Optimist Park was bursting at the seams last week with games, games, and more games. No fields could have been more exciting than the AAA field with three games being played.

Ocheesee Pond, a longtime fishing destination near Grand Ridge, has nearly dried up amid ongoing drought conditions, exposing large stretches of ground where water has historically covered the basin.

We tend to imagine resurrection as interruption.

Ya’Laysha Barnes has been part of Malone School since the second grade, and over the years she has grown into a standout student-athlete now preparing to take her game to the next level. A senior with a deep love for basketball, Barnes has spent the past seven years developing her skills on the court, along with a brief stint in softball. That dedication is paying off as she signs with Enterprise State Community College, just over an hour away, giving local fans the chance to continue watching her career.

A standing-room-only crowd turned out in Jackson County Monday evening as Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson addressed growing concerns over two new agricultural interdiction stations under construction for the area, one on U.S. 231 near the Alabama line and another on Highway 2 near the Georgia border.

The evening’s presentations at the Jackson County School Board meeting began with a special recognition tied to item 3.1, celebrating an incredible milestone, students who have read 1,000 books before even starting kindergarten.

The Jackson County School Board took time Tuesday evening to recognize a truly special group of student-athletes: the Marianna K-8 Middle School softball team, the 2025–26 undefeated district champions.

Business and community leaders from Holmes, Jackson and Washington counties gathered Thursday evening at the Tri-County Airport in Bonifay for a joint chamber event aimed at strengthening regional ties and promoting economic collaboration.

At a recent Jackson County School Board meeting, the spotlight turned to a young leader whose roots run deep in agriculture and community, Marianna High School’s own Madeline Garcia.