January:

ORANGE PARK – Not only did Lake Asbury Elementary fourth-grade math and science teacher Heather Miller and Orange Park Elementary media technician Abegail Rosaro-Castillo win the support of a committee comprised of school officials, but they also brought two of the loudest cheering sections to the Jan. 25 Apple Awards at the Thrasher-Horne Center.

Both received rousing cheers as Superintendent David Broskie announced their names from a group of five finalists for both categories. “Tonight represents the work of our teachers and staff,” Broskie said. “This is our way to say thank you.” Rosario-Castillo also received a $1,500 check from Garber Automall as the School-Related Employee of the Year, while Miller drove away in a 2023 Chevrolet Malibu – also provided by Garber. Miller as the Teacher of the Year. She became eligible for Florida Teacher of the Year honors.

Lakeside Junior High math teacher Melissa Anne Matz won the teaching award in 2022, and served as the Christa McAuliffe Ambassador for Education.

Each school in the Clay County District Schools had a teacher and school-related who moved into the countywide competition. From there, the list was narrowed to five in each group.

Paul Wane rocks ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ at Jaguars-Titans game

CLAY COUNTY – Paul Wane’s 47-year music career came down to a 90-second performance on Jan. 7 in the final regular season game for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

And the local Duval County Line Band guitarist rocked TIAA Bank Field.

His rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” not only put nearly 70,000 fans in a deafening frenzy but also sent shock waves around the country. Social media quickly praised the local musician, including nearly 112,000 likes on YouTube in one day.

Wearing biker boots, sunglasses and a No. 23 Jacksonville jersey, Wane put a distinctive Southern Rock spin on the song representing the nation.

“It’s been way more than I expected,” Wane said of the overwhelming response. “It’s been a whirlwind. I’m doing my best to keep up with it, but it’s not easy. My phone has been going crazy.”

The pregame song was a solo act that shook the stadium. When he finished his final lick, the crowd erupted in approval, and national media outlets who are more accustomed to long-winded versions of the song were impressed.

The process for the Jaguars game started with Wane’s Guitars for Kids Foundation’s Rising Star program. Wane takes donated guitars and refurbishes them before giving them to children. The foundation was created to provide children with the option of music instead of drugs and alcohol.

One of the guitars went to a boy whose father works security at TIAA Bank Field. He told fellow workers and word eventually reached the Jaguars brass.

Hungry customers return to Grumpy’s after fire

MIDDLEBURG – There was frantic activity activity on Jan. 2 at Grumpy’s inside the popular eatery. There were menus to place on tables, food to be prepped, T-shirts to be folded and a final moment for everyone to catch their breath. “I need these guys to be exceptional today,” co-owner Del Hoard Sr. told his kitchen staff. “Actually, guys, just do what you always do.” Outside, the line of hungry and eager customers was growing. The dark and foggy conditions created an eerie backdrop. Headlights poked a hole through the thick cover as the line quickly became a crowd.

Then, at 5:30 a.m., Courtney Hoard, the wife of the co-owner, opened the door. She was quickly greeted with smiles and hugs. “We got here about 4:40 (a.m.). We wanted to be the first when they opened the doors,” said Middleburg’s Jay Miller.

The restaurant was destroyed on Jan. 19, 2022, by a fire that started with an electrical spark in the wall behind the dishwasher. COVID, supply chain issues, red tape and labor shortages caused several delays in the rebuilding.

Nearly a year of frustration and anticipation was replaced with filled stomachs, hot cups of coffee and a few tears.

“It feels good to be back,” Del Hoard Sr. said. “We never gave up.”

February:

Sheriff’s office joins six law enforcement groups to create INTERCEPT

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Clay County Sheriff’s Office receives “hundreds” of tips about sexually abused and trafficked children. More alarming is the fact those represent a small portion of the victims.

That’s why the Clay County Sheriff’s Office became one of seven law enforcement agencies on Feb. 25 to join forces to create the largest task force in the country to combat human trafficking and child exploitation.

Operation Lightshine is a group organized by former U.S. Marine Matt Murphy, whose sister was murdered by a man who sold women and drugs.

