Front Page

    Memorial service honors fallen Clay soldier

    By Randy Lefko 05-17-2012

    Staff writer KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – Hundreds of people turned out Monday, May 14, for a memorial service to honor a Keystone Heights native killed while serving in Afghanistan. Retired and active military members joined family and friends of Army ...
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    Town closer to installing traffic cams

    By Stephen Kindland 05-17-2012

    Staff writer ORANGE PARK – Town council members have moved closer to installing red light cameras at strategic intersections, but not before cautioning town administrators to be diligent during contract negotiations with the company selected to set up the proposed system. The council voted unanimously during a town council meeting held on Tuesday, May 15 to direct town staff to begin talks with American Traffic Solutions, an Arizona-based company that already has a contract with the city of Green Cove Springs and, according to its website, 3,000 camera installations in more than 230 ...
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    Community

      A butterfly is free

      05-17-2012

      Michael Gregonis of Fleming Island helps his 3-year-old daughter, Chelsea, release a butterfly in front of the Fleming Island library on Saturday, May 12. Members of the Fleming Island circle of the Garden Club of Orange Park planted the butterfly ...
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      Utility Authority billing changing to help locate water leaks quicker

      Special to Clay Today 05-17-2012

      ORANGE PARK -- The Clay County Utility Authority says it will begin compressing its billing cycle effective Oct. 1 to help customers identiify leaky pipes sooner. The authority currently bills monthly for the prior month’s usage. The new compressed cycle will result in all customers’ meters being read on one day and their bill being mailed two days after the meter reading, Customers may notice the October bill is a longer than normal billing cycle to accommodate this transition, Utility Authority CEO Ray Avery said in a letter to customers. "We assure you that the longer cycle ...
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      Ceremonies honor David White, other fallen police officers

      By Stephen Kindland 05-17-2012

      Staff Writer GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Ceremonies held last week honoring fallen police officers will have a lasting impression on Clay County sheriff’s deputies -- not only because of the Feb. 16 shooting death of Det. David White, but the ...
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      Bar Assoc. hears Anthony prosecutor; issues scholarships

      Clay Today staff 05-17-2012

      ORANGE PARK – The 39th Annual Clay County Bar Association Law Day Luncheon Event featured a speech by the prosecutor in the Casey Anthony murder trial and the presentation of scholarships to three high school students. Prosecutor Jeffrey Ashton ...
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      Filmmakers’ plans heighten Riverfest excitement

      By Debra W. Buehn 05-17-2012

      Correspondent GREEN COVE SPRINGS -- Memorial Day is always a big event in Green Cove Springs, but this year looks to be the biggest ever with a video about the city being filmed that day that will soon hit the national airwaves. "I think we’re shaping up to have our best ever event," said Councilmember Bob Page at Tuesday’s regular City Council meeting after the council had reviewed both the schedule for the city’s 24th Annual Memorial Day Riverfest, scheduled for May 28, and the plans for a video that will be filmed that day that highlights life in Green Cove Springs. The ...
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      Community Briefs

      05-17-2012

      Lake Asbury dam project OK’d LAKE ASBURY -- The Lake Asbury Municipal Service Benefit District (LAMSBD) Board of Trustees have approved the South Lake Asbury dam improvements project. The $840,000 project, which will create a new spillway and make dam improvements, is expected to begin in late October and take about three months to complete, Trustee Carl Kocher said. The lowering of South Lake Asbury is expected to begin in mid October as well in anticipation of the project. Kocher said South Lake Asbury residents will not be able to use their lawn irrigation systems or have ...
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      ‘Concert on the Green’ selects music winners

      Special to Clay Today 05-17-2012

      FLEMING ISLAND – Five high school students took the top awards in Clay County’s 2012 Concert on the Green music competition at New Grace Church in Fleming Island. The first place vocal and instrumental winners, senior Marie Smithwick from ...
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      Suspect targeting elderly shoppers

      Clay Today staff 05-17-2012

      FLEMING ISLAND – The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public’s help to identify a female purse thief who targeted an elderly shopper at a Fleming Island grocery store. A Green Cove Springs woman reported having $380 in cash and a ...
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      Stamping out hunger

      05-17-2012

      More than 200 "awesome" volunteers unloaded and sorted food at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church on Kingsley Avenue last weekend, wrapping up another successful Stamp Out Hunger food drive sponsored by the American Association of Letter Carriers. ...
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      Clay County Memories

      05-17-2012

      Along the south prong of Black Creek between Middleburg and Keystone Heights was an area known as Waller. The name was settled on when Nick Waller established a post office near where the Green Cove Springs, Starke and Middleburg roads ...
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      Sports

        Ninth inning: Clay falls 1-0 in state semifinals

        Randy Lefko 05-17-2012

        Clay High pitching ace Dane Dunning battled all the way into the ninth inning of a scoreless dual with Ponte Vedra ace Matt Deegan only to watch from the dugout as the Sharks moved two baserunners that Dunning walked into scoring position before a ...
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        Sports

        05-17-2012

        Compiled by Barbara Boxleitner Softball Orange Park High graduate Heather Udry is a sophomore for St. Johns River. She hit .218 with five RBIs through 49 games. Women’s lacrosse Previously at Orange Park, Shelby Gentry is a freshman defender for LaGrange College (Ga.). She played 12 games, including 11 starts. Baseball Clay High School graduate Jake Desuyo is a freshman infielder for Florida State College at Jacksonville. He batted .261 with one home run and 13 RBIs in 43 games. Florida State College freshman infielder Sam McDade, out of Fleming Island, hit .325 with nine RBIs in 28 ...
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        Clay bats bash Blue Devils Final Four

        By Randy Lefko 05-17-2012

        Thursday, May 17, 10 a.m. v. Ponte Vedra in Port St. Lucie Sports Editor GREEN COVE SPRINGS - Clay High baseball coach Rob Thompson fancied that the good pitching and good defense of his Blue Devil team would carry the day in their quest to finish ...
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        Seen at TPC ...

