1 day ago1Oakleaf PlantationNo comments yet BACK TO TOP TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Careers at WJXT / WCWJ Closed Captioning / Audio Description WJXT Public File WJXT EEO Report WCWJ Public File WCWJ EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 News4JAX.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group (CBS12) — A worship leader is behind bars after a three-month-long investigation where he was accused of sexual activity with a minor According to the Clay County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) a worship leader for Elevate Life Church in Oakleaf Plantation was allegedly involved with a 16-year-old The sheriff's office says the teen was also a member of the man's church Detectives with CCSO along with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office launched an investigation into Grover in June after allegations were made about alleged "criminal sexual activities" between March and June See also:Ankle monitors link teens to armed carjacking in Boca Raton after I-95 chase, police say would travel from both Clay and Duval counties to engage in sexual criminal conduct with the minor The sheriff's office says the incident appears to be isolated and believes no other victims exist Clay County Jail records show Grover was booked on Thursday and facing counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor use of a two-way communication device and transmission of harmful materials to a minor If anyone has information regarding the incident they are asked to contact the Clay County Sheriff's Office at (904) 264-6512 Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact the First Coast Crime Stoppers at (866) 845-TIPS Jesse Hanson Aydian Ahmad Ariel Schiller which is about 3 miles south of Argyle Forest Boulevard told News4JAX that his family members have injuries that are not life-threatening seeing and hearing everything that went on,” Kimbrel said “Everyone just walked out with a few burns and a few scratches He credited the family’s neighbors with rescuing his loved ones We have neighbors that care and actually came and broke the door down,” Kimbrel said Kimbrel said the family had celebrated Easter together in the home on Sunday so that’s pretty much why everyone is shaken up family time to the next day something like this RELATED: Clay County deputies respond to car crash, find driver shot CCFR said the official cause remains under investigation Kimbrel said his mother called him when the explosion happened and told him there was a gas leak and she believes it was because of the washer and dryer Pictures of the house shared by CCFR show significant damage to the garage and outside walls The agency said the State Fire Marshal is investigating A GoFundMe for the family can be found here. Copyright 2025 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved. Briana Brownlee is excited to call Jacksonville home and join the News4JAX team. She joins us from Southwest Florida, where she reported at Fox 4 News in Fort Myers. Before making it to the Sunshine state, she got her start in Rapid City South Dakota as the morning reporter and later transitioned into the weekend Sports Anchor. Jesse Hanson earned his BA in communications from UNF in 2014 while working as a freelance videographer in Jacksonville. He began work at Channel 4 News in 2016 and has since been an integral part of bringing stories to life on The Morning Show. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines TV Listings CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – Clay County officials proposed a new road project that will save commuters time and help first responders. Officials conducted a study for alternative ways to connect Cheswick Oaks Avenue to Oakleaf Plantation Parkway. Terry Shaw of the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization said the project is needed because that portion of the county has grown by 12% over the last 10 years. He also said it can be a challenge for first responders. “It creates a situation where to the north about two and a half miles of Argyle Forest is the nearest east-west corridor and you have to go all the way down to Old Jennings Road so access for emergency services...to reach hospitals and other important services are limited,” Schall said in a presentation. He explained that if you were on Cheswick Oaks Avenue at the south end of the corridor and you want to go to the Oakleaf Plantation, it’s just over a mile by air, but it’s a seven-and-a-half-mile drive. Locals like Amarery Sanders who was out with his son said this could help. “I think it would be good, because you’ve got everyone staying over here just to avoid accidents that happen on the road. People end up taking the tolls and I feel it backs everything up,” Sanders said. Edward Harper said it would make it easier to get to the other side of Oakleaf Plantation. “You have to make 2 miles and make a loop just to get back to our house,” Harper said. People on one side of the project like the proposed changes. But, people on the other side have concerns about heavy traffic. Three alternative routes are being evaluated to mitigate environmental concerns. They are also proposing two travel lanes in each direction and a shared-use outside lane for bicyclists and pedestrians. Richard Smith is a Clay County engineer and he said the next step is getting $100 million from the TPO. “It’s the planning organization that helps the four counties of Northeast Florida procure money from state and federal levels. It will be a long, politically driven process,” Smith said. Oakleaf residents who would be impacted by this new road are encouraged to attend county commission meetings and speak on the issue. Scott is a multi-Emmy Award Winning Anchor and Reporter, who also hosts the “Going Ringside With The Local Station” Podcast. Scott has been a journalist for 25 years, covering stories including six presidential elections, multiple space shuttle launches and dozens of high-profile murder trials. CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – A juvenile was shot during an altercation that broke out at a packed soccer field in Oakleaf. According to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the altercation happened around 5:45 p.m. outside the Oakleaf Plantation Athletic Center near Plantation Oaks Boulevard. Deputies said it was a drive-by shooting and the juvenile was hit. It’s unclear if the juvenile was the intended target or a bystander. The juvenile was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Detectives are interviewing witnesses as the investigation continues. Award-winning broadcast