MARCH 7 (Saturday) Everyone is invited to a Community Clean-up starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Teen Center (555 Tiger Ln.). This event is organized by the Jefferson County Democratic Executive Committee,…
City is seeking funding for repairs at the Ecological Park
Hailey Heseltine ECB Publishing, Inc. Less than a year after attaining national recognition as an old-growth forest, the Monticello Ecological Park sustained heavy damage from Hurricane Helene in 2024. City management recently…
National Employee Appreciation Day: Honoring the people who keep the world running
Hailey Waldo ECB Publishing, Inc. Each year on Friday, March 6, Employee Appreciation Day offers organizations and companies an opportunity to pause and recognize the people who make their success possible: their…
Pet Adoption Spotlight: Bandit and Hank
Hailey Heseltine ECB Publishing, Inc. Two kitties in downtown Monticello, nicknamed Bandit and Hank, are looking for someone to take them from the city streets to their new forever homes. Bandit is…
Local women business leaders speak about work-life balance
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. The Monticello-Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce and the Monticello Woman’s Club offered a Women in Business Luncheon & Networking event on Wednesday, Feb. 11. Many local business…
March 5 is Slam the Scam Day
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. During National Consumer Protection Week (March 1-7) The Social Security Administration (SSA) is leading a National Slam the Scam Day on Thursday, March 5. On that day,…
S.E.E.D. (Spring Extension Expo Day) is March 14
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. On Saturday, March 14, the UF/IFAS Extension office in Jefferson County will hold its annual spring expo, beginning at 9 a.m. and lasting until 1 p.m. at…
Mickey’s page turners : “Holy Fire” will ignite your spirit
Mickey Starling ECB Publishing, Inc. I confess that I started an earlier book by R.T. Kendall but lost interest quickly, which I am prone to do unless the content grabs my attention…
County breaks even on special magistrates
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. Gain a special magistrate, lose a special magistrate. This turned out to be the case when county officials issued a request for proposals (RFP) to augment the…
Tours of the old jail should soon resume
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. Some four months after the idea was proposed, county officials recently approved a contract to lease the western portion of a building to a homeschool organization that…
Tired of your lack of faith?
Sheryl H. Boldt Guest Columnist We all face seasons of doubt due to financial and health challenges, depression, uncertainty, problems with loved ones or recurring sin that tests our resolve, no matter…
Got milk?
Rev. John Hicks Guest Columnist Cows are the number one milk source in the world today, with American cows being one of the most productive. In 1930, the average dairy cow produced…
Auto interior maintenance and cleaning tips
Metro Media A number of factors are involved in keeping a vehicle functioning and looking good. Ensuring a vehicle interior is clean and tidy is easily overlooked, but such efforts can improve…
181 years of Florida history in the making
Hailey Heseltine ECB Publishing, Inc. In 1845, Florida became the 27th state to join the United States of America. 2026 marks 181 years since Florida’s statehood began. Florida’s history, of course, began…
County officials take a stand against consolidation
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. Jefferson County officials recently went on record to voice their opposition to any proposed legislative measure that would seek to consolidate fiscally constrained counties with other counties….
Jefferson County may be getting traffic light
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. Like it or not, Jefferson County may soon be crossing a line in terms of traffic signals. This means that the county may soon be getting its…
New senior services focal point expected to open in April
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. Plans are underway for a new senior services focal point in collaboration with UF/IFAS to open in Jefferson County this April. Lisa Bretz, the executive director for…
Animal control set for changes
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. Improvements appear to be in store for Jefferson County’s animal control operation in terms of both its practices and procedures, along with more dramatic changes possible down…
Comprehensive plan finally adopted
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. Following three years of revisions and rewrites at the local level and reviews by multiple state agencies, Jefferson County’s amended comprehensive plan was finally adopted by ordinance…
Local resident reflects on passing of Rev. Jesse Jackson
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. In the wake of the recent death of the Rev. Jesse Jackson at age 84, many people locally and across the country have been remembering and commemorating…