News | Clay Today

Mother Shannon Jacobsen, left, and daughter, Erin, both earned their Associate of Arts degrees at St. Johns River State College’s Orange Park campus.

Mother, daughter graduate together at SJR State College

ORANGE PARK – When 43-year-old Shannon Jacobsen applied to St. Johns River State College to earn her Associate in Arts degree, she was slightly apprehensive. She was returning to school 20 … more

For Clay Today | 5/9/24

Flagler College, located in St. Augustine

Thirteen from Clay County earn degrees from Flagler College

ST. AUGUSTINE – More than 500 students, including 13 from Clay County, celebrated their graduation from Flagler College on Sunday, May 5. F or many of these graduates, it will be their first time … more

For Clay Today | 5/9/24

Fleming Island’s Laird inducted into Phi Kappa Phi

BATON ROUGE, La. – N aomi Laird of Fleming Island was recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society. … more

For Clay Today | 5/9/24

Alert CCSO deputy makes significant drug bust at gas pumps

MIDDLEBURG – An alert Clay County Sheriff’s Office deputy who was answering another call wound up arresting a Middleburg man on several drug-related charges after realizing his tag had been … more

Compiled by Don Coble | 5/9/24

Gainesville man arrested in CCSO child porn internet sting

ORANGE PARK – A Gainesville man was arrested on May 1 after the Clay County Sheriff’s Office caught him in an undercover operation using his computer to solicit a child for sex. According to the … more

5/9/24

Obstructed tag leads to fentanyl charge for Jacksonville man

MIDDLEBURG – A Jacksonville man was stopped on Blanding Boulevard on April 30 with an obstructed license tag, and he wound up going to the Clay County Jail for trafficking 51.1 grams of fentanyl. … more

5/9/24

The community rallied around athlete and longtime volunteer Dianne McKittrick and gave her a washer, dryer and mattress to thank her for her years of tireless work for fellow Olympians. McKittrick recently moved into her first apartment.

Law Enforcement Torch Run sets pace for Special Olympics team

FLEMING ISLAND – Lawmen and firefighters traded their khaki uniforms for red T-shirts and compassion on Friday, May 3, for the rescheduled Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. While the … more

Don Coble | 5/9/24

James Jetty went from living in the back of a tattoo shop and a car to graduating from Clay High with plans to earn a psychology degree from UCF.

Senior Spotlight: Clay High's James Jetty

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – For most of his young life, James Jetty’s only future was figuring out where he would sleep that night. Sometimes, he found a spot in the back of his mother’s tattoo … more

Don Coble | 5/9/24

Luke Rykalsky will go to the University of Florida with the Benacquisto Scholarship, but his attention will drift back to Orange Park after his father suffered two strokes.

Senior spotlight: Orange Park High’s Luke Rykalsky

ORANGE PARK – His father can’t physically tell him, but Luke Rykalsky knows he’s supposed to leave home for college next year. It won’t ease his worries, especially since his father counts on … more

Don Coble | 5/9/24

Ben Ulsch lost his parents in 2018, then he suffered a severe knee injury that forced him to miss most of his junior and all of his senior football seasons. He said throughout the challenges, he is a “stronger” person who plans to own his own construction company.

Senior spotlight: Keystone Heights’ Ben Ulsch

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – The more Ben Ulsch talks, the more he tries to put football behind him. He tells you a third-place finish in the Class 1A 169-pound state weightlifting championship was a … more

Don Coble | 5/9/24

Shoppers find deals, 4-H raises money at Vintage Market Days

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Shoppers found plenty of deals on vintage merchandise, and Clay County 4-H enjoyed one of its biggest annual fundraisers during the three-day Vintage Market Day event at … more

STAFF PHOTOS BY DON COBLE | 5/9/24

Drummer Austin Girouard said he had a good time playing in front of the band's largest crowd.

Keystone High band rocks Spring Park during Food Truck Friday

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Dylan Miller was so focused on playing his guitar he didn’t notice how many people were in Spring Park last Friday for Food Truck Friday. It wasn’t until the band, Shopping … more

Don Coble | 5/9/24

NJROTC cadets from Fleming Island and Middleburg highs are briefed at NAS Pensacola.

Sunseekers fly Fleming Island, Middleburg NJROTC units NAS Pensacola

PENSACOLA – Fleming Island and Middleburg high Navy JROTC cadets were flown on training missions on a U.S. Navy transport aircraft, the C-40A, Clipper, operated by Fleet Logistics Support Squadron … more

By David Keller, Fleming Island High Senior Naval Science Instructor | 5/9/24

Ridgeview High graduate Samantha Collins accepts her commission as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy.

Ridgeview grad commissioned as Ensign in U.S. Navy

CLAY COUNTY – Samantha Collins, a 2020 graduate of Ridgeview High, was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer. Ensign Collins was a member of our Navy … more

5/9/24

Jacksonville man charged with impersonating FBI agent

ORANGE PARK – A Jacksonville man was arrested after the Clay County Sheriff’s Office said he claimed to be an FBI Special Agent after he approached two women he said were driving recklessly on … more

5/9/24

A child gets a close-up look at the baby hawk before it was returned to its nest.

CCFR crews return injured baby hawk back to its nest

FLEMING ISLAND – Clay County Fire Rescue got a call from a resident in Eagle Harbor with a request they said, "honestly we've never had before." Recently, a storm blew a baby hawk out of its … more

For Clay Today | 5/9/24

Spotlighting resilient seniors ahead of May 24 graduation

CLAY COUNTY – They lost their parents, suffered gruesome injuries and broke away from likely futures of crime and substance abuse. Some battled self-doubt, unfair expectations and adolescence. … more

5/9/24

Celia E. Ochoa (wearing the blue lanyard) with Tanya Lea (in the pink hat) reunited on March 15, 2024.

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

With it being nearly 30 years ago, Celia E. Ochoa can’t say if Tanya Lea dropped a scoop of rice for them. Or a scoop of beans. Or handed her and her family MREs (meals ready to eat). Tanya … more

Jack Randall,
jack@claytodayonline.com | 5/9/24

St. Johns Classical Academy’s Wedangelis Feliciano-Berrocales came to the United States 11 years ago from Puerto Rico. Her parents couldn’t speak English, and they didn’t have a job. She was self-taught English and will graduate on May 24 from St. Johns Classical Academy before becoming the first in her immediate family to attend college.

Senior Spotlight: Wedangelis Feliciano-Berrocales

FLEMING ISLAND – There was a recession in Puerto Rico 11 years ago, and Wedangelis Feliciano-Berrocales’ parents didn’t have college degrees or jobs. When the pandemic hit, the … more

Don Coble | 5/9/24

CCSO K-9 Ory retires

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Clay County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Deputy Ory, a seven-year veteran with the agency, retired May 3. According to CCSO, Ory was responsible for 14 bites, hundreds of tracks and … more

5/9/24

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