County: Friday trash pickup on July 4 will be collected on July 5

CLAY COUNTY – The Fourth of July holiday will affect curbside trash collection, the county reported.

Residents whose regular pickup day is Friday in the unincorporated areas of the county and the City of Keystone Heights will get service on Saturday, July 5.

Regular collection schedules will resume on Monday, July 7.

The Rosemary Hill Solid Waste Facility and all Environmental Convenience Centers will also be closed on Friday, July 4.

The rest of the Black Creek Bike Trail is still open. 

Registration is open for vehicles and vendors for the Sept. 6 Touch a Truck; What Moves Clay County.

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Vehicles, vendors needed for Touch a Truck event in September

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Touch a Truck: What Moves Clay County, the annual event that attracts thousands to the Clay County Fairgrounds, is registering vehicles, static displays, community partners and service providers for its Sept. 6 event.

Touch a Truck features a variety of vehicles, including construction, first responder, military, agricultural, and utility vehicles, that will be displayed and available for inspection and interaction.

What Moves Clay brings together the people and machinery that power the community from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. We’ll host a sensory-friendly quiet hour from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., and the day will feature dozens of vehicle displays, vendor booths (indoors and outdoors), food trucks, giveaways, and a kid zone.

Whether a group is showcasing a vehicle, hosting a booth, or sharing resources. Touch a Truck is an excellent opportunity to connect with Clay County families and showcase the organization's work.

To register, forms.Monday.com/forms/58b9d81bd5150bb66fc9dead7f3348d4?r=use1.

Vendors must complete a liability form, and vehicle displays must provide certificates of insurance by Aug. 5.

U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean hosted a tax reform roundtable on Friday, June 20.

PHOTO COURTESY OF REP. AARON BEAN

U.S. Rep. Bean hosts tax reform roundtable in Clay County

WASHINGTON—This week, U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean (FL-04) hosted a roundtable discussion on Friday, June 20, with members of the First Coast Manufacturers Association to discuss the impact of expiring tax cuts, industry challenges and how the One Big Beautiful Bill will provide real tax relief and drive economic growth in Northeast Florida.

After the roundtable, Bean said, “Northeast Florida manufacturers cannot afford the burden of higher taxes that would cripple growth and threaten jobs. Roundtable participants confirmed the success of the Trump tax cuts and their critical importance to their daily operations.

“During the roundtable, I heard directly from manufacturers about the challenges of finding workers, being competitive, accessing products, and the need for immediate relief. As the fight continues to preserve the Trump tax cuts, I’m taking their stories back to D.C. and will continue to advocate for policies that help our manufacturers expand, hire and drive our economy forward.”

The Oak Ridge Boys will perform at the Thrasher-Horne Center on Oct. 12.

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Oak Ridge Boys’ farewell tour stopping at Thrasher-Horne

ORANGE PARK – Theirs has been one of the most distinctive and timeless sounds in the music industry for more than 50 years, and now The Oak Ridge Boys are bringing their American Made Farewell Tour across the country for an unforgettable night of entertainment for the entire family.

The tour will include a stop at the Thrasher-Horne Center on Oct. 12 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets, which start at $47, are available at the box office or at thcenter.org.

The show will feature many of the group’s country hits and two pop smashes, songs that earned them GRAMMY, Dove, CMA and ACM awards, as well as garnering a host of other industry and fan accolades.

Duane Allen and Ben James, along with baritone William Lee Golden and bass Richard Sterban, are set to complete the full tour schedule for The Oak Ridge Boys' American Made Farewell Tour.

“When I go on stage, I get the same feeling I had the first time I sang with The Oak Ridge Boys,” said lead singer Duane Allen. “This is the only job I’ve ever wanted to have.”

“‘Elvira’ was always on repeat when I was growing up,” said tenor Ben James. “It’s still one of those timeless songs that never grow old.”

James first met The Oak Ridge Boys in November 2022. “Joe (Bonsall) handed me the mic and said, ‘You’ve got the next verse,’” James said. “I’m not sure I will ever get over that moment.”

 Free youth football camp, basketball skills challenge at OPAA

ORANGE PARK – The second annual Orange Park Community Sports Day on June 28 will not only offer a free Youth Football Camp and Basketball Skills Challenge, but it will also honor longtime Clay Today Sports Editor Randy Lefko.

The event at the Orange Park Athletic Association fields, 1086 Fromhart St., supports the Edward and Annie Lee Keyes Foundation. This not-for-profit organization enhances the quality of life for youth and families in Orange Park and the greater North Florida area.

The football camp is for children 8-14. Registration is at 7:30 a.m., with activities running from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Former professional and collegiate athletes will conduct drills. Participants will need to provide their cleats and water, but they aren’t required. To reserve a spot, visit Eventbrite.com/e/2^nd-annual-orange-park-community-sports-football-camp-basketball-skills-tickets.

Basketball is open to players of all ages, and it will run from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. It will include a 3-point shootout, an H-O-R-S-E competition and an obstacle course challenge. Pre-registration is not required.

Lefko has worked with Clay Today and Clay County Leader newspapers since 2011.

Rotary clubs to honor heroes with flags, coins at Town Hall

CLAY COUNTY – The Rotary Clubs of Orange Park Noon u Sunrise, Green Cove Springs and Fleming Island are accepting donations to honor heroes with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Fire Rescue, Orange Park and Green Cove Springs Police Departments, Florida Army National Guard, Wounded Warrior Project and others by selling flags, coins and mentions at a special ceremony on Sept. 11 at 10 a.m. at Orange Park Town Hall.

To honor a veteran, current member of the military or a first responder, visit oprotarysunrise.com and click on flags-for-heroes. With all donations, your hero’s name(s) will be mentioned at the event. The costs are:

• Hero, $50 – one seven-foot flag displayed between Sept. 8-19 at Town Square with the hero’s name displayed on it and a custom-designed coin for the hero.
• Friend, $100 – As many as two flags and two coins.
• Bronze, $250 – As many as four flags and four coins.
• Silver, $500 – As many as six flags, six coins and a business logo.
• Gold, $1,000 – As many as eight flags, eight coins and a business logo.
• Platinum, $2,000 – As many as 10 flags, 10 coins, business logo and opportunity to display a table at the ceremony.