday lives. At the Thrasher-Horne Center in Clay County, teachers, family members, friends, and dedicated … Read more

Women’s Softball Traveling Legacy 14U team gears up for World Series

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BY JENN SAMSEL [email protected] The Keystone Heights Legacy 14U Fastpitch traveling team recently took to the streets of Keystone Heights to raise funds for this year’s softball World Series. The traveling team, composed mainly of Keystone Heights residents and players from Williston and Gainesville, is preparing for the World Series in July. The team consists … Read more

Yesterday’s Festival celebrates 19th year, attracting over 900 folks

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BY JENN SAMSEL [email protected] Despite the cold weather, windy conditions, and beautiful sunshine, people flocked from all over to relive history. Celebrating its 19th year, the Yesterday’s Festival at the Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park attracted over 900 attendees. Families had the opportunity to see cannons and muskets, meet Civil War reenactors, and … Read more

Clay Electric CEO: Data center builders scouting area

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BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected]  The CEO of Clay Electric Cooperative said data center builders are scouting potential locations in its coverage area. Andy Chaff told the Keystone Heights Rotary Club that one data center could consume the electricity equivalent of 50,000 to 100,000 homes. “We don’t have that much capacity out there,” Chaff said of … Read more

Clay school district grapples with budget crisis, enrollment decline

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BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] Clay County School District officials outlined the scope of a severe budget crisis during a lengthy workshop on January 27, revealing that the district is navigating financial challenges unlike any in its history. Superintendent David Broskie presented what he called a “financial renaissance” to the school board, detailing how multiple converging … Read more

Clay County strategic plan updated

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BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] Clay County commissioners unanimously approved an updated strategic plan on Tuesday, January 27, incorporating changes that expand health and safety goals while improving transparency in government operations. The plan, presented by Assistant County Manager Troy Nagle introduces several new performance indicators designed to measure county services more effectively over the next … Read more

Recent arrests in Bradford, Union and Clay

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The following individuals were recently arrested 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.   Bradford … Read more

 

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