Category: Community News

Halie Wetherington ECB Publishing, Inc. Flag Day is celebrated annually on June 14 to commemorate the adoption of the flag of the United States, which occurred on June 14, 1777.  The Meaning…

Christian Peterson ECB Publishing, Inc. Flag Day, annually celebrated on June 14, is one of the more obscure American holidays. But where did this holiday originate from? And how can one celebrate…

Hailey Heseltine ECB Publishing, Inc.  Heaven-Leigh Purvis was crowned the 2025 Miss Watermelon Queen by Maggie Boyd, 2024 Miss Watermelon Queen, on the evening of Saturday, May 31.  Purvis is the daughter…

Hailey Heseltine ECB Publishing, Inc.  On the evening of Saturday, May 31, Maggie Walker was crowned 2025 Teen Miss Watermelon. 15-year-old Walker is a Jefferson County native, daughter of Thomas and Christell…

Metro Media Father’s Day is a celebration of dads near and far. Falling on the third Sunday of June each year, Father’s Day presents an opportunity for families to come together and…

Heather Ainsley  ECB Publishing, Inc.  On Friday, May 16, I was typing away at my desk when someone walked into the newspaper office lobby. Our advertisement representative, Tiffany, got up to assist…

Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc.  The June 1 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 251 in Monticello, Fla., included special recognitions for two of its members.  Lt. Col. Jimmy Bellamy…

Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc.  The Monticello-Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce is now accepting another round of applications for its grant program to support local entrepreneurs. The grants are intended to help…

Heather Ainsley ECB Publishing, Inc.  Temperatures are steadily rising, and with hot, sunny days comes the beckoning call of cool, refreshing waters, the perfect relief from the summer heat waves. But as…

United Way of the Big Bend Contributor On May 22, the United Way of the Big Bend (UWBB) announced that its Board of Directors approved $1.24 million in funding allocations today that…

Second Harvest Contributor Second Harvest of the Big Bend has been named recipient of a $10,000 “Fly Beyond” grant from the Wawa Foundation to help provide youth in the Big Bend with increased…

Heather Ainsley ECB Publishing, Inc.  Mold is a natural part of our outdoor environment. In nature, mold is a fungus that breaks down dead organic matter such as leaves and other plant…

Meet Danny Deason! Deason was born and raised in Cairo, Ga. As a teen, he moved to Tallahassee with his brother to attend Leon High School, where he spent his final two…

Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc.  On May 6, the luncheon meeting of the Monticello-Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce included an update from District 4 Commissioner Austin Hosford.  Hosford began by introducing himself…

Laura Young  ECB Publishing, Inc.  This summer, Florida 4-H will be participating in the 4-H International Exchange Program, and they are looking for families to open their homes to host visiting youth…

Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. Hiram Masonic Lodge No. 5 has planned a memorial service for two of their members who recently passed away. Being honored are Ken Faircloth and Samuel Kersey….

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Contributor As National Safe Boating Week concludes, boating safety advocates in Florida and nationwide are urging boaters to stay vigilant as the summer season begins. The…

Hailey Heseltine ECB Publishing, Inc.  School’s out, summer’s here, and the Jefferson County R.J. Bailar Public Library’s annual reading program is in full swing, this time with the theme “Color Our World.”…

Heather Ainsley  ECB Publishing, Inc.  Monticello is a quiet hub of highly skilled artists, and many citizens among us harbor incredible talents that often go unnoticed. Among these talented artists is Chris…