Supporters Hope Ceremony Will Spur Veterans Memorial
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
We Insure SPORTS HOMES FOCUS Clay High’s Dressel takes Jane DiLoreto gold at state. Page 19. Agency 215-2121 3701193-01 LEGALS NOTICES: PAGE 39 & ONLINE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2011 WWW.CLAYTODAYONLINE.COM VOLUME 41, NO. 43 75¢ COUPON SAVINGS Supporters hope Sides reach $AVE ceremony will spur accord over $ Veterans Memorial prayer issue By Stephen Kindland By Debra W. Buehn Staff writer Correspondent 88WITH COUPONS ORANGE PARK – Carolyn Day hopes a groundbreak- GREEN COVE SPRINGS -- Af- INSIDE THIS ISSUE ing ceremony held on Veterans Day will help boost public ter weeks of controversy, the Clay and nancial support for a memorial wall honoring past County School District and a lo- and present military veterans with local ties. cal pastor who had been conduct- Day and fellow members of the Historical Society of ing prayers around the agpoles of Orange Park held the ceremony near the entrance of several Clay County schools have NEWS Magnolia Cemetery, a 14-acre site off Kingsley Avenue reached a resolution which removes where more than 100 veterans have been laid to rest the prayer sessions from school FOCUS since 1877. grounds. Retired U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Scott Westervelt deliv- STAFF PHOTOS BY STEPHEN KINDLAND The school ered a brief but powerful speech to about 200 people, Retired U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Scott Westervelt district re- including town dignitaries, private citizens and members served as guest speaker during groundbreaking leased details of the Patriot Guard Riders, Rolling Thunder and Ameri- ceremonies for a veterans memorial wall to be of the reso- built at Magnolia Cemetery on Kingsley Avenue can Legion Post 250 Riders motorcycle clubs. lution Mon- in Orange Park. Westervelt spoke in powerful terms about a commitment U.S. armed forces day, Nov. 14, SEE VETERAN, 18 maintain. saying it was “the result of amicable Pastor Ron Baker Daughters of the negotiations” 30TH ANNIVERSARY American Revolution Co-workers applaud a members Linda between attorneys for the two par- local doctor. Page 4. Easterwood (left) and ties involved. Included in provisions Nancy Turner present of the resolution was the statement a Braille ag to that the sessions could be conduct- wounded Viet Nam ed “off of School Board property but veteran Michael Taylor in proximity to each of the schools” during a groundbreak- now used as sites for the prayers. ing ceremony for a Additionally, the press release stat- planned veterans ed that the resolution avoided the memorial wall held at Magnolia Cemetery in prospect of outside legal action and Orange Park. Taylor lost the “extreme cost in time and mon- his vision as well as ey to both parties” that would occur his left leg while should a third party le a lawsuit. SCHOLARSHIP HONOR serving in Southeast The agpole prayer sessions had A new UF scholarship Asia for the U.S. honors local woman. Marine Corps. SEE PRAYER, 12 Page 28. BENNETT BUILDINGS INSERTS OF ORANGE PARK DICK’S SPORTING Storage * Carports * Gazebos GOODS $200 DOWN ON RENT TO OWN! SMARTSOURCE Apply By Phone GREEN SOUTH 904-298-1122 NEW SOUTH www.bennettbuildingsoforangepark.com 1238 Blanding Blvd. 3875759-01 2 CLAY TODAY • NOVEMBER 17, 2011 BUSINESS • COMMUNITY • MILITARY • OBITUARIES • POLICE • SCHOOLS • CLASSIFIEDS • FUN & HUMOR • LEGALS • SPORTS CLAYTODAYONLINE.COM by Clay County Mary Jo [email protected] Memories [email protected] Drownings of two small children at The Point brought tragedy to Orange Park residents in summer of 1938 Suffering and struggle, death and pain Her summertime friend, Virginia- were not strangers to the people living in Lee, was fteen and visiting with her half Orange Park in 1938. Times were hard brother’s family. Almost a young woman, and had been that way for so long that it Virginia-Lee had the manners of a princess almost seemed normal but on a summer and had already captured the hearts of afternoon in 1938 even the strongest and neighborhood boys. hardest were stunned by the news tearing A little after three that afternoon, Ruth- through the community. ie’s sopping wet dog returned but the girls Two of town’s littlest ones, Ruthie and were not to be seen. Deputy Sheriff A.H. Virginia-Lee were dead, drowned off the Harrington alerted members of the volun- point. teer re department. Where the river bank forms a steep Within an hour there were seven pri- bluff and slopes down to the shore was the vate boats on the water searching for the favorite place for residents of all ages to girls. Deputy Harrington told the newspa- gather for community and church picnics pers what everyone knew - that close