BY MARK J. CRAWFORD [email protected] The Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested 45-year-old Karl Davis Staton from Lawtey on multiple charges related to child exploitation, including three counts of possession of child sexual abuse material and one count of unlawful use of a two-way communication device. FDLE said the arrest is part of its ongoing … Read more
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD [email protected] Preparing to revive impact fees for new developments inside the city limits, Starke city commissioners accepted the results of a new study on those fee amounts. A prior commission placed a mortarium on the collection of impact fees to encourage growth, but, as Mayor Andy Redding pointed out, that doesn’t … Read more
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD [email protected] Bradford County’s decision to reject a rezoning request could backfire if the landowner chooses to retaliate. After hearing concerns from neighbors about drainage, flooding and property values, commissioners voted 3-2 to turndown Brightburn Properties’ request for the rural residential zoning category, which would have allowed for mobile homes on nearly … Read more
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD [email protected] In an emergency order Nov. 25, Bradford County joined others in north Florida in declaring a burn ban. Despite some rain Tuesday, commissioners retroactively approved the order at their Dec. 2 meeting and extended the ban through Dec. 10. Bradford County Emergency Management shared information showing Bradford County in moderate … Read more
According to multiple sources, including Action News Jax, WFTV and Fox News, Florida officials have decided to turn over 500 Chinese-made drones that were recently confiscated into military training tools. These drones, which were banned due to safety concerns, will be used by U.S. Special Operations Command for target practice at Camp Blanding from Dec. … Read more
Dear Editor: Operation Christmas Child National Collection Week 2025 has ended. Another incredible year of shoebox collection occurred at the Trinity Baptist drop-off location in Keystone Heights. Our Lake Area Region often goes above and beyond. I clearly witnessed this through Operation Christmas Child, an evangelistic ministry of Samaritan’s Purse. I am the team … Read more
Bradford IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 8TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR BRADFORD COUNTY CASE NO. 04-2024-DP-000132 IN THE INTEREST OF: D.C.A. DOB: 8/9/2010, K.M. DOB: 4/5/2016, D.A. DOB: 3/16/2022, E.A. DOB: 5/21/2025, MINOR CHILDREN NOTICE OF ACTION TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS TO: Kristy Alvarez, address unknown YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that … Read more
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD [email protected] Bradford County commissioners granted the Florida Resiliency and Energy District permission to offer financing to commercial developers, including developer Dwight Hewett, who wants to build townhomes in downtown Starke. FRED is a separate legal and governmental entity, established under the Florida Development Finance Corporation to administer a financing program known … Read more
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD [email protected] Discussion of the C-PACE funding alternative for commercial projects revealed some more details about the Dwight Hewett’s CityWalk project and who might someday call it home. CityWalk has been described as a 45-unit, sustainably constructed pathway to home ownership where residents can rent, purchase or rent to own their townhome. … Read more
