Hailey Heseltine ECB Publishing, Inc. $400,000 in grant funds has been approved for the Aucilla Research Institute (ARI) in Florida’s 2025-2026 budget, according to ARI’s executive director, Jana Grubbs. The funds will…
Category: Front Page
County green lights impact fees study
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. County officials recently reinstated the pursuit of an impact fee study by David Taussig & Associates (DTA) that they had put on pause late last year because…
County officials contemplate use of oil-spill monies to fund local projects
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. Faced with potential funding losses due to new laws and policies being enacted at the state and federal levels, local officials are looking at millions of dollars…
Local Winn-Dixie slated to become an ALDI store
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. Media representatives of Southeastern Grocers (SEG) confirmed last week that the local Winn-Dixie will be converted to an ALDI Store in the not-too-distant future. In response to…
Citizens confused by land swap deal
Heather Ainsley ECB Publishing, Inc. Recent developments at several County Commission meetings seem to be compounding concerns from citizens within Jefferson County, many of whom have reached out to the newspaper to…
Sheriff and police departments to alternate access to federal grant
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. City and county officials recently approved an arrangement between the Monticello Police Department (MPD) and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) whereby law-enforcement agency will have full…
“Rural Renaissance” bill dies
Rick Patrick ECB Publishing, Inc. It was looked upon by many in rural communities as a way of helping those communities who are struggling to keep pace, while urban areas of the…
Governor Ron DeSantis unveils Thomas Jefferson statue at Jefferson County Courthouse
Hailey Heseltine ECB Publishing, Inc. It was a busy morning in Monticello on Wednesday, July 2, when a press conference was held by Governor Ron DeSantis on the south side of the…
Jefferson K-12 has a new principal
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. Yolanda Smith-Davis is the new principal for Jefferson County K-12 Community Partnership School (JCS). Her appointment was approved by the Jefferson County School Board on Monday, June…
New state budget does away with tax holidays; implements permanent tax cuts instead
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. Following an extended legislative session and much wrangling, Florida lawmakers were finally able to pass a state budget and tax package on June 16. Unlike in recent…
Looking skyward in July
Heather Ainsley ECB Publishing, Inc. July is the month where most of the country is scheduled to look up, but when all the flashes and bangs of Independence Day are over, and…
Where to see fireworks on July 4 & 5
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. Many nearby communities have Fourth of July celebrations that residents of Jefferson County may find worth the drive. Madison The Madison Lions Club hosts their annual God…
Suspect shot in reported home invasion
Heather Ainsley ECB Publishing, Inc. On Monday, June 30, just before 5 a.m., the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) responded to a 911 call regarding a home invasion at a residence located…
Officials vote to revert role of county manager to county coordinator
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. A county manager’s position is a precarious one, subject to official and public scrutiny, as well as the vagaries of politics, as a recent commission meeting underscored….
City using solar energy to power wastewater treatment facility
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. Most Monticello residents probably aren’t aware that the wastewater treatment plant off Mamie Scott Drive is now operating off solar power and providing energy cost savings to…
New law requires additional driver’s education for Florida teens
Danny Federico ECB Publishing, Inc. Beginning on Tuesday, July 1, a new Florida law will require students between the ages of 14 and 17 to complete both a Driver’s Education course and…
School board approves 5-0 to share three directors with Madison
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. Attendance was high for the Jefferson County School Board meeting on Monday, June 23, when the agenda included 33 items requiring board member votes. Items that seem…
The NEW Front Porch is in the mail
Emerald Greene ECB Publishing, Inc. With great pleasure, we announce the arrival of The Front Porch magazine’s July/August 2025 issue. The new issue has been mailed out and subscribers should have…
City seeking $1M grant to purchase generators to keep lift stations operational during outages
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. Monticello officials continue their efforts to secure a $1 million grant from the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) administered by FEMA for the purchase of eight generators…
Fire Rescue looks ahead to potential growth impacts
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. The budget formulation hearings are a time when commissioners and department heads get an opportunity to discuss imminent or potential issues specific to each operation. Case in…