BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] First Federal Bank marked its entry into the Bradford County market with a ribbon-cutting celebration that drew elected officials, chamber members, and community supporters to the new branch. Incorporated as First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Live Oak in 1962, the nonprofit mutual bank, owned by its customers, now serves…
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD [email protected] The city of Starke mourned the sudden loss of one of its employees this past week. City Manager Drew Mullins said Cory Adams — a meter reader — died right after work March 11. The death was not related to his job, and as he was only 23 years old,…
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD [email protected] It was the first fair under Bradford County’s ownership of the fairgrounds and the management of a new fair board, but a policy posted at the gates has led to a lawsuit. Christopher Rose II is suing both the county and the Bradford County Fair Association for prohibiting the open…
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD [email protected] Bradford County School District has funding to build its new commercial driving range. The news came last week as part of a $9 million Florida Job Growth Grant announcement. Gov. Ron DeSantis awarded $3 million so Bradford can continue training applicants for commercial driver’s licenses through North Florida Technical College.…
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD [email protected] Citing the inability to fill its seats, the Bradford Soil and Water Conservation District has been dissolved. Amy Morie chaired the board and said despite their efforts, they have been unable to fill vacant seats. The law was changed in 2023 requiring the conservation district boards to meet with five…
Due to continued drought conditions and a forecast that calls for lower than average rainfall in the months ahead, the Suwannee River Water Management District Governing Board on March 10 declared a Phase II Water Shortage. Currently, districtwide aquifer levels sit around the 20th percentile, and ongoing monitoring efforts show below average river flows throughout…
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] Union County School District officials are pursuing a state waiver to keep existing school start times in place and are moving forward with a plan to merge Lake Butler Middle School with Union County High School, Superintendent Mike Ripplinger told the school board during a workshop on March 10. The two-topic…
BY JENN SAMSEL [email protected] Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook was recognized by the President and invited to speak at the White House Women’s History Month event. The event on Thursday, March 12. On that same day, President Trump issued a proclamation celebrating Women’s History Month. “Women’s History Month, we celebrate the extraordinary American women of…
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] The St. Johns River Water Management District governing board voted unanimously on March 10 to concur with a Phase 2 severe water shortage declaration covering North Florida and Marion County, as the district reported its fourth consecutive month of below-normal rainfall and warned that conditions are unlikely to improve before summer.…
