NEWSBREAK ORIGINAL

Valentina’s Italian Bistro, a traditional southern-style Italian restaurant, recently opened in Orange Park, across from the Thrasher-Horne Center at 330 College Drive. The restaurant is operated by head chef and owner Christopher Licata, a first-generation Italian American with a passion for utilizing family recipes passed down for generations. It promotes itself as a taste of Italy minus the plane ticket.

Saint Augustine is full of history and this is the perfect spot to stay and take it all in on your next family vacation!

Former Fleming Island linebacker Ryan Smenda Jr. performed in front of NFL scouts at Wake Forest’s Pro Day on Wednesday morning in hopes of getting drafted into the NFL. A Pro Day allows players who did not get an opportunity to compete at the NFL Combine or those who want to improve their numbers from the NFL Combine a chance to show their talents in front of NFL scouts.

A Jacksonville man was arrested Monday in Orange Park on charges of burglary, fraudulent credit card use and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, deputies say.

Oakleaf High School went on a Code Red lockdown Wednesday afternoon after a student reported seeing another student with a firearm on campus. The school’s principal, Matthew Boyack, notified parents via SaferWatch that the lockdown was “out of an abundance of caution.” at approximately 1:50 p.m. The full alert can be seen below:

Florida earned the recognition of the fastest-growing state in the country between 2021-2022. The population grew 1.9%. It has not held this title since 1957 (census.gov). For a closer look, Florida gained over 416,000 new residents between July 2021-July 2022.

The Alhambra Theatre and Dining opened in 1967 and is the nation’s oldest and continuously- operating dinner theater. There are plenty of hit musicals and plays to watch during the 2023 season. Here is a list of current and upcoming shows:

Changes are coming to Orange Park Mall that could help change the focus from the recent reports of juvenile disturbances at the property. The biggest “heartache” of the Orange Park Mall, according to Clay County Commissioner Jim Renninger, is the old Sears property which has been vacant for approximately four years, he said.

Jacksonville, Florida, drivers are the worst in the United States, a new study found. According to Clever Move, Jacksonville, Florida, “is home to America’s worst drivers, while New York City has the best.”

According to reports, a small aircraft crashed into the woods located opposite the runway of Northeast Regional Airport in St. Augustine. On Thursday, a small plane crashed in northeastern Florida not long after takeoff, injuring two people and a dog.

The Clay County Fair began Thursday, March 30 and Clay County school district schools get Friday (March 31) off from school to attend different shows as part of the district’s partnership with the fair.

It’s no secret that Clay County, along with the rest of Florida, is growing. While the state’s population rises, so does the cost of housing, with the state seeing a 29% increase in the average monthly apartment rent in 2022, according to Statistica. Despite the growing cost of living, Clay County does not have any homeless shelters.

A female victim was assaulted Saturday by a woman whom she filed a restraining order against, deputies said. The restraining order had not yet been issued. Clay County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched around 11:04 p.m. Saturday to a crash in Orange Park, but upon their arrival, the location of the two vehicles had changed and dispatch said they were heading east on Loch Rane Boulevard. It was also noted the two vehicles had caused the initial crash and security patrol vehicles from a nearby gated neighborhood were attempting to catch up to them, deputies said.

Disclaimer:The following information is updated for 2023. It is for educational purposes. If you're looking for some great items for a good price, then going to your local flea market is a great option! You never know what sort of deals you'll get when you visit.

In May 2021, the brutal murder of 13-year-old Tristyn Bailey in Florida by 14-year-old Aiden Fucci shocked the nation. Fucci was charged with first-degree murder, premeditated, due to the brutality of the crime, and was sentenced to life in prison by Judge R. Lee Smith in February 2023 after changing his plea to guilty. The crime was described as "heinous, atrocious, and cruel" by the judge, who also called it a "cold, calculated and premeditated" act. Fucci stabbed and slashed Bailey repeatedly, resulting in 114 wounds to her body.

The FHSAA’s fifth week of softball for the 2023 season produced nine victories for area teams across Clay County. Listed below in alphabetical order are the records of each high school softball team from March 20-24.

The Clay High Blue Devils softball team got a mercy rule win at home Friday night against the Providence Stallions, 11-1. Despite the Blue Devils winning by mercy rule, Clay fell behind 1-0 in the top of the first inning after Daci Sarver got an RBI on a sacrifice ground ball.

A small plane crash in northeastern Florida on Thursday has left two people and a dog severely injured. The incident occurred when the plane crashed into the woods across from the Northeast Regional Airport runway in St. Augustine, resulting in a harrowing experience for those involved.

The two events hosted by Orange Park Police Department are free to the public.Photo byOrange Park Police Department. The Orange Park Police department, in partnership with Jiffy Lube and Hagan Ace Hardware, is hosting two catalytic converter theft prevention events open to motorists who are interested in having their converters etched and painted, the Orange Park Police Department said.