BY DAN HILDEBRAN General manager KEYSTONE HEIGHTS—A Jacksonville attorney asked the Clay County School Board to join a class action lawsuit against the owners of Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and other social media companies. Wayne Hogan told board members during a Nov. 28 workshop that his firm is representing the Putnam and Duval County school districts … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN General manager KEYSTONE HEIGHTS—The Keystone Heights Heritage Commission wants to designate a large oak tree behind City Hall with a historical marker. A member of the public told the commission during its Nov. 21 meeting that a similar large oak in Thomasville, Georgia has become somewhat of a tourist attraction. “They’ve got … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN General manager KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— The Florida Highway Patrol said an 18-year-old Keystone Heights man and a 17-year-old Middleburg girl were killed when the car they were in left the roadway, hit a tree, overturned, and came to rest in a retention pond in the Oakleaf Plantation area. FHP said in a news … 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 Brandon Lee … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN General manager KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— Sen. Jennifer Bradley is making a second attempt to get animals legal representation in Florida courts. The Fleming Island Republican filed a similar bill last year, but the measure failed to make it out of the Senate’s Judiciary Committee. In 2022, Democratic Sen. Jason Pizzo filed a bill … Read more
The ninth annual Krawl’n for the Fallen Jeep event wrapped up at the Keystone Heights Airport on Sunday, Nov. 12. The event, which drew thousands of Jeep enthusiasts and supporters of law enforcement, was held at the Florida International Rally and Motorsports Park. Krawl’n for the Fallen is one of the largest off-road events held … Read more
Two Clay County Public Schools bus drivers described the hardships they and their colleagues endure, including abuse from parents and increased workloads due to a driver shortage. During their November meeting, bus driver Carol Green told school board members that the last school year was a “nightmare” for the district’s transportation workers, and she sees … 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 Demarcus Emanuel … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN General manager The Clay County School Board, during a Thursday, Nov. 2 school board meeting, voted 4-1 to authorize the superintendent to negotiate with the sheriff for school security services. The vote represented another step in transferring responsibility from the school district’s police force to the sheriff’s office for keeping students safe. … Read more
The Keystone Heights City Council passed the first reading of an ordinance on October 23 that would place a charter amendment before voters next year, impacting the governance of the municipality’s airport. Now, the airport is governed by a board consisting of four members from Keystone Heights, one member each from Clay and Bradford counties, … Read more
