CLAY COUNTY – A lot happened in the county last year. Here are some month-by-month snapshots of the highlights:

January

Orange Park Vice Mayor Thompson, Councilman Cobreiro resign

ORANGE PARK – In response to the newly enacted Form 6 law requiring public officials to disclose personal sources and property of more than $1,000, Orange Park Vice Mayor Susana Thompson and Councilman Daniel Cobreiro resigned from the Orange Park Town Council, effective Jan. 1.

“Making this decision has been incredibly difficult. During my short tenure, I have been deeply honored to serve our community, striving to make positive contributions and decisions for the betterment of our town and all its residents,” Cobreiro wrote.

Cobreiro said he’s concerned about balancing dedication to public service and protecting his family’s financial privacy.

Bruce Friedman launches book crusade against school board

CLAY COUNTY – If one aspect of Clay County has captured the nation’s attention, it is the monthly School Board meeting. Discussions surrounding book challenges, appeals and removals garnered national headlines last year. Florida leads the nation in challenges and books removed from school libraries, and Clay County’s school district leads the state.

And one man, Bruce Friedman, has led the charge.

He has led a personal quest to ban books he believes are offensive. He handed his newest installment of challenges to the board of what he said portrays explicit material in public school libraries.

“Through the course of this month, I have submitted – with today’s batch – 34 new book challenges (and) 17 appeals. There are now 418 pending appeals,” Friedman said.

Friedman achieved national attention last year by submitting an unprecedented number of book challenges, nearly 96% of which can be attributed to him.

3,100-acre Agricola community pitched to county commission

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Agricola family owns 30,000 acres of timberland forests across Florida, but 3,100 acres just a few miles south of Green Cove Springs have been set aside for something unique.

The Agricola Property is a proposed planned community that aims to be not merely an ambitious project within county lines but a national model for what modern alternative living could look like – featuring the small-town charm and rural culture of Clay County.

According to one presentation, Agricola would be a walkable, self-contained community developed around a village center featuring mixed-use commercial/residential buildings. Pedestrian trails would integrate economic, residential and agricultural districts – forming not merely a neighborhood, but an “agri-hood.” It would have its schools, amenities and commercial and residential buildings.

February

Long chase through neighborhood yards, creek ends with arrest

MIDDLEBURG – The biggest fear of any police officer is silence, especially after a physical confrontation with a suspect who’s considered violent.

When Florida Highway Patrol, Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office deputies jumped into the murky waters of Little Black Creek on a Sunday afternoon after chasing a man suspected of an armed carjacking and home invasion, the law enforcement agencies finally wrestled control of the 19-year-old in the chest-deep creek.

One deputy didn’t immediately answer when the command tried to account for everyone. They knew he went into the water, but they didn’t see or hear from him for more than a minute after Carlos Matute was drug away in handcuffs. Just as confusion turned to fear, the deputy finally keyed his microphone and said he was wet and cold but all right.

Not knowing is the biggest challenge of being in law enforcement.

“It’s never what you want to hear,” said Sheriff Michelle Cook.

Matute was on the loose for several hours, and the on-foot chase covered three miles.

Magnolia Point residents challenge Community Association fees

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Hidden in the seemingly picture-perfect seclusion of the Magnolia Point Golf and Country Club was a growing clash among residents concerning an annual Use Agreement payment of $450,815 to the golf and country club owners for the upkeep and accessibility to the pool and tennis courts.

The community is a sanctuary of solitude and affluence, where a semi-private golf course ambles throughout the 1,000-acre development.

Three Magnolia residents hired a law firm to request mediation with the Association that could signal the end of payments to the club.

In its December newsletter, the Magnolia Residents Group said the original Use Agreement signed in 2015 should only last three years. The Group also contends the Community Association hasn’t voted on extending or modifying the agreement since. The original deal was crafted between the club and the board of directors. The Group believes such an agreement violated Association rules because the deal needed approval by at least 75% of the 975 homeowners.

Since its inception, the club has received more than $4 million in subsidies for access to the junior Olympic swimming pool and seven clay tennis courts.

Some oppose the payments because the club isn’t private, many residents don’t use the amenities, and non-residents can pay a $10 fee to use the pool. Moreover, the payments don’t include access to the golf course, and the public has the same access to the 18-hole, 6,796-yard course, pub and restaurant.

