BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] The Lake Butler City Commission heard a presentation on the completed Townsend Green Building roof project and discussed staffing improvements and a property transaction during its regular meeting on Tuesday, December 16. Doug Sanders of Andy Easton and Associates presented a detailed update on the historic Townsend Green Building roof restoration, … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] Union County commissioners unanimously approved $500 Christmas bonuses for all 59 full-time county employees during their December 15 meeting, with Commissioner Mac Johns making an impassioned plea for the gesture. “It’s that time of year, morale is not at its highest, but yet these guys are still out there working,” Johns … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] Clay County Schools Superintendent David Broskie used his remarks during a December 11 school board meeting to clarify misconceptions about charter school co-location and voice concerns about the growing cost of school vouchers to the district. Broskie said he wanted to address comments made during the public comment portion of the … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] More than a dozen speakers, most of them teachers, filled the public comment period at the December 11 Clay County School Board meeting with pleas for better pay and criticism of the board’s handling of recent compensation negotiations. The comments came after an impasse hearing, during which the board voted to … Read more
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD [email protected] The Florida Department of Health in Bradford County has issued a rabies alert following a confirmed case of rabies in a stray cat found north of Lawtey, off U.S. 301, on Dec. 1. The alert highlights the presence of rabies in the local wildlife population and emphasizes the importance of … Read more
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD [email protected] Starke will receive more than $23 million to fund major improvements to its water utility system. City Manager Drew Mullins said federal and state disaster funds allocated to help communities recover from Hurricanes Helene and Milton and mitigate future disasters will allow the project to move forward. He believes it’s … Read more
BY MELISSA PYLE AND MARK J. CRAWFORD Lawtey’s final council meeting of 2025 was filled with topics about the past, present and future of the city, including road repairs and the potential for the city’s recreation department. At least three citizens discussed business that has yet to be addressed. Residents have consistently asked for follow-up … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] Union County deputies served two search warrants on Tuesday, December 10 that resulted in the rescue of more than 40 dogs showing signs of mistreatment and suspected dogfighting abuse. The Union/Bradford SWAT Team executed the warrants at properties on Northwest 71st Run and West County Road 18 in Lake Butler as … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] Union County commissioners unanimously approved a Florida Power & Light application to add a battery energy storage system to the company’s existing solar facility southeast of Lake Butler. The project could potentially double the ad valorem tax revenue FPL currently pays on the 74.5-megawatt solar site that’s been operating since December … Read more