and multimedia journalist with 20 years experience. Aydian Ahmad Deputies said Behrend Ludwig was arrested and charged with three counts of attempted murder after he shot the victim on Friday evening near Silver Bluff Boulevard and Plantation Oaks Boulevard following an “altercation.” RELATED: ‘I’m scared to even be home alone’: Clay County couple shaken up after someone kicked in their door and took off CCSO added that Ludwig and the victim knew each other. “This reckless and senseless act of violence endangered the lives of innocent children and families,” said Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook. “I also want to express my gratitude to the community members who provided crucial information—your willingness to come forward played a vital role in swiftly identifying and apprehending the individual responsible." The juvenile was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. No one else was injured. CCSO said the investigation remains active and anyone with information is encouraged to contact them at 904-264-6512. Aydian joined News4JAX as a digital producer in September 2024. Originally from Fort Lauderdale, he is excited to provide coverage on a variety of topics like sports, politics, health, and breaking news to the Jacksonville area. CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – Another teen was arrested in connection to a shooting near a soccer field in Oakleaf Plantation that left a juvenile victim injured. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday that the arrest of Elliot Grijota, of Jacksonville, made the second and last outstanding arrest in the shooting incident that took place on Feb. 21. Grijota faces three counts of attempted murder. Behrend Ludwig, 18, was arrested and charged with three counts of attempted murder one day after the shooting. The sheriff’s office accused Ludwig of shooting the victim near Silver Bluff Boulevard and Plantation Oaks Boulevard following an “altercation.” The investigation is now closed and will be handed to the State Attorney’s Office. “Crime of any sort will never be welcomed and never be tolerated in Clay County. The two suspects in this case had absolutely no regard for human life and their heinous, violent actions put innocent families and children in harm’s way,” Sheriff Michelle Cook said. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – No foul play is suspected in the death of a 33-year-old man found in an Oakleaf retention pond, according to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. On Tuesday afternoon, deputies and a dive team responded to calls about the body in the water. "The preliminary investigation revealed there are no signs of foul play and there is no immediate threat to the community,” the sheriff’s office said. If anyone has information regarding this incident contact Detective J. Smith at 904-264-6512 or use the Safer Watch App. Copyright 2024 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved. master-planned community located in southwest Jacksonville in southern Duval and northern Clay counties has become one of the fastest-growing communities in Florida not to mention one of the most exciting addresses on the First Coast.Born from a vision to create a livable OakLeaf Plantation has become that and so much more."Our vision for OakLeaf is a community where people will know their neighbors families will gather for picnics in the park and where shops worship and entertainment opportunities will be just steps from your front door," said Deanna Cope developer of OakLeaf Plantation.By all accounts this vision continues to flourish with each passing day OakLeaf has become known as Northeast Florida's New Hometown that more than 4,000 families have already chosen to call home families have found a place where they can live play and shop without ever leaving the community.Planned with connectivity in mind OakLeaf families don't have to drive far for groceries bicycle or rollerblade to all of these along OakLeaf's 15 miles of pedestrian and bicycle pathways.When it's time to play OakLeaf's two multimillion-dollar Athletic Centers offer more than 50 acres of exciting recreation state-of-the-art water parks complete with spraygrounds a junior-Olympic-sized lap pool and slide towers.The centers also offer grand community clubrooms for private parties and gatherings and fully equipped fitness facilities that include an array of cardiovascular and strength-training equipment both recreational and competitive tennis courts Golfers can even enjoy a round at Eagle Landing at OakLeaf Plantation a championship course adorned with century-old oaks and shimmering lakes.OakLeaf residents meet and mingle at the community's organized events and activities From festivities such as the Halloween Spooktacular and The Grinch Holiday Party a whole host of groups have formed to serve a variety of resident interests the Double Nickel Club for residents 55 and older to name just a few.The residences at OakLeaf are as diverse as its activities village-style neighborhoods within OakLeaf feature single-family and multifamily homes priced from the $100,000s to the $400,000s."OakLeaf's builders offer an array of floorplans and pricing options to accommodate a variety of individual tastes and space needs each of the subdivisions within OakLeaf has its own distinct personality and character further adding to the choices available to homebuyers," Cope said.Just a walk away from each home parents are seeing their children off to one of the community schools each a part of Clay County's highly rated school district a kindergarten through eighth-grade facility serving children from kindergarten through fifth grade Even the littlest residents benefit from the learning opportunities available right inside the development established its second Florida location at the OakLeaf Village Center one of two retail village centers planned for the community.Just adjacent to one of OakLeaf's retail village centers residents have peace of mind knowing that a Clay County fire station is located right in their own community a paramedic and an Advanced Life Support engine Further providing for the health of OakLeaf residents the University of Florida has opened a Family Medicine and Pediatric Center in the community Even residents' furry friends are cared for at The Animal Hospital at OakLeaf Plantation Glenda Weichman offers full-service veterinary care and boarding services.New shops and restaurants continue to open in the area This open-air shopping center offers nearly 860,000 square feet of retail shops Shoppers can stroll down the Town Center's Main Street for an intimate shopping