We Insure HOMES Jane DiLoreto Agency Fleming Island celebrates 215-2121 Chinese New Year 3701193-01 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014 WWW.CLAYTODAYONLINE.COM VOLUME 47, NO. 6 75¢ Former school Floyd Circle IT specialist project one arrested step closer Man faces racketeering charges for allegedly stealing computer equipment By Gregory A. Phillips By Eric Cravey Staff Writer Managing Editor ORANGE PARK – Two community revitaliza- GREEN COVE SPRINGS – A six-year game of tion projects got one step closer to reality this allegedly stealing $19,455 worth of computer week as the Orange Park Town Council gave equipment came to an end for a Lake Asbury grant writers the green light. man Tuesday. Town Council voted 5-0 on Feb. 4 to pro- Michael Fernandez Francisco, 53, was ar- ceed with the Floyd Circle and Middletown rested at his home in the 600 block of Brans- Apartment Revitalization Projects being comb Road around 1:30 ORANGE PARK – Eagle Scout Rob Heekin, who also serves as the North Florida spearheaded by Jordan & Associates Mu- p.m. on Feb. 4. He had Council President of the Boy Scouts of America, presents the official white Eagle nicipal Consultants of Orlando. In December, been originally asked to Scout neckerchief to Caleb J. Mitchell, right, of Troop 309. Mitchell was one of 26 Town Council voted to approve a contract pro- turn himself in to the Clay County teens to earn Scouting’s highest rank in 2013. The flock of new Eagle posal with the firm on the contingency that Clay County Sheriff’s Scouts was honored Feb. 1 at a ceremony and dinner held at the Family Life Center at if the firm does not secure a Community De- Orange Park United Methodist Church. Office to face charges velopment Block Grant, the firm does not get of stealing – and then paid from town coffers. selling for personal gain Honoring the Eagles “The applications are due on March 12 – equipment and parts Michael Francisco and I don’t see any reason we won’t make that from the Clay County date. Then if we get a site visit that pretty School District’s Information Technology de- Eagle Scouts make a difference in community much means we’ll be getting the block grant,” partment where he had worked for more than By Eric Cravey said Jeffrey Winter of JAMC. “They will an- six years. Managing Editor A recent ceremony honored 26 nounce the grant awards on June 20th.” Francisco was asked to resign his $49,042 Clay County teens who put in such The council appointed a Citizens Advisory technology specialist position on Jan. 15, a ORANGE PARK – From such projects work in order to achieve the rank of Task Force to review prospective projects day before the Clay County School Board’s of- as helping mail holiday cards, building Eagle Scout in 2013, Boy Scouts of and send their recommendations back to the ficial January meeting. The Board voted Jan. park benches and sprucing America’s highest honor. The teens council. After a CATF review, the panel se- 16 to accept his resignation. up graffiti-covered walls joined the circle of such American no- lected the Floyd Circle and by the Middletown “Detectives believe he is responsible for at Camp Chowenwaw, tables as NASA Astronaut Neil Arm- Apartments projects to be the ones where stealing at least $19,000 in computer and Clay County Boy Scouts strong, film maker Steven Spielberg grant funds would be used. audio-visual equipment and selling the sto- put in more than 3,600 and entrepreneur Ross Perot who The Floyd Circle project is quite extensive. len items on eBay over the course of several hours of volunteer service have also achieved the prestigious It would include replacement of water and years,” said Mary Justino, public information to the community in 2013. sewer lines, new water service meters, im- SEE BOY SCOUT, 8 SEE THEFT, 25 SEE CIRCLE, 8 The best deals! •New Vehicles •Pre-Owned •Service & Body Shop SAVE $133 INSERTS USA WEEKEND NEWS AMERICA CONNECT HEARING CHAMBER IN MOTOIN gordonchevy.com • 1166 BLANDING BLVD. HARDEES MAYHUGH DRUG 2 CLAY TODAY • February 6, 2014 COMMUNITY CLAYTODAYONLINE.COM by Clay County Mary Jo [email protected] Memories [email protected] From slave to missionary, to physician, Louisa Fleming’s life was an inspiration The wet, cold January in 1862 when Shortly after her birth, her father wad- ing’s lifespan was but a brief 37 years but Louisa Cecelia was born to slave parents ed into the river with other fleeing slaves throughout she was consumed with a pas- on George Fleming’s plantation was not a and was hauled aboard a boat comman- sion for learning. When, at age 14, she was happy new year for anyone living in Clay deered by the Union Army. Somewhere baptized at Bethel Baptist Church in Jack- County. between