Cltda0516ctd001 EC.Indd
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
We Insure HOMES Jane DiLoreto Agency Caregiver’s 215-2121 3701193-01 Guide – Insert THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013 WWW.CLAYTODAYONLINE.COM VOLUME 44, NO. 20 75¢ Van Zant, Board Honoring a hero Asphalt plant drop lawsuit Attorney fees $24,231.37 modifi es plan, By Eric Cravey Managing Editor moves site GREEN COVE SPRINGS – In an effort to By Debra W. Buehn minimize the expense of taxpayer dollars Correspondent trying to get an appellate court to rule on a lawsuit led April 18 by Superintendent GREEN COVE SPRINGS – After a public outcry Charlie Van Zant Jr. against the Clay County from nearby residents, Gustafson’s Cattle Inc., School Board, both parties have agreed to has found a new location for a site that would end the suit. allow for an asphalt plant to be built. “Now, therefore, the parties desire to The company is pulling its current rezon- save limited taxpayer resources and agree to ing application for some 92.4 acres of land be- resolve their dispute and this litigation…,” tween CR 15A and U.S. Highway 17 that cre- states the settlement SPECIAL TO CLAY TODAY ated such a stir from those who lived nearby. agreement. Forty-four years later It will replace “Gustafson’s has To date, the suit GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Retired U.S. Navy Chief Warrant Of cer Ernesto Serna the application always wanted to be had accumulated of Clay County, right, gets his Purple Heart 44 years after being injured in the with another $24,261.37 in legal Vietnam War. Rear Adm. Jack Scorby, Commander, Navy Region Southeast, based one for about a good neighbor. We fees from both sides of at Naval Air Station Jacksonville pinned Serna May 11 during ceremonies held at 71 acres of its always thought that the legal action. State the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall, which visited Green Cove Springs Junior High property lo- it (the original site) May 9-13. law requires taxpayer cated just west could be compatible.” dollars be used to fund Charlie Van Zant of U.S. Hwy 17 the school board’s at the intersec- – Thomas O. Ingram, attorney defense, as well as the superintendent’s Traveling Vietnam Wall tion of the CSX for Gustafson’s complaint. It had been estimated by School railroad and the Board Chairman Carol Studdard that the suit coming First Coast Outer Beltway, said Thom- could cost as much as $100,000 to defend. visits Green Cove Springs as O. Ingram, attorney for Gustafson’s. The settlement spells out ve key points The new site is about 4,000 feet from any of agreement, including prohibiting either By Tatila Brock residential area, and several thousand feet to party from discussing the suit further in Staff Writer tors to the school May 9-13. the east of the original site, he said. There will public. “I wish all the students at my school be an entrance on CR 15A. “The parties shall make no further public GREEN COVE SPRINGS – A single wish could go up and see the wall,” said Mi- “Gustafson’s has always wanted to be a statement regarding this litigation or issue year-old by a Green Cove Springs Ju- chael Taft, seventh grade civics teacher good neighbor. We always thought that it (the any press release other than the release of nior High seventh grader recently came at the junior high. Taft paraphrased original site) could be compatible,” he said, the following joint statement: “Both sides true as the Vietnam Traveling Memorial what his former student told after the adding that out of regard for the residents’ have agreed that resolution of this matter is Wall attracted more than 29,000 visi- student and his family visited the wall concerns, the company took a second look and SEE LAWSUIT, 7 SEE WALL, 7 SEE ASPHALT, 24 INSERTS USA WEEKEND NEWS AMERICA COUPONS HOME DEPOT EAST WEST EAGLE LANDING WALMART CAREGIVERS GUIDE GEICO CLAY COUNTY TAX SALE Subscribe 264-3200 SAVE $80 2 CLAY TODAY • May 16, 2013 COMMUNITY CLAYTODAYONLINE.COM by Clay County Mary Jo [email protected] Memories [email protected] Courting rituals have changed in Clay County The early 1900s found the northwest yard took him past the school and his cous- part of Clay County peppered with small in’s house to his advantage. to medium settlements – Duck Pond, Max- On the trip in when the oxen team ville Farms, Highland, Trail Ridge and on passed slowly, struggling with the heavy and on. load he had time to graciously tip his hat Today, the area is collectively referred whether he spotted her in the schoolroom to as Clay Hill/ Maxville and the geographic window or watering potted owers on his distinctions of early settlers lost in misty cousin’s porch. memory. The teachers organized frequent frolics Fortunately, the delightfully