Dear Friends, The Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (F.A.S.T.) test scores were announced last Thursday by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE). These test scores demonstrate the progress students make in reading…
Big cocaine bust
K9 assists with drug arrest Submitted by Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office On Wednesday, June 28, 2023, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) and Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) conducted a traffic stop on…
County budget process in progress
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. The county’s budget for the coming fiscal year is in the process of being formulated, a veritable work-in-progress. County officials have been holding weekly workshops during the…
Pastor Spotlight: Rev. Bethel Ransom
Denise Vickers-Leon ECB Publishing, Inc. Rev. Bethel Ransom has been a Monticello native all of his life and has been preaching the gospel for most of it. That wasn’t a part of…
Health Dept. issues malaria advisory
Rick Patrick ECB Publishing, Inc. In the wake of four cases of malaria in Sarasota County, the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) has issued a “statewide mosquito-borne illness advisory” for the State…
A credit union for the community
Hailey Heseltine ECB Publishing, Inc. Of all the financial institutions in our area, there is one that stands out for its unique mission. This is the Jefferson County Teachers Credit Union, the…
Steps to positive growth through infrastructure
As our beautiful community continues to grow, we all want favorable development with good things for each and every one of us! Infrastructure such as walkable spaces, separated/protected multiuse walking and bike…
Progress made toward improving JCS athletic facilities
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. The meeting room of the Jefferson County School Board was filling up on Monday, June 26, as the Workshop Board Meeting got underway at 5 p.m. Many…
Remembering veterans through the Walk of Honor
Heather Ainsley ECB Publishing, Inc. Two months ago, the Executive Board of American Legion Otto M. Walker Post 49 began brainstorming and organizing a new project called the Memorial Walk of Honor….
Freemasonry and the Solomon Lodge of Jefferson County
Denise Vickers-Leon ECB Publishing, Inc. The establishment of what has become considered as America’s first civil rights organization goes back to March 6, 1775, when Prince Hall, who was an abolitionist and…
Jefferson K-12 announces 4th Quarter Honor Roll
Kindergarten All A: Adams, A’keil; Agner, Kaylee; Allen-Mobley, Ahmir; Arnold, Mason; Becker, Drew; Bello Urbina, Engie; Brooks, Karmyn; Chapman, Cambria; Harris, Jordi; Jackson, Xavier; and Johnson, Karson. A/B: Alexander, Ron’trez; Andrews, Zachary;…
Fourth of July celebrations nearly everywhere but Monticello
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. It looks as if Jefferson County will not have a community-wide fireworks show for the Fourth of July this year. American Legion Post #49 has borne the…
Man arrested and booked on drug charges
Submitted by Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office On Saturday, June 24, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputies conducted a traffic stop on Tavoris Morris for speeding, and upon stopping the vehicle, deputies gained probable cause…
Recognizing National PTSD Awareness Month
Hannah Kolstad ECB Publishing, Inc. National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month began as National PTSD Awareness Day, which was formerly recognized on June 27. It was originally instituted by the U.S….
Chamber hears banking update at June luncheon
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. The program for the Monticello-Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Tuesday, June 6, included a brief spotlight on Second Harvest of the Big Bend, guest speaker…
“Pilgrim (Her Story)” has three shows this weekend
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. Parker Music Academy brings the musical “Pilgrim (Her Story)” to the Monticello Opera House’s historic upstairs stage for three performances this weekend featuring a large cast…
Wacissa Christian Church offers “Testimonies of Triumph” revival
Pastor Brandon Gallups Contributor Wacissa Christian Church invites the public to four nights of “Testimonies of Triumph” starting Wednesday, June 28, and lasting through July 2. The title of the event comes…
City elections almost over before they begin (Avera resigns)
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. The qualification period for the city elections closed last week, and already the contest is down to only the city clerk/comptroller race. Out of the five offices…
School board looks to next year’s budget
Salary freeze and change in bus driver hours on the horizon Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. The Jefferson County School Board is nearing the end of its budget year 2022-23 and making…
Ponderings…Weighing the options
Last weekend, I saw a lot of frustrated people. The cancelation of the Watermelon Festival was a bit of a sucker-punch all around, made worse by the fact that the weather turned…