to and where young mothers took children shore the shallow water was innocent but to play in the shallows in the late, muggy the bottom shelved off quickly and danger- afternoons. It was called The Point (now ous currents played around the point. A Holly Point). boat and crew arrived from Seashole Fu- Early on this particular day, two little neral Home shortly after 5 P.M. and joined girls, their chores done, decided to relieve the search. the boredom of another long, lazy after- For two nights and two days the boats The Point formed along the shore of the St. Johns River just north of the mouth of Doctors noon by taking an early swim. They headed moved back and forth in a designated pat- Lake was a favorite destination of mothers and children on hot summer afternoons. to The Point with Ruthie’s bulldog, Cloud, tern and always a crowd waited on the dancing around their bare feet. bank, speaking in muted voices, waiting for and the candle would be extinguished. with fatigue from holding the ropes that Ruthie was eleven, had a smile that some sign from the boats. But... the melancholy dance of the pulled the gruesome hooks sliding along could light up the world. She lived with Desperate parents and kin summoned boats continued - back and forth. In the the bottom. foster parents in Orange Park and only oc- a priest to bless round loaves of bread with nights, lanterns and spiting torches al- The bodies were found. Virginia-Lee casionally saw her mother, a woman alone, lighted candles implanted which were then lowed glimpses of the agony people shared. went home to West Virginia and Ruthie was who lived and worked in Jacksonville. Her released onto the water. It was hoped that Images ashed of tears trailing down ex- laid to rest in Magnolia Cemetery. foster parents treasured her and the whole the bread would drift over the bodies, stop, hausted and drawn faces, men slumped town had a special place in their hearts for brave little Ruthie. This is Frankie, formerly known as 60-day rabies alert issued for Middleburg D-2011-2503. He Special to Clay Today of County Road 218 and north of Camp in Clay County. Alerts are designed to in- was picked up by GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Clay County Blanding. crease awareness to the public. This alert CCACC as an injured health of cials have issued a 60-day rabies Residents and visitors in Clay County should not give a false sense of security to stray with no collar or alert for the Middleburg area after rabid should be aware that rabies is present in areas that have not been named as under microchip to identify him. It appeared that dog was discovered. There has been no the wild animal population and domestic this alert. his paw had been run human exposure, the Health Department animals are at risk if not vaccinated, said An animal with rabies could infect other over by a car, crushed with a large cut on his leg, and said. Nancy Mills, health department adminis- wild animals or domestic animals that have his paw was torn to shreds. He was taken to the vet The alert is in the 32068 zip code in trator. not been vaccinated against rabies. where they sutured, cleaned and bandaged his foot and leg, and then he was taken to the Shelter. Several days the following area: west of Mimosa Avenue The public is asked to maintain a All domestic animals should be vaccinat- later it appeared the paw was getting infected, and they South, east of Hardy Padgett Road, south heightened awareness that rabies is active ed against rabies and all wildlife contact feared it would have to be amputated. A volunteer should be avoided, particularly raccoons, fostered Frankie and got him to the vet. With the great bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats and care provided by Black Creek Veterinary Hospital, daily visits for bandage changes, and a lot of patience, coyotes. Frankie still has 4 paws and is running with the big Rabies is a disease of the nervous sys- dogs again! Now he needs a great forever home, as tem and is fatal to warm blooded animals his foster mom already has a large number of dogs. and humans. The only treatment for hu- Frankie is about 6 months old, currently living in a home environment where he has dogs, cats, goats and man exposure to rabies is rabies speci c horses as playmates. He is partially housebroken, but immune globulin and rabies immunization. can’t go for extended periods of time in the house. Appropriate treatment started soon after Frankie is used to having playmates and loves to go the exposure, will protect an exposed per- for rides in the car. If you would like to meet this great guy, please call 828-779-9738. He is neutered, up to son from the disease. date on his shots, on heartworm preventative and ready to go to a forever home.