Murphy and Tim Tebow, who won a Heisman Trophy and two national championships with the Florida Gators, have worked tirelessly to stop the scurge of child exploitation and trafficking. Both delivered powerful messages during’s Thursday’s announcement at the Old County Courthouse.

“I had the privilege of growing up, whether it was at Normandy Baseball Park, at Lakeshore, or it was at Trinity (Christian) or at Niece (High), or it was even at the University of Florida, to be fortunate at times to now and then win an MVP for being the most valuable player of a baseball game or a football game or even basketball for me. But, if that’s one of the coolest things I did in North Florida, that would be a big mess for me.

“But as cool as those MVPs are, they mean nothing compared to what this group is fighting for, and that’s a way, way, way more important MVP. This group is fighting for (are) real MVPs – the most vulnerable people who desperately need us. Need you. Need all of us to work together to put the mission above the credit.”

Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook, Murphy, Sheriffs Gator Deloach of Putnam, Bill Leeper of Nassau, T.K. Waters of Duval, Robert Hardwick of St. Johns counties, Florida Department of Law Enforcement Science Applications International Corporation’s Mike Williams, Homeland Security Investigations Tampa Special Agent John A. Condon, Florida Rep. Sam Garrison, U.S. Attorney for Middle District of Florida Roger Handberg and Tebow jointly announced the creation of the INTERCEPT Task Force to “protect our most vulnerable,” Cook said.

The task force’s purpose is for law enforcement agencies in Northeast Florida to pool their resources and information to catch and punish people who exploit children.

“We are putting ourselves in a position to protect our children, our most vulnerable,” Cook said. “We will have investigators assigned to this, and together, we can have a more involved investigation.”

St. Johns Country Day’s girls soccer championship streak ends

DELAND – The St. Johns Country Day School’s girls soccer team played about as good a game as expected, according to coach Mike Pickett, but several factors and unfortunate bounces denied the team from extending its state title streak to 12 years.

A 2-0 loss on Feb. 22 in the Class 2A championship to Lakeland Christian also ended the team’s run of 59 consecutive playoff victories.

Lakeland’s win was the first for them in 10 Final Four opportunities against St. Johns. Lakeland moved to Class 3A and had won two straight titles prior to the Wednesday final in Class 2A.

“We had our chances; Sydney Schmidt’s shot that hit the crossbar could have changed the game,” said Pickett, referring to a 25 mph wind. “They had four shots in the game, and all were late. 

Lakeland scored on a corner kick by Lilly Harrington near the 10-minute mark. Harrington quickly scored again to put the Vikings out front, 2-0.

“That corner kick was just dumb luck with the wind,” said Pickett. “The second goal was us pushing forward too much and them getting behind us. Roxie made a save, but she put the rebound in.”

Persistence leads to detention deputy identifying murder suspect

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Clay County Sheriff’s Office Detention Deputy Jesse Holbert was determined to discover why Sean Williams refused to reveal his real name.

It didn’t matter Williams was only in jail for a minor possession of marijuana charge. Holbert sensed something didn’t add up.

Williams didn’t understand that as long as he kept giving the agency a fake name, he would be behind bars longer. So Holbert started digging deeper.

“When he got pulled over, he said his name was Keyshawn West,” Holbert said. “He gave us the right date of birth, but he said he didn’t know his social security number. Other guys showed up at the scene, and he used the name James. So now we had two names.”

Williams told another detention deputy he was Sean West.

And none were correct.

“John Doe” believed the sheriff’s office would flinch first, but deputies couldn’t file charges without a proper name. So Williams sat.

“He figured since it was a simple marijuana charge, he would get out soon,” Holbert said.

Holbert checked with Williams’ roommate and learned his real name was Sean. He also learned he was from Philadelphia, so Holbert called the Philadelphia Police Department. That’s when both agencies realized the man in the Clay County Jail was Sean Williams, who was wanted for murder.

