Today's News

It was an evening of frolic, food and fun Saturday when the Williston Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual installation banquet celebrating Mardi Gras, the last period of decadence before Lent.

Chamber members and their guests came decked out in purple, green and gold – and of course, beads and masks to witness the installation of officers and the board of directors by Judge Tim Browning.

No one knows exactly when it began or even how it began, but Big Papa speculates it was around 1995 or 1996.

And so for the last 20 years or so, almost every morning between 10-11, every week, every month, they come to sit under the shade of the oak trees where they solve Williston's problems and talk about what's going on around town. But mostly they just play dominoes – game after game of the ancient Chinese game that dates back to at least the 14th century.

Over 39 years ago, Mary Gene Bailey French and her husband, Royal, were ending a beautiful vacation in the Hawaiian Islands.

The splendor of the trip was marred in the days ahead by a story shrouded in mystery, deception, betrayal and murder.

Mrs. French's father, Gene Bailey, and three of his friends, were bushwhacked eight miles from Williston as they drove home from Ocala after having dinner.