News | Clay Today

Community served success for Salvation Army's Empty Bowls

ORANGE PARK – It wasn’t a gourmet meal, but everyone left the Orange Park United Methodist Church’s Family Life Center satisfied on Tuesday. The 19 th annual Empty Bowls luncheon benefits the … more

By Nancy Coltrin, For Clay Today | 4/25/24

Ponte Vedra's Oliver Martin is the 2024 Wolfson Children’s Bass Tournament AmBASSador

Wolfson Children’s Hospital Bass Tournament celebrates 35 years of fishing, philanthropy

PALATKA – Wolfson Children’s Hospital Bass Tournament is accepting registrations for this year’s tournament. The popular event, which attracted 940 anglers and raised more than $436,000, … more

For Clay Today | 4/25/24

Five law enforcement supervisors graduate from FDLE Leadership Academy

CLAY COUNTY – Five Clay County law enforcement professionals graduated last week from the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute’s Leadership Academy at the St. Johns County Sheriff’s … more

For Clay Today | 4/25/24

Rookie Deputy Tyler North caught this 3-footer at Kids First preschool in Middleburg on April 11.

Gator calls

CLAY COUNTY – There is a reason they call Florida Gator Country, and not just for one of its universities. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office was called to remove two reptiles in one week. The … more

For Clay Today | 4/25/24

Handcrafted sculptures by students at Augusta Savage Arts and Community Center

CalaVida Art Walk on 'Walnut Street'

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – CalaVida Music and Arts Festival kicked off its 10th anniversary Monday night with the Art Walk on Walnut Street, even if the "Walnut Street" was missing. The city … more

Jack Randall,
jack@claytodayonline.com | 4/25/24

Educational programs like bug larvae were part of EcoFest last Saturday.

Clean and Green: EcoFest 2024

CLAY COUNTY - Although Earth Day was officially recognized on Monday, April 22, Clay County banded together to clean up 15 sites and provide ecology education programs two days earlier as part of the … more

Don Coble | 4/25/24

Mother goes to jail for DUI; son goes to hospital

FLEMING ISLAND – More than 15 pieces of Kelly Nicole Rockwood’s Jeep still are at the corner of County Road 220 and Hard Road three days after she collided with a concrete light pole on April 23. … more

4/25/24

Women busted for trafficking 112.83 grams of methamphetamine

ORANGE PARK – According to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, a passenger of a car pulled over for running a red light while making a turn wound up going to jail on April 20 for trafficking 112.83 … more

4/25/24

Masseuse charged with soliciting two undercover deputies

MIDDLEBURG – A 46-year-old Middleburg masseuse was arrested on April 17 and charged with solicitation to two undercover Clay County Sheriff’s Office deputies at the QQ Message at 430 College … more

4/25/24

The Thrasher-Horne Conference Center will host two days of art from Clay County District School student artists.

County schools to showcase artists, mathematics this weekend

CLAY COUNTY – Students will display their creativity and calculative skills this weekend with the Clay County District School Student Art Show and Elementary Math Field Day. The art show will be on … more

Clay Today staff | 4/25/24

Mission of the Dirt Road selected as top nonprofit of the year

ORANGE PARK – One of Paul Reinhold’s favorite stories nearly 100 years ago is about three men cutting stones. The first told a passer-by he was cutting one. The second told the passer-by he was … more

Don Coble | 4/25/24

Clay County Animal Control Volunteer Amie Hagar, center, was recognized Tuesday by the Board of County Commission as the first Volunteer of the Year.

BCC closer to defining future recycling plans

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – While the Board of County Commission still hasn’t put the final lid on its final plan for recycling, it took another step toward determining its options for the next fiscal … more

Don Coble | 4/25/24

Arrests and Bookings 4/25/24

Tuesday, April 23

David Dorvilus, 23, Orange Park, shoplifting, VOP community control

Gracen B. Doan, 25, Middleburg, domestic battery

Melissa D. Sharp, 35, Green Cove Springs, domestic violence

Amanda N. Smith, 37, Middleburg, inhaling harmful chemicals

Sakena G. McCray, 40, Orange Park, shoplifting

Damon E. Bynam, 58, Middleburg, sexual battery of child 12 or younger, two counts molestation of child younger than 12, show/sell/rent/loan/give away/distribute/transmite or show obscene material

more

Compiled by Don Coble | 4/25/24

The 10 passengers who traveled on the boat made by Celia's father have since lost touch after arriving in Guantanamo. Celia is standing in the front with the American flag shirt. Evelyn and both her parents stand just behind her. The man in the white baseball camp regretfully dropped the compass. All 10 passengers eventually found entry into the U.S.

Cuban refugee, U.S. Navy officer reunite 30 years after Guantanamo Bay

This is the first part in a four-part series telling the story of two women who were at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba during the 1994 Cuban Rafter Crisis. Celia E. Ochoa was a Cuban refugee. Tanya Lea was a … more

Jack Randall,
jack@claytodayonline.com | 4/22/24

Challange Enterprises CEO Katie Vineyard holds the scissors for the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Club Challenge ribbon cutting brings new kitchen, opportunities

ORANGE PARK—The community eagerly gathered around the entrance of Club Challenge at the back of Challenge Enterprises for the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, April 16. Challenge … more

Jack Randall,
jack@claytodayonline.com | 4/21/24

Avid reader Tanya Lea proudly displays her new additions to her bookshelf.

Local authors featured at Present Tense Coffee and Books

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Present Tense Coffee and Books is a cultural focal point. It's a welcoming home for bookworms and local authors. Last Saturday, the coffee house invited a dozen local … more

Jack Randall,
jack@claytodayonline.com | 4/19/24

CalaVida Music and Arts Festival will be coming to Green Cove Springs on April 22

CalaVida 10th anniversary festival coming April 22-27

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Cities worldwide celebrate their artists in their own way. Chicago has the Old Town Art Fair. Miami has the Coconut Grove Art Festival. Closer to home, Green Cove Springs has … more

Jack Randall,
jack@claytodayonline.com | 4/18/24

From left, CCSO Chief Billy Arnold, brother of Terry Arnold, accepted the donation from the Signal 35 Fund's Sheriff Michelle Cook and Signal 35 Fund board member Judson Sapp.

Signal 35 charity fund helps GCSPD's Arnold

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook and Signal 35 Fund board member Judson Sapp presented a $1,000 check Tuesday to the family of Terry and Monica Arnold. Terry Arnold is the … more

For Clay Today | 4/18/24

Patients and staff packed Town Hall last Tuesday to speak out against the new ordinance or to find a compromise for the parking problems on Blake Avenue.

Precision Dermatology makes pitch for parking on Blake Avenue

ORANGE PARK – The town council appeared to strike a short-term compromise between Precision Dermatology and nearby residents during last Tuesday's meeting by continuing to permit … more

Jack Randall,
jack@claytodayonline.com | 4/18/24

Rookery one step closer to setting up a CDD

The Rookery passed the first hurdle of its plan to create a Community Development District when the City Council passed the first reading of its request to set up a taxing district to provide … more

By Don Coble don@claytodayonline.com | 4/18/24

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