BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor TALLAHASSEE— Florida’s Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis awarded the Volunteer Firefighter of the Year Award to Melrose’s Joshua Florence, during a ceremony in the chamber of the Florida Senate on Sept. 20. Patronis said Florence exemplifies what it means to be a firefighter. “He serves as … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor STARKE— Bradford deputies arrested a Hawthorne man after discovering he had an outstanding warrant in Alachua County and after he was accused of stealing and pawning power tools. David Wayne Debrabant, 57, was arrested on Sept. 25 for an out-of-county warrant, burglary, larceny, dealing in stolen property and fraud. According … Read more
PALATKA— The St. Johns River Water Management District’s Governing Board on Tuesday, Sept. 28 adopted its fiscal year 2021‒2022 budget and adopted its rolled-back rate for a ninth consecutive year. The rolled-back rate is the millage rate that would provide the same amount of ad valorem tax revenue as the previous year’s millage rate. Executive … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor LAKE BUTLER— Libby’s Art of Healing Massage and Wellness held a grand opening at its new location in Lake Butler on Thursday, Sept. 30. The open house included complimentary chair massages, refreshments and door prizes, including gift cards from other Lake Butler merchants and restaurants. Owner Kristina Libby Crawford said that after operating in … Read more
Editor’s Note: Be sure to pick up a copy of the Union County Times Centennial Celebration special issue on newsstands now. This weekend, Sept 30-Oct 2, Union County will celebrate two milestones, all in one weekend. It will be the end of Homecoming Week for Union County High School. After fun and games during the … Read more
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD Telegraph Editor WORTHINGTON SPRINGS — A 54-year-old woman and 9-year-old girl from Worthington Springs were killed in a tragic accident Wednesday night. A 53-year-old man driving the sedan was seriously injured. The accident took place just after 8 p.m. on Sept. 29 on State Road 121. The sedan and its passengers … Read more
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD Telegraph Editor STARKE — Another well-attended meeting on Bradford County’s budget Sept. 23 began with a pledge that there will be no more business as usual when it comes to spending taxpayers’ dollars. The room and viewers at home — thanks to a live social media feed provided by the sheriff’s … Read more
Taxes going up as well BY MARK J. CRAWFORD Telegraph Editor STARKE — Tax Collector Teressa Phillips promised to seek raises for her employees when a last-minute change in the county budget provided raises for nearly everyone else. Bradford commissioners approved a $69.7 million budget for 2021-22, which was more than $13 million above the … Read more
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD Telegraph Editor Former Starke Police Chief Jimmy Epps died on Sunday at the age of 81. After splitting his youth between Arkansas and Starke, Epps entered the U.S. Air Force, spending 20 years enlisted, including three tours in Vietnam. The decorated veteran then joined the Starke Police Department. He worked for … Read more
Lake Region business opening third office soon BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor KEYSTONE HEIGHTS—A client liaison with a Starke and Keystone Heights-based company told a Lake Region civic group that her company thrived during the COVID-19 pandemic. Heather Davis told the Keystone Heights Rotary Club that the very week she joined Legacy Home Health Care … Read more
