BY DAN HILDEBRAN Telegraph Staff Writer KEYSTONE HEIGHTS—Clay County School Board members adopted a policy during its June 1 meeting requiring students to use restrooms, locker rooms, and dressing rooms according to each student’s biological sex. “An individual student’s ‘biological sex’ is defined as the sex assigned to that student at birth, hereinafter, ‘birthsex’,” the … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Telegraph Staff Writer KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— During its June 5 meeting, the city council discussed the popup party in Lake Butler on June 3 that resulted in one person shot, seven arrests, and traffic tie-ups in the Union County seat that lasted nearly five hours. Council member Tony Brown asked Jeremy Clark, the … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Telegraph Staff Writer KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— Clay County’s Emergency Management Director announced his retirement, and the county said his deputy will move into the top job. John Ward said in an email that it is time to move on. “It is with both excitement and sadness that I would like to announce that … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Telegraph Staff Writer KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— Clay County Property Appraiser Tracy Drake said the 2023 taxable value of all properties in the county is estimated at approximately $16.5 billion – an annual increase of more than $1.9 billion, or 13% from the 2022 assessment roll. “The statutory date for the 2023 assessment roll … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Telegraph Staff Writer KEYSTONE HEIGHTS—The city council approved a $3 million bridge loan with Capital City Bank to assist the airport with improvements to the facility’s taxiways, lighting, and signs. Federal Aviation Administration and Florida Department of Transportation grants are funding the improvements. Airport board chair David Kirkland told the council that … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Telegraph Staff Writer KEYSTONE HEIGHTS—Florida TaxWatch said a $1 million state appropriation for a regional sports complex in Clay County is a budget turkey. The watchdog group said the park, under construction now near Camp Blanding, is one of 30 housing and community development projects totaling $41 million that should not have … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Telegraph Staff Writer KEYSTONE HEIGHTS—The Clay Electric Foundation said it donated $90,400 to nonprofits focused on education during the foundation’s May grant cycle. The Bradford County Education Foundation, Union County 4-H Association, and Alachua 4-H Association each received $20,000 from the co-op’s charitable arm. The Bradford group will use the funds to … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Telegraph Staff Writer KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— Keystone Beach hosted its second watersports tournament of the year, with the Pro Watercross Liqui Moly National Tour making a two-day stop in the Lake Region on June 3-4. City Manager Lynn Rutkowski said the event was seamless, with no traffic snarls or unexpected snafus. The tour … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Telegraph Staff Writer STARKE— IKO, a Canada-based roofing, waterproofing, and insulation manufacturer, confirmed that it plans to construct a new manufacturing campus in Clay County, about five miles north of the Bradford County line. Last November, the company applied for plant permits with the St. Johns River Water Management District. That same … Read more
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS—The Lake Region Kiwanis Community Band will present a free concert at noon on Saturday, June 10, inside the restored and air-conditioned Keystone Beach Pavilion. The 20-piece all-volunteer band has musicians from high school students to senior citizens. It features a full brass and woodwind section along with bass, drums, guitar, keyboards, four vocalists, … Read more
