Small counties work together to seek supplemental funding

BY TRACY LEE TATE Times Editor Union County has banded together with several other small counties that have significant prison inmate populations to ask the Florida legislature to increase a program called the Supplemental Distribution to the amounts originally approved for distribution to the counties. Union County Coordinator Jimmy Williams is always looking for ways … Read more

Brush fire covers 250 acres

Bradford County Fire Rescue units were dispatched at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 21 to the report of a brush fire in the area of Southeast 15th Avenue and Southeast 144th Street.  Upon arrival, units were able to gain access to the fire and quickly determine the fire was large in size. The fire was found to … Read more

Lake Region news summary

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor Keystone Beach closed for two months The beach will be closed beginning Monday, Feb. 14 and will remain closed until April. Renovations on the restroom area and the performance stage will take place during the two-month closure. The estimated cost of the project is over $600,000. Charter review committee considers … Read more

Recent arrests in Bradford, Union and Clay

Feb. 12 through Feb. 18 The following individuals were arrested recently 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 … Read more

Clay leaders lobby legislature

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor TALLAHASSEE— Clay County government and business leaders spoke to lawmakers in Tallahassee during the 6th Annual Clay Day at the State Capitol. Prior to the main event in the Capitol courtyard, the Lake Region Development Corporation sponsored a reception the previous night. The corporation’s executive director: Scott Kornegay said during … Read more

Clay Electric wins J.D. Power award

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor KEYSTONE HEIGHTS—Clay Electric Cooperative said it was awarded J.D. Power’s “Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Residential Electric Service among Cooperatives,” according to the J.D. Power 2021 Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study. The co-op has won other awards from the market research company in the past, but this is the … Read more

Bradford elections chief releases candidate handbook

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor STARKE— The Bradford County Supervisor of Elections Office has released its 2022 Candidate Handbook. Supervisor of Elections Amanda Seyfang said the handbook covers most of the questions candidates ask like what forms must be filed to become a candidate and how to qualify by the petition method. “Election laws are … Read more

Clay Electric Foundation distributes $92K

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— The Clay Electric Foundation Board of Directors approved 11 applications for a total of $91,849 in grants in January. In a social media post, the co-op said that each month the foundation board meets to review applications and to award funds. Organizations receiving grants for January included the … Read more