Orange Park Police Chief Gary Goble to retire

ORANGE PARK – Gary Goble will key his microphone on March 28 and provide dispatch with a code 10-7, followed by 10-42. With that, he will be retired as the town’s police chief.

Code 10-7 means out of service. Code 10-42 means ending the tour of duty.

The final act for a police officer is more ceremonial than necessary. It’s a brief moment where everyone on duty can pause to reflect on his 35-year law enforcement career.

Because the job of keeping the community safe is never-ending, everyone will get back to work.

Goble will concentrate on tee times and selling shaved ice from his family’s Hawaii Fyve-Sno food trailer. One thing is sure: Goble won’t slow down.

“I’ve got some opportunities that have been presented to me,” he said. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do yet – if anything.”

Goble started with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office in 1989 before he moved to Orange Park in 1993. His retirement countdown clock began five years ago. He’s proud of his department’s growth, significantly how it adjusted and embraced modern techniques.

“We’ve come such a long way,” Goble said. “I came here in 1993 and worked my way through the ranks. And since I took over as chief almost 13 years ago, I think the department has done a great job just keeping up with technology.”

March

Award-winning Orange Park photographer Chuck Liddy dies

ORANGE PARK – Chuck Liddy saw things differently through his viewfinder.

Sports fans would see a quarterback throw a 20-yard pass to a wide receiver for a touchdown; Liddy focused more on the grimacing scowl of an offensive lineman, blocking with his full weight, his veins protruding from his neck, blood dripping from his knuckles.

We watched life’s two-dimensional successes and failures; he showed us the raw emotion in virtual reality. We saw disaster and death in the real world; he made us feel the pain.

Liddy got a used camera from his father when he was 12, and he learned to use it as a free ticket to get into sporting events after he graduated in 1973 from Orange Park High. He volunteered to take sports photos at Clay Today for several seasons before being hired for the paper in 1975, and he quickly learned to tell a story with a single click of the lens.

He grew to become one of the most accomplished and revered photojournalists in the Southeast. He captured one of the greatest game-winning NCAA basketball tournament moments as Christian Laettner launched a 15-foot jumper to beat Kentucky at the buzzer in 1992, along with heartbreaking shots of hurricane rescues, a gut-wrenching photo of a smoldering boot after a U.S. Army Humvee ran over an IED in Iraq, unrest in Haiti and war.

He worked for 46 years before retiring in 2019. His sister, Valerie Liddy, said he died last week in North Carolina at the age of 69.

Improvements at Tax Collector’s Office saving residents money

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – If there’s one thing Diane Hutchings dislikes, it’s wasting money. Especially other people’s money.

Her office furniture was found in a closet and Craig’s List for pennies on the dollar. Since she took office in 2020, she’s vowed to upgrade services and equipment to be more efficient and frugal.

“We’re always working on ways to save time and money,” Hutchings said. “That way, we can be more efficient, especially as our county grows.”

The main office at the County Administration Building offers a unique service for residents who have difficulty speaking English.

“We have a device called Pocketalk that we can use to set up a language and ask someone what they need, and it will ask them in their language,” Hutchings said. “When they respond, the answer is given back in English. It’s important for someone to feel comfortable. There’s no confusion. It saves time and eliminates mistakes.”

Hutchings likened the older software to “Blockbuster Video” when she took over. The new software was expensive up front, but she said the time saved on the backside far offset the investment. She found that other Florida tax offices had saved “millions” over time with the new software, so she bought it.

“It was a no-brainer,” she said, “especially when you eliminate keystrokes and save hours.”

Broskie: Clay schools continuing to build on success

ORANGE PARK – Superintendent David Broskie had a clear message for parents of students enrolled in Clay County District Schools during his fifth annual State of the Schools Address: Your child is getting a first-class education.

Broskie told more than 150 community leaders, business partners, and stakeholders at the Thrasher-Horne Center about the school district’s achievements and outlined a comprehensive roadmap for advancing district success by fostering strong educators and expanding student opportunities through school choice options.

Earlier, the district learned the Florida Department of Education said Clay had the second-highest scores in social studies and the fourth-highest in science in Florida. It was the fourth time the FDE gave the district an “A” grade in five years. The county didn’t receive a grade in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Broskie said the district will continue to build on the successes.

“Our teachers are the cornerstone of our educational system,” Broskie affirmed. “By investing in their growth and professional development, we empower them to inspire and guide the next generation of leaders.”