April
Thunderbolt’s Tracy Johnston an ‘America’s Favorite Teacher’ quarterfinalist
FLEMING ISLAND — Thunderbolt Elementary School’s Tracy Johnston learned she was a quarterfinalist in a competition to determine “America’s Favorite Teacher.”
The nationwide search and fundraiser, which Colossal Impact sponsors, aims to find the country’s best ‘unsung heroes.’ Multiple rounds of voting will determine one winner who will receive $25,000 and a feature in Reader’s Digest magazine.
Additionally, the teacher’s school will receive a virtual assembly with The Planetary Society CEO and television personality Bill Nye.
Established in 2024, the competition has already raised more than $2 million for The Planetary Society, the world’s largest nonprofit space organization.
With an extensive teaching career under her belt and as a second-grade educator, Johnston said it was her mother and two siblings who inspired her to enter the world of schooling.
“It is really fun when you see something that you’ve taught, and they get it. Or, they’re using it,” she said. “I think it really makes it all worth it.”
Shawn Hines is sworn in as Chief of Police at Green Cove Springs
GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Promising the city manager, city council and residents, Shawn Hines said, “I’m not awesome, somebody needs to hold me accountable,” moments after being sworn in as the new police chief in Green Cove Springs during the April 15 council meeting.
Hines has been the interim police chief since John Guzman’s October retirement.
Following a lengthy selection process, City Manager Steve Kennedy and the council hired Hines on April 1.
“In no other department are the stakes higher than yours,” Mayor Steven Kelley said. “That is such a great thing for the culture here in Green Cove Springs. Thank you for that, Mr. Hines.”
After Kelley swore in Hines, the chief issued a solemn promise: “I will never stop working for you, and I’ll be transparent and honest. It’s a team effort. We will be awesome together, and that’s my pledge to all.”
Clay County Agricultural Fair enjoys successful 11-day run
GREEN COVE SPRINGS – By every measure, the Clay County Agricultural Fair was a smashing success – especially the first demolition derby.
Buoyed by record donations and livestock auction figures, fair executive director Tasha Hyder said success isn’t always measured by attendance, but by other “metrics.”
“Our attendance numbers were down, but we also had some factors we couldn’t control into that,” Hyder said, referring to Mother Nature. “Our opening weekend was a scorcher; our first Sunday that normally sees record-breaking attendance, we saw near-record heat.”
Also, the first Friday that featured Star Search and Livestock Sale was affected by a massive thunderstorm.
One of the wildest debuts was a demolition derby that sold out quickly. It was so popular, Hyder said, the 2026 return would be moved to a larger venue with a larger field of cars.
Moreover, led by Winn-Dixie of Green Cove Springs, the fair collected eight tons of canned goods and non-perishable food for the Clothes Closet and Food Pantry in Orange Park, while the Livestock Auction raised $700,000, which was donated to local children, and another $20,000 for local nonprofits.
County Rescue Mission wins Paul E. Reinhold Community Service Award
ORANGE PARK – Amy Houston heard four words that changed her nonprofit’s direction – and the likely outlooks of hundreds of people who face desperate situations – during the Celebrate Clay Breakfast at the Thrasher-Horne Center:
“Clay County Rescue Mission.”
Those four words followed the introduction of the “Paul E. Reinhold Community Service Award of the Year” recipient.
Those four words mean the CEO’s faith-based mission received $15,000 as the nonprofit of the year and will be able to expand and support those who face challenges with housing and paying essential expenses.
Those four words also meant she needed to change her voicemail message, which previously restricted financial requests to veterans.
“I was beyond shocked,” Houston said. “I think I made a few people in the room cry because I was crying so hard. I was so amazed. This is important: I really do give all the glory to God.”
May
Whitey’s Ribs Cook-Off provides support for cancer-stricken family
FLEMING ISLAND – Kenneth Patrick accepted a $4,271 check from Bar Manager Jerry Byrd at Whitey’s Fish Camp on May 2. Still, he admitted the outpouring of support from the community at the Ribs Cook-Off on April 27 was more valuable than money.
The competition, won by the Smokin’ Bones BBQ team of Tony and Heather Raish, was organized by Marty “Gadget” Cline and Melissa Calcote to raise money to help the Patricks offset medical expenses incurred for cancer treatments for their son, Ethan, who just turned 1.
“The fact that so many came out and showed they cared meant so much to us,” the Clay County Sheriff’s Office deputy said. “They didn’t know us but were here to support us. It was so important.” Moreover, the Patrick family said Ethan has shown remarkable improvement. He has three treatments remaining in what they described as a “difficult” regimen of life-saving therapies.
They said the tumor has shrunk “to the size of a grape,” which gives Ethan’s oncologist the option to remove the cancer or perform a transplant – options that weren’t available six months ago.
County Student Art Show: Portraits of talent on display
ORANGE PARK – Amazing, imaginative and incredible seemed inadequate to describe the two-day Annual Clay County Student Art Show at the Thrasher-Horne Center.
There were more than 2,000 pieces on display, all created by elementary and secondary students from Clay County District Schools fine art classes. There were also dozens of vendors, a family engagement room, interactive art and pottery activities.