experience at specialty stores such as Nine West and Peterbrooke Chocolatier.Those who enjoy shopping among larger retailers are sure to find just what they're looking for at the Town Center's Super Target shoppers can relax over a meal at one of the Center's many restaurants which recently opened.Beyond the Town Center dry cleaners and a number of other conveniences that richly enhance the lifestyles of OakLeaf families.Two churches have also been established and have assembled congregations in OakLeaf Plantation They are OakLeaf Baptist Church and OakLeaf Christian Fellowship a United Methodist Church.At OakLeaf Plantation you'll be close to everything when you're close to home All you expect to find in your hometown will be just steps from your front door.OakLeaf will let you return to a way of life where you and your family are at the center of the community It's a place where you'll be able to see your children off to one of five neighborhood schools work nearby or just take a walk in the park You'll be able to do it all without ever leaving your community.OakLeaf Plantation - more than your new home They’ve all been fixtures at OakLeaf Plantation for more than 16 years, along with newer arrivals HomeGoods, Hobby Lobby and Aldi one big-box retailer — the nation’s biggest — doesn't have a presence in the Southwest Jacksonville development: Walmart According to plans recently filed with city the retail giant is planning a 176,360-square-foot supercenter store in a new development in the southwest corner of the First Coast Expressway-Oakleaf Plantation Parkway interchange The store would be the 15th supercenter-format Walmart store in Duval County Retailer adds health care: Medical, dental, labs and more: Walmart Health adds 3 Jacksonville clinics Coming soon: 25 new restaurants are in the works for the Jacksonville area in 2024. Here's a list In addition to the combination department-grocery store Walmart is planning an attached 4,365-square-foot liquor store and a 1,358-square-foot gas station with 20 fueling stations in one of eight outparcels planned for the project ranging in size from about 1 acre to 1.5 acres The entrance to the 63-acre retail center will be opposite Cecil Connector Road Arkansas-based Walmart is developing the project has become one of the fastest-growing communities in the state of Florida not to mention one of the most exciting addresses on the First Coast OakLeaf Plantation has become that and so much more "We envisioned a place where people could live Essentially OakLeaf provides schools for children and shopping and dining for entertainment all planned within the boundaries of the community," said Travis Hutson where approximately 15,000 residents have already chosen to make their home OakLeaf's two multimillion-dollar athletic centers offer more than 50 acres of exciting recreation each with its own state-of-the-art water park complete with sprayground a junior-Olympic-sized lap pool and slide tower The centers also offer grand community clubrooms for private parties and gatherings fully-equipped fitness facilities including an array of cardiovascular and strength-training equipment "The roads and amenity centers were built first We wanted families to see what type of community they were buying into when they purchased a home," said Hutson a championship course developed by East-West Partners that's adorned by century-old Oaks and shimmering lakes each a part the highly rated Clay County district a kindergarten through eighth grade facility opened last August and serves children from kindergarten through fifth grade established its second Florida location the OakLeaf Village Center one of two retail village centers planned for the community The high school in OakLeaf Plantation will open in the fall of 2010 with plans for an aviation academy the future looks even brighter for OakLeaf Plantation The-125 acre OakLeaf Business Park is currently undergoing permitting for development plans to add almost 1 million square feet of workplace and corporate office for its residents "We have had several interests regarding our business park from both corporate office users and developers It is positioned in a prime location close to Cecil Commerce and along the Future Outer Beltway corridor," said Hutson Wal-Mart also purchased a 43-acre site in 2006 and has plans to develop it in the near future village-style neighborhoods within OakLeaf feature single-family and multifamily homes priced from the $100,000s "We have a great group of builders that offer superior products at competitive prices and are doing well in today's market," Hutson said there have been 50 contracts and 38 closings in OakLeaf Plantation during the first two quarters of this year." Plans are underway to permit and construct another 566 single-family lots on 380 acres to answer the demand for homes at OakLeaf "Our builders are running out of lots and are inquiring about more We anticipate starting construction some time next year on Forest Hammock at OakLeaf Plantation," said Hutson the developer will likely construct the roads and another amenity center to accommodate the new residents New shops and restaurants continue to open in the commercial areas which includes the OakLeaf Town Center developed by The Sembler Group open-air shopping center offers nearly 800,000 square feet of retailers "The Town Center continues to grow and we are all pleased with its progress," said Hutson "This is just the first phase of our town center We have another 70 acres planned right next door that will be an easy transition into phase two." dry cleaners and a number of other businesses serve residents Two churches have also opened in OakLeaf Plantation: OakLeaf Baptist Church and OakLeaf Christian Fellowship Plans are underway to construct regional parks at OakLeaf Plantation which will add even more recreation for its residence For more information on OakLeaf Plantation visit www.oakleafplantation.com or contact one of its fine builders The state appears poised to fund a library for an underserved population in Northeast Florida Ron DeSantis doesn’t veto the $750,000 for the project The House Infrastructure & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee and Senate Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development Appropriations Committee agreed during a budget conference to fund a library at the Oakleaf Plantation planned community in Clay County “This state-of-the-art facility will encompass a wide range of amenities and services including but not limited to cultural resources and the possibility of serving as a polling location,” reads a funding request for the project The $750,000 will match $4.25 million from Clay County meaning the state cost is just 15% of the whole project A Clay-centric library will remove a disproportionate burden from residents, who have to go to Jacksonville and pay an onerous $175 out-of-county fee for library cards, as WJXT reported last year They’ve wanted a library for quite some time and I love that the county is moving in the direction at this time Great they’re getting this done,” said Clay County Commissioner Alexandra Compere last year The Southern Group’s Mercer Fearington Jr A.G. Gancarski has been the Northeast Florida correspondent for Florida Politics since 2014. His work also can be seen in the Washington Post, the New York Post, the Washington Times, and National Review, among other publications. