BY DAN HILDEBRAN Telegraph Staff Writer KEYSTONE HEIGHTS—The developers of Popeye’s Fried Chicken in Keystone Heights have poured the foundation for the new eatery and are erecting framing for the building between the town’s Walgreens and Dollar General on Green Way. City Manager Lynn Rutkowski told the city council during the council’s April 3 meeting … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Telegraph Staff Writer KEYSTONE HEIGHTS—Clay Electric said its foundation awarded 13 organizations $165,900 in March. Lake Area Ministries in Keystone Heights and the Foundation for Florida Gateway College led the nonprofits in gifts, receiving $20,000 each. Clay Electric said the Lake Region food bank will use its funds to finance its food … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Telegraph Staff Writer KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— Airport officials and tenants said goodbye to departing airport manager Maria Searcy during a reception at the facility on March 31. Searcy arrived at the event in a hot rod owned by retired commercial pilot and current airport tenant Ken Oddy. Officials from some of the airport’s … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Telegraph Staff Writer KEYSTONE HEIGHTS—Officials opened the Clay County Agricultural Fair on Thursday, March 30. The festivities included the entry of the fair board of directors on a parade float and appearances by the Clay High drum line and sheriff’s office color guard. Fair Manager Tasha Hyder said this year’s edition of … 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 Stephen Jay … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Telegraph Staff Writer KEYSTONE HEIGHTS—A class of JROTC cadets told a visiting speaker at Keystone Heights High School that they rarely see cigarettes on campus but that vaping at the school is common. Air National Guard Technical Sergeant Rob George presented an anti-drug demonstration to the students, warning them against the dangers … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Telegraph Staff Writer STARKE—Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a permitless carry bill sponsored by local legislators Bobby Payne and Chuck Brannan. Brannan represents Bradford and Union counties in Florida’s House of Representatives. Payne represents southern Clay County, including Keystone Heights. The new law allows most citizens to carry a concealed weapon … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Telegraph Staff Writer KEYSTONE HEIGHTS—Clay County commissioners amended their contract with a national promoter of kayak bass fishing, deleting the promoter’s role in producing a fishing tournament in Clay County and requiring him only to promote the sport within the county. When announcing the tournament last November at Whitey’s Fish Camp in … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Telegraph Staff Writer KEYSTONE HEIGHTS—Some motors seeking to park at the Clay County Fair Sunday afternoon abandoned their cars on the shoulder of State Road 16 in favor of waiting to get into the event’s facilities. The sheriff’s office and fire rescue said the parking lots at the fairgrounds were full and … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Telegraph Staff Writer KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— JTA officials told Clay County commissioners that it plans to eventually downgrade its Magenta Line from a scheduled bus route to an on-demand service. The Jacksonville-based agency took over Clay County bus service in 2019 after the Council on Aging, which previously managed the service, ran out … Read more