New this year was the Fine Arts Awards Gala, which highlighted the county’s best art and music students and teachers.
The Competitive Award winners were: Lindsay Gillis (Fleming Island) for Choir Student of the Year; Will Ross (Keystone Heights Junior/Senior) for Band Student of the Year; Amy Le (Oakleaf) for 2D Art Student of the Year; Shinju Shroyer (Oakleaf) 3D Art Student of the Year; Natalee (Ridgeview) for Theatre Student of the Year; Gabrielle Gomez (Fleming Island) for Resilient Artist Award; Benjamin Mann (Keystone Heights Junior/Senior) for Fine Arts Community Hero Award; Jonathan Bristol (Orange Park) for Cultural Contribution Award; Chad Robbins (Band Director at Oakleaf) for Fine Arts Teacher of the Year; and Keisha-Ann Francis (Volunteer at Ridgeview) for Fine Arts Volunteer of the Year.
Fire destroys Hagan ACE Hardware on Blanding Boulevard
ORANGE PARK — Units from the Clay County and Jacksonville Fire Rescue, Orange Park Fire Department and NAS-JAX Emergency Services battled for more than five hours to extinguish a fire at Hagan ACE Hardware on Blanding Boulevard on May 23.
The fire was reported at 6:47 p.m., minutes before the store was scheduled to close.
A crew from CCFR remained on scene a day later, putting out hot spots as the longtime store was reduced to rubble.
According to employees, someone said a fire was in the back room. Someone attempted to put it out with a fire extinguisher, but the fire was too big. Managers quickly called 911 and evacuated the store.
According to CCFR, one Orange Park Fire Department firefighter was taken to HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital with a heat-related medical emergency, but no one else was injured. The department said he was released Sunday morning.
While the fire swept through the store, it ravaged the outside storage behind it. This area was where many items were stored, and trucks were unloaded. The blaze caused the structure to collapse, and crews were still spraying water at 11 a.m. Saturday — 16 hours after the fire was reported.
June
Green Cove Springs Mayor Thomas Smith resigns
GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Mayor Thomas Smith resigned from the city council on June 16, the city announced.
“It is with sincere regret that the City of Green Cove Springs announces the immediate resignation of Mayor and City Council Member Thomas Smith, whose evolving work-related obligations have made it no longer possible for him to continue fulfilling the duties of public office,” the city posted in a release.
In his communication with the city manager, Smith expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to serve the residents of Green Cove Springs, calling it an “incredible honor” and acknowledging the community’s trust in him. While the decision came with great personal disappointment, he emphasized the importance of remaining fully compliant with the responsibilities of his professional role outside of public office.
Smith also conveyed his complete confidence in the city’s leadership and staff to continue the critical work initiated during his time on the city council, and he extended his best wishes for the city council’s continued success.
Spiggots on at Black Creek Water Resources Development Project
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – After spending more than half of her adult life trying to restore the water levels at Lakes Brooklyn and Geneva to their levels of half a century ago, Save Our Lakes Founder Vivian K. Katz-James finally said the Black Creek Water Resources Development Project is indeed ready to roll.
“Well, let’s put it this way: I started working on this in 1980,” the President of the Save Our Lakes Organization (SOLO) said, “so we’re ready to see results.”
Katz-James had plenty of reasons to be skeptical. It took decades and $100 million to make a project calling for pumping as many as 10 million gallons from the South Prong of the Black Creek at State Road 16 at Seamark Ranch, sending 17 miles through concrete pipes along SR 16 and State Road 21 to six filtration cells northwest of Keystone Heights, then into Alligator Creek, which flows into Lake Brooklyn. From there, the water would eventually overflow into Lake Geneva.
Two of the six cells were filled with water and operational by the end of May, according to Dale Jenkins, director of the Division of Infrastructure and Land Resources with the St. Johns River Water Management District. The third cell was filled with water from Black Creek by the end of June.
Schools forced to slash $10 million without affecting students
CLAY COUNTY – While the Clay County District Schools will operate with $10 million less next year, Superintendent David Broskie assured the cuts won’t come at the expense of its students.
“We are still focusing on prioritizing students in the classroom, minimizing the impact on our employees and not eliminating any programs that our students benefit from,” Broskie said. “My hope is that you don’t see anything. That’s the whole idea.”
The Florida Legislature passed bills that increased education spending by 1.4% for the next fiscal budget, Broskie said. As first reported in Clay Today on April 27, with inflation at 2%, the school district will have 10 million fewer dollars to spend than in the current budget.
After meeting with staff and principals, the district slashed its budget across the board by 20% – all without cutting student programs, such as Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Advanced Placement classes and reducing salaries or making layoffs.
All programs were examined, and those that didn’t produce the expected results were eliminated. Worthy programs were renegotiated on better terms.
Broskie said that several administrators were also reassigned to classroom positions to utilize their talent and save money.
“The steps we’ve taken, we believe that we’re close to resolving it,” he said. “There’ll be some minor tweaks, but we feel like we’ve already gotten there with some of the things we’ve implemented.”