Nine Master Gardeners completed the first Union County Master Gardener training in December 2025. The course included 50 hours of horticultural training and a field trip to the University of Florida campus for the graduation ceremony and a tour of the poinsettia production greenhouses. Master Gardeners help county extension agents provide horticultural information to homeowners.…
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] Lake Butler Hospital recognized Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month with a presentation during its monthly “Let’s Thrive” seniors’ meeting on March 12. Physician Assistant Angelica Kraus, PA-C, noted that incidence rates among adults under 50 have been climbing for decades, while the disease remains one of the most preventable and treatable cancers…
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…
The following individuals were recently arrested 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 Jailen…
BY CLIFF SMELLEY [email protected] Union County High School’s baseball team dropped its third straight game, losing 11-3 to host Trinity Catholic on March 13. The Tigers (11-4) took advantage of two errors to score the game’s first run in the top of the second, but the Celtics (10-3) answered with three runs in the bottom…
BY CLIFF SMELLEY [email protected] Union County High School’s softball team got off to a fast start against Bell, with Jaydin Alvarez and Addyson Hinds each hitting a two-run double in the first inning of a 16-5 win over the host Bulldogs on March 10. Alvarez and Hinds each finished with three RBI, while Leanne Dicks…
BY CLIFF SMELLEY [email protected] Union County High School senior Caleb Hall signed a letter of intent to play football at Trinity College of Florida during a March 9 ceremony in the UCHS media center. “It’s a great, wonderful feeling to go play at the next level,” Hall said. “A lot of kids dream of this.…
This year’s Bradford Agricultural Fair/Bradford 4-H Very Berry Bakeoff had 17 entries from 11 participants, with Lucian Copeland, Jorden Desire and Noah Morris placing first in their respective divisions. Entries had to feature strawberries in honor of Bradford County’s agricultural heritage. Categories were Breads, Cakes, Cookies, Candy/Dipped Items and Pies. Exhibitors could enter up to…
The 2026 Miss Strawberry Pageant of North Florida was held Feb. 28 at the Union County High School auditorium with the theme “Strawberry Bowl,” a sports-inspired celebration highlighting confidence, talent and community involvement. The annual scholarship pageant provides young women the opportunity to showcase their abilities while competing for titles and scholarships. Contestants competed in…
BY CLIFF SMELLEY [email protected] Union County High School’s Aidan Hancock competed in the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 1A Wrestling Finals, going 0-2. Hancock earned the trip to state with a third-place finish at the Region 1 meet, which saw him go 4-0 after a first-round loss. At state, Hancock was pinned in 2:43…
