Nearby Communities
State Edition
National Edition
🌱 Why an Orange Park school bus clipped a trailer but avoided injuries
Hey there, Orange Park! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Why an Orange Park school bus clipped a trailer but avoided injuries
- How Orange Park volunteers helped Montclair students grow more than just trees
- How two routine Orange Park traffic stops escalated into major arrests
Also on today's calendar: STEM Adventures at Kiddie Academy of Fleming Island and 4 more events.
Today's riddle: What did the inventor of the knock-knock joke win? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Friday: Hot with plenty of sun, with a high of 90 and low of 61 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
- Saturday: Partly sunny and hot, temps: high: 90, low: 64.
- Sunday: Mainly cloudy and hot, with a high of 92 and low of 63 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. School bus carrying 10 students sideswiped trailer in Orange Park; no injuries (news4jax.com) — A Clay County school bus carrying 10 students sideswiped a parked trailer Thursday afternoon in an Orange Park neighborhood near 2551 Watermill Drive, but no one was hurt. Florida Highway Patrol says the driver swerved left to pass a work truck and struck the trailer, while the Jacksonville truck driver was not wearing a seatbelt. 
2. Montclair students plant trees with Clay, Soil and Water, OPWC (claytodayonline.com) — Orange Park’s Woman’s Club joined the Clay, Soil and Water Conservation District to help Montclair Elementary third graders plant new trees on campus last week. Students got hands-on lessons in soil prep and planting, celebrated the school’s Certified Schoolyard Habitat status, and heard about Montclair’s new Monarchs identity and upcoming PBIS and STREAM initiatives.
3. Police Briefs 04/16/26 (claytodayonline.com) — Orange Park drivers are at the center of two recent Clay County Sheriff’s Office cases, including a high-speed fleeing arrest tied to a long history of suspended licenses and a traffic stop that uncovered pills and marijuana near Blanding Boulevard and Wells Road. Federal prosecutors also detailed a major Jacksonville-based drug trafficking ring that funneled narcotics into Duval and Clay counties.
4. Clay County under countywide burn ban (actionnewsjax.com) — Clay County has issued a countywide burn ban for unincorporated areas, meaning residents outside Orange Park’s town limits must stop campfires, fire pits, and yard-debris burning for several weeks. Outdoor grilling is still allowed, but violators face fines and a second-degree misdemeanor while officials wait for enough rain to ease extreme drought conditions.
5. OBITUARY: Captain Raymond E. Demming Jr., 98 (wilmingtonapple.com) — Longtime Orange Park resident and Navy veteran Captain Raymond E. Demming Jr. has died at age 98, remembered as a faithful member of Orange Park Methodist Church. After a distinguished military and engineering career, he and his wife Lois settled in Orange Park in 1992, remaining active in military and faith communities before his interment in Massachusetts.
📸 Around Orange Park
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓
Upcoming Events in
Orange Park
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
-
STEM Adventures at Kiddie Academy of Fleming Island
1135 Clay St, Fleming Island
5:00 pm
Friday April 17
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
-
Math Field Day!!
Fleming Island High School , 2233 Village Square Pkwy , Fleming Island
8:00 am -
Math Field Day
Fleming Island High School , 2233 Village Square Pkwy , Fleming Island
8:00 am -
5k Run to the Sun
bestbet Orange Park , 455 Park Ave , Orange Park
8:00 am -
Softball vs St. Augustine (H)
Orange Park High School , 2300 Kingsley Ave , Orange Park
6:30 pm -
Softball vs Clay (H)
Orange Park High School , 2300 Kingsley Ave , Orange Park
6:00 pm -
Softball vs Riverside (A)
Riverside High School , 1200 McDuff Ave S , Jacksonville
6:00 pm
Saturday April 18
Monday April 20
Tuesday April 21
Wednesday April 22
📣 Orange Park Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
-
Softball vs Bolles (H)
Orange Park High School , 2300 Kingsley Ave , Orange Park
6:30 pm -
Night of Musicals - Chorus -CAFE
Orange Park High School , 2300 Kingsley Ave , Orange Park
7:00 pm -
Junie B Jones The Musical
The Island Theater , 1860 Town Hall Cir #54 , Fleming Island
7:30 pm -
Math Field Day
Fleming Island High School , 2233 Village Square Pkwy , Fleming Is
8:00 am -
Math Field Day!!
Fleming Island High School , 2233 Village Square Pkwy , Fleming Is
8:00 am -
5k Run to the Sun
bestbet Orange Park , 455 Park Ave , Orange Park
8:00 am
Friday April 17
Saturday April 18
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Rehoming 2 cats ASAP
I’m having to move and unfortunately am no longer in a position where I am able to take my two cats with me. I’ve been looking around for a new… (Nextdoor LMVG) - Clay County is now under a countywide burn ban.
Extreme drought conditions will continue for the next several weeks that create a high threat of forest and brush fires. What does this mean? … (Nextdoor )
- Vivo Healthcare Orange Park posted a job opening for Housekeeping Aide in Orange Park. Apply here.
- Gecko Hospitality posted a job opening for Restaurant Assistant Manager in Orange Park. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Orange Park here.
Ok Orange Park! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: The NO-BELL prize (Thank you Gina M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
👉 Help make Patch AM better
- Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
- Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
- List items for sale or services offered
We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.