Monday afternoon, city and county officials, contractors, members of the public gathered in blistering temperatures for the ground-breaking of a resiliency hub.
Top Headlines
Marianna residents will see a modest increase in the garbage portion of their water bills following action taken at a recent special meeting.
The Jackson County Board of County Commissioners wrapped up its meeting Tuesday night by unanimously voting 5-0 to offer the position of county attorney to Casey Bigelow.
Club America, powered by Turning Point USA (TPUSA), is excited to announce the official kick-off of the Jackson–Calhoun County Chapter with a special evening of faith, music, and inspiring speakers at Chipola College.
More Local News, Focused on Jackson County
The Jackson County NAACP hosted an open forum January 13 at the Agricultural Center aimed at addressing issues related to the Jackson County School District.
Satsuma Growers Prepare for Frigid Temps
The Marianna City Commission held a special meeting to consider merging Main Street Marianna with the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce.
In the small rural community of Jackson County, there are names that immediately appear associated with an area of the county.
Chief Jammie Jeter recognized Gina Girdler before the Board of County Commissioners during its regularly scheduled meeting, honoring her five years of service to Jackson County.
Jackson Hospital proudly welcomed its New Year’s baby, Dahlia Thompson, born on January 2, 2026, at 9:51 p.m.
December 29, 2025, Marianna, FL. Dr. Joe H. Gay was recently recognized by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) for over 30 years certified in the specialty and may now use the 30-year designation.
I thoroughly enjoyed the recent article written by Judge Thomas. It brought back a flood of memories of my many conversations with Don. Before getting to a few of the more humorous stories, I want to share some political ones.
There are five school board and county offices up for election this year and four of those offices have candidates pre-filed to run.
Friday afternoon, a loaded log truck was passing through Cottondale on Highway 90 when the driver realized his logs were on fire.
The Wharf Restaurant on Highway 90 East in Marianna is preparing for a major expansion.
Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia affect millions of people worldwide, and with no known cure, prevention has become a major focus of research.
Wednesday, January 7, 2026 marked an extraordinary moment for Jackson County Fire Rescue. The department was named the 2025 Rural EMS Provider of the Year for the State of Florida, an honor presented by Florida Health during its Excellence in Emergency Medical Services Awards Ceremony.
It was standing room only Tuesday night at the Marianna City Commission meeting as the public gathered to express their concerns over a possible development on Bumpnose Road.
The Jackson County Board of County Commissioners has scheduled a public hearing for two Community Development items.
The ranking order for the six candidates applying to be the attorney for the Jackson County Board of County Commissioners has been released.
With the holidays in full swing, the Times received numerous calls asking if what they heard about sleeping in cars was illegal in Florida.
In 1933 Don Fuqua was born in Jacksonville, Florida. His father John managed an A & P Tea grocery store. After his brother Harry was born in 1936, Mr. Fuqua decided that a large city was not the ideal place to raise three boys, so with an improving American economy, the Fuqua family moved to Altha, Florida, in 1938, a small community in Calhoun County. At the Fuqua farm, Don and his brothers helped operate dairy cattle, and grow and harvest soybeans, cotton, and peanuts.
The Jackson County Board of County Commissioners will meet in a special session on Tuesday, January 6, to interview six candidates for the position of county attorney.
Several new Florida laws take effect January 1, bringing changes that affect pet owners, health care patients, and everyday consumers across the state, including here in Jackson County.
Crime and Courts
Arrests
First Appearances
Other Crime and Courts
Local Sports
With baseball and softball around the corner, let me just rant for a bit.
The MHS Lady Bulldogs are having a phenomenal season.
Monday afternoon, city and county officials, contractors, members of the public gathered in blistering temperatures for the ground-breaking of a resiliency hub.
By: Shelia Mader
The 2026 Grand Ridge basketball rec league is underway and proving after one night to be full of excitement.
Last week, the Marianna Bulldog Wrestlers made the trip to Jacksonville to participate in the Wolf Pack Challenge.
In the small rural community of Jackson County, there are names that immediately appear associated with an area of the county.
The Marianna High School girls’ basketball team is boasting an 8-6 records after they went one and one this past week.
Local Business
The Wharf Restaurant on Highway 90 East in Marianna is preparing for a major expansion.
