The Florida State Board of Education declared the Union County and Glades County school districts in a state of financial emergency during an emergency meeting on Tuesday, March 31, voting unanimously to appoint a three-member oversight board to guide both districts toward recovery. Deputy Commissioner of Education for Finance and Operations Suzanne Pridgen told the…
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] Dozens of protesters lined the sidewalk on the southwest corner of U.S. 301 and State Road 100 in Starke on March 28 to protest the policies of President Donald Trump and a proposed Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Starke. A dozen more lined up in front of the proposed…
The following is an announcement of intention to seek public office submitted and paid for by the candidate. I want to thank the Bradford County Telegraph for allowing this one-time announcement of my intent to seek reelection to the District 3 seat of the Starke City Commission. It has been an honor to represent District…
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD [email protected] A global investment group wants to turn Keystone Heights Airport into a billion-dollar hub for drones, green energy and aerospace manufacturing. The airport could soon become home of one of the largest aerospace and aviation investments in the state’s history. Keystone Heights Airport and the Rana Group, a multinational conglomerate,…
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD [email protected] “We look fine,” Bradford Superintendent of Schools Will Hartley said when asked about the district’s financial position given the difficulties being faced across the line in Union and other counties. That’s due in part to surpassing the state’s projected enrollment for the year. Enrollment in large part determines funding. The…
Garbage fees to rise from $70 to $100; EMS fees from $70 to $120 under plan reached at March 30 workshop BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] After months of town halls and inconclusive meetings, the Union County Board of County Commissioners reached tentative consensus Monday on its first special assessment increase in years, agreeing to raise…
BY JENN SAMSEL [email protected] The Lake Geneva Restoration Project has made significant progress around Lake Geneva, with phase 1 cleared and phase 4 underway. Due to the heavy logging in the area, residents are warned not to trespass. According to Scott Slater, President of Save Our Lakes, “Friday, March 27th, a person on a four-wheeler…
BY JENN SAMSEL [email protected] FaithFuel Nutrition has recently acquired the Nutrition Retreat Smoothie Shop in Keystone Heights. On Saturday, March 28th, FaithFuel Nutrition held its grand opening. The shop was acquired in February, and the location was remodeled. In 2021, owner Ashley Hickey visited the Nutrition Retreat Smoothie Shop and fell in love with it.…
BY JENN SAMSEL [email protected] YMCA Camp Immokalee has dedicated its waterfront area in honor of Mo Eaton, who served the Y for 40 years. The Waterfront will be named “Mo’s Landing.” The ribbon-cutting ceremony and unveiling of a dedicated Mo’s Landing sign were held on Sunday, March 29, at the YMCA facility on Immokalee Road.…
