BY DAN HILDEBRAN
The Bradford County Tourist Development Council approved leasing a second billboard along U.S. 301 to persuade motorists to bypass the bypass and instead take U.S. 301 through Starke and spend money while visiting the city.
The county already rents a billboard pointing to northbound traffic on the four-lane near Hampton Lake with the headline: Visit Starke, Southern Hospitality at Its Finest.
North Florida Regional Chamber of Commerce President Pam Whittle, who provides staff support to the tourist council, said the additional sign, just south of Lawtey, and pointing to southbound traffic, would convey a similar message.
At press time, the Lawtey billboard promoted the Kirby Family Farm’s Six Gun Territory Wild West Weekend.
The billboard’s owner, Clear Channel Outdoor, describes the sign as a brick wall with over 68,000 weekly impressions.
The tourist development council’s approval results in a recommendation to county commissioners, who have the final say over the approximate $9,000 annual expenditure.