Features
Jackson Hospital proudly welcomed its New Year’s baby, Dahlia Thompson, born on January 2, 2026, at 9:51 p.m.
Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia affect millions of people worldwide, and with no known cure, prevention has become a major focus of research.
Sneads High School’s culinary students are stepping into a kitchen that finally matches their ambition.
The Jackson County Times joined forces with IFAS and our friends in Marianna who accepted the Peanut Butter Challenge.
Talk to anyone who knows even a little about trees, and they’ll tell you that it’s never too early to start learning about them
Two-year-old Charli Taylor has had quite the busy life for someone who just celebrated her second birthday on October 26.
The Jackson County Cattlemen’s Association held its annual meeting at the Ag Extension Office on Penn Avenue. Attendees enjoyed a hearty meal of smoked steaks, baked potatoes, salad, rolls, and dessert.
The halls of the Chipola Apartments, located inside the historic Chipola Hotel, are filled once again with color, sparkle, and the spirit of the season.
At 4408 Lafayette Street in downtown Marianna, there’s a little shop that holds a lot of history.
When Kaboodles Boutique opened its doors on October 2, 2022, at 2899 Orange Street in Marianna, owner Pamela Shack wasn’t just launching a business, she was continuing a legacy of love and generosity deeply rooted in her family and faith.
Petoberfest celebrated its sixth anniversary last Friday at Madison Street Park, and the scene couldn’t have been more perfect.
Rivertown Community Church was the setting for the sixth annual Ladies First event on October 8.
Fall is definitely in the air, and festivals, pumpkin patches, and other seasonal events are popping up all over Jackson County.
Jackson County can count on many things, and one of them is that the First Ladies of Sneads will always show up for their community.
Community
By: Shelia Mader
The 2026 Grand Ridge basketball rec league is underway and proving after one night to be full of excitement.
The Jackson County NAACP hosted an open forum January 13 at the Agricultural Center aimed at addressing issues related to the Jackson County School District.
Chief Jammie Jeter recognized Gina Girdler before the Board of County Commissioners during its regularly scheduled meeting, honoring her five years of service to Jackson County.
The First Ladies of Sneads are an extraordinary group of volunteers who work tirelessly to make their town a better place to live.
I thoroughly enjoyed the recent article written by Judge Thomas. It brought back a flood of memories of my many conversations with Don. Before getting to a few of the more humorous stories, I want to share some political ones.
The Jackson County Board of County Commissioners has scheduled a public hearing for two Community Development items.
NextStep Program Director Tammy Dasher introduced Jordan Gassett as the December Jackson County Employee of the Month.
Opinion
Everyone knows I was so fortunate when I was in school to have had the best teachers on the planet, past, present and future.
"The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you,' nor again, the head to the feet, 'I have no need of you.'" 1 Corinthians 12:21
Christmas is a time of joy, celebration, and giving. For many, it’s a season marked by an overwhelming desire to show love and appreciation to family, friends, and even strangers.
"If we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin." 1 John 1:7.
As you all know, I have tons to say about my dad.
Nothing like a week with minimal (two to three games) of rec ball across Jackson County to regroup, revive, and get ready for the next round of sports.
"After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and people and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands."
Sometimes, there are three sides, yours, the other party and the truth. But that’s a story for a different day.
There is a chilling efficiency to hate. It does not need to be taught—only permitted.
Football, volleyball and golf are winding down with most finishing up this month. Basketball is getting ready and anxiously awaiting their start time.
Lee Greenwood didn’t write and sing God Bless ‘Merica.
In recent years, a phrase has become almost toxic in the public square and on social media: “thoughts and prayers.”
Walk through any town after a hurricane, or any neighborhood after a fire, and you will see a sight that Scripture knows well: ruins. Shattered windows, toppled walls, twisted beams—the remains of what once promised shelter and safety. In the aftermath of Hurricane Michael, these are images this town knows all too well. The ruin is not only material. It is spiritual. To stand in the rubble of what was once home or sanctuary is to feel disoriented, even abandoned.
"Of course, there is great gain with godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these." 1 Timothy 6:6-8.
This is one time I really don’t know where to begin, but as you probably know, I usually figure it out, even if it means going all the way around the block just to walk back through my front door.