Best Friends recognizes Clay Animal Shelter for its no-kill status

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Best Friends Animal Society recognized Clay County Animal Services for maintaining its no-kill status for 2024.

Its dedicated employees and volunteers accomplished this feat by exceeding a 90% save rate for cats and dogs at the shelter. This percentage represents the number of lives saved at our shelter, and it's a direct result of the unyielding care and compassion our staff and volunteers show to our animals every day.

This honor highlights the shelter’s tireless efforts and the extraordinary leadership within our organization, all working together to advance the animal welfare movement and to ensure every animal has a chance of finding a loving, forever home.

Corner Pocket’s Starnes running for GCS City Council

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Cheri Starnes, owner of The Corner Pocket, became the first candidate to file her pre-qualifying paperwork on Monday, June 30, to run for Seat 4 on the City Council.

Starnes is seeking to replace former Mayor Thomas Smith, who resigned unexpectedly on June 3, citing increasing workplace demands.

“I love the city, and I understand that there's a real fine line between our community as citizens and what the city needs,” Starnes said. “I'm hoping that my background will be able to help bring clarity to making both those things balance out. I enjoy giving back, and I think that I can make a difference.”

Candidates can visit clayelections.gov and click on the "Candidates and Committees" tab, then select "Running for Office" to view details on how to file for candidacy. The deadline for filing for the Sept. 23 special election is Friday, July 18, at noon.

Orange Park teens graduate from NASA’s Space Camp

ORANGE PARK – Frederick Tough, Ethan Long, Hayden Wood, Dayton Zeigler and Taylor Gheen were among 36 12- to 14-year-old Young Marines from units across the country who successfully graduated from NASA’s U.S. Space and Rocket Center’s Aviation Challenge Mach II in Huntsville, Alabama.

All participants completed a fast-paced, military-inspired program where young leaders are evaluated in their knowledge of aerodynamics and teamwork.

The teens are members of the Black Creek Young Marines, located in Orange Park.

The Young Marines is a national nonprofit youth education and service program for boys and girls, aged 8 through high school graduation. The Young Marines promotes the mental, moral and physical development of its members. The program focuses on teaching the values of leadership, teamwork, and self-discipline, enabling participants to live and promote a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.

Former NASA Astronaut, Ret. U.S. Marines Col. Kenneth D. Cameron interacted with the campers in hands-on activities. Selected by NASA in May 1984, Cameron became an astronaut in June 1985. A veteran of three space flights, Cameron has logged more than 561 hours in space.

“Completion of this difficult course is a major accomplishment and a life-changing experience for these Young Marines,” said Col. William P. Davis USMC (Ret), national executive director and CEO of the Young Marines. “Our Young Marines enthusiastically answered the challenge that the NASA camp put before them. With purpose, creativity and strategic thinking, our Young Marines completed every task assigned to them.”

During the six days, graduates’ main accomplishments included:

• Learning about aeronautics, propulsion, and aviation history.

• Flew in a UAV drone simulator to reinforce lessons learned at static displays and artifacts.

• Mastered aerial combat and competing to be the best of the best in “Top Gun.”

• Embarked on a search and rescue mission to bring a downed pilot back from behind enemy lines while communicating as a team and evading hostile forces.

Camp Blanding to house 2,000 illegal migrants

CAMP BLANDING – Construction began this week on a detention center for as many as 2,000 undocumented migrants at Camp Blanding.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the addition of the U.S. Army National Guard training center on Tuesday, July 1, during an inspection by President Donald Trump at an airstrip in the Everglades.

According to the governor’s office, the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) has drafted and submitted to U.S. DHS a plan (the State immigration Enforcement Operations Plan) for Florida to further assist in the detention, processing and deportation of illegal immigrants.

FDEM will utilize Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” for the detention of illegal aliens who are subject to ICE detainers or have final orders to be deported from the country. This is an existing airstrip that is already built and paved. U.S. DHS has approved this plan and indicated Florida is eligible for funding via reimbursement.

