Clay County

Clay Economic Development Corp. funding airport site prep – Working with Space Florida to get businesses at facility

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Telegraph Staff Writer KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— The Clay County Economic Development Corporation president said his organization plans to use a $122,000 state grant to develop sites at the Keystone Heights Airport. Crawford Powell told the Republican Men of Clay during the club’s June 21 meeting that his organization hopes to attract aviation maintenance…

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Clay County

One dead in KH shooting – Casualties sheltered shooter’s ex-girlfriend

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Telegraph Staff Writer KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— The Clay County Sheriff’s Office said one person is dead and another hospitalized after the two tried to help a friend who was estranged from her ex-boyfriend. Deputies arrested 20-year-old John Jacob Thornton of Keystone Heights on Saturday, June 24 for second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.…

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Features

Lee named Rotarian of the Year

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Telegraph Staff Writer KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— Outgoing Rotary Club President Richard Segall named Ginger Lee the club’s 2022-2023 Rotarian of the Year during the group’s annual officer installation meeting at Santa Fe Lake. Segall said the award is not necessarily for the most visible club member but for the Rotarian who significantly contributes…

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Obituaries — June 20, 2023

Annie Ardley Annie Lou Ardley, 84, of Lawtey died on Monday, June 12, 2023, at Haven Hospice of Gainesville. She was born in Tallahassee and later moved to Lawtey. She was of the Christian faith. She was a certified nurse assistant and employed with various hospitals and nursing facilities. She is survived by her nephew,…

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Clay County

Freedom 5K leads Our Country Day activities

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Telegraph Staff Writer KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— The Freedom 5K Run will kick off the 55th annual Our Country Day in Keystone Heights on July 4th. The run benefits the Jordan Cooper Memorial Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships to Keystone Heights High School seniors. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the city will host…

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Clay County

Sheriff describes plans for school shootings

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Telegraph Staff Writer Sheriff Michelle Cook described three different scenarios under which her agency and the school district would reunify students with their parents in cases of shootings or other catastrophic incidents at Clay County public schools. Cook made her comments on her podcast: Never Off Duty, hosted by Judson Sapp with…

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Bradford County

Local unemployment inched up in May

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Telegraph Staff Writer STARKE— The unemployment rates in Bradford, Union, and Clay counties increased by around one-half percentage point in May. All three counties tallied unemployment rates of 2.2% in April. Bradford’s rate increased to 2.7% in May, Union’s rate rose to 2.8% in May, while Clay County’s percentage increased to 2.6%.…

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Clay County

County gets public input on strategic plan

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Telegraph Staff Writer KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— Clay County officials led a town hall-like discussion on the county’s emerging strategic plan in Keystone Heights. The gathering at the beach pavilion on Wednesday, June 14, was the final of six meetings officials held throughout the area. County Commission Chair Betsy Condon said she started pushing…

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Features

Delivering God’s peace in war

BY CLIFF SMELLEY Telegraph Staff Writer Peace in the midst of war sounds like a contradiction, but for Christian Hickey, the two go hand in hand when they’re part of God’s will. Hickey, a 2000 Keystone Heights High School graduate, is currently living in Ukraine with his wife, Ashley, and their three children: Christian, 6,…

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