22-year-old killed in crash

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor MELROSE— The Florida Highway Patrol said a 22-year-old man was killed when his pickup ran off State Road 21 Sunday morning and ran into a ditch on the highway’s west shoulder. The crash occurred around 2:30 a.m. near County Road 214, midway between Keystone Heights and Melrose. Troopers said the … Read more

Population up, water use down

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor GREEN COVE SPRINGS— Clay County Utility Authority Executive Director Jeremy Johnston told Clay County Commissioners during their Jan. 11 meeting that water demand today is 3.26% less than what it was in 2008-2009. “That’s very impressive,” he told commissioners, “when you start thinking that we (now) have 9,500 additional accounts … Read more

Bradley’s solar roof bill clears committee

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor TALLAHASSEE— A bill sponsored by the Lake Region’s state senator that would change the way utilities pay owners of solar energy systems for power cleared the Senate’s Regulated Industries Committee by a six to two vote on Jan. 11. Opponents of Jennifer Bradley’s Senate Bill 1024 argued that if passed, … Read more

Keystone Rotary welcomes new member

BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— The Rotary Club installed Keystone Airport board member Chad Rischar as its newest member during the club’s Wednesday, Jan. 12 meeting at the Montgomery Center. Rischar is a business development manager in the Gainesville office of DRMP, an Orlando-based engineering, surveying and construction firm. He chairs the airport … Read more

Agency works to close foster parent gap

2 NCF counties currently have none Partnership for Strong Families, the lead child welfare agency in North Central Florida, is seeking the community’s help recruiting foster parents, specifically in Dixie and Union counties as neither county has any licensed foster parents. Dixie County currently has 10 youth in foster care while Union County has 23 … Read more

Cherry Street crossover closed

As part of FDOT’s Starke Railroad Overpass Interchange Improvements, the Cherry Street crossover will be closed for the bridge overpass foundation work from the second week of January through late February, weather and unforeseen circumstances permitting. South to North Cherry Street Crossover Detour: Heading north, drivers will turn right onto Frontage Road (eastbound State Road … Read more

Listen: City won’t pay Nugent’s legal bill

BY MARK J. CRAWFORD Telegraph Editor The Starke City Commission has refused to reimburse Commissioner Danny Nugent’s $300 legal bill after the abrupt end of a misconduct investigation. In November, city and contract employees accused Nugent of verbally hostile and threatening behavior, which led to the city to appoint a committee to investigate the incident. … Read more

Wainwright services planned

Louie Lee Wainwright Sr., former Secretary of Corrections, State of Florida, passed away in peace on Dec. 23, 2021, in Tallahassee, Florida. A local service has been planned for Saturday, Jan. 15, at Kingsley Lake Cemetery at 3 p.m. Born on Sept. 11, 1923, in Lawtey, Florida, he remained true to his home state, serving … Read more