October

FCC Environmental works through some bugs during first month of contract

CLAY COUNTY – The shiny new garbage truck quietly turned the corner in a Middleburg neighborhood. It approached one of the new FCC Environmental Services trash bins positioned six feet from the curb with the lid facing away from the street.

The driver could have, make that should have, driven past, but since it was the first day FCC started its contract as Clay County’s garbage pickup company, the driver showed leniency by hopping out to see if there was any trash in the can.

With so much negative attention coming from residents and the St. Johns County Council in August, which led to FCC being fired from its contract less than a month after starting service, Clay paid particular attention to FCC’s operation on Tuesday.

According to county spokesperson Laura Christmas, unlike St. Johns County, where computer glitches led to thousands of missed pickups, there were only a few problems.

“As of 2 p.m., FCC said it’s picked up between 85-95% of the yard debris and 95% of the trash,” she said. “We haven’t heard of any major issues. So far, it’s been quiet.”

Christmas said the county’ call center received 1,200 calls on Monday – a day after Waste Management’s contract ended. Residents wanted to know if their pickup day had changed or if FCC had special rules for how trash must be left at the curb.

On Tuesday, Christmas said the center received 500 calls—and most of those were related to the same questions. The few related to missed pickups were forwarded to FCC.

“We had a few who said they were missed, so we went out and took care of it,” she said. “We have technology on the trucks to see what happened. We meet with FCC every day. Most of the calls today were questions, not complaints.”

FCC added extra days onto its collection routes during the first few weeks of its contracts to make sure everyone was serviced as it smoothed out its learning processes.

Woof Gang Bakery organizes $6,000 fundraiser to save injured puppy

FLEMING ISLAND - A social media post, an outpour of support, and just one hour was all it took to produce a miracle. 

On the morning of Sept. 20, Meghan and Zachary Janiszewski said it was a typical day. They had let their four-month-old puppy, Bella, out with their other dog. It was a quick morning routine that they were used to. Both dogs were supposed to come back. 

But Bella didn’t. 

At first, they weren’t aware of what had happened. Until their car turned off the street, they saw her lying in the middle of the road, a stranger sitting with her. Bella had been struck by a vehicle, and the driver had fled the scene. 

Bella broke both her front right and back right legs. With the injuries that Bella sustained, veterinary costs would be through the roof. They were given just a week to decide on one of three choices, to amputate both of her legs, euthanize her or get a bone plating surgery to repair her legs.

“I was honestly preparing for the worst-case scenario, which was having to put her down,” Meghan said. ”Because without the surgery, she wouldn’t be able to be a puppy at all.”

To garner some support, Zachary made a post on Facebook that caught the attention of Mary Hardin, the owner of Woof Gang Bakery and Grooming on Fleming Island. With three dogs of her own, she said what they were going through was unfathomable.

Contractor Corey Binderim spared death of killing Fleming Island woman

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The same jury that took less than four hours to find Corey Louis Binderim guilty of first-degree murder, burglary and destroying evidence voted 11-1 to put the killer on death row. The lone holdout on Friday means he will spend the rest of his life in prison.

The state called 33 witnesses during the two-week trial and provided what the State Attorney’s Office called “overwhelming” proof that Binderman strangled and struck Susan Elizabeth Mauldin, a 65-year-old widow, disposed of her body in three demolition contractor trash bags, took her remains to the Rosemary Hill Solid Waste Management Facility in Green Cove Springs, which were then transferred to the Chesser Island Landfill in Folkston, Georgia – all to avoid repaying $12,000 he was paid months earlier by Mauldin to remodel her guest bathroom he didn’t complete.

Neighbors Phyllis and Daniel Yates reported her missing on Oct. 25, 2019, after they noticed her car in the garage. She didn’t answer her phone or front door. The couple told the Clay County Sheriff’s Office that day that Mauldin was fearful of Binderim and that she was attempting to recoup $12,000 for the unfinished project.

Mauldin’s body was eventually found in three separate contractor trash bags buried in the Georgia landfill on Jan. 29, 2020, more than three months after she was reported missing.

Binderim sat stoically in his seat as the clerk read the guilty verdicts. The state said he had a cocaine habit and used voluminous financial records to show he had money problems. It also used store videos from Fleming Island Home Depot that showed him buying the contractor trash bags and two 60-pound bags of concrete, home surveillance cameras that showed him backing his truck in Mauldin’s driveway, arriving at his home minutes later at Margaret’s Walk on Fleming Island, at Rosemary Hill Landfill and his storage unit on U.S. Highway 17 on Fleming Island.

November

Green Cove Springs kicks off 150th birthday party with a bang

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – While it wasn’t possible to count how many filtered in and out of the 5.3-acre park during the five-hour event, which concluded with the biggest fireworks show in city history, the food truck vendors estimated at least 15,000 were at the park to kick off the year-long celebration commemorating Green Cove Springs' incorporation in 1874.