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter: @AGGancarski Isn’t Clay County where the serial book censor lives Perhaps he could persuaded to pre-select the library’s holdings hope this project gets fully funded and built pronto.) This platform and all of its content are owned by Extensive Enterprises Media Publisher: Peter Schorsch @PeterSchorschFL © Copyright by Extensive-Enterprises 2025. All rights reserved. STAFF LOGIN Khalil Maycock CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – Two teenagers have died in a crash in Clay County overnight. According to Florida Highway Patrol, a 17-year-old girl from Middleburg and an 18-year-old man from Keystone Heights were traveling southbound on Oakleaf Plantation Parkway around 11:45 pm Friday. The vehicle left the roadway onto the west shoulder, colliding with a tree. After colliding with the tree, the car overturned, coming to final rest upside down in a retention pond, partially submerged. The two occupants of the vehicle were pronounced dead on scene by Clay County Fire Rescue. News4JAX spoke with people who live in the area regarding this crash. They told us what happened was unfortunate because they had seen a few crashes on this road in years past. “Unfortunately I feel bad for the parents, you know. Those two teens won’t experience the rest of their lives they had ahead of them,” Donna Fong said. Copyright 2023 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved. Khalil Maycock joined the News4JAX team in November 2022 after reporting in Des Moines, IA. CLAY COUNTY Clay County commissioners will discuss changes to a roadway that some neighbors say is dangerous Their focus — Oakleaf Plantation Parkway where there is a large curve It’s the same spot where two teens died in a crash last week The teens hit a tree and went into a retention pond The Florida Highway Patrol said they were traveling south on the road just before midnight when they crashed into a tree and flipped Related: 2 Clay County teens dead after crash on Oakleaf Plantation Parkway | FHP: Infant in critical condition, 8 others injured in crash on Oakleaf Plantation Parkway FHP said a 17-year-old girl was driving and an 18-year-old boy was in the passenger seat FHP is still trying to figure out what caused the crash Oakleaf Plantation has been the site of several violent crashes. Including a three-vehicle wreck back in January. An infant and eight others were critically injured. Everyone was wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, according to FHP. Paul Caprio’s driveway comes out on the road. He sees the reality of safety concerns daily. “It’s like a race track. Everybody’s racing to get somewhere before they gotta be there,” he said. “You gotta look both ways 10 times in like a second. They just keep coming and breaking the speed limit.” Clay County Commissioners are expected to discuss safety enhancements for Oakleaf Plantation Parkway. Commissioner J.B Renninger said one of their safety initiatives is protecting people around bodies of water. “Whether it be drowning or car accidents. A drowning causes loss of life and we ought to look at mitigating the hazard of water play or water engagement,” he said. This native of the Big Apple joined the News4Jax team in July 2021. A Clay County couple on the verge of breaking up died in an apparent murder-suicide Wednesday night inside their Oakleaf Plantation condominium The bodies of Zachary Robert Johns and Kayla Marie Beynon, both 23, were discovered about 6:45 p.m. by Johns' sister who also lived in the condo at the Cottages at Oakleaf Beynon had been shot at least twice in the torso Johns had a single gunshot wound to the head A .40-caliber handgun was used in the shootings It belonged to Johns and was found near his body A man at the Beynon family home who identified himself as her father said they had no comment Thursday The shootings apparently resulted from an altercation Family members told detectives that the couple had been arguing a lot lately and seemed to be about to break up a deputy went there to keep the peace while she removed personal belongings from the condo Family members said Beynon continued living there with Johns after that call for service The couple was alone in the home when the shootings occurred Both children remain in the care of Beynon's mother The bodies were found in a common area on the ground floor of the two-story condo Lennar is kicking off 2009 with four stunning models in their newest communities in Jacksonville and Orange Park both at OakLeaf Plantation.Coventry is a new townhome community in OakLeaf Plantation Lennar is featuring two professionally decorated models at Coventry in the Canterbury and Nottingham floorplan designs is also available.Each model features three bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms An exterior stucco finish with inspiring color accents provides a classic and elegant look a tiled foyer immediately leads guests into the dining room with a lofty nine-foot ceiling characterized by a breakfast bar and a convenient island counter is highlighted with gourmet kitchen features like Aristokraft-Sinclair cabinetry washer and dryer - and Moen faucets.The open floorplan leads into the gathering room at the rear of the home the gathering room provides ample space to relax after a hard day's work or to host a get-together on the weekend the luxurious master bedroom is accented with a tray ceiling two large windows and a large walk-in closet An equally luxurious bathroom with garden tub and glass-enclosed shower complements the owner's suite.Each floorplan in Coventry features its own distinctive flair and provides buyers the options to make their homes most suitable for their lifestyles The Stratford has 1,535 of under-air square feet and is priced from $127,990 a corner home with 1,516 of under-air square feet starts at $132,990.In Hamilton Glen at OakLeaf Plantation Lennar is excited to introduce three new floorplans offer a variety of options sure to meet the needs of any buyer."We are so excited to expand our reach into OakLeaf Plantation," said Barbara Moore "OakLeaf Plantation is one of the most popular communities in Jacksonville and Orange Park The floorplans we are introducing in both the Hamilton Glen and Coventry neighborhoods exude what Lennar has earned its reputation for We look forward to helping people find the perfect home in 2009."Lennar is also unveiling two brand new models in the Hamilton Glen community one-story layout with 1,828 square feet and three bedrooms and two bathrooms An attractive front porch immediately greets visitors and leads them inside to the welcoming foyer The foyer opens up to the formal dining area with large windows to allow light to fill the roomy area.The design continues to the kitchen with more than enough counter space to meet any cook's desire A unique center island with granite countertops serves as a central gathering point and overlooks the great room The kitchen comes fully equipped with clean-steel appliances overlooks the backyard and promises enjoyment on the best summer nights the first-floor master bedroom defines luxury with expansive space and large windows The attached bathroom features many indulgences that come standard with the Logic of Lennar including twin raised solid-surface vanities spacious garden tub and glass-enclosed shower A large walk-in closet with ample space completes the luxurious owner's suite.The two secondary bedrooms offer flexible A second bathroom and spacious laundry room complete the classic one-story design The Magnolia is priced from an affordable $199,990.Lennar will also feature the Oak an ideal home for a growing family with four bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms the home features 2,202 square feet of living space A foyer opens up to the formal dining room with large windows overlooking the backyard the spacious kitchen features a center island counter with an extraordinary amount of cabinet and counter space The cozy breakfast nook overlooks the covered lanai providing the perfect scenery for an early morning meal.The staircase leads to the second floor with three standard bedrooms The stunning second-floor master suite defines luxury living with an attached bathroom featuring lavish accents and spacious walk-in closet The Oak starts at $217,990.Lennar will also offer the Chestnut floorplan in Hamilton Glen The Chestnut features four bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms in a 1,926-square-foot layout The home is priced from $207,990.As with all Lennar Homes the new designs in Hamilton Glen and Coventry at OakLeaf Plantation feature the Logic of Lennar The Logic of Lennar erases the hassle and confusion of deciding what designer features to select and budgeting for all the extra cost that comes with these upgrades Lennar has researched what homeowners really want while establishing relationships with some of America's best manufacturers of home products to include all of the most desirable features as standard in all of the homes they build Moen faucets and granite countertops in the kitchen all come standard at Hamilton Glen with the Logic of Lennar you never have to pay high design center prices to have the home of your dreams.OakLeaf Plantation offers a combination of natural beauty master-planned amenities and brand-new community schools the community is minutes from nearby shopping For buyers seeking Northeast Florida's pristine natural beauty without being far from city life OakLeaf Plantation is the ideal community.Located in Clay County adjacent to a 20,000-acre state forest the community features a new Village Center with sites features some of the best-manicured greens in Northeast Florida Other world-class amenities include multimillion dollar OakLeaf Village Athletic Center and Plantation Oaks Athletic Center sparkling pools with children's splash parks and a walking trail winding through the natural beauty of the area.Lennar Homes continues to build homes in the most desirable communities throughout Northeast Florida Their dedication and customer-friendly philosophy have led to Lennar Homes' continued recognition as one of the nation's leading builders that stands at the forefront of the new-home construction market.For more information regarding Lennar Homes contact (877) 77-LENNAR or visit www.lennar.com CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – A possible big relief for residents of Oakleaf is coming to Clay County. The County Commission is in discussion to bring a library to Oakleaf. This is a big win for locals who are forced to use the closest library in Jacksonville which charges a hefty fee for out-of-county use. The annual out-of-county fee to get a Jacksonville library card is $175. The closest library is the Jacksonville branch in Argyle. Library workers told News4JAX that they see a lot of customers from Oakleaf. The tentative plan right now is to build the library near the entrance to the Double Branch community across the street from Oakleaf Village Elementary School. “Oakleaf is ready for this. They’ve wanted a library for quite some time and I love that the county is moving in the direction at this time. Great they’re getting this done,” said Clay County Commissioner Alexandra Compere who has headed up negotiations with the Double Branch community. News4JAX spoke with numerous people at the Argyle branch library who say it’s no surprise Oakleaf residents come there. “I’m not surprised at all. It’s literally right adjacent to the [Oakleaf] Town Center,” said Sierra Crawford. “I think it’s fantastic,” said Patricia Griffith. “Because people need libraries. All the kids come here.” Right now there’s no specific timeline on construction because the budget still needs to be worked out by the Clay County Board of Commissioners. ORANGE PARK | Parents are offering a variety of potential alternatives to changing student attendance zone boundary lines for Oakleaf schools as Clay County school district leaders search for a way to alleviate overcrowding - especially at Plantation Oaks Elementary School - and accommodate anticipated future growth in the area Parents packed a community meeting held by school district leaders Jan 26 in the Argyle Elementary School cafetorium to brain-storm ideas Their suggestions included doing year-round school staggering the start of the school day into shifts building an addition onto the existing school better validation of student enrollment registration to weed out students ineligible to