BY CLIFF SMELLEY [email protected] Bradford High School’s competitive cheer team placed sixth in Medium Non-Tumbling at the Jan. 23 Class 1A Florida High School Athletic Association Championships in Lakeland. The Tornadoes, who completed their fourth year in competitive cheer, have qualified for state every year. They earned a third-place finish at the 2025 state finals. … 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
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] Murray Ford is set to unveil an 18-bay Quick Lane service facility this month, marking a major expansion for the dealership that has grown from 14 service bays to nearly 40 in just 16 years. The 18,000-square-foot, $6.2 million facility represents the latest chapter in a growth story that began in … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] Starke’s Holiday Inn Express will be celebrating its third anniversary on March 30. The 80-room hotel, which opened its doors in 2022, represents a significant investment in Bradford County’s hospitality infrastructure by F&R Enterprises, a company with seven hotels and numerous convenience stores across Florida. General Manager Jolene Carwise, who has … Read more
BY CLIFF SMELLEY [email protected] A free throw by Kah’myra Hankerson sent the game into overtime, but the Bradford High School girls basketball team was then outscored 15-10 in losing 47-42 to visiting Oakleaf on Jan. 24. Oakleaf (11-11) scored eight of the first 11 points in overtime, but the Tornadoes cut their deficit to two … Read more
BY CLIFF SMELLEY [email protected] Maliki Cobarris scored all but two of Bradford High School’s 17 fourth-quarter points as the Tornadoes defeated visiting Oakleaf 56-51 in a boys basketball game on Jan. 24. The Tornadoes (15-2) trailed 14-13 before opening the second quarter with a 12-4 run. Dylan Ruise scored the first basket of the quarter, … Read more
BY CLIFF SMELLEY [email protected] Bradford High School girls weightlifter Destiny Randolph automatically qualified for region-level competition by winning her weight class in the traditional event at the District 6-1A meet, which was held Jan. 21 at Keystone Heights High School. Randolph won the 183-pound class with a 275-pound total (140 clean and jerk, 135 bench … Read more
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD [email protected] County commissioners have invited ICE to consider Bradford as a warehouse location for immigrants awaiting adjudication or deportation. Two — Commissioners Carolyn Spooner and Danny Riddick — voted against advancing the proposal because of the selected location. The Douglas Building — originally acquired from the state for economic development — … Read more
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD [email protected] Bradford High School’s graduation rate changed little in 2025. In fact, it was a tenth of a point down to 87.2%. The school had been pushing for 90% after increasing nearly five percentage points in 2024. That increase contributed to the school’s historic 2025 school grade — its first B. … Read more
