BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— The principal of Keystone Heights Elementary School said her leadership team is focusing on supporting inexperienced teachers this year. Beth Turberville told school board members during their Oct. 6 meeting that because of a statewide teacher shortage, many instructors entering the classroom do not have degrees from colleges … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— A St. Johns River Water Management District official said Lake Brooklyn’s water level rose 2.8 feet in September. During the district’s October governing board meeting, Christine Mundy, the district’s bureau chief of Water Resource Information, showed a chart outlining the lake’s water level over the past 12 months. … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor KEYSTONE HEIGHTS—The authors of a strategic plan for Clay County tourism released the document to the county’s Tourism Development Council on Monday, October 10. The plan states that the county should focus on luring amateur sports events and selling the area’s outdoor attractions. Tyler Othan of Conventions, Sports and Leisure … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor STARKE—A Clay County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant has been arrested for driving under the influence for the second time within 10 months. Christopher Coldiron was arrested for DUI on Friday, Oct. 14, by FHP troopers. In July, Coldiron, 48, was sentenced to 12 months’ probation and two days served for the … 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 Michael Thomas … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor GREEN COVE SPRINGS— Volunteers opened the first batch of mail-in ballots for the Nov. 8 general election on Monday, Oct. 17, at the Supervisor of Elections Office. Elections Chief Chris Chambless supervised four groups of three volunteers who opened around 5,000 mail-in ballots. The office has sent out 37,000 mail-in … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor STARKE— A Canadian-based manufacturer of construction materials is close to announcing a new plant near the intersection of US 301 and Clay County Road 218, four miles north of the Bradford-Clay County line. The development, labeled as “Project Gator” by Clay County officials, will bring around 100 high-wage jobs to … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor STARKE— Since the 1920s, residents and visitors to Kingsley Lake noticed that among the course white sand along the lake’s beaches, thin streaks of a black, silky substance could also be seen lacing through the pearly granules. The black substance was ilmenite. After processing, ilmenite becomes titanium dioxide, a pigment … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor STARKE— Chemours held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its new $93 million Trail Ridge plant on Friday, Oct. 14, in conjunction with the Clay Chamber of Commerce. The company first operated at Trail Ridge as the E.I. DuPont Company, beginning in 1946. In July 2015, DuPont spun off the newly created … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— Clay County School Board Chair Mary Bolla and Clay Education Association President Vicki Kidwell ceremoniously signed the district’s new collective bargaining agreement during the Oct. 6 school board meeting. Association members earlier ratified the contract, with 96.6% of union members supporting the agreement. However, association Executive Director Betsy … Read more
