BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] Keystone Heights Mayor Nina Rodenroth and Seat 5 Council Member Brandon Ludwig were the only candidates who qualified for their respective offices and will therefore continue for additional three-year terms beginning in April. Rodenroth first ran for the office in 2023. She was the only candidate who qualified. She is a … Read more
BY JENN SAMSEL [email protected] A resident of Keystone Heights and the owner of Keystone Heights Insurance was awarded the Board Director of the Year Award in December 2025. For the past eight years, Barbara Franklin has volunteered and served as the Melrose Fire Department’s secretary, averaging 150 volunteer hours per year. The award, presented by … Read more
BY JENN SAMSEL [email protected] Two students from Keystone Heights Elementary School excelled in the local Spelling Bee championships. Fifth grader Bristol Wasdin secured first place, while sixth grader Ashlynn Frysinger took second. This was their first time competing. The competition took place on Thursday, January 15. The students were given two weeks to memorize 450 … Read more
BY JENN SAMSEL [email protected] Each Year in Clay County, teachers and school-related employees are nominated by their peers for their exceptional commitment to their schools and communities, as well as their dedication to going above and beyond in their everyday lives. At the Thrasher-Horne Center in Clay County, teachers, family members, friends, and dedicated staff … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] The Keystone Heights City Council voted Monday to remove one street parking space on South Lawrence Boulevard to improve traffic flow and safety at a congested intersection, while also approving more than $41,000 to support the Lake Geneva restoration project. The parking space removal, the northernmost spot in front of Keystone … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] The Keystone Heights Heritage Commission met on January 20 to review recent projects and plan upcoming community events, including preparations for the annual fourth-grade field trip and the second annual Chautauqua event. Inventory Project Advances Museum Planning Chair Deirdre Murphy reported significant progress on the commission’s inventory project, which aims … Read more
Kolden Jenkins We gather today with heavy hearts to remember and celebrate the remarkable life of Kolden Blake Jenkins, a vivacious young boy who brought joy to everyone around him. Born Nov. 7, 2010, in Gainesville, Kolden, whose time with us was far too short, passed away at his home in Starke on Tuesday, Jan. … Read more
BY CLIFF SMELLEY [email protected] Keystone Heights High School ended the regular season with a 51-40 win over host Bell on Jan. 30 to enter the District 3-3A tournament on a three-game win streak. The sixth seed Indians (7-14) travel to play third seed Baldwin (10-11) in the quarterfinals of the district tournament on Tuesday, Feb. … Read more
BY CLIFF SMELLEY [email protected] Raven Bastin hit the go-ahead three-pointer and scored nine points in the fourth quarter to help the Keystone Heights High School girls basketball team rally for a 33-31 win over visiting Baldwin in a Feb. 2 District 3-3A tournament quarterfinal game. It was Keystone’s first district tournament win in four years. … Read more
