Lake Region

Clay Electric welcomes new CEO, says goodbye to longtime trustee

BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] Clay Electric Cooperative held its annual membership meeting on Saturday, March 28, at Keystone Heights Junior-Senior High School, with members learning of trustee election results, hearing from a new chief executive for the first time, and hearing departing comments from a longtime trustee More than 20,000 members cast ballots online and…

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Dan Hildebran March 31, 2026
News

Experts Urge Businesses to Embrace AI, Not Fear It

BY JENN SAMSEL [email protected] AI has become a controversial topic, as many fear it could replace humanity. During the Clay Chamber Lake Region Prosperity Partners Meeting, the discussion centered on artificial intelligence as a key part of the future. The integration of AI and its capabilities was explored, highlighting how small businesses can leverage it…

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Dan Hildebran March 31, 2026
News

Airport hosts drone program Shaping the Future of Warfare

BY JENN SAMSEL [email protected] The Keystone Heights Airport hosted Industry Day for the Drone Dominance Program, a program of the US National Drone Association. The event attracted 250 industry participants and showcased a variety of drones. It aimed to bring together vendors, demonstrate new technologies, and enable industry experts to experience the latest drone advancements…

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Dan Hildebran March 31, 2026
Bradford County

Cool days and classic moments at annual Strawberry Festival

BY MELISSA PYLE Special to the Telegraph Opening day at the 28th Annual Strawberry Festival began with blue skies, sunshine and a cool breeze, but was replaced with cooler temperatures and cloudy skies throughout the remainder of the weekend. But that didn’t change the warmth of the festival spirit, reflecting the family fun and small-town…

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Mark J. Crawford March 30, 2026
Lake Region - Free

23-year-old Firefighter tragically killed in Melrose

BY JENN SAMSEL [email protected] A 23-year-old from Florahome, a firefighter with Jacksonville Fire Rescue, was killed in a traffic crash on State Road 26 in Melrose. The incident occurred on Wednesday, March 25, at 2:30 a.m. As a result, the road was closed for several hours, diverting traffic to other areas of Melrose. According to…

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Dan Hildebran March 26, 2026
Lake Region

Lake Geneva Restoration Project Underway

BY JENN SAMSEL [email protected] The Lake Geneva Restoration Project has officially commenced in Keystone Heights at the Lake Geneva Boat Ramp of State Road 100 and State Road 214. On Thursday, March 19, crews went to the Lake Geneva Boat Ramp and began cutting down trees. According to the proposal, the trees being cut down…

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Dan Hildebran March 25, 2026
Lake Region - Free

Brush Fire in North Keystone Prompts Evacuations

BY JENN SAMSEL [email protected] A brush fire prompted evacuations for residents in the north end of Keystone Heights. The fire started in the Bondarenko Court area on Saturday, March 21, at 1:50 p.m. Multiple units from Clay County Fire Rescue and the Florida Forestry Service were deployed to fight the blaze. Due to the dry…

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Dan Hildebran March 24, 2026
News

Lake Butler commission approves city manager raise, splash pad repair; water tank cracks raise concern

BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] The Lake Butler City Commission approved a 10% salary increase for City Manager Kimberly Hayes, authorized a $52,914 overhaul of Lakeside Park’s splash pad, and moved ahead with a state park-improvement grant application at its regular meeting on March 17, but not before hearing an unscheduled briefing on a developing problem…

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Dan Hildebran March 23, 2026