News | Clay Today

Man charged with taking well pump, pressure tank while clearing property

FLEMING ISLAND – A 40-year-old man was charged with taking a well pump and pressure tank because he thought they were about to be thrown away during a move. James Harold Martinez, of Green Cove … more

12/14/23

South Carolina, Jacksonville men plead guilty after Orange Park drug bust

JACKSONVILLE – U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced that Jason Laquwan Callum, 42, of Jamestown, South Carolina, and Rodney Alexander Leandro, 49, of Jacksonville, have pleaded … more

12/14/23

A suspect wanted by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office for carjacking was tracked to Blanding Boulevard near Henley Road Sunday, triggering a two-hour manhunt that ended with deputies overwhelming him while he hid in Little Black Creek near County Road 220.

Manhunt ends with arrest in Little Black Creek

MIDDLEBURG – Home surveillance cameras helped the Clay County and Jacksonville sheriff’s offices and the Florida Highway Patrol to track down a man last Sunday wanted for carjacking. … more

Clay Today Staff | 12/14/23

Woman uses patience, passion to Trap-Neuter-Return unowned cats

ORANGE PARK – Martha King usually keeps a crossword puzzle within arm’s reach on the passenger seat. It’s one of the necessary distractions to keep her mind busy while she sits and … more

By Don Coble don@claytodayonline.com | 12/14/23

Clay Today Creative Arts Contest: Accepting submissions for fiction, poetry, photography, art

CLAY COUNTY – Are you creative in writing, storytelling or designing? Are you a high school student excited to get a jumpstart in developing a published portfolio? Do you have a big imagination and … more

Jack Randall,
jack@claytodayonline.com | 12/14/23

The Board of County Commissioners shared a few words of admiration for Commissioner Betsy Condon, the outgoing chairwoman. “I don’t want to say she has big feet, but I have big shoes to fill,” said the new BCC Chairman Jim Renninger.

Plan for Clay County finally set in stone

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved the county’s five-year Strategic Plan on its final meeting of the calendar year. From sticky notes on whiteboards, to … more

Jack Randall,
jack@claytodayonline.com | 12/14/23

The School Board unanimously approved a revision of its no-smoking policy to include the use of nicotine, marijuana, tobacco, electronic cigarettes and vaping cartridges for the first time since the 1980s.

School Board rewrites tobacco policy to include pot, vaping, e-cigarettes and nicotine

FLEMING ISLAND – The School Board voted unanimously to revise its tobacco policy at its last meeting. They revamped and updated School Board Policy 4.15 to replace a single-paragraph … more

By Lee Wardlaw lee@claytodayonline.com | 12/14/23

Fallen veterans to be honored at five Wreaths Across America in Clay

ORANGE PARK – The public can stop at Palagio Senior Center on Dec. 14 to see the Winter Wonderland Christmas trees. Assisted living facility residents decorated trees, and the public voted … more

12/14/23

Primrose School of Fleming Island collects canned goods for food banks

FLEMING ISLAND – Primrose schools in Northeast Florida, including Fleming Island, joined forces to donate 5,517 canned goods to the Food Pantry of Green Cove Springs, Feeding Northeast … more

12/14/23

DAR accepting applications for $1,000 scholarship

CLAY COUNTY – Graduating high school seniors are encouraged to apply for a $1,000 scholarship sponsored by the Sophia Fleming Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American … more

12/14/23

Outdoor Adventure Park now open to public on Fridays

MIDDLEBURG – The Clay County Outdoor Adventure Park is open on Fridays from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. The shooting range is also available on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The gun range … more

12/14/23

Happier Grinch joins guests at Golden Corral

ORANGE PARK – Hungry customers at Golden Corral were surprised when they were joined by the Grinch for breakfast last week. The popular character by Dr. Seuss, posed for photos while others feasted … more

12/14/23

Arrests & Bookings

Tuesday, Nov. 12

Darin W. Etchison, 19, Orange Park, possession-marijuana, alter/remove/destroy seial number from firearm

William A. Seco, 33, Orange Pafrk, DUI with property damage, refusal to submit to BAL test

Mazie R. Casciani, 31, Orange Park, grand theft

Owen J.D. Greene, 19, Orange Park, three counts lewd/lascivious behavior of child younger than 16

Rebecca L. Lester, 52, Middleburg, VOP-stalking

Hunter L. Underwood, 18, Green Cove Springs, possession-marijuana, possession-drug paraphernalia

Leopold A. Green, 36, Orange Park, domestic battery

Edgar A. Castro, 24, violation of injunction for protection against domestic violence

Delia A. Donaldson, 50, Orange Park, DUI, DWLSR

Shardasia M. Wilson, 24, Green Cove Springs, violation of pretrial release conditions for protection against domestic violence, domestic battery, possession-drug paraphernalia

more

Compiled by Don Coble | 12/14/23

Palagio Senior Living hosts Winter Wonderland Christmas tree competition

ORANGE PARK – The public can stop at Palagio Senior Center on Dec. 14 to see the Winter Wonderland Christmas trees. Assisted living facility residents decorated trees, and the public voted … more

12/14/23

Sergeant Brett Morando hugged his son after his badge was pinned on.

City Council thanks employees, braces for a busy upcoming year

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Police Chief John Guzman warmly welcomed two new employees, swore in three new officers, and commemorated the promotion of Brett Morando to sergeant at last Tuesday's city … more

Jack Randall,
jack@claytodayonline.com | 12/7/23

Argument leads to attempted murder charges against sailor

ORANGE PARK – According to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, an arrest was made in the shooting investigation on Nov. 30 on Woodglen Drive. Bruce Henry Johnson, 25, of Middleburg, was … more

12/7/23

CCSO Deputy arrested for suspicion of DUI while on duty

MIDDLEBURG – According to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy was arrested on Friday, Dec. 1, on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. Deputy Austin Leonard Wiser … more

12/7/23

Inmate faces additional charges for trafficking methamphetamine

ORANGE PARK – A man already in the Clay County Jail now faces new charges of trafficking more than 14 grams of methamphetamine and selling fentanyl from his home on Aries Drive. … more

12/7/23

Man arrested after material taken from construction site

MIDDLEBURG – A man was arrested after an owner of a construction site reported materials were taken from an area on County Road 218 with “Warning: Designated Construction Site. … more

12/7/23

Orange Park man gets two years in prison for wire fraud

JACKSONVILLE – U.S. District Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger sentenced Brian Roy Lozito, 54, of Orange Park, to two years and two months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit … more

12/7/23

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