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Breaking News

Clay County weathers Milton’s wrath; still monitoring Black Creek, St. Johns River

Emergency Management assessing the aftermath of Hurricane Milton and how to proceed with the cleanup and repairs.
CLAY COUNTY – Hurricane Milton passed Clay County late Wednesday and early Thursday, leaving 4,500 customers without power and hundreds with more debris from trees and a threat of flooding from the …
St. Simon Baptist Church is set to begin anticipated construction on their new building later this year.
ORANGE PARK - After breaking ground at 1331 Miller St. last year, St. Simon Baptist Church is ready to embrace a new chapter in its story. It's been almost four years since an arsonist set fire to …
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The primary group that put together the surprise awards ceremony were, from left, former Florida Sen. Jim Horne, Sheriff Michelle Cook, Satcher, former Clay County Commissioner Gayward Hendry, Judge Ray Forbess Jr., Dalton's owner Skylar Davis and Jason Johns.

Leaders rally to honor ‘patriot’ Brad Satcher with surprise awards ceremony

LAKE ASBURY—Brad Satcher has never pretended about his convictions. He loves his family, his country, Clay County, and his friends. Last week, his friends and county colleagues showed their love …

Orange Park decides to keep Town Manager search closer to home

The Town Council voted to use its Human Resource Manager, Bill Merryman, and Florida City and County Management Association (FCCMA) Senior Advisors to identify the best prospects to replace Town …

To count or not to count: That is the question

CLAY COUNTY – Recently, I received a text asking me to look at a video reporting Florida voting systems are tabulating ballots as "Blank Ballots" when a voter has properly marked the contests on …

UF/IFAS launch Grow/Sell/Own Youth Businesses as Entrepreneurs

When Emily Flowers began taking public speaking lessons through Florida 4-H, she never imagined using those skills to grow her own business. But years later, the 14-year-old regularly talks with …
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In The Community

Hundreds to give it laldy at Scottish Athletics Masters World Championships

Hammer throw

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – They’re coming from 10 countries, many wearing kilts and speaking in heavy Scottish brogue, to compete this weekend at the largest Highland Games ever held. And when they …

It’s easy to be festive with all these upcoming festivals

The smell of pumpkin spice permeates the air, Christmas decorations are up in the stores two months early and temperatures are only in the mid-to-high 80s. That means Fall is finally here. Nothing …

Worldly curiosity leads Joe Shaffar’s colossal fossil collection

This fossil is of an animal's head with fangs.
MIDDLEBURG — As a child, Joe Shaffar’s mother immersed him in various worldly cultures, histories and differences. She gave him a subscription to National Geographic and often took him out of …

Amid rainy day, Soul Food Festival still serves crowd

GREEN COVE SPRINGS — Although Saturday was rainy throughout the county, the Soul Food Festival went on without a hitch. Many still attended the event, featuring a parade beginning on Palmetto …
Bubble hoops were one of the newest and most popular attractions at the Amazing Grace Family Farms Fall Festival.

Annual Fall Festival continues to amaze families

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Families disappeared in one end of the crop maze, only reappearing from another during the first weekend of the Amazing Grace Family Farms Fall Festival. The month-long event …
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Fleetwood Mach Tribute coming to Thrasher-Horne in January

ORANGE PARK – Fleetwood Mach Tribute Show recreates the magic and mystique of Fleetwood Mac in an unforgettable performance of all the greatest hits, including “Dreams,” “You Make Lovin’ …

UF/IFAS: It just takes a jiff to take the peanut butter challenge

CLAY COUNTY – Whether you favor crunchy or creamy, the challenge is on. The annual University of Florida Peanut Butter Challenge that is. Launched in 2012 in Florida’s Panhandle region to raise …

Thunderbolt, Oakleaf Village and Orange Park raise over $50,000 for hearts

FLEMING ISLAND - At Thursday's school board meeting, three elementary schools were recognized for their top fundraising efforts.  Thunderbolt, Orange Park and Oakleaf Village Elementary raised …
Taylor Thigpen recently sold PlantKingUSA to pursue a higher education at Notre Dame.

