BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— Members of the Keystone Heights High School Indian Battalion told a civic group that the primary goal of JROTC, contrary to popular belief, is not to create future soldiers but rather to develop future citizens and leaders. The battalion’s leadership team made a presentation to the Lake Region … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor STARKE— With a 2.9% December unemployment rate, Clay County led the area in an increasingly tight labor market. Bradford County’s unemployment rate for December was 3.5% and Union’s was 3.0%. However, because of its smaller work force, Union had the second-lowest number of people looking for a job in the … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— The Lake Region Development Corporation said it is sponsoring a new Clay County Chamber of Commerce council that will focus on expanding economic development in Keystone Heights. The corporation’s Executive Director Scott Kornegay said the Lake Region Prosperity Council will increase education, foster connections and coordinate business development … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor Three monkeys escaped into the Pennsylvania countryside after a Keystone Heights man driving a pickup with an enclosed trailer ran into a dump truck near Interstate 80. Pennsylvania State Police said Cody Brooks, 31, of Keystone Heights was driving the pickup on State Road 54 at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, … Read more
New hires keeping pace with separations BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor TALLAHASSEE— Florida’s Secretary of Corrections told a Senate committee last week that for the first time in over a year, more people were hired in the department’s Region 1 than employees who retired or resigned from the region’s facilities. Region 1 covers the panhandle. … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor LAKE BUTLER— The Florida Highway Patrol said a 22-year-old Starke woman was killed in an early-morning crash on State Road 121 north of Lake Butler. Troopers wrote in a news release that at around 6:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 21, a 32-year-old Lake City man driving a Dodge pickup southbound … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor ORANGE PARK— A Keystone Heights High School senior won a countywide public speaking contest held at the Orange Park Rotary Club. Bryce Couey won the Clay County competition and now advances to the next level. Students from 45 First Coast high schools were invited to participate in the competition. Couey … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— City Council Member Tony Brown filed for reelection with the Clay County Supervisor of Elections office last week. Brown’s Seat 1 is slated to be on the April 12 ballot. So far, no one else has filed to run against him. Candidates have until Feb. 4 to qualify. … Read more
Health officer hopes pandemic nears end BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Edior GREEN COVE SPRINGS— The leader of the Florida Department of Health’s Clay County office said the COVID-19 Omicron variant spreads faster than earlier versions of the virus but causes less severe symptoms. Heather Huffman told county commissioners during their Jan. 11 meeting that new … Read more
