Legislative District Changes Benefit Clay
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SPORTS We Insure FOCUS HOMES Jane DiLoreto Agency Oakleaf Junior High pitcher Je Fripp lets 215-2121 go with a pitch. 3701193-01 –Sports THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2012 WWW.CLAYTODAYONLINE.COM VOLUME 42, NO. 11 75¢ COUPON SAVINGS ‘Gut instinct’ $AVE $ was crucial for ‘Team Somer’ WITH83 COUPONS By Debra W. Buehn INSIDE THIS ISSUE Correspondent ORANGE PARK -- When it came down to it, it was “gut instinct” that helped law enforcement of- cials pinpoint their suspect in the tragic molesta- NEWS tion and murder of little Somer Thompson. “It was a true police gut feeling,” said Sgt. Ken FOCUS West of the Clay County Sheriff’s Of ce in describ- ing how he and his partner, Det. Stephen Coyne, came to believe that Jarred Harrell was the man who snuffed out the life of 7-year-old Somer Thomp- son on an October day in 2009. Harrrell, now 26, pled guilty last month to kid- STAFF PHOTO BY STEPHEN KINDLAND napping, sexually assaulting and murdering Somer in a plea bargain that will allow him to avoid the Slain detective honored death penalty, but spend the rest of his life behind Orange Park Mayor Pete Morgan talks to Jennifer White (left), widow of Clay County Sheriff’s bars. In two other, separate cases, Harrell also Of ce Det. David White, and other family members after reading a proclamation honoring SCOUTS HONOREE the slain detective during the Tuesday, March 13, town council meeting. Morgan also read a pled guilty to a number of charges involving child A longtime Boy Scouts proclamation honoring Det. Matt Hanlin, White’s partner who was shot in the left arm Feb. molestation of a relative and possession of child 16 as the two tried to enter a Middleburg house being used as an illegal meth lab. White’s supporter draws praise. SEE SOMER, 17 Page 15. funeral drew thousands of mourners. Legislative district changes benefi t Clay By Pete Geiger U.S. Justice Department approval. resentatives,” said Chris H. Chambless, the Correspondent That is the consensus of political observers county Supervisor of Elections. ORANGE PARK – Clay County stands to in the county. The redistricting is a once-in-10-years BRAIN BRAWLERS bene t from consolidated legislative districts “Most people feel this [redistricting] pro- exercise by the state legislature, necessitated Clay High School’s and fewer legislators if the proposed electoral vides more prominence for Clay County be- by the results of the U.S. Census redistricting gets Florida Supreme Court and cause it won’t be split among so many rep- Brain Brawl team wins SEE LEGISLATIVE, 33 award. Page 14. The best deals! INSERTS •New Vehicles •Pre-Owned •Service NEWS AMERICA •Body Shop JOHN FAGAN HOME DEPOT 272-2200 • 1166 BLANDING BLVD. 2 CLAY TODAY • MARCH 15, 2012 COMMUNITY CLAYTODAYONLINE.COM Reasons for St. Augustine lawn winter kill can vary In March, you’ll start mowing the lawn once again. Don’t be surprised to see this that practice will lead to more winter some areas of St. Augustinegrass not com- Seasonal injury! ing back. That early February tempera- Extensive thatch buildup. When thatch ture drop was cold enough to kill certain concerns is thick, grass roots often don’t penetrate varieties of St. Augustine, at least in the too deeply into the soil (if at all). This sets weaker spots in the lawn. Because I am from it up for cold injury. often asked “Why was my lawn injured and Differences in varietal cold-hardiness not my neighbors?” – I decided to use this gardeners have played a part in losses in some lawns. article to cover possible reasons we see RAY H. ZERBA JR. Raleigh is probably the most cold hardy this happening: Horticulture Agent IV, (but it has some issues with summer heat) Late fertilization that led to reduced Emeritus, UF/IFAS Extension followed by Delmar, with Floratam being dormancy in the turf. This was one of Clay County (Retired) one of the least cold hardy. Research re- those years when a person who used a fer- sults are still out on many varieties. tilizer in November or December, because change their irrigation cycle from one sea- Finally, there’s always the chance that they were told it would make their grass son to the next and probably watered twice an herbicide, if not applied at the proper stronger for the winter, gambled and lost! a week right though the winter. Grass rate, could lower cold tolerance. That’s Pushing the grass with high nitrogen roots just can’t take that but “water-lov- why fall-applied herbicides can be tricky, fertilizer products at the expense of potas- ing” weeds such as dollarweed and nut- because they do weaken the grass for a sium. Research