PHOTO BY THE MARY BLACK FOUNDATION The second annual Juneteenth Festival and Parade in Monticello commemorates the effective ending of slavery in the United States on June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas with an executive order freeing the people enslaved there. The local event will be held this Saturday, June 10,…

Deputies with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) made 125 traffic stops in the last week, which resulted in numerous arrests. They also made 28 premises checks, and numerous other types of calls. In addition, they provided a security presence at the Shady Dale Rodeo and the Rodeo Parade. A number of people were also…

C. MASON, L. LITTLE, A. NICHOLS, S. EVANS (L-R) (Editor’s Note: This is another in a series of meeting the community’s public service employees who take care of the residents and businesses in Jasper County and the city of Monticello. This week, Kim Joris introduces us to the staff in the Clerk of Courts office.)…

The Shady Dale Rodeo attracted record crowds Friday and Saturday nights, with the gates actually being closed at 9 p.m., as there was no more room for spectators. However, some people who wanted to see the action just climbed the fence. The rodeo is sponsored by Jasper Lodge #50 F.&A.M. and Walton Lodge #200. The…

The Jasper County Commissioners at their regular meeting Monday evening voted to lower taxes for Jasperites. Commissioners discussed setting the millage at 11.114 mills which would be the rollback rate for the tax rate to remain the same. However, commissioners clearly wanted to give residents a break, and lowered the millage another three-fourths of a…