romantic to supplement the limited funds provided courtship of a young couple, Hattie Pills- by the county. bury and William Padgett, has been re- The school was in need of kerosene lan- membered and passed down through the terns to light the rooms on overcast days generations. and the schoolyard need to be fenced so Hattie arrived in Maxville to teach hogs couldn’t get up in the shade under the school with two other young women in building and rub against the oor scraping the three room plank-sided Long Branch ticks with such vigor that class was dis- School near Maxville in 1903. She was rupted. Whatever the reason, William at- 23-years-old, just fresh from receiving her At the Long Branch School in Maxville in the early 1900’s, three teachers in three class- tended every school event and his friends of cial teacher certi cation. rooms taught six grades with an average total enrollment of around 30 students. never missed an opportunity to point out She was diminutive and strikingly love- that he never seemed that enthusiastic ly. The latest elegant Gibson girl hairstyle bachelor, William Padgett. He had the in- two together. when he was supposed to be there. framed her face and was restrained into a side track over the competition because William was considered a catch and As summer approached in 1904, Wil- bun in back. Hattie wore high-collard white Hattie boarded across the street from the many a feminine hopeful had batted an liam took matters into his own hands, blouses tucked precisely into fashionable school with his cousin’s family. eyelash to attract his attention. One look made the 26-mile wagon ride to Jackson- yet practical ankle length walking skirts. At 25. William’s family felt it was past at Hattie and a dose of her cordial reserve ville and purchased a marriage license – The hem of the skirts danced at the tops time for him to settle down from his wild and he was terminally smitten. unbeknownst to Hattie. On the return trip of her always immaculately polished high- and wooly ways so they encouraged the William was already established in cut- he stopped to invite preacher, friends and buttoned ladie’s boots. match. Even then, Clay County was cov- ting and hauling timber in the area. He family to her house for the wedding that Her arrival created quite a stir. Among ered up with Padgetts so this meant con- used the happy coincidence that his fre- evening. the rst to notice was dashing and eligible siderable maneuverings going on to get the quent route hauling huge hogs to the train Their marriage lasted 64 years. Beauty and the Eats: Edible Landscaping Want to double scaping in your yard. You’ll have the ben- the function of your e t of fresh food and spending less at the outdoor spaces? grocery store – not to mention having food Looking to eat right at hand. Planning and growing an ed- healthy, fresh foods ible landscape can be fun, and you’ll get all but don’t want to the same exercise and outdoor time as a tend a vegetable regular landscape with the added bene t patch? Interested of good eating. Edible landscapes can be in expanding your winners for the eye, as well as the table. plant palette beyond Take a look at your yard and note areas evergreens can be showcased year-round. with your neighborhood’s landscape rules. the typical orna- Seasonal concerns that might be good for an edible landscape. It’s a good idea to check with your home- Also check on the growth habit of any plant from gardeners mentals? You’ll need spots with full sun – six or more owner’s association to make sure edibles to decide whether it ts with your design There are many AMY E. MORIE hours a day – and well-drained soils. De- are allowed in your front yard – if not, then aesthetic. Edible plants can complement a Environmental Horticulture Agent ll reasons to consider Clay County Extension Office ciduous plants can be placed where their plan to plant in the back, or look at fruiting range of styles – from a natural to a formal using edible land- winter appearance is less noticeable, while evergreen trees and shrubs that can work SEE LANDSCAPING, 5 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Clay Today, 3513 U.S. Hwy 17, Fleming Island, FL U.S.P.S. (063-800) Publisher: Jon Cantrell Sales & Marketing Periodical Postage Paid at Orange Park, Florida Managing Editor: Eric Cravey NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS This newspaper assumes no nancial responsibility for Sales Manager: Peg Oddy typographical errors in advertisements, but when noti ed promptly will reprint IN CLAY COUNTY, MAIL DELIVERY OUTOFCOUNTY & OUTOFSTATE Sta Reporter: Sarah Wake eld correctly the part of the advertisement in which the typographical error ap- Subscription Rate Subscription Rate Sales: Susan Sawyer, Phyllis Vancas pears.