BY DAN HILDEBRAN General manager KEYSTONE HEIGHTS—Former Clay County Superintendent of Schools Charlie VanZant Jr. was one of three finalists the city council chose to replace current city manager Lynn Rutkowski during a December 20 meeting. The other two finalists are Elmon Lee Garner and Jeff Shoobrige. Garner brings management experience from three Florida municipalities: … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN General manager KEYSTONE HEIGHTS—Clay County commissioners said no to a request by IKO to limit the Canadian company’s indemnity liability. IKO, a Toronto-based roofing, waterproofing, and insulation manufacturer, said that it plans to construct a new manufacturing campus in Clay County, about five miles north of the Bradford County line. “The 300,000 … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN General manager KEYSTONE HEIGHTS—New Clay County Board of County Commissioners Chair Jim Renninger recognized the outgoing chair, Betsy Condon, during the board’s December 12 meeting. Renninger said that during Condon’s tenure, the Crystal Lake resident championed high-speed internet for rural residents, improving traffic flow, drainage, careful approval of new developments, growth in … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN General manager The Florida Highway Patrol said a pedestrian died after being hit by a sport utility vehicle, a semi, and a pickup on U.S. 301 north of Lawtey Tuesday night. The state agency said the man was standing in the southbound lanes of the highway north of the Clay-Bradford County line … Read more
BY JOY SEGALL Santa Fe Audubon Seventy-three birders with binoculars, telescopes, and cameras took to the roads, fields, forests, and lakes on December 15 for the 34th annual Christmas Bird Count of the Melrose Circle. Covering over 175 square miles in a circle centered at the intersection of State Road 100 and Clay County Road … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN General manager STARKE—Florida’s Cabinet led by Gov. Ron DeSantis voted to turn over a 100,000-square-foot warehouse and its accompanying 24 acres to Bradford County. State CFO Jimmy Patronis and Attorney General Ashley Moody joined DeSantis in greenlighting the property transfer during a December 19 cabinet meeting. The Douglas Building is located at … Read more
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. Bradford Cameron Christopher … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN General manager KEYSTONE HEIGHTS—Clay County Public Schools Athletic Director Jay Stilianou told the school board during its December 7 meeting that all seven of the county’s high schools and two of its junior highs participated in this year’s American Cancer Society Pink Out Games fundraiser. Stilianou said this was the second year … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN General manager KEYSTONE HEIGHTS—The Clay Education Foundation announced during the December 7 school board meeting that the winners will be announced during the foundation’s Apple Awards ceremony on February 8 at the Thrasher-Horne Center. The Teacher-of-the-Year finalists are from Wilkinson Junior High, Robin Campbell; from Oakleaf Junior High, Karen Whitten; from Wilkinson … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN General manager Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook has amassed over $141,000 in campaign contributions for the 2024 election cycle, nearly twice that of the second-place finisher, School Superintendent David Broskie. Cook is also the only candidate who faces opposition thus far in the cycle. Former Sheriff Daryl Daniels filed to get his … Read more
