Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. The odds of winning a million dollars playing the Florida Lottery’s “500X the Cash” scratch-off game are 1 in 998,937 – almost exactly “one in a million.”…
Watermelon Festival Pickleball Tournament is May 16-17
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. The Monticello Watermelon Festival includes multiple events ranging from a Pickleball Tournament in May to pageants in early June to two further weekends of food, fun and…
Tennessee creates domestic violence offender registry – will Florida?
Hailey Heseltine ECB Publishing, Inc. Tennessee’s Savanna’s Law took effect in 2026. This new law established the state’s Persistent Domestic Violence Offender Registry, a searchable public registry by the Tennessee Bureau of…
Big Bend Small Business Week 2026 is May 5-7
Story Submitted The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Florida A&M University (FAMU) is proud to announce its highly anticipated Big Bend Regional Small Business Week 2026, a free, multi-day event…
Wildlife Center gives seized parrots a safe home
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. The animals who reside at the North Florida Wildlife Center in Lamont all have stories. As with us, there’s something to be said about how they came…
Marianne Morris Miller celebrates 100th birthday
Story Submitted A joyful and deeply meaningful celebration on April 5 marked the 100th birthday of a life-long Monticello resident, Marianne Morris Miller, as family, friends and church members gathered to honor…
Ponderings … Ghost Gardens
Heather Ainsley Columnist I saw a video online the other day, as I was doomscrolling on my phone. The video was made by an online travelblogger, who frequents remote areas of the…
Giddy-ups for the race of life
Rev. John Hicks Guest Columnist “…let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” Hebrews 12:1b,2 The race marked…
When current events weigh on you…pray
Sheryl. H Boldt Guest Columnist In these volatile times, I find myself wondering how to manage my fear, anger and sadness over the America my children and grandchildren will inherit. With wars…
Missy’s Law and HB 1159 have been signed into state law
Hailey Heseltine ECB Publishing, Inc. On March 31, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Missy’s Law (HB 445) and HB 1159 into Florida Law, making them set to go into effect on July 1….
Check out the Summer Camp and VBS directory for 2026
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. With summer vacation within sight now, be sure to take a look as some exciting summer camp opportunities in our area. Our 2026 Summer Camp & VBS…
Solero asks for $2.6M in compensation for denied truck stop
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. Based on the recommendation of legal counsel, local officials have responded to a claim for monetary compensation from the Solero Land Company by reaffirming the county’s denial…
New interim county manager steps to the plate
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. The numbers are out in terms of the compensation for newly-appointed Interim County Manager Ron Russo. Per the agreement negotiated by Commission Chairman Ben White and approved…
Local ceremony marks Confederate Memorial Day
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. A small group of the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV), Major Pickens Bird Camp 1327, gathered at the site of the confederate monument on the Jefferson County…
County seeks funding to construct emergency shelter and diversify economy
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. Jefferson County is seeking more than $2 million in grant funding for two projects, the first involving construction of an emergency shelter/community center and the second involving…
Stolen truck flips after striking tree on Courthouse Circle
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. The Monticello Police Department (MPD) reports that around 8:50 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, a speeding F-150 pickup truck flipped over in Courthouse Circle. MPD Cpl. Stewart…
Council splits proposed city charter changes
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. Expect the Monticello City Council to continue discussing the proposed charter amendments at its next meeting on Tuesday evening, May 5, a carryover from its meeting on…
ACA students attend VSU Math Day
PHOTO FEATURE: Students from Aucilla Christian Academy attended the 29th Sonia Kovalevsky High School Mathematics Day at Valdosta State University on Wednesday, April 15. The event included a program of hands-on workshops,…
“Coffee with the Interim County Manager” to start May 1
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. Jefferson County residents have the opportunity to meet informally with Interim County Manager Ron Russo every other Friday morning starting May 1. “’Coffee with the Interim County…
Tigers trophy collection being restored for new display
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. The meeting room for the Jefferson County School Board looked a lot different last week. The rows of blue chairs in the audience area had been cleared…