attend that school and bringing computers to the classrooms on carts to save computer lab space Deputy Superintendent Diane Kornegay told the parents and community leaders that district officials heard their opposition to rezoning loud and clear The district wants to work with parents to find feasible solutions that don't involve moving students but can alleviate the overcrowding at Plantation Oaks without causing other problems elsewhere it is our hope and our intent to work with the community to come up with alternatives rather than moving the boundaries," Kornegay said after the meeting The parents came up with "some really great ideas" that the district will research further Among them might be the possibility of year-round school we'll look at each of the ideas and see what is viable One parent talked about the year-round school and those types of things and I think those are all creative solutions Of course that would take a lot of planning and organization but we've already looked at a couple of sample schedules as one option," Kornegay said Kornegay said they will review the ideas and then bring them back for additional comments and input District leaders are holding another community meeting for parents at 6:30 p.m The county School Board will discuss the a revamped proposal at its 7 p.m 23 meeting at the Fleming Island High School Teacher Inservice Center the board could set a public hearing and final vote for its April meeting "A proposal that first looks at what else other than redistricting can be done," Kornegary told the parents gathered at Argyle parents lined up at the board meeting to speak out against rezoning That meeting included an overflow standing-room-only crowd of nearly 200 people including many parents from Forest Hammock at Oakleaf Plantation whose children are zoned for Plantation Oaks Elementary and would have been the largest group of students affected under the preliminary rezoning plan The initial proposal indicated about 500 students from elementary through high school would be affected by the rezoning in Oakleaf a growing community in northwest Clay County Students living in the Forest Hammock at Oakleaf Plantation subdivision would be impacted the most under the preliminary proposal The proposal originally called for about 200 students moving to Argyle Elementary School instead of Plantation Oaks Elementary School are relatively new facilities and are within about six miles of each other Parents from Forest Hammock and others at the Argyle meeting were no less resolute in their opposition to rezoning They also weren't reticent about sharing their concerns and recommendations with the district leaders present including Kornegay; Emily Weiskopf director of school improvement for the district; John Merrill assistant superintendent for support services; and School Board members including Chairwoman Johnna McKinnon Many of the parents told the Times-Union they think Argyle Elementary is a good school the parents said they just don't want their children transferred from Plantation Oaks Elementary They also said they didn't understand why Forest Hammock appears to have been singled out under the preliminary plan isn't old enough to attend school but his parents bought a home in Forest Hammock so he could go to Plantation Oaks Elementary The couple said the potential boundary line changes equates to "the rug kind of being pulled out from under the Forest Hammock residents." "A lot of us and recent home buyers just went in there thinking we have a community circle of schools," said Michael Ribuffo noting their neighborhood is one of the closest to Plantation Oaks Elementary "To think they [students] are going to have to bypass a school that's within walking distance to get on a bus and that bus is going to have to come through a school zone to pick them up and go back through a school zone to go six miles away and add an extra hour to all the kids' day is certainly a step in the wrong direction for the kids," he said Cecelia Ribuffo said they made the biggest investment of their lives buying a home in Forest Hammock in early October It was their understanding as well as expectation that their son would go to Plantation Oaks The couple drove the bus route from their home to Argyle it added about 25 minutes each way to their trip each day an hour is a big deal," Michael Ribuffo said If they don't want to put him on a school bus when he's 5 years old his wife would have to drive him to school through traffic congestion twice a day including a dangerous intersection Carlos Moya said he and his wife sold everything they had and moved their family from Miami to Forest Hammock they chose Clay County because of the high quality of its public schools where their two daughters are in second and third grades respectively The neighborhood was perfect in part because their home is within easy walking distance of the school "If our daughters have to change [schools] because the boundaries are moved In addition to disrupting their daughters' education by taking them away from their familiar school the couple also is worried about the hour-a-day bus trip through traffic congested areas the Plantation Oaks Elementary is bursting at the seams Merrill presented current as well as projected student enrollment for the Oakleaf area there are about 1,250 students enrolled at Plantation Oaks Elementary About 345 more children are projected for next year based on building permits and other data for residential developments within its current attendance zone Weiskopf detailed the impact of current and future overcrowding at the school She said there might be an increase in class size there's a 2?1/2 to 3- hour lunch span for students Student arrivals and dismissal times are very lengthy Students currently share computers because the number of computers as well as lab space is limited That will be further complicated because some state testing for students must be done on computers there likely be increased traffic congestion during arrival and dismissal time some Argyle Elementary School parents at the meeting weren't thrilled about the redistricting idea "They have yet to tell the AES parents that Plantation Oaks will come here They have yet to tell us that we will go to Orange Park Junior High And they have yet to tell us that we're going to Orange Park High School which also is a lower grade in school," said Karen Barletta whose daughter is a fifth-grader at Argyle The initial redistricting proposal called for adding a sixth grade to Argyle - an idea Barletta said she likes she doesn't like the idea that potential boundary line changes indicated some students no