“I kept telling everybody it seemed to me like it was like one of our Memorial Day Riverfests combined with our normal Food Truck Friday crowds,” said Mayor and downtown business owner Steven Kelley. “It did seem like the two combined to create such a big, well-attended event.”

The combination of the event's significance, perfect weather, the biggest fireworks show in city history and Duval County Line's appearance as the headlining performer led to what most believed was the largest gathering in Spring Park history.

Cheri Starnes and Mallore Dippy own restaurants within walking distance of Spring Park. They said the birthday party was good for their business, too.

 Starnes said her pool tables and diner seats were full at The Corner Pocket and Around the Corner Diner.

“They had 80 vendors and food trucks, so much to choose from, but it also helped businesses,” Starnes said. “We had people come in and eat even though there were all the food trucks. So it was nice for the food trucks and great for the park, but it also helped local businesses."

Dippy's Roger That Wings and Things was a great place to escape, catch the Florida-Georgia football game, and enjoy a few beers.

"I think I was the only Georgia fan in there," Dippy said. "But the Florida fans had a good time, too.  When you have that many people downtown,  it's good when they can walk around and explore. It was good for us. We had a good night. Everyone had a wonderful time."

Food Truck Friday was moved to Saturday to accommodate the crowds. Clay County Cruzers' car show and the Children's Entrepreneur Market were held on the corner of Walnut and St. Johns. In all, there were more than 80 vendors and food trucks.

The city gave away and sold 150^th birthday swag, including T-shirts, challenge coins and poker chips. They also distributed free copies of its new directory, written and produced by Clay Today and the City of Green Cove Springs.

No surprises: Cook, Garrison, Sapp, Bean, Alvero win local elections

CLAY COUNTY – While the rest of the nation didn't have to learn Donald J. Trump would be their 47th president, there were no surprises in Florida or Clay County Tuesday.

Sheriff Michelle Cook won re-election for another four-year term against former Sheriff Darryl Daniels, while incumbent Florida Reps. Sam Garrison and newcomer Judson Sapp, representing portions of Clay County, had little trouble overcoming challenges from their Democrat opponents.

The race between the last two sheriffs of the county wasn’t competitive, either. Daniels was charged in 2020 with destroying evidence and ordering his deputies to arrest his mistress for stalking. A Clay County jury acquitted him of all charges in 2022.

Daniels filed for a No Party Affiliation candidate, but both candidates maintained a low-profile campaign.

Not counting a handful of provisional ballots, Cook earned 79.4% of 123,239 votes for the sheriff’s race.

“I want to thank the citizens of Clay County for their support and confidence in the great work that we've been able to accomplish over the past four years,” Cook told her supporters Tuesday night, “I am very honored to continue my service as the Clay County Sheriff and will continue to make Clay County proud.”

Voters delivered a significant victory for the county’s conservation future by agreeing to a bond referendum to protect water quality, wildlife, forests and farms. The “yes” votes far outweighed the “no” votes, 87,552-32,516, to allow the county commission to raise property taxes by $33 a year to generate $45 million in bonds to protect another 115 acres of public land from development and preserve natural areas.

Garrison, who is expected to become the Speaker of the House, will return to represent the northern third of Clay County in District 11 after beating Charlie Browne with 69% of 97,607 votes – 90.9% that were cast.

Sapp will replace Bobby Payne, who termed out, after beating Jamie Watts, 94,114-24,152. He will represent the southern portion of Clay County, along with portions of Marion, Putnam and St. Johns counties.

Robert Alvero defeated Jim Hughes, 61,006-51,039, for the District 2 seat on the Clay County School Board, and U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean, whose District 4 includes Clay County, easily turned back Democrat challenger LaShonda Holloway by garnering 57.5% of the vote.

Middleburg Twins and Swampers go to 'bat' one more time

MIDDLEBURG - It’s been 62 years since the Middleburg Twins first stepped to the plate at Hunter Douglas Park.

As the first all-Black baseball team in Clay County, the group pushed boundaries to become pillars of their community. Not long after, the group also spawned a new generation of softball players with the Swampers.

On Sunday, the original members of both teams came up to bat one more time. Some members of the competitive female softball team, the Swampettes, also came back together. 

Reuniting on the same field where they began, the group held a ceremony to commemorate their legacy. Wearing matching blue jerseys, smiling, hugs and giving speeches, their joy was evident.

Frank Jenkins and Frankie Johnson took each team to the podium to give their history.

Johnson said the Twins were a significant hit in the area. Bringing crowds to watch them play at their seasonal ball games.

Although unable to attend, their longtime head coach, Issac Brown, was honored with a blue jersey and a plaque, signifying his impact. 

As one of the founders and the head coach of the Swampers, Jenkins helped usher in a new set of incoming players. He said the team traveled all over Florida and Georgia. The only time they weren’t playing was on a church Sunday.
“We went everywhere to play ball,” Jenkins said. “And we had so many trophies. I had so many trophies in my house that I got tired of them.”

However, he said many teams underestimated their capability. 

