BY ANGELINA BOUDY AND MEGAN DANIEL Union County 4-H During the week of June 16, a three-day camp titled Jr. Homesteaders was held at the Union County Extension Office in collaboration with Lafayette County 4-H. With a growing interest in self-sufficiency, the camp aimed to teach youth about the history of homesteading and how those … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] Lake Butler City Commissioners approved an amendment to its contract with the Department of Corrections for water and sewer service that will triple the revenue the municipality receives from its largest customer and will fund an additional operator at the city’s wastewater treatment plant. During a July 10 special commission meeting, … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] Union County Schools Superintendent Mike Ripplinger suggested that $500 is “the sweet spot” for charging the parents of homeschoolers who participate in Union County School District Sports. Ripplinger added that some school districts are charging double that amount for homeschoolers playing football, volleyball, and other interscholastic sports. The superintendent made … 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 Johnathan … Read more
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD [email protected] Of the millions of dollars allocated locally, only the Arc of Bradford County’s request for funding was excluded the state’s new budget. Last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the 2025-26 state budget totaling $117.4 billion after $567 million in line-item vetoes. One of those vetoes was $300,000 legislators had set … Read more
Thank You! Dear family and friends of Lake Butler, Union County and beyond, our sincere ‘Thank You’ to ALL of you for the love, support, food, visits, texts and flowers during this time of our loss of Tyson Lane Woodland To our pastor and Sardis Church, Sheriff’s Department, FHP, Archer Funeral Home, Pritchett Trucking and … Read more
Gene Coble Shirley Gene Coble, a long-time resident of Keystone Heights, died Friday, July 4, 2025, surrounded by family. He was born on Dec. 4, 1936, in Walnut Grove Missouri to Uba Coble and Rachel Coble Buff. After he graduated high school from Central Senior High School in 1955, he joined the U.S. Army. After … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] The head of Union County’s Economic Development is sounding the alarm over a recent land deal between Weyerhaeuser and the state, which he said could hinder the county’s future industrial growth. Bob Cotgreave said a series of sales and conservation easements would shut off the northern one-third of Union County to … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] An official with the Union County Housing Authority attacked some of the stereotypes surrounding public housing and homelessness during the June meeting of the Union County Impact Initiative. Amanda Ford said that a common image of public housing is that of a filthy, crime-ridden high rise. “We’re trying to get away … Read more
