BY CLIFF SMELLEY [email protected] Adalynn Southwell came home with a medal and a trophy after placing second in her age division in Bible Memorization at the Vertical Three Conference, an annual event organized by the National Association of Free Will Baptists. Adalynn, who attends Lake Butler’s Harmony Free Will Baptist Church, was one of 17 … Read more
Paritia Bennett Paritia Mae Joe Bennett, 76, of Lake City, died Saturday, July 19, 2025, at her residence. Survivors are children, Ronald (Pamela) Leffel and Jessica Mickelson; sister, Beatrice Creamer; brother, Don E. Lucas; and many extended family members and friends. A Celebration of Life will be Friday, Aug. 1, at 10:30 a.m. at Archie … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] The developer of Liberty Farms gained approval from Union County commissioners for a preliminary plat and construction plans during the commission’s July 21 meeting, but not before Commissioner Mac Johns railed against the development, declaring that the neighborhood would ultimately cost the county money. He said that other neighborhoods developed 10 … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] Union County Commissioners approved a new fee schedule that the county will start charging healthcare facilities whenever emergency medical crews stay more than 20 minutes at a hospital after delivering a patient. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Director Brent Allen said hospitals are holding up his crews and those from other … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] Lake Butler City Commissioners gave City Manager Kim Hayes the green light to start code enforcement proceedings against residents living in campers, sheds, and travel trailers. Hayes said that before she started enforcing the city’s rules regarding such living arrangements, she wanted to check with commissioners, anticipating many complaints. “Because me … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] The Lake Butler City Commission went along with a recommendation by engineers to abandon plans for a sidewalk on the west side of the Lakeside Park boat ramp and instead focus on improvements for the ramp’s east side. Jeffrey Antonacci, a project manager for Infrastructure Consulting and Engineering, told commissioners that … Read more
BY CLIFF SMELLEY [email protected] Union County High School came close to a perfect regular season in 2024 (with a one-point loss to Chiefland the only blemish) and then won two playoff games before its season came to an end with a loss to Madison County in the Rural Class state semifinals. Madison would go on … Read more
The following individuals were arrested recently by local law enforcement officers in Bradford, Union, or Clay (Keystone Heights-area) counties. All defendants are considered innocent until convicted in a court or until pleading guilty or no contest. Information in this report is from law enforcement agencies and court documents, which are public records. Bradford Stacie Bentley, … Read more
Shawn Dunne Mrs. Shawn Marie Dunne, 65 of Keystone Heights, died Saturday, July 20, 2025, in Orange Park. She was born Oct. 2, 1959, in Burlington, New York to the late Ray and Grace (Beckman) Prier. Survivors are siblings, Michael Prier of Iowa, Connie Barngrover of Keystone Heights, Douglas Prier of Oregon, and Bruce Prier … Read more
