Gideon Burrell Guest Columnist Recently my Great Grandfather passed away and went to heaven. In his younger years he served in the Army during the Korean war. He was stationed in Germany….
Meet Your Neighbor: Peggy Brown Seabrooks
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. Peggy Brown Seabrooks was born in Orlando and moved to Monticello during her middle school years. After graduating locally, she moved back to Orlando and joined the…
Be encouraged: This is not your ‘forever.’
Sheryl H. Boldt Guest Columnist Years ago, when I was in and out of mental hospitals, Millie, a kind nurse, cared for me. When I was discharged after a nine- month stay,…
Chippie doesn’t sing much anymore
Rev John Hicks Guest Columnist Occasionally I come across a story or a parable that to me expresses a great heavenly truth using earthly experiences in a way that I can totally…
Popular backyard games and activities – plus three printable “house” puzzles
Metro Media Backyards are experiencing a resurgence in recent years. Driven largely by a collective desire to reduce screen time, which has surged among many age groups, particularly children, families are investing…
Aldi store set for summer opening
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. The Aldi store on the former Winn Dixie site should be opening soon; the question is how soon. Aldi is playing it close to the vest when…
CPR: A skill that can save lives
Hailey Waldo ECB Publishing, Inc. Every second counts during a cardiac emergency, and knowing how to perform CPR can mean the difference between life and death. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, better known as CPR,…
Info session on New World screwworm is June 18
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. Jefferson County folks with livestock and warm-blooded pets may find it worth the drive to the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds in Lake City on June 18 to learn…
Commissioners to recognize veterans on June 18
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. The Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners will hold a special recognition of Jefferson County veterans during its June 18, meeting. The ceremony, organized by Interim County…
Don’t wait ’til you smell the smoke: JCFR provides free smoke detectors
Hailey Heseltine ECB Publishing, Inc. When was the last time you tested or replaced your smoke detectors? Most house fires are caused by mishaps when cooking, but other fire sources, including heating…
The hunt is on: scalloping season opens
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Contributor The 2026 recreational bay scallop season in the Fenholloway – Suwannee River Zone opens Monday, June 15, and will remain open through Labor Day (Sept….
AEDs: a lifesaving tool anyone can use
Hailey Waldo ECB Publishing, Inc. When a person experiences sudden cardiac arrest, quick action can save a life. Along with CPR, an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is one of the most important…
Registration for Tallahassee’s annual Out of the Darkness Walk is open
Hailey Heseltine ECB Publishing, Inc. Did you know that suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States? According to the World Health Organization, over 720,000 people’s lives are…
June is PTSD Awareness Month
Heather Ainsley ECB Publishing, Inc. The human mind is a powerful thing – but it isn’t invincible. In every psyche, there is a breaking point, and each individual’s threshold for stress and…
Dangerous social media trend sends warning to parents
Hailey Waldo ECB Publishing, Inc. A growing social media trend involving microwaving NeeDoh and other gel-filled squishy toys is raising serious safety concerns after children across the country have suffered painful burns…
Celebrate America Festival with Free Military Admission at Wild Adventures Theme Park
Story Submitted Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta, Ga., will host its Celebrate America Festival powered by Georgia Power from June 20 through July 12, a patriotic three-week event honoring 250 years…
County awards $22K to nonprofits
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. The Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners recently awarded a total of $22,000 to 11 local nonprofit organizations that work in various ways to improve the community…
When someone goes missing in Jefferson County: the silence before the alert
Patricia Smith Contributor Alert systems work, but the question remains about whether public awareness is keeping pace. In Jefferson County, a missing person’s case rarely begins with an emergency tone or a…
County renews legal services contract with NGN
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. The Tallahassee-based law firm of Nabors, Giblin and Nickerson (NGN) will continue to serve as legal counsel to the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners, with Attorney…
Watermelon Festival events for June 12-13
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. Watermelon Festival royalty were crowned last weekend, and the line-up of festival fun continues for two more weeks, organized by the Watermelon Festival Committee and the Monticello-Jefferson…