BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] According to a document found by investigators at the crime scene, the 50-year-old deputies say murdered his wife before taking his own life was looking for details about the woman’s affair. The Bradford County Sheriff’s Office said Loyd Alan Kerr, 50, shot his wife in the neck, resulting in her death, … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] Bradford County Sheriff Gordon Smith said the man, whom deputies say shot and killed his estranged wife before taking his own life, shot himself in the head while his 11-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son looked on. Deputies said Loyd Alan Kerr, 50, broke into the mobile home of Rachael Renee Kerr, … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] Bradford County Sheriff’s detectives are investigating the shooting deaths of two people on Northeast 6th Lane, off of State Road 230 near the Bradford-Clay County line. Sheriff’s Col. Brad Smith said that after receiving a 911 hang-up call at 5:15 a.m., Thursday, January 29, deputies responded to the double-wide and found … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] Union County officials said part of County Road 238 between Butler Lake and Swift Pond will close to traffic while workers replace culverts as part of a resurfacing project. County Coordinator Jimmy Williams said there are no houses along the closed portion of the road and that, after the culverts are … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] Bella Johns, an 18-year-old senior at Union County High School, was crowned Miss UCHS 2025-2026 during the annual scholarship pageant held at the school auditorium. The event, themed “Hometown Crown,” showcased eight young women competing for the title. Johns, the daughter of Jason and Nancy Johns, impressed judges with her performances … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] The Lake Butler City Commission approved pursuing two state historic preservation grants during their regular meeting Monday evening, while also recognizing winners of the 2025 Christmas Parade float contest. Lake Butler Hospital took first place in the parade competition, receiving a certificate and $200 prize for their decorated float. Union County … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] Sailormen Inc., which operated a Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen in Keystone Heights and 135 other restaurants across Florida and Georgia, submitted its bankruptcy petition on January 15 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida. The filing puts the jobs of more than 3,200 hourly employees in limbo as … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] Keystone Heights Mayor Nina Rodenroth said state officials have budgeted dedicated turning lanes at South Lawrence Boulevard (State Road 21) and Walker Drive (State Road 100) for 2027. The mayor said around five street parking spaces in front of Keystone Gifts and Guns and Clyde’s Cozy Corner Cafe will be lost … Read more
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
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] The Bradford County School District said students and staff at Starke Elementary School, Bradford Middle School and the North Florida Technical College were instructed to shelter in place after an unidentified individual climbed a fence at the elementary school. The incident occurred around 2 p.m. on Friday, January 23. Bradford County … Read more
