ECB Publishing, Inc. Photo by Laura Young, June 12, 2025 Models for Aveline Boutique included (left to right) Sara Halpin, Lorene Williams, Gwen Halpin, Peggye Bullock, Savannah Ward, Tracey Knowles (owner), Phoenix…
Category: Community News
Miss Watermelon Queen from 2024, Maggie Boyd, studies abroad in Spain
Hailey Heseltine ECB Publishing, Inc. June 1, 2024, was a life-changing day for Maggie Boyd. With no previous pageant experience, she was crowned the 2024 Miss Watermelon Queen, also taking home the…
Watermelon Run 2025
Heather Ainsley ECB Publishing, Inc. On the morning of Saturday, June 7, over 120 registered runners and walkers lined up on East Jefferson Street to await the air horn signifying the beginning…
First Watermelon Festival Kickoff Block Party held
Hailey Heseltine ECB Publishing, Inc. The 2025 Watermelon Festival saw the start of something new on June 6 with the introduction of the Kickoff Block Party to the lineup of festival events,…
Contest winners showcased at 2025 Awards Show
Hailey Heseltine ECB Publishing, Inc. As part of the kickoff block party on the evening of June 6, the winners of the Watermelon Festival contests were announced, along with the festival’s Grand…
Driver sentenced for 2023 fatal cycling accident
Heather Ainsley ECB Publishing, Inc. On Friday, September 22, 2023, Florida Highway Patrol responded to an early morning call involving a traffic collision that took place on Wacissa Springs Road. A pickup…
Lula Mae Keaton turns 108!
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. Warmest congratulations to Lula Mae Keaton, who celebrated her 108th birthday on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Her family gave her a birthday celebration on Saturday, June 14,…
Girls of Royalty holds purposeful activities
Mary Madison Contributor The Girls of Royalty Mentoring Program, Inc. (GOR) has adopted bylaws that state the organization’s nine purposes. Three of those are as follows: • to help the girls gain…
Senior Center aims to extend its reach
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. There’s no reason for any resident of Jefferson County over the age of 60 to be home alone when there’s a wonderful place that welcomes seniors for…
What a good bouy!
Heather Ainsley ECB Publishing, Inc. This spring has been unseasonably hot, and the sweltering heat is far from over. Now is an ideal time to put on your swimming trunks, slather on…
Mackenzie Edson raises money for local non-profit
Heather Ainsley ECB Publishing, Inc. For those who enjoyed a pleasant stroll around Downtown Monticello during this year’s Watermelon Festival, they undoubtedly met young Mackenzie Edson, a special little girl who has…
Celebrating Flag Day
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…
Celebrating freedom with Flag Day
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…
Meet the 2025 Miss Watermelon Queen!
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…
Meet our new Teen Miss Watermelon!
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…
Celebrate Father’s Day in unique ways
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…
Meet Onyx and Orca
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…
Two members of VFW Post 251 recognized
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…
Chamber to offer more small business grants
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…
Summer water safety
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…