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…
New Mormon missionaries come to town
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. Meet Elder Gardner, Elder Dalley, Sister Tolman and Sister Shepherd. These young missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are volunteering in our area…
Rooftop restaurant proposed for downtown
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. A businessman who wants to put an outdoors restaurant on the rooftop of one of downtown’s historic buildings encountered headwinds last week from city officials reluctant to…
Police taking proactive stance to crime
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. As part of his recent executive summary to the Monticello City Council, Police Chief Fred Mosley informed the board that his department was taking proactive steps to…
Santa’s lost helper?
Heather Ainsley ECB Publishing, Inc. While he didn’t have reins, sleigh bells or a bright glowing nose, a deer made quite a commotion when he showed up unannounced in a quiet neighborhood…
Healthcare Heroes: Jenny McNeill
Heather Ainsley ECB Publishing, Inc. Working in the healthcare system is not for the faint of heart. It takes a strong, intelligent and compassionate person to take on the ills of the…
Dan Hurtado: Talent tempered through fire
Heather Ainsley ECB Publishing, Inc. Monticello is a town rich in hidden talent. Writers, painters and musicians alike enjoy expressing themselves through their craft in a number of ways in the quiet…
Tigers win home game against Saints
Patricia Smith ECB Publishing, Inc. The Jefferson County Varsity basketball team played against the Wakulla Christian Saints on Thursday, Dec. 9 and accomplished their first home game win of the season. Unfortunately,…
4-H Speech Contest winners advance to district
Submitted by John Lilly UF/IFAS Jefferson County Director and 4-H Extension Agent The Jefferson County-Florida 4-H Speech Contest for 2021 has ended for the classroom, school and county competitions. The multiple-level competition…
Toys for Tots helping Jefferson County
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. Four Marine Reservists came to Jefferson County on Monday, Dec. 13, to distribute toys to local families through their Toys for Tots program. Sheriff Mac McNeill, a…
Mobile home sales site appoved
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. Mark and Sandy Vollertson of Advanced Real Estate Sales in Monticello received a green light from the Monticello City Council on Dec. 7 for their plan to…
If Rep Jason Shoals is right we must recall Gov Ron DeSantis now
Bless his heart! I read Representative Jason Shoaf’s column in the Monticello News paper “Government Mandates” about how bad Biden’s vaccine mandates are. He really should have talked to his mother before…