Richard Baleno Mr. Richard Baleno, 70, of Starke died Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, at Windsor Health and Rehab in Starke. He was born on May 5, 1955, in Orlando to the late Samto and Ora (Sears) Baleno. There are no scheduled services per Richard’s request. Arrangements are under the care of Jones-Gallagher Funeral Home, 620 … Read more
BY CLIFF SMELLEY [email protected] Most of us probably aren’t going to find a reason to celebrate if we’re outdoors in 40-degree weather wearing short sleeves and shorts, but if you win a district championship, that’s an entirely different matter. The Keystone Heights High School girls soccer team scored three unanswered goals in defeating host Interlachen … Read more
BY CLIFF SMELLEY [email protected] Keystone Heights High School will have an additional 10 weightlifters each competing in the Olympic and traditional events at Region 3-1A meet, while Union County and Keystone have six and three additional qualifiers, respectively. The champions at the District 6 meet (see related post) automatically qualified for the region meet, which … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] Sailormen Inc., which operated a Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen in Keystone Heights and 135 other restaurants across Florida and Georgia, submitted its bankruptcy petition on January 15 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida. The filing puts the jobs of more than 3,200 hourly employees in limbo as … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] Keystone Heights Mayor Nina Rodenroth said state officials have budgeted dedicated turning lanes at South Lawrence Boulevard (State Road 21) and Walker Drive (State Road 100) for 2027. The mayor said around five street parking spaces in front of Keystone Gifts and Guns and Clyde’s Cozy Corner Cafe will be lost … Read more
The following individuals were recently arrested 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 … Read more
BY CLIFF SMELLEY [email protected] Trenton Noble scored both goals for the Keystone Heights High School boy soccer team in its 3-2 loss to Eastside in the Jan. 23 District 4-3A tournament semifinals in Alachua. The third seed Rams (6-8-3) play top seed Santa Fe (10-4-3) for the championship on Tuesday, Jan. 27. Second seed Keystone … Read more
BY CLIFF SMELLEY [email protected] Halea Lam and Ryleigh Thomas each scored two goals for the second seed Keystone Heights High School girls soccer team, which defeated third seed North Marion 7-0 in a Jan. 22 semifinal match in the District 4-3A tournament at Interlachen High School. Keystone (7-11-3) will play top seed Interlachen for the … Read more
BY CLIFF SMELLEY [email protected] Keystone Heights High School won five weight classes each in Olympic and traditional to win the championship trophies in both events for the fourth straight year at the District 6-1A girls weightlifting meet on Jan. 21 at KHHS. The Indians had a team score of 83 in the Olympic event, putting … Read more
Dave Alvarez Loren David “Dave” Alvarez, born on Sept. 28, 1955, passed away Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. Barbara Barksdale The world lost a bright light on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, with the passing of our devoted mother, Barbara Barksdale. Barbara was born to James Wagner and Pearl (McAlhany) Horne on Sept. 29, 1927, in … Read more
