Fourth of July grocery store hours; What’s open in Clay County
Did you forget to buy hot dog buns? Maybe you have run out of mustard or pickle relish. Some grocery stores have reduced hours during the holiday. As a public service, Newsbreak did a survey of local stores for all the forgetful shoppers in Clay County.
Read full storyKeystone Heights woman dies in Lake Geneva boating accident, FWC report says
A 56-year-old Keystone Heights woman was killed in a boating accident Tuesday afternoon on Lake Geneva, according to an accident report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.
Read full storyTurn that car radio down, Clay County sheriff’s office warns
On July 1, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office will begin enforcing Florida’s new law on loud music coming from your vehicle. Under the law, you must listen to your music at a volume not plainly audible at a distance of 25 feet or more from your vehicle. In areas of churches, schools or hospitals, the volume cannot be louder than necessary for passengers to hear the music inside the vehicle.
Read full storyMillion-dollar Fleming Island houses dot waterfront on river, Doctors Lake
The Mediterranean-style home on S. South Shore Drive features views of Doctors Lake.Photo courtesy of Renee Hanson. Luxury home buyers don’t have to travel to Neptune Beach or Ponte Vedra to find waterfront properties. Clay County also has its share of waterfront homes on the St. Johns River and Doctors Lake.
Read full storyClay County baseball, softball players receive honors from Florida Dairy Farmers
Brad Hodges was named Class 2A Player of the Year.Photo courtesy of St. Johns Country Day School Facebook page. St. Johns Country Day pitcher Brad Hodges and Middleburg High pitcher Mallory Forrester were recently named the top players of the year in their classifications by the Florida Dairy Farmers, according to a press release.
Read full storyRestaurant inspections: Orange Park restaurant gets fine for violations
Pasta Market Italian Restaurant and Clam Bar in Orange Park received a fine of $1,600 from state restaurant inspectors last month. The restaurant, 1930 Kingsley Ave, has been inspected seven times by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation since last October. During a restaurant inspection on Oct. 22, the restaurant was cited for 29 violations, including seven considered high priority – the most severe violation.
Read full storyLynyrd Skynyrd connection boosts tourism in Florida county
Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd was back in the news recently with word that the Jacksonville house where the Van Zant brothers grew up is on the market. Lynyrd Skynyrd’s co-founder and lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, current lead singer Johnny and .38 Special co-founder Donnie all grew up in an area of Jacksonville they called Shantytown.
Read full storyRestaurant inspections: Orange Park, Fleming Island, Middleburg restaurants cited for violations
State inspectors returned to Dee’s Music Bar & Grill in Orange Park, on May 26-27 and found more rodent activity in various areas of the eatery. Since Feb. 9, the state has conducted 10 inspections of the restaurant, 2141 Loch Rane Blvd. The restaurant was fined $400 by state inspectors in March, according to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, which conducts the inspections.
Read full storyClay County residents should prepare as active hurricane season begins Wednesday
The hurricane season begins on Wednesday, June 1 and the early predictions say Floridians can expect “above-average” activity. NOAA forecasters are predicting a likely range of 14 to 21 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which six to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher). This number would include three to six major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher). NOAA provides these ranges with a 70 percent confidence.
Read full storyRestaurant inspections: Orange Park entertainment venue temporarily closed by state inspectors
State inspectors temporarily closed Park Avenue Billiards, 714 Park Ave. in Orange Park, after an inspection on Friday, May 20. The entertainment venue is open 24 hours a day with more than 30 pool tables and an upstairs sports bar. The billiard hall also serves food.
Read full storyGrumpy's Middleburg restaurant pushes back reopening plans after January fire
Damaged by fire in January, Grumpy’s restaurant in Middleburg had hoped to reopen this month, but that date has been pushed back to October, according to Daniel DeLeon, president and CEO of Grumpy's Restaurant.
Read full storyBlanding Boulevard Bummer: Will planned intersection upgrades help traffic snarls?
Chris Harkless, general manager of Orange Park Auto Mall, calls the traffic issues on Blanding Boulevard “atrocious” and “ugly.” He should know. Orange Park Auto Mall has been located at the Longchamp Drive and Blanding Boulevard intersection for 23 years with Harkless as its general manager. He says he has seen the traffic on Blanding increase 10-fold during that time.
Read full storyRestaurant inspections: Orange Park restaurant closed after rodent droppings found
Sorbello’s Sicilian Restaurant, 195 Blanding Blvd. in Orange Park, was closed by state restaurant inspectors on Friday because of “high priority” violations found. The restaurant was inspected on May 5 and inspectors found 14 violations, including rodent droppings. A follow-up inspection on May 6 found two violations, including a dead rodent under the pizza oven. Rodent activity found during both inspections is considered high priority violations.
Read full storyClay Electric customers getting another increase in rates
Clay Electric Cooperative customers will see another increase in rates, beginning with their May billing cycles. The cooperative is implementing its second increase in one month because of soaring natural gas costs, which recently hit a 14-year high, according to Clay Electric’s website.
Read full storyRestaurant Inspections: Orange Park restaurants cited for ‘high priority’ violations
Miller’s Orange Park Ale House received 37 violations during a state inspection on April 26, including 11 described as “high priority.”. The restaurant, 1756 Wells Road in Orange Park, received a second inspection the next day and only one “basic” violation was found.
Read full storyMillion-dollar ‘Wow’ houses dot waterfront on St. Johns River
Neil Avery, who has been selling waterfront homes for about 20 years, says the price tag for luxury homes on the St. Johns River has continued to climb in recent years. He says luxury waterfront homes in Clay County have been consistently selling for $1 million or more for the last three years.
Read full storyCalaVida Arts Festival offers free music performances
The CalaVida Arts Festival returns to Spring Park in Green Cove Springs this week with the usual variety of musical performances, food trucks, art exhibits and other performance arts. Admission to the festival is free.
Read full storyMillion-dollar sale prices spike for properties on St. Johns River
This Kelsey Road home is one of four homes on riverfront property being sold for $1.9 million.Photo courtesy of Melissa Nelson. This Owens Road home is one of the four homes on riverfront property being sold for $1.9 million.Photo courtesy of Melissa Nelson.
Read full storyRestaurant inspections: Orange Park, Green Cove Springs eateries cited for violations
Restaurants in Orange Park, Green Cove Springs cited for violations during inspections.(Photo by Johnny Louis/Getty Images) An Orange Park restaurant topped the list of eateries with the most violations in inspection reports completed between April 1-15.
Read full storySuspicious backpack found at Clay County Courthouse determined to be safe
A suspicious backpack that led to the evacuation of the Clay County Courthouse in Green Cove Springs on Tuesday morning was found to be safe after an investigation by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office bomb squad.
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