Camp Blanding is a 73,000-acre post. It was a central U.S. Army training facility during World War II, initially established in 1939 as a state-owned training reservation for the Florida National Guard. However, as World War II approached, the mobilization of reserve forces and the rapid expansion of the entire U.S. Army necessitated that Camp Blanding be converted into a federal reservation. It was subsequently enlarged to accommodate two complete infantry divisions, along with numerous separate units.

Registration is underway for Keystone football, cheerleading

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – Boys and girls 5 through 16 can register for tackle football and cheerleading at the Keystone Heights Sports Association through July 14.

The cost to play football is $100, while the price for cheerleading is $175.

For more information, call football Commissioner Corey Finch at (352) 235-4356.

Work is now done to remove the old fence from Smith Lake.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NFLT

Two donors help NFLT improve Smith Lake Reserve

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – The North Florida Land Trust (NFLT) has just completed a long-anticipated project at Smith Lake Preserve, removing an old fence that was a significant obstacle for wildlife and a potential danger to boaters, swimmers, and researchers. Two generous donors, Faith and Rick Hoffman and the Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Funds, made the fence removal project possible.

“We greatly appreciate the support from the Hoffmans and Delores Barr Weaver, both of whom have been a tremendous help to us and our mission,” said Allison DeFoor, president and CEO of NFLT. “This project was on our to-do list for a while, and thanks to our generous donors, our stewardship team was able to remove the fence that had become submerged in Smith Lake. Now the lake is safer for all.”

 Cross-fencing on Smith Lake was constructed in the early 2000s for livestock grazing during a drought when the land was privately owned.  Over the years, water levels have naturally risen, submerging the fence and impeding the movement of aquatic species, such as fish, turtles, amphibians, and alligators, which has caused population imbalances and disrupted ecological processes.

The stewardship team brought in North Florida Dock Service to assist with removing just over 1.5 miles of mostly submerged fencing. The fence at the freshwater marsh was removed by using mini-excavators, skid steers, barges and watercraft. The work did not have any adverse environmental impact. The removal of the fence restores natural migration, enhances ecological balance and ensures safe access to the lake.

Winn-Dixie stores in Melrose, Green Cove Springs and Middleburg will be converted to Aldi.

CLAY TODAY ARCHIVES

Three more Clay Winn-Dixies to be turned into Aldi stores

CLAY COUNTY – Employees at three Clay County Winn-Dixie stores have been informed that their stores will be converted to an Aldi.

Stores located in Melrose, Middleburg and Green Cove Springs will eventually be closed and construction will begin on revamping the space into an Aldi. Construction generally takes about six months.

The Fleming Island Winn-Dixie was converted and re-opened on Thursday, June 26,

Both Winn-Dixie stores in Orange Park – on Park Avenue and Blanding Boulevard – and Lake Asbury will remain Winn-Dixies.

Although it’s in Clay County, the Winn-Dixie in Argyle Forest is part of the Jacksonville Region.

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

CLAY COUNTY – The Rotary Clubs of Green Cove Springs, Orange Park Noon and Sunrise 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, a 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, a business logo and the opportunity to display a table at the ceremony.

Cheer for Jags, support Quigley House – at the same time

Quigley House is excited to partner with the Jacksonville Jaguars, The Jaguars Foundation, and the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida through the Jaguars Give & Go Program, the organization that supports survivors of domestic violence needs your help.

When you purchase Jaguars home game tickets through this special program, Quigley House can earn as much as $30 a ticket sold. It's a fun and easy way to support survivors while enjoying an NFL game at a discounted nonprofit rate.

When you purchase your tickets, be sure to select Quigley House as your designated nonprofit. Every ticket helps Quigley House continue its mission to provide safety and support for those affected by domestic violence and sexual assault.

For any questions, contact development@quigleyhouse.org.

To purchase Jaguars tickets, visit giveandgo.nonprofitctr.org/events.

Portions of Black Creek Bike Trail closed for construction

CLAY COUNTY – Crews are repairing the Black Creek Bike Trail, and portions are closed for construction.

Phase 1: Two boardwalk sections near County Road 220 are closed, and the work is expected to be completed within a month.

Phase 2: This phase will commence after Phase 1 is completed, and it will impact the boardwalk along U.S. Highway 17, between Harbor Island Drive and Pace Island Trace. The work is expected to last around three months.

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

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 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. – 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.