Capital Health Plan Contributor Capital Health Plan (CHP) has deepened its investment in community well-being by donating $50,000 to Second Harvest of the Big Bend. The charitable contribution will help the nonprofit…
Donny Kay Powell
Donny Kay Powell, 66, of Greenville, Fla., passed on Monday, April 14, 2025. Graveside services are 11 a.m. Saturday, April 26, in New Zion Cemetery, Greenville. Viewing-visitation is 4 p.m. to 6…
Deacon Edd Keaton
Deacon Edd Keaton, affectionately known as “Bubba,” was born in Monticello, Fla., on Jan. 6, 1953, to the late Aggie Bell Keaton Thompson and the late JB Williams. He was raised by…
Law enforcement gives tips on how to avoid car robbery
Heather Ainsley ECB Publishing, Inc. There is no way to predict when a crime will be committed. What’s worse is that there is also no way to predict with 100 percent certainty…
Chamber hears update on local Community Partnership School
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. Members and guests of the Monticello-Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce heard from Dr. Lori Livingston at their monthly luncheon meeting on Tuesday, April 1. In introducing Dr….
The First merges into Renasant
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. People driving in downtown Monticello have likely noticed a small addendum to the sign for The First, issuing a “Welcome to Renasant.” This comes after a merger…
Education Foundation presents its 2025 awards
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. The Jefferson County Educational Foundation, Inc. (JCEF) gave a number of awards at its annual celebration event on Tuesday, April 8, recognizing several teachers and students for…
Tree appreciation today for a better tomorrow
Heather Ainsley ECB Publishing, Inc. April 25 is National Arbor Day. Arbor Day is a yearly observance when citizens are encouraged to plant, tend to and celebrate all things related to the…
House fire on Vista Road: Family picks up the pieces after losing it all
Heather Ainsley ECB Publishing, Inc. On Thursday evening on April 17, at around 4:45 p.m., Jefferson County Fire Rescue (JCFR) responded to a 911 call about a home that was reportedly fully…
City gets emergency radio communications system
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. After much consideration, the Monticello City Council recently agreed to allow the placement of small transmitting devices atop the city’s water tanks for the creation of a…
Disaster relief still available
Rick Patrick ECB Publishing, Inc. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced that eligible small businesses, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters in Florida have until Sunday, April 27, to apply…
Warriors take District Championship
Rick Patrick ECB Publishing, Inc. The third time was the charm for the Aucilla Christian Academy (ACA) Warriors varsity baseball team when they faced the Madison County High School Cowboys for the…
Ponderings… Golden eyes, golden heart
Around three and a half years ago, an elderly, thin, feral cat approached me as I was eating lunch outside the newspaper office, and she captured a piece of me. For two…
Thoughts from the past and present: Let them know they’re loved
There’s a lot of things we take for granted. Wonderful people, places, experiences and opportunities we have and love can start feeling like just an routine part of life when we engage…
Patriot Academy at the Florida Capitol is June 18 – 20, 2025
Story submitted by Bill Snyder Patriot Academy Volunteer Patriot Academy Leadership Congress is a three-day intensive leadership experience for young patriots in the Florida Capitol each year in June. Participants are in…
Big Bend Hospice is hosting a linen drive
Heather Ainsley ECB Publishing, Inc. Big Bend Hospice is currently seeking donations of new linens to be used for patients in Jefferson, Madison and Taylor counties. From now until April 28, donations…
Library announces 2025 Summer Reading Program
Hailey Heseltine ECB Publishing, Inc. When school’s out, the Jefferson County R.J. Bailar Library’s annual Summer Reading Program is in! Though it isn’t quite yet time for the summer break, the library’s…
Too much of a good thing
Heather Ainsley ECB Publishing, Inc. Any homeowner wants a pleasant-looking front yard, with a nice, healthy lawn and perhaps a few bordering bushes, trees and blooms to really welcome people in. It’s…
Hightower speaks about God’s timing at prayer breakfast
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. The April 3 gathering of the Monticello Community Prayer Breakfast was hosted by the First Baptist Church of Lloyd, whose men’s group prepared a delicious buffet of…
Easter memories and butterfly lessons
For 18 plus years before retiring from pastoring a church, I raised butterflies for release on Easter Sunday morning at the church’s flower cross. Over the years, I learned much and had…