“Man, we would run them guys to death,” Jenkins said. “They said we ain’t never had any little guys that beat us so bad.”

 The Vineyard Transitional Center dream finally takes root

 GREEN COVE SPRINGS — For much of the ceremony, John Smith focused on a small patch of grass trying to survive in a wide swath of sand.

Others were eloquent about the impossible work involved in moving the dream of The Vineyard Transitional Center a significant step closer to reality by breaking ground and starting the early foundation work of a project that has been 15 years in the making.

But like the meager blades of grass, Sanders has survived despite being surrounded by unthinkable, if not unsurmountable, challenges.

“I remember when John told me what he wanted to do,” said former Green Cove Springs Mayor Van Royal. “I asked what it was going to cost. He said $1 million. He said he was going to have a kick-ball game. A kick-ball game? I think he raised about $406 with that game.”

Sanders’ belief Clay County needed a transitional center to house as many as 12 newly released inmates from the Clay County Jail to give them a second chance to reconnect with their families and prepare them to provide them with a legitimate opportunity to rejoin the community outweighed any doubt.

And on Friday, Nov. 15, that faith led community leaders to a sandy lot at 518 Pine St. to break ground days before the center's construction started.

“I mean, it’s been over 15 years to get to this date,” Sanders said. “To see the vision getting a little bit closer to, you know, what God had set before us., where we are at a point where we can start thinking about turning dirt (this) week.”

Sanders forged friendships with allies like Royal, Penney Farms President and CEO Teresa Scott, Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook and Operation New Hope President and CEO Reggie Fullwood.

Sanders is the center’s president, while Joseph Smith is the executive director. They are inseparable. They share the same vision to provide a second chance and make a difference, one person – and one family – at a time.

December

 Dreadnaughts 11-and-Under win National Pop Warner Championship

ORLANDO - A second-quarter 65-yard interception return for a touchdown by defensive back Cameron Thomas and rugged running from tailback Johnny Mizell fueled a 32-0 blowout championship win for the Fleming Island Dreadnaughts 11-Under Pop Warner team at the Pop Warner Super Bowl championship game on Saturday in Orlando's Camping World Stadium. Fleming Island defeated California's Santa Margarita Cowboys. Both teams were undefeated before the game. Fleming Island is 13-0.
"This is only the second national title from Clay County since I've been here; 27 years," said First Coast Conference Pop Warner President Dean Prince. "Oakleaf won the 2022 title so this is something special for the Dreadnaughts."
Prince recalled the motivation of former Dreadnaught Connor McKay as part of the Dreadnaught push for a title.
"We always remember No. 7, Connor strong," said Prince, recalling the impact of former Dreadnaught defensive end Connor McKay, who passed with a brain tumor in 2022 after his 10-under Dreadnaughts lost in the Pop Warner national tournament in his final season.
For Dreadnaughts coach Mike Kenny, the win comes after an unbeaten season and a handful of shutouts, including a 29-0 semifinal win over the Drucat Middies of Massachusetts just three days prior. Fleming Island won a tough 27-12 quarterfinal game over the Capital City Steelers of North Carolina a week ago.
Fleming Island scored their first score after recovering an attempted onsides kick by the Cowboys at midfield.
With a pounding run game behind Hudson, Mizell, Thomas and Ty Stephenson all getting reps, quarterback Michael Crowe II deftly kept the chains moving with a third and two at the Cowboy with Mizell making the first down rumble.

The Way’s ribbon-cutting ceremony a ‘bittersweet’ moment for CEO Don Fann

ORANGE PARK – The ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark The Way Free Medical Clinic's official opening was a time for staff, volunteers and community partners to celebrate. Still, it was clear that Executive Director Don Fann appeared more relieved about completing the new facility on College Drive.

“It's a little bit bittersweet for me in that I recently discovered I can finally retire and spend some time with my wife, who has been waiting patiently for three years since her retirement,” he said. “I am really pleased with what we have assembled; not only is it a wonderful facility, but it is also an incredible team here. Those of you who present on our team, our staff, our team that supports a large pool of volunteers – 60 or 70 at any given time. That’s how we do the work that we do.

“As I exit this, I always say this is absolutely the best thing I've ever done in my career. I think I can leave feeling good, partly because I know I have a great person following me in a leadership role.”

For Fann, it was always about the journey, not the destination. Now that The Way has been delivered, he’s ready to move on and pass the keys, or in this case, the hard hat, to Associate Executive Director Andrea Crowder.

“I believe this is beautiful,” Fann said. “We're going to serve more patients. It's just worked out phenomenally. I'm very happy with the way everything's turned out.

Crowder will become the Executive Director on Jan. 1. Fann will remain with the clinic during the transition as the interim development director until someone else is hired in the spring.

The clinic is at 302 College Dr., across the street from St. Johns River State College. Low-income residents within 300% or below the federal poverty level who are uninsured or unable to access care are eligible to seek medical and dental services. Proof of eligibility may be required for certain services.

The clinic is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call (904) 531-9504.