longer would be zoned for Oakleaf Junior High School or Oakleaf High School "I was told tonight that we don't need to know until its closer to that year that our kids move," said Barletta adding she had to do her own research to find out what little she knows about the proposal for those students I'm very offended at the lack of communication and the attitude that we don't need to know yet." Barletta and some other parents said district leaders including the School Board members should have started the planning process long before now Kornegay assured the parents the district wants to continue hearing their ideas "The district is committed to working with the community to make decisions that are in the best interest of every child," Kornegay said A SWAT standoff at an Oakleaf Plantation apartment complex that began with shots fired at maintenance workers is over with the arrest of a 37-year-old man who holed up in a unit there for a few hours Tuesday morning according to the Clay County Sheriff's Office Brian Casey Bolden was arrested just before noon on an older warrant for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon then jailed on $250,000 bail as investigators work out other charges stemming from Tuesday's confrontation near an apartment complex at 785 Oakleaf Plantation Parkway when the workers spotted a man carrying a gun He was "very confrontational" with the workers "They [the crew] began talking to the subject and subsequently were threatened by the subject," Padgett said Then the subject brandished the firearm and fired approximately five to 10 shots He then fled back to the apartment complex." Anchor/traffic and general assignment reporter Erik Avanier OAKLEAF PLANTATION – The 47-year-old leader of the union that represents Jacksonville Transportation Authority bus drivers is accused of shooting his soon-to-be ex-wife Wednesday morning at their home in Oakleaf Plantation Neighbors told News4Jax they heard multiple gunshots coming from the home on Hawksmore Drive about 7:30 a.m. and one of the bullets hit a neighbor’s house Dwayne Maurice Russell was booked into the Clay County jail later Wednesday A previous version of this story reported Russell was charged with murder but that was later revised when the Sheriff’s Office released its initial report The Clay County Sheriff’s Office has not named the victim but said at last report she was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries who confirmed his mother was in critical but stable condition at the hospital “I think he was shaken up when I talked with him so I told him if he needed anything to let us know," she said obtained a domestic violence injunction last year against Dwayne Russell An incident report from March shows deputies were called to a disturbance at that home Mildred Russell wrote about an incident Saturday night “My soon to be ex-husband followed me without my knowledge .. Mildred Russell said she went to the police department and her husband went to their home and spray-painted things in the house Photos of spray-painted furniture and wallpaper were provided in the document “He has two guns in the home and I’m really scared for my life a final hearing in their divorce was scheduled for June 3 Dwayne Russell is president of the local chapter of the Amalgamated Transit Union I never knew they had issues to this extreme,” said James Walker Dwayne Russell’s co-worker and neighbor of 15 years The JTA released a statement after learning of Dwayne Russell’s arrest: “The JTA is aware of a domestic incident involving a JTA employee that happened outside of the workplace Our thoughts are with the family and everyone involved our focus will continue to be on the well-being of the entire JTA workforce and providing any support they need as we all try to process this news.” director of domestic violence services at the Quigley House said they are seeing a jump in violence calls of all kinds That follows a nationwide increase in domestic violence after stay-at-home orders kept people in close proximity for long periods of time The situations are scarier for the survivors .. more of a chance that something lethal could happen,” said O’Brien In a separate Clay County case on Wednesday, a 41-year-old man was charged with second-degree murder after his mother’s remains were found in a home on Sherwood Drive in Middleburg, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Copyright 2020 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved. An unprovoked 18-year-old wanted on a narcotics warrant opened fire on a uniformed U.S Customs and Border Protection agent as he was walking out of an Oakleaf Publix before killing himself Tuesday afternoon according to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office The agent was shot multiple times in the ambush as the shooter was driving by “He was carrying his grocery bag and caught totally off guard,” McKinney said identified Wednesday morning by the Sheriff’s Office as Thomas Jacob Lewis then sped down the parking lot and crashed after shooting himself He did not know if the agent was wearing a bulletproof vest McKinney also said the agent never fired a shot but Customs and Border Protection said the agent is with the Air and Marine Operations at Publix at Oakleaf Commons at 1075 Oakleaf Plantation Parkway with upward of 30 witnesses It sent customers and employees and neighboring businesses scurrying Authorities cordoned off the parking lot as many waited to be interviewed The Sheriff’s Office put a blue tarpaulin over a car in the middle of the parking lot next a temporary shelter Katie Sexton said she was taking a break outside the Alliance and Associates office next to the Publix parking lot when she heard three shots and saw a car speeding away and then crash so we knew something had to have been happening Someone else heard the person who got shot screaming help help,” she said and what we heard but we don’t know it’s true is that the guy thought he was following him and so he got paranoid and unloaded on him,” Sexton said She said she had just gotten out of a meeting and was heading outside to go to lunch a little after 3 p.m and then we heard screams and cries for help then we saw Publix baggers and cashiers and everybody running toward something,” she said Manning said she grew up in the up-and-coming Oakleaf area and never would have thought anything like this would happen McKinney said investigators do not know what the motive was for the shooting which was done with a small-caliber handgun He said it was disturbing that a federal agent can be attacked while shopping for groceries in a quiet suburban shopping center “It