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…
Marriage & meddling
I was disappointed to see that the Baptist Convention has made movements to try and outlaw same-sex marriage. What an amazing case of, “my world is the entire world” mentality. The inability…
Anna Weltzbarker makes dean’s list at VSU
Merit Media News Contributor Valdosta State University congratulates Anna Weltzbarker of Monticello, Fla., for earning a spot on the Spring 2025 Dean’s List. The Dean’s List honors are reserved for the highest…
Florida Future Chef Competition seeks its next champion
Jason Futch ECB Publishing, Inc. Calling all Florida student chefs and families! The Florida Division of Food, Nutrition and Wellness is on the search for the next Florida Future Chef Champion. The…
A.A. marks its 90-year anniversary
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. Alcoholics Anonymous traces its formation back to a 1935 meet-up between a stockbroker and surgeon. Bill, the stockbroker, had been able to achieve sobriety and then maintain…
What a scorcher!
Hailey Heseltine ECB Publishing, Inc. Whew, it’s really heating up outside! As Floridians, we’re certainly not strangers to what a hot, humid summer feels like. Florida consistently ranks as the hottest state…
Hometown pride
“A slice of the good life” is exactly what we out-of-towners experienced at the Watermelon Festival! Hometown pride and collegiality was quite evident as we took in the sights and sounds of…
This isn’t just about land use
I’m writing this letter with a heavy heart on behalf of my mother, Evelyn Hagan, owner of Hagan Funeral Service, addressing the rezoning at 370 S. Jefferson Street to provide essential parking…
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…
Overturned semi blocks I-10 for three hours
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. On Friday afternoon, June 20, a semi truck transporting three vehicles overturned on I-10 around 4. p.m., blocking all traffic until just after 7 p.m. According to…
Cost of postage stamps going up again.
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. The cost of postage stamps and other mailing services is about to go up again. The price changes, which include a five-cent increase for First-Class Mail Forever…
Crash claims one life
The driver perished when the SUV she was driving left the roadway and crashed into a tree. Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. Rain showers had been moving through the area on June…
Ponderings… Bees without wings
The other day, I had a rare day off work, and I was helping Ben at the kennel when I spied a small black lump balanced on the tip of a blade…
4-H International Exchange has space available for three host families
Kathy Egan ECB Publishing, Inc. If you have ever considered hosting an exchange student, this summer might be the perfect time to take the plunge into citizen diplomacy. The 4-H International Exchange…
From girls to queens
Kathy Egan ECB Publishing, Inc. Margaret Frazier recalls she has been working with young people all her life, so out of a desire to continue her passion, she began the Girls of…
What to know about tick bites and Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Christian Peterson ECB Publishing, Inc. Many people are educated about the dangers of a tick bite and Lyme disease. However, what many do not know is Rocky Mountain spotted fever, a bacterial…
What exactly is the Bible Belt?
Christian Peterson ECB Publishing, Inc. When discussing geography, the term “belt” comes up frequently. The term originated to denote areas where certain crops were grown. However, over time, it has evolved to…
Ask an expert
One of our church members had her niece at services with her this past Sunday who was a recent college grad with a degree in biology. When I said that she was…