Chemours laying off 30% of workforce – New contractor may hire displaced workers

BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] Chemours told employees at its Trail Ridge worksite this week that the company is laying off approximately 30% of its workforce, but that a new contractor may hire those displaced workers. The company employs around 230 employees at the Trail Ridge operation. Chemours said it is shifting its field operations to … Read more

Starke woman killed near Highland

BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected]  The Florida Highway Patrol said a 21-year-old Starke woman died on Saturday, January 3, when her pickup truck left the roadway on US Highway 301 one-half mile south of the Bradford-Clay County line, near the community of Highland. According to a news release, the woman was driving northbound around 8:10 p.m. … Read more

Millions awarded for local infrastructure projects

BY MARK J. CRAWFORD [email protected] On the heels of Starke’s announcement of more than $23 million awarded for its water system improvement and extension project comes the announcement of millions more for Bradford, Union and Keystone Heights. More than $311 million has been awarded to 37 Florida communities, 32 of which were rural cities and … Read more

Permits slip but more housing on the way

BY MARK J. CRAWFORD [email protected] Starke had more commercial building permits pulled in 2025 than new housing permits. The seven single family homes were one-fifth the number permitted last year, although that number had been inflated by the 21 rental homes constructed in the Sandcastle Pines development on North Westmoreland Street. But Starke has more … Read more

Clay school board member under fire for rant about race, ethinticity

Clay school board member: Most black people are nasty, rude, problematic BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected]  The chair of the Clay County School Board said one of her colleagues should consider resigning after posting a video to Facebook in which he said about African Americans, “80%, they’re being nasty, they’re being rude, they’re being problematic, always … Read more

Merry Melrose Parade celebrates 36th year

BY JENN SAMSEL [email protected] The streets of Melrose along State Road 26 came alive as crowds gathered for the highly anticipated 36th-year Merry Melrose Parade and Santa Claus. The parade occurred on Saturday, December 13. There were dancers, decorated floats, musical artists, and marching bands, all celebrating the holiday season, ending with an appearance by … Read more