Happy New Year! 2021 has come and gone and we find ourselves staring 2022 straight in the face. My favorite New Year’s childhood memories find me spending every New Year’s Eve with…
Allen Kenneth Forrest
Allen Kenneth Forrest (Ken), age 93, passed away at his home with his family by his side on Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021. He was born on July 17, 1928, in Cordele, Ga.,…
Andrew Hagan
“Goodbyes are not forever. Goodbyes are not the end. They simply mean, I miss you until we meet again.” Andrew Hagan, 53, of Freeport, Ill., peacefully entered into eternal rest on Saturday,…
Meet Your Neighbor: Abbe Justus Flynn
Heather Ainsley ECB Publishing, Inc. Monticello is a small city, and while we may not have a lot of people, we certainly have some of the best people! While individual members of…
The Grinch, Rudolph, and the miracle of Christmas
The Grinch’s plan is simple. He figures that if he takes away all the Christmas “stuff” the Whos won’t be able to celebrate Christmas. But the Grinch is wrong. He realizes this…
JCHAI performs string concert
Heather Ainsley ECB Publishing, Inc. On Tuesday, Dec. 21, the Jefferson County Homeschool Association performed their Winter Concert, a strings and band program that took place at 7 p.m. at the First…
JROTC retires tattered flags
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. Monticello Historic Main Street (MHM) organized the replacement of tattered American flags and the addition of holiday decorations at the entrances to the Old City Cemetery and…
Xfinity internet is coming to town
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. Comcast/Xfinity expects to launch its Internet and cable services locally within the next 60 days or so. That, at least, is the word that company representatives have…
Childhood reflections with a touch of grace: Christmas comes after the fall
I didn’t think much about falling when I was a kid, though I did plenty of it. Most of the time, I popped right back up and went about my business. I…
CRIME BEAT
Deshonta Kendall Smith, 28, arrested on Tuesday, Nov. 30. Charged with violation of probation. No bond amount or release day information provided. Evelyn Marie Paramore, 29, arrested on Tuesday, Nov. 30. Charged…
United Force gives away 200+ coats
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. The Winn Dixie parking lot on South Jefferson Street proved to be a hot spot for free warm coats on Saturday, Dec. 18. United Force of Jefferson…
Rubin “Sonny” Bennett
Rubin “Sonny” Bennett, 82, of Lamont, Fla., passed in Tallahassee on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021. Graveside services are at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 26, in Mt. Morilla Cemetery. Viewing-visitation is from 4…
Elder Calvin Wallace
Elder Calvin Wallace, 73, of Lamont, Fla., finished his earthly course on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. Funeral services are at 12 noon on Friday, Dec. 31, at his church, Mt. Olive P.B….
DeSantis introduces “Stop WOKE Act” to ban critical race theory in schools
Bethany Blankley The Center Square Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday announced another bill for the legislature to consider when it convenes next year: a law banning so-called critical race theory from being…
Pecans: 50 tasty ways to go nutty
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. During the holidays, recipes that feature nuts abound. In Jefferson County, we have easy access to one of the best nuts on the planet: pecans! While you…
Christmas in Jefferson County: A Window into the Past
Submitted by Rebekah Sheats Since Jefferson County’s inception almost two hundred years ago, Christmas has always been a festive occasion in every corner of the county, marked by joyous celebration and reverent…
Gadsden Equestrian facility hosts Monticello Horse Community Event
Patricia Smith ECB Publishing, Inc. A new equestrian facility has opened with the opportunity for Jefferson and surrounding counties’ hunter/jumper horse riders to compete in Gadsden County. The Forgotten Coast Horse Shows…
Accounting problems found in County Board’s audit
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. After an hour-long workshop last week intended to explain the final audit report for the fiscal year 2019-2020, the Jefferson County Commission voted to adopt the 200-plus-page…
We are the Champions of the Peanut Butter Challenge
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. During the 2021 Peanut Butter Challenge, Jefferson County residents contributed 1,441 jars (2,237 pounds) of peanut butter to the UF/IFAS Extension Jefferson County. Jefferson County collected the…
Meet Your Neighbor: Shivanna Matos
Shivanna Matos moved to Monticello from Gainesville about one year ago to join her fiancé, Jessie Martin. In Gainesville, Matos worked as a surgical technologist in the pediatric heart surgery center at…