News:
BCSO progressing toward certification
Mark J. Crawford
May 1, 2024
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD [email protected] Bradford Sheriff Gordon Smith began his recent annual review for the county commission by announcing the sheriff’s office has completed a level one review on the path toward certification by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation. Smith recognized Emergency Management Director Lt. Brad Witt...
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Planning underway for next water and sewer projects
Mark J. Crawford
May 1, 2024
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD [email protected] Progress is slow but steady on projects to improve Starke’s water and sewer infrastructure. The largest ongoing project is reconstruction at the city’s wastewater plant. Justin deMello with Woodward and Curran recently told city commissioners the plant is 60% complete. The goal is completion by...
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Kindergarten registration underway
Mark J. Crawford
May 1, 2024
Informational events planned BY EVELYN CHASTAIN Bradford County Schools Now enrolling the Bradford Tornadoes Class of 2037! When you look down into the eyes of your four-year-old, it’s hard to picture that in thirteen quick years, you will be looking up into the eyes of your child on the threshold...
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Build a pond on your land – Union County Extension office teaches 25 about backyard lagoons
Dan Hildebran
May 1, 2024
BY TRACY LEE TATE Special to the Times The Union County UF-IFAS extension office is about more than just 4-H and the fair. They offer programs for adults as well. Last week, Union County Extension Agent Jim DeValerio brought in several agents from other counties and two University of Florida...
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Union Co. RV park moratorium passes 2nd reading
Dan Hildebran
May 1, 2024
BY TRACY LEE TATE Special to the Times At a special meeting of the Union County Board of County Commissioners on April 29, commissioners voted unanimously to approve, on second reading, an ordinance extending the moratorium on the acceptance and processing of applications for permits for travel trailer parks and...
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Sports:
BHS softball team falls 11-6 in District 3-3A semifinal game
Cliff Smelley
April 30, 2024
BY CLIFF SMELLEY [email protected] Bradford High School’s softball team scored the first three runs, but eventually lost 11-6 to second seed Palatka in the District 3-3A tournament semifinals on April 30 in Palatka. The third seed Tornadoes (8-17) got on the board in the first inning when Rylie Blankenship singled...
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KHHS softball team defeats Taylor 7-1 in semifinals
Cliff Smelley
April 30, 2024
BY CLIFF SMELLEY [email protected] Ashley Nugent drove in three runs, while pitcher Kadence Massey gave up four hits in the Keystone Heights High School softball team’s 7-1 win over fourth seed Pierson Taylor in the District 3-3A tournament semifinals on April 30. Top seed Keystone (12-11) will play second seed...
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KHHS baseball team defeats P.K. in District 4-3A semis
Cliff Smelley
April 30, 2024
BY CLIFF SMELLEY [email protected] Austin Smith hit a walkoff, three-run homer as the Keystone Heights High School baseball team defeated third seed P.K. Yonge 12-0 in five innings in a District 4-3A tournament semifinal game on April 30 in Keystone. The second seed Indians (20-7) got a complete game from...
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Features:
Union Road Dept. leader retires
Dan Hildebran
May 1, 2024
BY TRACY LEE TATE Special to the Times On April 26, about 100 people gathered in the Agricultural Education Center's meeting room to celebrate the retirement of Shelton “Jr.” Arnold, the superintendent of the Union County Road Department. The event was held on the last day of Arnold’s 34 years...
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Science Bus visits Brooker school
Mark J. Crawford
May 1, 2024
Brooker Community School had an “in-house” field trip when the Science Bus from Gainesville made a visit. The Science Bus is a converted yellow school bus painted with a mural of Florida scenes. Inside, the seats have been replaced by cabinets running the length of the bus on each side....
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Lake Region crowd trained on stopping bleeding
Dan Hildebran
May 1, 2024
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] An emergency preparedness manager at UF Health in Jacksonville trained a Lake Region group on how to stop bleeding for severely injured people. Jennifer Silvey-Cason told a joint meeting of the Lake Region Sheriff’s Net and the Chamber of Commerce’s Lake Region Prosperity Partners at Keystone’s...
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Bradford Technical Honor Society welcomes first members
Dan Hildebran
May 1, 2024
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] Bradford High School and the North Florida Technical College’s newly formed National Technical Honor Society chapter welcomed its first members during a ceremony on April 18. North Florida Technical College Director Brad Bishop said the new members have demonstrated good citizenship, high moral character, and a...
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58 BHS seniors receive Golden B and/or Principal’s Achievement
Cliff Smelley
April 26, 2024
BY CLIFF SMELLEY [email protected] Bradford High School announced 19 Golden B recipients at the annual rewards program sponsored by the Bradford County Education, which was held April 25 in the BHS auditorium. Golden B awards, which are presented to 10 percent of the graduating class, are determined by a points...
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Breakfast, lunch and now supper, too
Mark J. Crawford
April 17, 2024
Staff strives to serve more students more meals. BY EVELYN CHASTAIN Bradford County Schools What do you do when you accept the position as Bradford County School District director of food service in the month of April? For Blake Dicks, director of school food service for Bradford County schools, it...
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Crime:
2 more dead after police chase
Dan Hildebran
May 1, 2024
BY DAN HILDEBRAN [email protected] A Gainesville television station reported that two more people have died from a Waldo crash resulting from a chase originating in Bradford County. The Florida Highway Patrol said two people died after the car they were in crashed in the northern Alachua County town during a...
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Recent arrests in Bradford, Union and Clay
Dan Hildebran
May 1, 2024
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...
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Obituaries:
Obituaries — April 30, 2024
Cliff Smelley
April 30, 2024
Franklin D. Camp Franklin Delano Camp, 89, passed away Monday, April 8, 2024, in Lawtey. He was born April 15, 1934, in Cottonwood, Alabama. He served 20 years in the United States Air Force, retiring on June 30, 1974. His assignments included, Larson AFB, Washington; Charleston, South Carolina; Itazuka, Japan;...
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Obituaries — April 23, 2024
Cliff Smelley
April 23, 2024
Leo Bias Leo “Buddy” Roy Bias, 86, passed away Friday, April 19, 2024, at Shands Hospital in Gainesville. He was born Dec. 22, 1937, in New Orleans, Louisiana to Donald Leo and Ruth (Phillips) Bias. He earned his degree in pipefitting from Delgado Community College in New Orleans, where he...
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Editorial:
Shut down the circus
Mark J. Crawford
March 26, 2024
Dear Editor: Ringling Brothers/Barnum and Bailey retired the circus but did not include Starke City Hall and city commissioners in the closure. Unfortunate for the citizens of Starke. Let me first say to our Police Chief Jeff Johnson that I wish him the best retirement in the world. Despite the...
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Clerk addresses investigation
Mark J. Crawford
February 20, 2024
Dear Editor: I am Kellie Hendricks Rhoades, Union County clerk of court and comptroller. This letter addresses the State Attorney’s investigation of our county coordinator. Specifically, I explain both the need for the referral to the State Attorney’s office and allegations that I did not provide all relevant documents for...
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POSTED 5/12/2022: CLICK HERE to download the BC Personal Taxes Display & Notice