BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— Bradford deputies arrested a couple near the Bradford-Clay County line after rounds from their backyard shooting spree hit a neighbor’s home. Robert C. Godwin, 56, and Cassandra Flowers Johnson, 31, were arrested for weapons offenses on Thursday, Feb. 10. According to an arrest report, a neighbor living near … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor STARKE— Bradford County’s fire chief told the Keystone Heights Rotary Club that his department switched over to paid firefighters because the volunteer system no longer worked. Ben Carter made the comments during a Feb. 9 meeting. He has been the Bradford County fire chief since 2020, working in the county’s … Read more
Commissioners facing the future of fire rescue services BY MARK J. CRAWFORD Telegraph Editor STARKE — The public may not fully comprehend — or even agree with — the need to raise revenue to support county fire and emergency medical services, but Bradford County Fire Rescue is very transparent about how it operates and what … Read more
Commission confronted about status of mining plan BY MARK J. CRAWFORD Telegraph Editor STARKE — Mining opponent Carol Mosely returned to the county commission Feb. 7 to address discrepancies about the study of a plan to mine phosphate in Bradford County. Mosley has been pushing to find out why the study has supposedly taken years … Read more
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD Telegraph Editor STARKE — Representatives of Winn-Dixie will appear before Starke’s Board of Adjustment Monday seeking permission to open a liquor store. An attorney for Belco Enterprises submitted an application for a special exception to permit a package liquor store within a Community Commercial zoning district. Package stores sell alcoholic beverages … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor STARKE— Bradford deputies arrested a Starke woman after her child shared THC-laced candy with other neighborhood children, prompting some of the victims to be treated at a hospital. THC is the psychoactive compound in marijuana. Adrienne Leigh Jones, 27, was arrested for five counts of child neglect, possession of marijuana … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor STARKE— A 35-year-old Starke woman was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading to killing her sister by two stab wounds to the victim’s chest. Amanda Lee Godwin pleaded no contest to the March 21, 2021, offense of second-degree murder. According to an arrest report, the victim: Rachel Combs … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— The Keystone Heights city manager said she was quitting, and two council members told Mayor Karen Lake she should resign over late-night texts sent from the mayor to City Manager Lynn Rutkowski over the last several months. Council Member Tony Brown brought up the issue of Lake’s messages … Read more
Feb. 5 through Feb. 11 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
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor GREEN COVE SPRINGS— Commissioners approved 4-1 a five-year trap-neuter-vaccinate-and-release program which will cost $75,000 in the current fiscal year, $160,000 next year, $255,000 in 2023-24 and around one-half million dollars each in fiscal years 2024-25 and 2025-26. The $75,000 for the current year was already approved in the county’s budget. … Read more
