BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor STARKE— With a 2.9% December unemployment rate, Clay County led the area in an increasingly tight labor market. Bradford County’s unemployment rate for December was 3.5% and Union’s was 3.0%. However, because of its smaller work force, Union had the second-lowest number of people looking for a job in the … Read more
BY CLIFF SMELLEY Telegraph Staff Writer Turning expectations into reality. That’s what the 11 students in the North Florida Technical College part-time practical nursing class that graduated in December accomplished, with every student passing the National Council Licensure Examination on their first attempt. “I intend for it to happen,” instructor Suzy Trimble said, explaining her … Read more
Jon Brownell STARKE Jon H. Brownell, 87, formerly of Hastings, died at his home in Starke on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. A Celebration of Life service will be held this summer in Hastings, Michigan. Arrangements are under the care and direction of V. Todd Ferreira Funeral Services and Archie Tanner Memorial Chapel, Starke, 904-964-5757. … Read more
BY CLIFF SMELLEY Telegraph Staff Writer Union County High School’s Jaira Highland earned the right to compete at the regional level after her performance at the Jan. 18 District 5-1A finals, which were held at Fort White High School. Highland placed fifth in the 199 class with a 235 total (125, 110). The top six … Read more
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD Telegraph Editor Florida high school graduation rates were released this month and nearly 93% of students graduated on time in Clay County. While the percentage was slightly down from 2020, Clay County schools still had one of the highest average graduation rates in the area. At 95.6%, Columbia County had the … Read more
BY LARRY DUPEE Special to the Times Through an introspective process of nomination and evaluation LBMS staff has chosen the Teacher Of the Year (T.O.Y) from the among faculty. When Emily Newson was told that she was named Teacher of the Year she said that she “felt humbled to be chosen among so many deserving … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor LAKE BUTLER — Union deputies arrested a 59-year-o ld Raiford woman after she shot a handgun toward a neighbor’s dog that was in her back yard, and then shot at the dog’s owner. Donna Susan Green was arrested on Jan. 13 for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. According to … Read more
Laquasha Carroll STARKE Laquasha D. Carroll, 33, of Starke died on Friday, Jan. 14, 2022 at her residence. Born in Gainesville she was a lifelong resident of Starke. She was a member of Greater Bethlehem Freewill Baptist Church and a graduate of Bradford High School in Starke. She is survived by her mother, Sheron McCutchen … Read more
BY CLIFF SMELLEY Telegraph Staff Writer Curran Webb scored 22 points and grabbed 15 rebounds as the Union County High School boys basketball team defeated host Hilliard 62-59 on Jan. 11. The Tigers trailed by three entering the fourth quarter, but then outscored Hilliard 18-12. Cole Andersen-Davis and Gavin Jenkins scored 13 and 12 points, … Read more
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
