CLAY COUNTY -- As we step into 2026, we look back at 2025 with more fondness than despair. When some in our community hurt, others stepped forward with a helping hand. When their hearts ached, we embraced in support.

Our firefighter heroes reunited with Baby Vianca, who had been trapped underwater for more than 13 minutes in Black Creek. They brought her back from the dead, and now they cherish every moment they get to hug her.

We rallied around our hungry neighbors when benefits were cut off during the government shutdown.

We celebrated groundbreakings for homes for foster children. We rejoiced as a dream became tilled dirt, then concrete walls and a roof at the Vineyard Transitional Center.

We were happy to find out all of the Angel Tree requests were taken - and filled - weeks ahead of the Salvation Army's deadline.

They asked all of us to donate canned goods and non-perishable food at the Clay County Agricultural Fair for the Clothes Closet and Food Pantry, and with Winn-Dixie of Green Cove Springs' help, we stepped up to donate 8 tons.

We marveled at the parishioners at the First Baptist Church of Middleburg, who found a way to donate 1,100 turkeys ahead of Thanksgiving, and at the incredible people at J.P. Hall Children's Charities Christmas Party for serving 1,500 children with bags of Christmas toys and 960 bicycles, and to the incredible community that gave the Clay County Special Olympics Team $38,837.67 this year at the Clay County Sheriff's Office's two Tip-A-Cop events, beating last year's record haul by $7,66.67.

Let's hope 2026 is even better.

January

Williamson closes family grocery to seek life adventures

MELROSE – Bruce Williamson can’t remember the last time he took a vacation, much less focusing on anything other than running the family’s Williamson’s Food Store.

That change came at the end of January when he sold the store on the corner of State Roads 21 and 26.

After working 14 to 16 hours every day, he knows he’s ready to move on.

“My father was the original owner. He opened it in 1972, and he passed away in 2018,” Williamson said. “I asked Paul [Seay, meat cutter] what he wanted to do, and he said he wanted to work as long as possible. He announced he would be retiring on Feb. 10 because his knees were getting bad. I said when he leaves, I’m going with him.”

Amanda Watson (Teacher of the Year), Misty Massey (School-Related Employee) win Apple Awards

ORANGE PARK - The county recognized a new teacher and school-related employee of the year at the coveted Apple Awards. 

Orange Park Elementary Sixth Grade Science Teacher Amanda Watson took home the title of Teacher of the Year and the keys to a new 2025 Buick Envista presented by Garber Automall.

The 2024-2025 School-Related Employee of the Year went to Lake Asbury Junior High Principal's Secretary Misty Massey. 

Additionally, Bannerman Learning Center’s Sierra Hardin won Rookie Teacher of the Year, while RideOut Elementary P.E. Teacher Todd Cambron was presented with the Carol Vallencourt Award.

The winners were joined by more than 80 other county teachers and staff nominated, each having time to shine during the procession.

The Clay Education Foundation hosted the event. It featured special appearances and work by Fleming Island High Eagle Band One, Middleburg High Horticulture Classes Bloomin’ Broncos and culinary students from the Clay County District Schools' Career and Technical Education program.

Fifty people take Naturalization Oath to become U.S. citizens

GREEN COVE SPRINGS - Becoming an American citizen is not easy.

But the smiles and cheers of 50 individuals as they took the Oath of Allegiance on Jan. 31 proved that the journey was worth it. 

In collaboration with the U.S. District Court Judges, the Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Division, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Green Cove Springs Junior High hosted a naturalization ceremony to welcome the new citizens warmly.

The ceremony aimed to give Civics students a hands-on learning experience, immersing them in the process. The cafeteria was transformed into a courtroom, where family members watched, and students became participants and spectators in the momentous occasion. 

Each student escorted a candidate to their seat, presenting the candidate's name and place of origin. 

The participants were between 20 and 70 years old. They originated from 29 countries: Albania, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Bahamas, Belarus, Bermuda, Canada, Brazil, Burma, Cuba, China, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, India, Portugal, Philippines, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, Vietnam and Venezuela.

February

Clay Science Fair: 14 advance to State Fair, 3 to Internationals

ORANGE PARK – Austin Hallett has a reason to feel confident about the Florida State Science and Engineering Fair in March and the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in May.

Not only does he have a presentation that will have engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology scratching their heads, but the Clay High senior also has firsthand experience at the state fair twice and the international fair once.

He used high-voltage DC power to build an ion propulsion device, one of 14 county students at the fairgrounds, advancing from the Rotary Club Science Fair to the State Fair and one of three to qualify for the International Fair. Others were Clay High’s Gracelynn Beckham and Ridgeview’s Joshua Chun.

Others who qualified for the state fair were Sophie Aranaga, Lauren Cormier, James Fryman, Joseph Fryman, Anthony Fryman, Anthony Morejon, Alex Zheng, Rija Patel, Brenna Finnegan, Calvin Prose, Cooper White and Angel Zheng.