under Florida conditions, sedge sure liked it. brief period. It’s also why applying herbi- has shown that we can’t take the potassi- Sprinklers that came on during the cides, even at the proper rate this spring, um (third number on the fertilizer bag) for freeze icing over grass. If you awoke to could kill grass. After all, that grass is al- granted. Its presence when the plant is be- ice on your lawn, the grass was exposed to ready very weak in some spots, applying ing pumped with N (the first number) is not lower temperatures than just air tempera- something that is likely to weaken it fur- only essential to good cold hardiness lev- tures and it was needlessly damaged. ther, may mean its demise. els, but also to a grass’ ability to “weath- Too close a cutting level during the Want someone to answer a specific Keeping a lawn with St. Augustine grass er” (excuse the pun) other environmental growing season and going into winter. plant question for you? Go online to http:// lush and healthy like this one takes stress. We encourage the use of fertilizers Studies have shown that proper cutting clay.ifas.ufl.edu and under the heading requires consistency on watering, mowing with the last number near that of the first, heights are critical to strong root and “Horticulture” (left hand side of page) left and applying fertilizers at the correct time. and slow-release potassium as well as shoot production in grass. Cut it too short click on “Ask a Master Gardener” and a slow-release nitrogen, so one doesn’t run with each cut and the grass does not have reply will be sent plus a hyperlink to the that might help you with seasonal prob- out while the other is still around. enough “green stuff” to make the energy appropriate University of Florida Fact lems, and to learn about upcoming Exten- Too much water. No matter how hard (carbohydrates and sugars) required sim- Sheets. Please send us a digital picture sion Programming in our area explore that we try to get the word out, there are still ply survive but the extra needed to grow of the problem. To speak to someone by website further. those with irrigation timers, that never thicker and have more roots. In years like phone, call 269-6355. To read past articles Community Briefs Haven Hospice does stud signing Fundraiser for injured detective ORANGE PARK – More than 75 people ORANGE PARK –A benefit for a Clay attended a recent wall and stud signing at County detective shot in February will be Haven Hospice’s Homer J. Sr. & Fern O. held Monday, March 19, at the Skate Sa- Custead Care Center, an 18-bed facility tion. that is under construction at 745 Blanding Detective Matthew Hanlin was work- Blvd., south of Orange Park. ing with a team of detectives checking a Richard Bloodgood of Keystone Heights Middleburg home suspected of housing an was among several people who wrote mes- illegal meth lab when an occupant of the sages on prefabricated walls and wood and house opened fire. Detective David White aluminum studs to memorialize loved ones was killed and the suspect, Ted Tilley, was who once received hospice care. shot and killed by other deputies. Bloodgood wrote two messages in The fundraiser, sponsored by the Clay memory of his wife, Darby, who passed County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge away 10 months ago. His first note was a 104, is from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Skate personal message to his “beautiful bride,” Station, 230 Blanding Blvd. and the second read: Don’t wait until they Tickets are $8 per person. All donations die --Love them now – Hugs – Kisses – of any amount accepted for non-skaters. Hold hands. Call General Manager Kevin Schad or “She was a magnificent lady,” Blood- rink manager Cherelle Keen at 272-5600 good said. “I had 43 good years. She taught or 945-6988 for details. me what tough was all about; right down to the end, she was smiling.” Free shredding event Friday STAFF PHOTO BY STEPHEN KINDLAND Haven Hospice officials said stud sign- ORANGE PARK – Clay County residents ings have become a tradition each time who want to safely get rid of personal the Gainesville-based company builds a documents can take advantage of a free In memoriam new facility. The Homer J. Sr. & Fern O. shredding event on Friday, March 16. Richard Bloodgood of Keystone Heights writes a message on the wall during a “stud Custead Care Center is expected to open Volunteers with the Clay County signing” held on Friday, March 9 at Haven Hospice’s planned Homer J. Sr. & Fern O. its doors in mid-August. Custead Care Center at 745 Blanding Blvd. SEE BRIEFS, 15 CLAYTODAYONLINE.COM COMMUNITY MARCH 15, 2012 CLAY TODAY 3 County nod helps Eagle Harbor developers By Debra W.