New beginnings for PlantKingUSA

GREEN COVE SPRINGS - Taylor Thigpen, the county’s renowned plant king, has officially passed the "green" torch to someone else. PlantKingUSA, Thigpen’s plant business, skyrocketed to great …
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Obituaries
Marlene “Orosz” Taylor
 Marlene “Orosz” Taylor, formerly of Fleming Island, Florida, passed away on September 20, 2024, at the age of 88. Marlene was born on December 26, 1935, and graduated from Spencer …
Nancy Carol Wetherbee
Nancy Carol Wetherbee
  Nancy Carol Wetherbee was born in the spring of 1949, the first of six children born to Robert James Eckenrode and Laura Marie Tracy.  She is preceded in Heaven by her father Robert, her …
Claude Wakefield Sharp
It is with profound sadness we share the peaceful passing of our beloved father, (Claude) Wakefield Sharp, age 97, on September 26, 2024, in Middleburg, Florida. Born in Gideon, Missouri to James …
Sheila Bailey Holcombe
Sheila Bailey Holcombe,  59 of Orange Park, FL passed away Tuesday, September 10th.  She was born in Fargo, North Dakota to Leona and Bruce Bailey.  She was raised with her twin …
Grady Swanson Noel
Reverend Grady Swanson Noel
Reverend Grady Swanson Noel crossed over into the Gloryland Way on Friday, September 20th, 2024, at the young age of 86. He was and will always be a beloved Husband, Father, Poppy, and Minister of …
And in Sports....
High School Football

Merlin the Magician gets his win

JACKSONVILLE - With a mountain of the second half of his season quickly approaching, Ridgeview High first-year coach Merlin Smith got his first win with a tough 29-20 victory over KIPP Bold Academy …

Win big, go (stay)home

FLEMING ISLAND - With a double district showdown approaching with a few kinks in the equation, Middleburg and Fleming Island look to be on a collision course for a possible district championship …
Volleyball

Panthers erupt, Broncos fall in Blanding Blvd. double

ORANGE PARK - In her Ridgeview High volleyball playing days, Jauhna Smith knew how to ignite a gym with her high-flying kill shots for then-coach Destiny Brightman and it was with that memory that …
Track and Field

Whistling Death 5K, 10K: Run for history

GREEN COVE SPRINGS - A bit of military history has always been a part of the annual Whistling Death 5K and 10K races staged at Green Cove Springs Military Museum of Highway 16 near the Shands Bridge …

Campbell tops Bale N Trail XC field

BARTRAM TRAIL - Fleming Island senior cross country runner Jacob Campbell broke early and extended to win the Bale N Trail Cross Country Invitational held Saturday at Bartram Trail High School on a …
Crime & safety
Police briefs
MIDDLEBURG – A man wanted in Jacksonville was arrested on Oct. 4 after deputies with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit and Fugitive Apprehension Unit tracked him down and followed …
JACKSONVILLE – A Middleburg man was turned over to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office from the Duval County Jail after being arrested on Sept. 20 in Jacksonville after CCSO claimed he sold …
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – The Clay County Sheriff’s Office enlisted the help of a confidential informant to make a controlled purchase of methamphetamine in 2023, which led to the arrest of a …

Monday, Oct. 7

Ruben D.C. Martinez, 42, Middleburg, driving without valid license

Marlon M.C. Trochez, 26, Green Cove Springs, cause to become delinquent/needy, shelter unmarried minor without notifying parent/law enforcement, driving without valid license

Kerlicia D. Byrd, 31, Green Cove Springs, FTA DWLSR

Natalee J. Strombeck, 33, Keystone Heights, armed robbery, aggravated battery with deadly weapon

Dewey S. McCullough, 57, Green Cove Springs, VOP battery

Georgia C. Arnold, 78, Fleming Island, shoplifting

La-Quarius S. Wolfe, 30, Green Cove Springs, abusing elderly/disabled person

Justin D. Ray, 38, Green Cove Springs, VOP DUI with BAL .15 or greater

Dakota L.B. Austin, 26, Middleburg, possession controlled substance

Cody M. Haynes, 28, Fleming Island, grand theft

Badcock Furniture Green Cove Springs
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Badcock Furniture Green Cove Springs

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The Clay County YMCA – For A Better Community

First Coast YMCA-Our DayStar Program

At DayStar, we are committed to ensuring everyone reaches their full potential with dignity while providing individuals access to the unique support they need. Daystar is committed to providing …

Calendar

ORANGE PARK PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD will meet on Oct. 10 at 6 p.m. in town council chambers, 2042 Park Ave.

NARCAN DISTRIBUTION AND INFORMATION will be provided on Oct. 10 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Community Paramedicine Program Office, 2710 Blanding Blvd., Suite 8, Middleburg, in the Winn-Dixie shopping center. Receive free Narcan spray, information on how to administer the spray, how to recognize someone who is overdosing and information to avoid the stigma that comes with addiction.