The categories included animal sciences, behavioral and social sciences, biomedical and health sciences, cellular/molecular biology and biochemistry, chemistry, earth and environmental science, engineering, environmental engineering, intelligent machines, mathematics and computational sciences, microbiology, physics and astronomy and plant sciences.

Locals buy thousands of chicks to offset cost of eggs

MIDDLEBURG – The door chime at Yum: A Southern Market was the sound of a chicken crowing. Shop owner Yvette Musgrove said it was as if the mechanical bird was laughing at her financial despair.

But there was nothing funny about the price of eggs jumping from $28 a case for 30 dozen to $230, she said.

Laws prohibit restaurants and bakeries from using eggs from homegrown or family farms. They must use sourced eggs delivered from a supplier.

Other restaurants like Waffle House, Huddle House and the Black Creek Café added a 50-cent egg surcharge to orders, while Denny’s $2 value meals were raised to $2.99.

To combat the high cost of eggs, residents have turned to buying chicks to raise their own. Homeowners have found a way to beat high prices by turning their backyards into mini barnyards so chickens can lay eggs.

At Russell Feed and Farm Supply in Middleburg, demand for chicks has far outpaced supply. The store received 500 chicks in the morning, and they were gone by the afternoon. They got another 500 a week later, and they were gone before they closed the doors.

Former Clay County Commissioner Gayward Hendry used to get one call a month about people interested in buying chickens or eggs.

“I had eight calls in one week,” he said. “Everyone wants to raise their chickens now. It’s not that hard. Just keep them fed and keep predators away from them.”

 SJCDS wins 15^th girls soccer state championship

 DELAND – St. Johns Country Day School senior midfielder CeCe Nowicki’s 45-foot free kick ignited a 4-0 victory against Pine School in the Class 1A state championship.

The win was the Spartans’ 15^th state championship, and it snapped a two-year drought for head coach Mike Pickett.

 "We wanted the win, of course, first to get back to state titles for our program," said Pickett, who now has 15 titles with a string of 11 straight that ended two years ago with a state semifinal finish and a state runner-up finish. "This was a dangerous team that had one of the best players I've ever seen or coached against that could score a bunch of quick goals very suddenly. We didn't take our foot off the gas pedal from start to finish. The shutout was also important to us."

March

Orange Park surprisingly cancels popular KidsFest

ORANGE PARK — Despite calling it “the funnest event in town,” the Orange Park Town Council decided to cancel KidsFest following discussion at its first meeting of the month.

KidsFest is an event showcasing games, activities, live music, food and shopping. The event was held annually and is geared toward children 12 years old and younger.

Councilman Doug Benefield said the Culture and Recreation Committee began discussing possibly cutting the event after the end of last year. The group looked at which town events were profitable, and which were not. Town residents were also surveyed.

Events and Recreation Coordinator Emily Dockery said it was her idea to remove the event from the budget.

“It was my idea to remove it and do something more in line with what the residents want,” she said. “What things have I even heard you, yourself, Mr. Mayor, say that you want in terms of holiday events?”

Mayor Randy Anderson questioned why the council and public were not more involved in the decision.

“We have our events in the town. They’re signature. We need to explain to the residents why we cancelled it,” Anderson said.

Oakleaf Jr. High’s Nevin Luna honored as ‘young hero’

OAKLEAF - Oakleaf Junior High student Nevin Luna received recognition for an "extraordinary" act of bravery.

In the presence of Oakleaf Junior High staff, local officials, and family, Sheriff Michelle Cook presented Luna with the Student in the Spotlight award. This initiative honors young people who have accomplished impressive things in their communities.

Luna was spotlighted for taking swift action following a severe medical emergency, where he called 911 and stayed with the victim until help arrived. 

Cook said Luna is one of the most exceptional cases that she's met since beginning the initiative. She said seeing a young person who knows exactly what to do during a crisis is outstanding.

"To have a teenager, not only knows what to do, but also to stay calm in an emergency and calm the people that were involved in the incident, is truly extraordinary,” Cook said.

Luna was presented with a special sign, certificate, Sheriff's Office water bottle and a Sheriff's Office coin -- which Cook said she doesn't give away often.

Postman retires after delivering first-class service to residents

ORANGE PARK – Mark Miller wasn’t sure what he would do after he delivered his last piece of mail on March 28, but he was confident about one thing: “Whatever I do, it will be in air conditioning.”

After spending the last 30 years driving a mail truck or walking a beat around some sleepy Orange Park neighborhoods, Miller is tired of sweating. He’s ready to chill – literally – and enjoy whatever’s next in his life.

Residents in the Holly Point East and West neighborhoods decided to send Miller into retirement with a weeklong celebration. Streets, houses and mailboxes in Holly Point were decorated with banners, balloons and streamers. During his final days, Miller was given gifts, a sash and flowers.

Residents gave him three cases of beer and a bottle of Scotch.

“The beer will go to good use,” he said.

Miller said he was surprised by the reception he received during his final week with the U.S. Postal Service.

“It’s truly amazing. It blew me off my feet,” he said.