Hailey Heseltine ECB Publishing, Inc. The results are in from the annual Watermelon Queen Pageants! Out of five locals vying for the title of 2026’s Miss Watermelon Queen on June 6, Chrissy…
Category: Front Page
Meet the 2026 Teen Miss Watermelon Queen, Riley Kate Denton
Hailey Heseltine ECB Publishing, Inc. The Watermelon Pageants for 2026 were held at the Kilpatrick Civic Auditorium on June 6, ushering in new royalty just in time for the 75th Watermelon Festival….
Trulieve found ineligible for agricultural exemptions
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. After a review of Trulieve’s operation, the legislative history of the state’s medical marijuana program and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Best Management…
Congratulations to the 2026 Watermelon Royalty!
The 2026 Watermelon Royalty are, left to right: (back row) Miss Watermelon Queen Chrissy Lastinger, Teen Miss Watermelon Queen Riley Kate Denton, Junior Miss Watermelon Queen Hallie Conklin, (front row) Tiny Mister…
Watermelon Fest is this weekend!
Enjoy the street dance, parade, car show, beer garden, vendors, kids’ show and more Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. Jefferson County’s celebration of everything watermelon culminates with this final weekend of Watermelon…
Wingate returns as interim city manager
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. Steve Wingate is back as Monticello’s interim city manager for the third time since he retired from the position some seven years ago. The Monticello City Council…
Jefferson County gets a new manager
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. Jefferson County has a new manager. He is Douglas G. Baber, whom the Jefferson County Commission selected on Thursday morning, June 5, after hearing from three other…
Watermelon Festival events for June 12-13
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. Watermelon Festival royalty were crowned last weekend, and the line-up of festival fun continues for two more weeks, organized by the Watermelon Festival Committee and the Monticello-Jefferson…
Planners set hearing on Love’s truck stop near Lloyd
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. Some four months after Jefferson County planners denied an application from Eshden Partners, LLC, to rezone a 128-acre property near Lloyd from Mixed Use Suburban Residential (MUSR)…
Local group asks governor for review of Trulieve
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. Notwithstanding the ongoing actions of two regulatory agencies relative to the Trulieve facility in the Waukeenah area, some local residents’ concerns have not been alleviated, evident by…
Lawmakers adopt property tax reform measure for ballot (Local officials hold special meeting in anticipation of legislators’ action)
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. Although not exactly as proposed by the governor, Florida lawmakers on Tuesday, June 2, approved a revised property tax amendment that could significantly increase the annual homestead…
Connie and Mark Mageary named 2026 Watermelon Parade Grand Marshals
Watermelon Festival Committee Contributor The Monticello-Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that Connie and Mark Mageary will serve as the 2026 Grand Marshals of the Monticello Watermelon Festival Parade….
Watermelon pageants are this Saturday!
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. Royalty for the 75th Annual Watermelon Festival – organized by the Watermelon Festival Committee and the Monticello-Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce – will be crowned this Saturday,…
Trulieve remains under scrutiny by regulatory agencies (Company is a no-show at meeting)
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. Trulieve in Jefferson County continues to undergo review by at least two state agencies that have found the medical marijuana growing facility to be in possible violations…
Tammy Brookins named 2026 Friend of 4-H for Florida
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. Each year the Florida Association of Extension 4-H Agents presents a “Friend of 4-H” Award to people or organizations that provide exceptional support to 4-H youth programs….
City manager remains in jail, investigation ongoing
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. Monticello City Manager Kurt Mackiewicz remained in the county jail as of Monday, May 25, while the investigation into his alleged possession of child pornography continued. Mackiewicz…
Monticello City Manager Kurt Mackiewicz arrested for alleged possession and distribution of child pornography
Submitted by Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office recently became aware of a Jefferson County citizen, Monticello City Manager Kurt Mackiewicz, who may have been in possession of Child…
Commission to hear about Trulieve runoff problem from state agency (Hearing set for Thursday, May 21)
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. Residents concerned about the water quality issues associated with the Trulieve medical marijuana growing facility on U.S. Highway 27 may want to monitor the Jefferson County Commission…
Clothes dryer ignites house fire
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. On Friday, May 15, at 11:07 p.m., Jefferson County Fire Rescue responded to 448 Sam Perry Rd. (between Greenville and Lamont), where an occupied dwelling was reportedly…
Preparations already underway for next election
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. The general election is some six months away. Already, however, the clock is ticking insofar as a number of critical steps that citizens and candidates alike must…