BY CLIFF SMELLEY [email protected] Union County High School’s wrestling team took part in the Jan. 2-3 Joe Bees Battle of the Border Memorial at Yulee High School, with Aidan Hancock and Carsen Thomas winning their weight classes in the boys event and Abigail Melton earning a win in the girls event. Hancock pinned every wrestler … Read more
BY CLIFF SMELLEY [email protected] Bradford High School defeated host Union County 39-36, with five Tornadoes recording wins by pinning their opponents in a Jan. 8 wrestling match. The Tornadoes’ Johnathan Armstrong and Aiden Scott recorded the first two wins of the match, with Armstrong pinning Abigail Melton in 1:23 and Scott pinning Breydan Peugh in … 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 Howard … Read more
On January 5, 2026, Roy Weiland was installed as Worshipful Master of Lake Butler Lodge No. 52 for the year of 2026. Having been a Mason for 52 years, a Past Worshipful Master, and a Past District Deputy Grand Master, he finds it to be a great honor to be elected as Worshipful Master of … Read more
Robert Barksdale Mr. Robert Cody Barksdale Sr., 98, of Starke passed away peacefully at his home, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, surrounded by family. He was born Sept. 26, 1927, in Tampa to the late Cody and Virgie (Thomas) Barksdale. After graduating from Bradford High School, he attended Massey Business College in Jacksonville. He then joined … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] Union County commissioners held a town hall meeting for Worthington Springs residents at the county’s extension office to discuss proposed increases to special assessments, impact fees, and a potential gas tax as the county faces significant budget shortfalls in its solid waste and emergency medical services operations. The meeting, attended by … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] The second-ranking Florida House member recently said that if voters approve reducing or eliminating property taxes on homesteads later this year, the legislature should consider merging smaller counties into larger ones. Last year, Gov. Ron DeSantis began pushing to eliminate property taxes in the Sunshine State and proposed allocating $300 million … Read more
BY CLIFF SMELLEY [email protected] Two defensive backs who played for Bradford and Union County high schools have found new homes in college, with former Tornado Jontez Williams transferring from Iowa State to USC and former Tiger Gavin Jenkins going from USF to Auburn. Williams, a 2022 BHS graduate, was considered the best available defensive back … 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 Jakerria … Read more
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD [email protected] On the heels of Starke’s announcement of more than $23 million awarded for its water system improvement and extension project comes the announcement of millions more for Bradford, Union and Keystone Heights. More than $311 million has been awarded to 37 Florida communities, 32 of which were rural cities and … Read more