CLAY COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL GALA DINNER AND AWARDS is on Oct. 11 from 5:30-11 p.m. at Camp Blanding. The patriotic-themed dinner includes awards for eight business and member categories and tickets will support feeding as many as 4,500 Clay County families. An eight-top table costs $1,500; member couples costs $155; single members $85; non-member couples $180; non-member singles $95. For tickets or information, call the Chamber at (904) 264-2651

This Week in History

Five years ago, 2019 • Gov. Ron DeSantis used Middleburg High as the backdrop to announce a proposed $ 9,500-a-year starting pay increase for Florida school teachers. • Orange Park animator …
Word of the Week

Acidulous

Acidulous is Word of the Week, a feature that aims to help readers boost their vocabulary in a meaningful way that has practical applications. Each week, our editorial staff presents a word, its definition and its use in a sentence …

Did You Know?

Did You Know

Clay Today will test your knowledge weekly and provide interesting facts on various topics. This week, the strongest hurricanes in Florida history. Florida braced for Hurricane Milton, and for good …

Briefs

Mercy Support invites public to ‘A Night at the Oscars’

ORANGE PARK — Sponsors and the public are invited to “A Night at the Oscars” at the Thrasher-Horne Center on Oct. 24 to benefit Mercy Support Services. They exist to meet the needs of people …

Opinions & Viewpoints
Faith Walk

Things Make No Sense

Pastor Billy Register

Life can be confusing. There are times when things simply don’t make sense. But God sees things differently than we do. He views everything from an eternal perspective, and while we may not always …

Columnists

The things I could do if I were King for a day

Have you ever wondered what you’d do if you were King or Queen for a day? I know it’s not possible, but just imagine … If I had the power, I’d twitch my nose like Samantha Stephens on …
Florida Rep. Sam Garrison

Fleming Island Rep. Garrison: Florida doesn’t need legalized pot to survive

A Florida lawmaker in line to be House Speaker is explaining why he’s voting against legalizing recreational marijuana in November. Rep. Sam Garrison, who represents District 11, which includes …
Special Sections
New from local businesses
Pizza Hut shuts down its Green Cove Springs store
GREEN COVE SPRINGS—Pizza Hut at Magnolia Layne served its last slice of pie Tuesday as the corporation continues to downsize its operation to only serve takeouts and deliveries. According to the …
NEFAR: Housing market showing signs of gaining traction in Clay County
CLAY COUNTY – As fall approaches, it’s becoming more apparent that it’s becoming more of a buyer’s market. The Northeast Florida Association of REALTORS (NEFAR) Market Statistics report for …
McDonald’s offering grants to Clay County teachers, nonprofits
CLAY COUNTY – Teachers and nonprofits have until Oct. 13 to apply for grants ranging from $1,000 to $20,000 to serve children 5-18, including those in kindergarten through 12th grade. The company …
Property appraiser honored with lifetime achievement award
Clay County – Clay County Property Appraiser, Tracy Scott Drake, was recently honored with the International Association of Assessing Officers’ (IAAO) Professional Development Lifetime …
Swirl Suites is located at 1910 Wells Rd #C02 at the Orange Park Mall
Swirl Suites puts its own twist on ice cream
ORANGE PARK — Swirl Suites has set up shop just outside of the Orange Park Mall, putting its own twist on the ice cream sundae.  You may have enjoyed scoops of ice cream in a cone or a bowl …
Michael Mullinax owns Brown's Creek Honey Farm, a business dedicated to making products solely from all-natural beeswax.
'Bee'-ing natural with Brown's Creek Honey Farm
FLEMING ISLAND — Bees are a huge part of what makes our ecosystem work.  The pollinators land on objects and leave a trace sure to impact the way we live.  Michael Mullinax has been an …
Web extra content
23 Halloween candies ranked from healthiest to unhealthiest
Hers ranked 23 of the most popular Halloween candies in the U.S. based on the pounds sold in each state and their nutrition content.
The holidays can take a bite out of your budget—but you don’t have to let them and TextNow can help.
Six Ways To Save Money This Holiday Season
(NAPSI)—Shopping for the holidays is more expensive than ever. With Americans carrying more debt than ever before, many are expected to spend $18.5 billion using third-party buy now, pay later …
How cattle grazing protects and benefits the land
(BPT) - With cattle ranching featured front and center in America's living rooms due to the popularity of shows highlighting the western lifestyle, and with Climate Week piquing interest in …
Retirement savings report card: Most U.S. adults grade themselves a 'B' or 'C' on saving
(BPT) - Approximately 11,200 Americans turn 65 each day, with most stepping into a new life of retirement. It’s a time to be free of financial stress, but that means planning ahead. A new …
4 Ways to Help Protect Against Tick Bites This Fall
(BPT) - Beautiful fall days captivate many people, offering a burst of color as the leaves change and cooler temperatures that encourage outdoor adventures. However, as you're outside enjoying the …