Holbert’s intuition and determination led to Sean Devant Williams, now 30, being returned to Philadelphia to face charges of murder, robbery, criminal conspiracy and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

CCSO also selected him as the Detention Deputy of the Year on Feb. 10.

“But he had some unique tattoos, and that’s how we figured out who he was,” Holbert said.

March:

Middleburg Elementary principal, student win TaxWatch, lottery awards

MIDDLEBURG – A group of sixth-grade students eagerly listened on March 24 as Middleburg Elementary Principal Becky Wilkerson told them she picked one to receive free tuition for their first two years of college.

When she mentioned the winner was a girl, some boys moped dejectedly. The more Wilkerson narrowed her comments, the more Kimberlee Dimorier started to think it was her.

“When she said the winner was in all-advanced classes and was a straight-A student, I thought it might be me,” Dimorier said.

It was.

Dimorier earned a two-year Florida Prepaid College Scholarship. The award came in partnership with Florida TaxWatch and the Florida Lottery.

The scholarship is one of only nine presented in the state. It was made possible because Wilkerson was selected to win one of three Principal Leadership Awards in the state.

“It’s really an award for Middleburg Elementary School,” Wilkerson said as Superintendent David Broskie, District Schools Chief of Staff Kelly Watt, Chief of Elementary Heather Teto, School Board members Beth Clark and Ashley Gilhousen, Florida TaxWatch Senior Vice President of Research Bob Nave, J.M. Rubin Foundation Vice President and Treasurer Kim Harris and Florida Prepaid College Foundation Director Cindy O’Connell participated in the ceremony.

Dimorier said she wants to major in forensic pathology.

According to TaxWatch, the Principal Leadership Awards program acknowledges and rewards educational leaders who create meaningful change in their students’ lives while promoting their uniquely effective practices among their peers.

“We don’t pick our winners in a normal way. We use data-based information. It is not a popularity contest,” Nave said.

Longtime volunteer Kirkland honored ahead of Clay Fair

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Lemmie Kirkland needed two minutes to slowly walk to the stage at the Cattleman’s Arena on March 26 during the Clay County Agriculture Fair luncheon.

That was a pretty good pace for someone who was days ahead of her 95th birthday.

The longtime fair volunteer was honored with the first Lifetime Award for her dedication and effervescent spirit has been a big part of Early Florida Village’s success.

Kirkland has worked at the fair for “many, many, many years,” Fair Executive Director Tasha Hyder said. And she’s not ready to slow down.

“I’ll be at the Baxley House greeting people this year, too,” Kirkland said. “I’m going to be like the Energizer Bunny. I’m going to keep on kicking as long as I can.”

Kirkland welcomed fair-goers into the historic village, and she told stories of how simple life used to be. She liked to talk about wood-burning stoves similar to what her mother and grandmother used.

“People can enjoy the old-time section of the fair because it gives them an idea of how people used to live,” she said. “Sometimes I think people are astonished about how we used to live.”

It proved to be Kirkland’s final appearance.

The fair ended on April 9, and Kirkland passed away peacefully while surrounded by family 27 days later.

Officials break ground on Clay County Regional Park

MIDDLEBURG – Bulldozers were five acres away, busily turning Florida scrubland into what will soon become Clay County Regional Park when County Commission Chair Betsy Condon put the project in perspective on March 28.

“I can’t wait for the day to see this open,” she said. “I can’t wait to see kids out here playing. I want to bring people outdoors and onto the playing fields.”

The 250-acre complex will now celebrate its grand opening on April 5.

The county bought nearly 250 acres of land on U.S. Highway 21, a mile north of State Road 16, to create a unique sports park to draw national tournaments.

North Florida Land Trust bought the 750 acres between the park and SR 16. The nonprofit, which is committed to preserving natural places, told the county it could add nature trails in its portion.

“This will be a first for Clay County and Northeast Florida,” Condon said.

Former Florida Sen. Rob Bradley and Rep. Travis Cummings were instrumental in working with County Manager Howard Wanamaker to secure a matching grant from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity program. The county paid the first $3 million, and the state matched it.

Once operational, the park could become a money-maker in taxes, Condon said.