Fleming Island and Jacksonville sonville her zeal to learn was combined The nation was embroiled in war and the captain changed sides and the escap- with a deeply abiding spiritual faith. Lou- all signs pointed toward things along the ees were briefly imprisoned. Months later, ise was led to a career preparing others for St. Johns River only getting worse. But in they received word that he enlisted in the missionary work in Africa. the next 37 years of her life, she would ac- Army of the North. That was the last they After training to become an educator, cumulate laurels and accolades unknown knew of him. Louise taught in St. Augustine. There, both for a woman in those times. Lulu’s mother stayed with her babe and her skill and passion caught the attention The Union blockade of the St. Johns with the people she knew on Fleming Is- of several in the Baptist missionary field. Dr. Louise Cecelia Fleming was born in 1862 to River was in full force. Residents, black land and struggled to hold their lives to- With their encouragement and financial slave parents on a St. Johns River plantation and white, endured isolation and shortag- gether. In the meantime, Lulu learned to support she attended Shaw University in es. Mistrust, anxiety and just icy cold fear sit up and walk. In 1864, when explosions North Carolina and went on to graduate recovered. She garnered another first by hung thick in the air. Union and Confeder- of Rebel torpedoes aimed at Yankee river as class Valedictorian. In May of 1886, she becoming the first African American at The ate quartermasters requisitioned precious ships shook the earth, Union troops evict- became the first African-American woman Women’s Medical College at Philadelphia. livestock by force or favor. Union ren- ed all the Flemings and their people from appointed as a foreign missionary and was Louise graduated in 1895 and assumed egades and deserters scavenged in their the island and young Seton Fleming died a assigned to Zaire. her medical post in Africa in October that wake. hero at the Second Battle of Cold Harbor. She returned home suffering, as other year, another first. Tragically, she served Baby Louise was called Lulu and was Meanwhile, Lulu learned to talk and count missionaries and the people they served only four years before contracting African lovingly welcomed into an upside down and recite Bible verses. often did, from poor medical attention. sleeping sickness. She died in Philadelphia world with mixed feelings of both joy and Lulu mastered reading and the pattern Never one to waste time, Louise decided in 1899, truly an extraordinary woman. trepidation. for her life was set. Louise Cynthia Flem- to attend medical school while her health “The applications are due on March 12 and I don’t see any reason month. A mailing was sent out to the peo- Circle we won’t make that date. Then if we get a site visit that pretty ple who live on the affected roadways tell- from page 1 much means we’ll be getting the block grant. They will announce ing them to put their cars outside of the raceway path if they plan on using their ve- the grant awards on June 20th.” hicles on that Saturday morning during the proved storm water drainage, fire hydrant – Jeffrey Winter of JAMC. time of the race. This is the second time installation, street paving, curb, gutter this year that residents of River Road have & sidewalk. The Middletown Apartments process Mayor Jim Renninger put in place open council on who to move forward into complained about being locked onto their would need the replacement of a storm for the review of the 44 applications for a pool of three finalists. property during a race. drain and flooding drainage improvements. the town manager position. The council ap- Once the applicants are cut down to “Please plan to move your vehicle out of In other economic development, the proved the 10 names sent forward to them just three, that’s when they will be brought the affected area prior to the event if you Town Council voted 5-0 to approve the go by the Town Manager Applicants Review to Orange Park for a meet and greet type of will need vehicle access,” read Nix from ahead for an economic development proj- Committee – which is comprised of citizen event and for face-to-face interviews with the letter. ect involving the Hampton Inn on Eldridge appointees – but also debated expanding the council. This issue was sent back to the Recre- Loop. For this project the town would part- the list of names. Also, that may be when the candidates ation Committee for review to determine ner with the owner of the Hampton Inn, “We’re not just going to take this 10 and will undergo a much more in-depth back- whether completely shutting down the Samir Patel.