The Florida Department of Transportation announced that it has started working this week on a 2.3-mile long segment of multi-use trail along State Road 207 in western St. Johns County.

The new trail will extend from Armstrong Road, where another trail that is currently under construction will end, to just south of Old State Road 207 in Spuds.

Superior Construction Company Southeast and Ayers Associates have designed and will construct the project’s 12-foot wide asphalt trail with two-foot-wide grass shoulders.

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TALLAHASSEE — The Legislature’s revised Senate redistricting plan went to the Florida Supreme Court on Thursday as three nonpartisan groups also released an alternative map because they say the lawmakers’ do-over still violates new anti-gerrymandering standards.

Attorney General Pam Bondi submitted the Republican-led Legislature’s map nine days after lawmakers passed it but before her 15-day deadline. Democrats accused Republicans of delaying action for partisan purposes.

The Supreme Court, though, wasted no time in setting oral argument for April 20.

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Approximately 320 people in 114 families received ingredients for Easter dinners donated by the congregation of Trinity Episcopal Parish. The dinners of hams, vegetables, desserts and breads, and were distributed through the Northeast Florida Community Action Agency.

A Jeep rolled over on the side of U.S. 1 South near the intersection of State Road 206 on Thursday afternoon. 

None of the four passengers were injured, and all of them declined to be treated and taken to the hospital, said St. Johns County Fire Rescue spokesman Matthew Sara. 

Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 38-year-old St. Augustine man Wednesday on charges that included drug charges and exploitation of the elderly, a St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office report said.

U.S. Marshals arrested James David Gruner, 38, of 1855 Century Blvd., in Elkton at the Quality Inn at State Road 207 and Interstate 95 around 6 p.m. Wednesday and took him to the St. Johns County jail, according to the report.

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When I was a little girl growing up on Trout River on the north side of Jacksonville a favorite Saturday day trip was to the farmers market on Beaver Street. There, my mama said, they had the best, the freshest fruit and vegetables and shrimp right out the river that morning.

Now the farmers market in those days, some 45 years ago didn’t look much like the ones we have today. But I remember the sights and sounds, the smells all mixed in with a little bit of awe as folks sat around on tin buckets, hawking the fresh boiled peanuts whose aroma punctuated the early morning air.

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Pals Luke Vaughn and Cody Decker were having the time of their lives visiting the First Coast on spring break from Michigan.

Since Saturday the two 17-year-olds had been to several beaches, took a side trip to an Orlando water park and had plans for other fun before returning home this weekend.

While they'll have plenty of memories about the good times, their best by far will be a harrowing tale of saving two people from a burning car in Palm Coast Tuesday morning.

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We don’t need a weather report to tell us it is spring in St. Johns County. The traffic on our roads and the no vacancy signs for overnight lodging, table waits in restaurants and full parking lots and then some at attractions, and packed tour trains do a good job of that. Our visitors convey the good news for our economy with every dollar they spend.

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Fort ceremony

The St. Johns County Christian Ministerial Alliance (CMA) will offer a non-denominational service at 7 a.m. Sunday at Castillo de San Marcos. Minister Billy McNaught, founder of the ministry “You Don’t Have to Go to Hell to Get To Heaven” will share the message, and the McNaught family will provide music for the first time at this annual service.

Again this year, the Christian Motorcycle Association St. Augustine Chapter #701, which has assisted the CMA for years will greet worships, distribute programs and collect donations.

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Good Friday services around the community begin Easter 2012 observances around the community, with worshipers invited to all the special services including the community Good Friday rites.

Community Good Friday

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Who has the silliest hat?

At Coral Landing that honor goes to Ann McDonald, who recently earned the top honor during the facility’s Silly Hat Contest in which 10 residents and four employees participated.

Also known as Miss Party Queen, McDonald captured the top honor with her Mardi Gras-themed chapeaux.

Second place went to Mamie Hollowell, who chose a sewing theme hat. Activities director Victoria Pellicer reports that Hollowell said sewing was her favorite hobby, adding that she calls herself Miss Sew Sew.

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NEW PORT RICHEY (AP) — A monkey jumped out of his owner’s car at a Florida gas station and deputies briefly joined the search.

A man flagged down a deputy at a Hess gas station Thursday morning and said his pet monkey jumped out of the car at an intersection.

The man told deputies the primate was lost in the woods and he’d been looking for the monkey all morning.

Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies say they don’t know the species of the monkey.

Fun surf this afternoon. Thigh to waist high with some chest high sets possible. Clean conditions with a incoming tide. GO SURF!!! Share on Facebook

We would like to welcome new sponsor MCG SURFBOARDS to the family! Check out their new boards hitting the beach! https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/MCG-Surfboards/320214368013122 Share on Facebook

Six Months of fun in the sun around Jax Beach, Florida(2011-2012). Produced by Balin Hewitt with www.sunrisecoastvideo.com Share on Facebook

Mellow Mushroom Southside will be hosting the Grand Tasting for Jax Beer Week this Saturday, April 7th from 3pm- 7pm.  Make sure you buy your tickets ahead of time! Tickets are available at: https://www.facebook.com/events/108641719266097/ Share on Facebook

Fun little waves coming in this morning at the Pier. It’s clean and in the thigh to waist high range. It is again a bit on the weak side but the longboarders were getting some fun looking lines. Check back for the afternoon update! Share on Facebook

This Saturday the 7th Andy Davis and Billabong will be at Aqua East from 1-3PM! Come check out some surf art from one of the greatest. Aqua East is also having a huge Easter Sale for the entire weekend. Get in there and get some new duds and check out some art! Share on Facebook

Hard offshore wind this afternoon with some rideable surf still coming in. It’s in the thigh high range at best with weak conditions. It is super clean with a ton of people out so get on it before it’s gone if your into it. Share on Facebook

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We finally have WAVES!! We’ll it’s not that great but it’s not Flat! Clean weak thigh to waist high sets are coming through. It didn’t have much push to it but anything is better then it’s been. The tide is just starting to back out so check back this afternoon to see what the lowtide [...]

OCALA – Ocala Christian Academy recently hosted its first induction of students selected for the National Elementary Honor Society. The students possess outstanding scholarship, responsibility, leadership and service, according to a news release. Thirty students from fourth through sixth grade received certificates and pins as parents, staff and teachers applauded their accomplishments. The Rev. Jesse Bloom, founder of OCA, and his son, the Rev. Andrew Bloom, pastor of Central Baptist Church, were present, along with Ron Thompson, chairman of the… Read More »

The Williston Christian Homeschoolers Relay For Life Team held an Inner Beauty Pageant on March 31. All proceeds from the pageant – more than $2,000 – will go to the American Cancer Society.  The pageant had 29 contestants, with the youngest age 2 and the most amazing at age 76, according to a news release. Many of the contestants walked because they have overcome cancer or know someone who is going through the fight or has lost the fight to… Read More »

West Port student, Jamie L. McDonald of Ocala, was recently selected for membership into the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS). The Society recognizes top scholars and invites only those student who have achieved academic excellence.