        05-17-2012

        Lakeside Junior High student Abby Anderson, far left, watches as PGA stars Tiger Woods, left, and Jim Furyk walk to the 13th tee at The Players Championship Championship held last week in Ponte Vedra. Woods, the 2001 TPC champion, finished tied for ...
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        Clay County spring football previews exciting fall

        By Randy Lefko 05-17-2012

        Sports Editor Two all staters leave Fleming Island, an all stater comes to Oakleaf High and a two returning all staters lead Ridgeview into the spring football game schedule with Friday night opening up with Orange Park and St. Johns Country Day ...
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        High School football going strong despite rain

        Randy Lefko 05-10-2012

        High school football practices are in and out with the Florida afternoon thunderstorms. Practices continue with many spring games next week.  Pictured is CHS coach joshua Hoekstra throwing the rock during drills on Wednesday.
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        Toelken Homer in 7th puts Clay in region final

        Randy Lefko 05-10-2012

        Andy Toelken delivered a seventh inning solo homer to unhinge Creekside High and give the Blue Devils a 1-0 region 2-5A semifinal win Tuesday night at Clay High. Clay will host Hernando on Friday 7 p.m. for the region final and a ticket to the Final ...
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        Police

          Meth found in home with kids

          05-17-2012

          MIDDLEBURG – Five people accused of manufacturing methamphetamine at a Middleburg home are facing an additional charge of "cooking" the potentially explosive substance while children were living there. Investigators with the Clay County ...
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          Police Briefs

          05-17-2012

          FI man in fatal crash ST. AUGUSTINE – A Fleming Island man was involved in a crash May 11 that left another driver dead. The accident involving Paul Ditch, 48, happened about 12:50 a.m. on State Road 207. Ditch was southbound when his 2012 ...
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          Arrests

          05-17-2012

          Law enforcement agencies reported the following clay county arrests May 9-15: Wednesday, May 9 Arrington, James, 38, Keystone Heights (CCSO) VOP-grand theft Batton, Hollis, 53, Panama City (CCSO) VOP-deal in stolen property; VOP-false info on pawn items Branch, Kristin, 23, Keystone Heights (CCSO) possess control sub w/o valid; driving on susp/revoked driver’s Butler, Israel, 36, Green Cove Springs (CCSO) FTA - possession of controlled; FTA - possession of cocaine; FTA - use or possess drug paraphernalia Campbell, Gerald, 28, Orange Park (CCSO) grand theft - value 300 to 4,999; ...
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          Opinion

            Candidate announcement

            05-17-2012

            KEYSTONE HEIGHTS - Nearly a hundred enthusiastic attendees sporting Van Zant T-shirts and lapel stickers gathered at Johnny’s Barbeque to support Charlie Van Zant as he officially kicked off his campaign for Superintendent of Clay County ...
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            Candidate announcements

            05-17-2012

            ORANGE PARK LeAnne Kolb, Republican candidate for the U. S. House of Representatives in District 3 (new CD 5), announced that her campaign is the first to qualify for the Aug. 14 Republican primary by petition. A small business owner and parent ...
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            Jett says he did the right thing

            05-17-2012

            Dear Editor: A "friend" is someone you can count on. An "employee" is someone you can depend on. "A "volunteer," especially in a campaign, is someone you must be able to trust. When a friend, employee or volunteer asks you to do something improper and illegal, how would you respond? The Roger Dockery I know would have done what was "right," if given the facts as they occurred. In the midst of my campaign I had a choice, do what was right or accept and become a part of what was wrong. It was not a point of "trust" or vindictiveness; it was simply standing up to actions which were improper, ...
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            Today

            05-17-2012

            The week of May 17 compiled from Clay Today archives: 5 Years Ago ● No funding available to extend College Drive to Branan Field-Chaffee Road ● Planning begins for Clay County’s 150th birthday ● Florida Striders plan Memorial Day 5k Run 10 ...
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            Bass is judge group 34 candidate

            05-17-2012

            ORANGE PARK -- Suzanne Bass has announced she is a candidate for circuit court judge, group 34, which includes Clay, Duval and Nassau counties. Suzanne Bass is a lawyer with decades of praise for her ethics and ability as she’s practiced in ...
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            Schools

              High school graduation dates, times are set

              Special to Clay Today 05-17-2012

              GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Clay County school district has announced the following high school graduation dates and related times: BANNERMAN LEARNING CENTER Graduation: Friday, June 1, Teacher Training Center (10 a.m.) CLAY HIGH SCHOOL Senior Awards: May 25, CHS Gymnasium (7:30 a.m.) Baccalaureate: May 29, Russell Baptist Church (6:30 p.m.) Graduation: Friday, June 1, CHS Stadium (8 p.m.) Estimated Number of Graduates: approximately 340 FLEMING HIGH SCHOOL Senior Awards: May 17 at FIHS Cafeteria (7 p.m.) Baccalaureate: May 20 at Fleming Island Presbyterian Church (2 p.m.) ...
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              WEATHER

              Thunder

              81°F

              Orange Park

              Thunder

              Humidity: 54%

              Wind: 17 mph

              • 17 May 2012

                Thunderstorms Early 82°F 70°F

              • 18 May 2012

                Scattered Thunderstorms 80°F 71°F