Busy Week For The Fair, Sheriff’s Office, And School District
Clay News & Views Presents First Edition Of “Three Big Things”
This week, Clay News & Views introduces our new weekly feature, Three Big Things. Each week, we will bring three things in Clay County that you should know about from the week that was.
Weird Weather Can’t Dampen The Fair
The Clay County Agricultural Fair is in full swing, and Friday night brought a weird series of weather events that threatened to shut down the operation. A fast-moving storm brought wind, freezing rain, and hail to the fairgrounds just as the sun set.
The fair and Clay County Sheriff’s Office staff quickly ushered people to their vehicles and Exhibit halls to shelter from the elements. Ultimately, the rain lasted just over an hour and brought a few minutes of small pea-sized hail.
Eventually, the fair proceeded as usual, with rides and events reopening once the weather had passed. Saturday and Sunday are the last two days to enjoy the fair this year, and the weather will be sunny and cool the next two days. Get out and enjoy it!
Officer-Involved Shooting Investigated
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office busy week extended beyond the fair. On Tuesday, April 8th, Deputies responded to a call about a woman brandishing a weapon and threatening suicide. Upon arrival, the deputies were confronted by the woman, who pointed her gun at the officers. The officers shot at the woman, striking her twice, per the Sheriff’s Office official statement.
The Sheriff’s Office has requested the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to investigate the shooting, and the FDLE will issue future updates.
While no wrongdoing on the part of the deputies has been alleged, events like this highlight the need for body-worn cameras for Clay County deputies. While not a foolproof representation of every fact of an incident, body-worn cameras provide a layer of protection and accountability for law enforcement officers and the public they serve. CCSO has recently completed a pilot program for body cams and is on a five-year timetable for issuing cameras to deputies.
Weather Make-Up Day Leads To Transportation Confusion
Friday, April 11th, was initially scheduled as a “Fair Day” for Clay County School District teachers and students. However, closures due to weather earlier in the school year made it necessary to reclaim that day as an official school day.
This week, the change led to confusion, as CCSO announced early that some of the lights warning drivers about school zones might not be operating. In a post to social media, CCSO advised that they were aware of the situation and would have additional officers on duty to police the school zones.
The Clay County School District also emailed parents on Thursday afternoon to announce a possible shortage of bus drivers for the day.
It is unclear what specifically caused the driver shortage, but some parents reported students being upwards of 20 minutes late to school on Friday.