is something we live with each and every day knowing that going out in our community there are individuals who would target us just because of the badges we wear on our chest,” the chief said COMMUTER ALERT: Section of Florida 23 reopened but Plantation Oaks overpass still closedThe Times-UnionUPDATE: An overpass on Plantation Oaks Boulevard that had been closed Thursday remained closed Friday morning though a section of Florida 23 in Clay and Duval counties that is frequented by Oakleaf Plantation residents has reopened for traffic following an inspection The Florida Department of Transportation will be meeting with potential contractors on Monday to discuss repairs to a bridge culvert that impacts the overpass giving officials an idea of the cost of repairs and length of time of the closure ORIGINAL STORY: A big section of highway was shut down in Clay County Thursday after the Florida Department of Transportation discovered a problem with a bridge in the area frequented mostly by Oakleaf Plantation residents has been shut down after a failed inspection Thursday by the FDOT Clay County Schools sent out a notice to parents to let them know the Branan Field Overpass (Plantation Oaks Boulevard) in Oakleaf is closed because of the students who walk to the four schools in the area Florida 23 (Branan Field Chaffee Expressway) was closed from Argyle Forrest Boulevard in Duval to Oakleaf Plantation Parkway in Clay County Ron Tittle with FDOT said inspectors found that a concrete culvert is not up to par Contract workers will be looking at overpass during next day or two to come up for solutions for repair but Tittle said he doesn't know when it will reopen Students who normally walk to Oakleaf High School or Oakleaf Junior High School will be picked up at the Oakleaf Athletic Field East For the high school pickup time will be at 7:05 a.m and for the junior high pickup time will be at 9:00 a.m Drivers are asked use Argyle Forrest Boulevard as an alternate route Tittle said the bridge is in no danger of collapsing CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – Multiple parents in Oakleaf are speaking out after numerous children have been hit by cars at the intersections around the large roundabout that’s located near Oakleaf High School and Plantation Oaks Elementary School. And Clay County officials are taking action following outcry from parents and inquiries from News4Jax. News4Jax spoke with two separate parents who each had a child recently hit by a vehicle at the roundabout. Kimesha Ortega said her son was heading home from Oakleaf High on his bicycle on Tuesday when he was hit. “Sends me this text message, ‘Mom, I was just hit by a car.’ And I’m about to have a heart attack,” Ortega said. “His bike was just mangled up. I was just really upset and frantic.” She said he’s doing OK but suffered scrapes. “You hear about it. But it happens to your child, it’s just an adrenaline rush no parent wants to feel,” Ortega said. Mark Tumpalan said his son was hit by a vehicle in March. “He’s doing OK,” Tumpalan said. “It took him a while to get comfortable riding his bike back to school.” At the time of the accident, Tumpalan said, he was speaking with a deputy and drivers still appeared careless. “Even though they saw sheriff right there, there were still kids crossing and they almost got hit, as well,” Tumpalan said. “I was beside myself.” Parents have been outspoken about this issue, even sharing comments in the News 4 Clay County Facebook group. “It seems they’re not going to make a change in it until somebody ends up losing their life,” said Nicole Camacho, who has been one of the parents spearheading the effort. “Everybody’s concerned.” She said the county has been responsive to her requests for increased safety, but so far it has not been enough. “The Clay County commissioners have sent me an email and they’ve painted, they’ve put up signs. The Sheriff’s Office put up a flashing light, roundabout coming,” Camacho said. “But they’re still not stopping, not yielding. They’re on their phones.” Clay County is now responding with multiple plans for traffic improvements that will be installed in the next few weeks, including rumble strips and a button pedestrians can push when crossing. The county told News4Jax that both deputies with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Clay County School Board police have been out at the roundabout, reviewing traffic patterns. Here’s the full statement that Clay County sent to News4Jax on Wednesday: “The Clay County Board of County Commissioners, County Manager, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and Clay County School Board and Superintendent are all working together toward the main goal of providing for the safety and well-being of our citizens, including the safety of students traveling to and from school on foot or by bicycle. “The County Manager has been working closely with Sheriff Cook and Superintendent Broskie to address the safety of the Oakleaf Plantation roundabout. “Several safety enhancements have been made at the roundabout and more are coming. “From an engineering standpoint, the County has installed additional reflectorized signage and striping to alert drivers they are approaching a crosswalk. “Rumble strips will be installed at the south and north bound entrances next Thursday, weather permitting, to force drivers to slow down as they approach the intersection. “Pedestrian beacons that flash brightly when a pedestrian enters the intersection have been ordered and will be installed within 4-6 weeks. The poles and the bases for the beacons will be installed in the next two weeks, and the beacons will be installed as soon as they are received. “The County is looking into any other possible additional risk mitigation measures that can be taken at this intersection. We urge drivers to slow down and be aware of their surroundings when entering this roundabout or any busy intersection. “Since being made aware of the concerns, the Clay County Sheriff’s office, in partnership with the School Board Police, have been monitoring this intersection closely and will continue to do so. “The Sheriff’s office has added this area to a step-up, which means routine monitoring for traffic education and enforcement. Sheriff Cook said deputies and traffic deputies have been made aware of the issues and are in the area as calls for service permit. “This data will also be provided to the Superintendent to examine and determine any additional needs or requirements at the roundabout, and to consider any transportation requirements for next year.” Copyright 2021 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.