🌱 How Bradford High’s No. 9 ranking sets up a big 2026 season

Good morning Starke! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How Bradford High's No. 9 ranking sets up a big 2026 season
• What to know about tonight's scheduled execution near Starke
• Why Florida's latest execution near Starke is drawing statewide attention

Today's riddle: Why do fish live in salt water? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: An afternoon thunderstorm, with a high of 95 and low of 74 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
• Friday: A stray afternoon t-storm, temps: high: 94, low: 75.
• Saturday: An afternoon thunderstorm, with a high of 89 and low of 74 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Buchholz, Hawthorne and Bradford start season ranked in power poll top 10 (mainstreetdailynews.com) — Bradford High's football team from Starke opens the 2026 season ranked No. 9 in a 26-county power poll, giving local fans plenty to watch this fall. The article highlights Bradford's new head coach Ross Baker, key regional rivals, and how district and classification changes could shape the Tornadoes' path back to deep playoff runs.
   

2. Florida set to carry out its 13th execution this year in the nation's busiest death chamber (nbcmiami.com) — Florida is preparing to carry out another execution at Florida State Prison near Starke, again putting the town in the spotlight of the state's death chamber activity. The piece explains the crime, legal appeals, and Florida's broader execution schedule and statistics for this year.
   

3. Florida carries out its 13th execution of the year on a man convicted of killing estranged wife (eldoradonews.com) — Another execution at Florida State Prison near Starke highlights how central this facility is to Florida's death penalty system. The story walks through William Frances Silvia's crime, the victims' family reaction, and the state's growing execution tally, including two more inmates scheduled to die in September.
   

4. Florida Executes William Silvia in 13th Execution of 2026 (iheart.com) — Florida carried out another execution at Florida State Prison near Starke, underscoring the town's role in the state's death penalty system. The article details the crime, legal history, and final moments of William Frances Silvia, and notes Florida's unusually high number of executions this year under Gov. Ron DeSantis.
   

📸 Around Starke

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Starke

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★ Featured events ★

Thursday August 27
• Hart 2 Hart Academy Girls JV Volleyball @ HCA →
  Hope Christian Academy, 3900 FL-100, Starke
  5:00 pm

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Other local events

📣 Starke Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday August 20
• ArtSpace: Crochet 101
  Waldo Branch Library Waldo Branch - ARTspace
  4:00 pm
• Feeding Northeast Florida
  Wilkinson Junior High Middleburg, FL 32068
  5:00 pm
• JV Volleyball @ Bartram Trail
  Middleburg High School Middleburg, FL 32068
  6:00 pm
• JV Football @ Baldwin
  Middleburg High School Middleburg, FL 32068
  6:00 pm
• V Volleyball @ Bartram Trail
  Middleburg High School Middleburg, FL 32068
  7:00 pm
Friday August 21
• Varsity Football vs Menendez
  Middleburg High School Middleburg, FL 32068
  7:00 pm
Saturday August 22
• MakerSpace: Open Studio
  Waldo Branch Library Waldo Branch - ARTspace
  3:30 pm
• UF Game Lab Wild Turkey Research Banquet 2026 →
  University of Florida Austin Cary Forest, 10625 NE Waldo Rd, Gainesville
  5:00 pm
Tuesday August 25
• JV Volleyball vs Oakleaf
  Middleburg High School Middleburg, FL 32068
  5:30 pm
• V Volleyball vs Oakleaf
  Middleburg High School Middleburg, FL 32068
  6:30 pm
Wednesday August 26
• Stories to Movies
  Waldo Branch Library Waldo Branch - Meeting Room
  2:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• New to the neighborhood and looking for a landscaper :) need some mulch and plants installed in front of house with some pavers!
  See image attached for a simple layout and dm recs ASAP! (Nextdoor The St Rd 230ers)

• Driven Brands, Inc. posted a job opening for Oil Change Team Member - Shop#920 - 831 S Walnut St in Starke. Apply here.
• Take 5 Oil Change posted a job opening for Oil Change Shop Manager - Shop#920 - 831 S Walnut St in Starke. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Starke here.

Ok Starke! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Pepper makes them sneeze (Thank you Karla H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

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