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Green Cove Springs kicks off 150-year birthday celebration

Thousands are expected to fill Spring Park on Saturday, Nov. 2, for Green Cove Springs 150th Kickoff Celebration and Food Truck Saturday.
GREEN COVE SPRINGS — Officials started meeting 15 months ago to plan the city’s 150th birthday. After all, a municipality only turns 150 years old once. The Kick-Off Celebration on Saturday, Nov. …
Operation Lifeline Founder/Executive Director Erick Saks installs an AED kit at a park.
CLAY COUNTY—Even with some community partners volunteering in hurricane-ravaged Southwest Florida and Northwest North Carolina, they worked with Clay County Fire Rescue Paramedicine officials to …
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More local news

Don’t let your last chance to get a pork butt go up in smoke

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – It’s that time of year again when the Vineyard Transitional Center will fire up its pits and prepare whole Boston butts ahead of the Thanksgiving holidays to support its …

Whether a candidate wins by a million or loses by 1, every vote counts

  CLAY COUNTY - The foundation of our democracy is that every vote counts. Filling out a ballot and mailing it, returning it to the elections office or standing in line to cast a vote is more …

Niagara Cares, Safe Future Foundation, Feed the Children support 400 local families

ORANGE PARK – Niagara Cares, the charitable division of  Niagara Bottling , joined today with leading anti-hunger organizations  Feed   the   Children  and  Safe …

4-H to host Moon Tree/Citizen Science workshop

CLAY COUNTY – The Clay County 4-H program will host an educational workshop and citizen science activity to teach the public more about Clay County’s Moon Trees. The 4-H Moon Tree & Citizen …
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In the community

VIA Women’s Club take spooky privilege telling history

From left, Liane Barkley, Chera Bleau, Shelley O'Steen and Rebecca Williams all provided whimsical
GREEN COVE SPRINGS—In the spirit of Halloween and the city's 150th birthday, the Village Improvement Association Woman’s Club mixed some history, a little humor and maybe some fiction to …

St. Johns Country Day School hosts Art Guild of OP exhibit

ORANGE PARK – St. Johns Country Day School is proud to announce its partnership with the Art Guild of Orange Park to host a special art exhibit through Dec. 20. The exhibit of works for sale will …

Obituaries
Ollie C. Sullivan
Ollie C. Sullivan
Ollie C. Sullivan, 81, passed away after a lengthy illness on Sunday, October 20, 2024. She was born on July 22, 1943 in Boyd, Florida. She grew up in Madison, Florida and moved to Jacksonville, …
Joey Eubanks
JOEY EUBANKS Joseph Earl “Joey” Eubanks, 35, of Palatka passed away Thursday, October 10, 2024. Joey was born in St. Augustine. He earned a Bachelor’s degree and worked as a …
Harry Taylor (HT) Pierce Jr.,
Harry Taylor “HT” Pierce Jr.
Harry Taylor (HT) Pierce Jr., (79), of Orange Park, FL, passed away peacefully on October 15, 2024.  HT was born on January 9, 1945, in Bartow, FL, to Ruth (Robertson) Pierce and Harry Taylor …
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 …
And in Sports....
High School Football

Knights offense stalls in district clash

OAKLEAF - After a season of high-flying games with scores of 57, 40, and 44 points, the Oakleaf High football team got stymied by a pesky Mandarin High secondary and pass rush to drop an 18-7 …

Clay explodes, Broncos slip, Eagles roll

NOCATEE - Despite a career night from wide receiver Jordan Williams, who had six catches for 140 yards with three coming on short patterns with additional juking by Williams, the Middleburg High …

Broncos repeat season thwarted

MIDDLEBURG - With three double-digit hitters returning volley on the vaunted Middleburg High volleyball defense, Beachside High did the unlikely with a second match win over the Lady Broncos in the …
Swim

FIHS Shoesmith, OPHS Lopez lead 3A swim districts

GAINESVILLE - Fleming Island sophomore swimmer William Shoesmith is one of two sophomores in the region 1-3A lineup to be among the top contenders for a state medal in two weeks as swimmers move from …

Crime & safety
Police briefs
MIDDLEBURG – A man wanted for not appearing for a July 25 pretrial simple battery hearing was caught after leading the Clay County Sheriff's Department and the Florida Highway Patrol following a …
MIDDLEBURG – A passenger with a warrant for simple battery in a traffic stop had to be pulled by her ponytail after she refused to get out of a truck on Oct. 25. Amanda Nicole Smith, 38, of …

Tuesday, Oct. 29

Shaun M. Clark, 45, Middleburg, resisting law enforcement with violence, flee/elude law enforcement with high speed with disregard for safety of others/property, FTA simple battery, possession cocaine, possession methamphetamine, FTA DWLSR

Collier L. Hunt, 26, Fleming Island, VOP community control

Quinton J. Galpin, 32, Middleburg, violation of pretrial release conditions

Megan L. Stencil, 37, Fleming Island, petit theft

Charles L. Padgett, 42, Maxville, battery of person 65 or older

William G. Bass, 57, Fleming Island, shoplifting

Clifford M. Bramlett, 31, Middleburg, possession fentanyl

Monte G. Klein, 42, Middleburg, DUI

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 …

This Week in History

Five years ago, 2019 • Fleming Island High senior Kaitlyn Ludlam won the prestigious Society of Women Engineers award for girls in engineering by focusing on robotics to enhance her STEM programs. …
Word of the Week

Word of the Week

Word of the Week is 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 …

Did You Know?

Did You Know

Clay Today will test your knowledge weekly and provide interesting facts on various topics. This week, the most popular video games of all time. Although video games have become more exotic and …

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

Honoring God with Our Vote

Pastor Billy Register

Election season can stir up a lot of feelings—anticipation, tension, and frustration. For us as believers, it’s a chance to step back and approach voting as a way to live out our faith. Casting a …

Columnists

Let the fans decide if Pete Rose belongs in Hall of Fame

I still remember every pitch of my first major sporting event. My hot dog had never tasted so good, and it was the only time I didn’t mind sharing my soft drink with my little brother and sister. …

Doctors’ tips for a Healthy and Safe Holiday Season

The holiday season is a joyous time of year, but it can also throw your wellness routines out of alignment. Doctors advise prioritizing healthy choices during this period to start 2025 on the right …
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
100 years of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Stacker curated a selection of photographs from the past century of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to help illustrate the history of the iconic event.
Take the Stress Out of Winter Travel
(Family Features) While there's plenty to appreciate about winter travel, including picturesque scenery and festive moments with loved ones, the season brings a unique set of challenges, too.
Handy Hacks to Take the Stress Out of Holiday Hosting
(Family Features) Hosting is a big responsibility, especially during the holidays when the pressure is on to create a magical and memorable experience. Planning a menu and decorating for the occasion is just the start.
Survey unveils surge in entrepreneurial optimism among young Americans
(BPT) - A fresh wave of innovation and optimism is reshaping the American economy, as revealed by a new survey commissioned by Herbalife and conducted by Talker Research. The 2024 Entrepreneurial …
How older adults can best prepare for surgery
(BPT) - By Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS, Executive Director & CEO, American College of SurgeonsFor people of all ages, the mere thought of surgery can spur anxious thoughts and concerns: How …