Police arrested a 31-year-old Glen St. Mary man for spray painting a cat and turtle at a north Macclenny trailer park.

A teen witness at the scene the evening of May 9 told Deputy Robert Simpkins he saw Mark Jackson Crews, spray the animals with silver paint. The cat belongs to the 11-year-old daughter of Angel Anderson, who called police that evening.

Deputy Simpkins said when he got to the scene, the suspect had left with another trailer park resident identified as Lori Davis, who Mr. Crews had been staying with. When she returned, the officer questioned Ms. Davis and she then brought the suspect back from Georgia.

Ms. Anderson said Ms. Davis cursed at her when she drove off after learning police were called, adding there had been friction between them because of Mr. Crews staying there.

He was booked at county jail for misdemeanor animal cruelty, and told Deputy Simpkins he didn’t believe paint would harm either the cat or turtle.

A former county manager was arrested the evening of May 18 for damaging two vehicles, one belonging to the City of Macclenny, and threatening to kill the man currently dating his ex-wife.

Jason Griffis, 40, of Macclenny is accused of going to the residence of Timothy Dugger, 55, on Marvin Lauramore Rd. off SR 121 about 6 pm and making the threats while smashing the driver’s side window of Mr. Dugger’s work truck and both the rear window and fender of his personal vehicle.

Mr. Dugger is a longtime city employee and has been dating Amy Griffis, the accused’s estranged wife and daughter of retired City Manager Gerald Dopson. Ms. Griffis, 40, was at the address at the time and concurred with Mr. Dugger’s version of events.

Deputy Koty Crews said Mr. Griffis left the area before police arrived, and fellow Deputy Trey McCullough listened in as the accused telephoned and repeated the threats, including that he intended to kill Mr. Dugger “the next time he sees him.”

Mr. Dugger and Ms. Griffis both said Mr. Griffis called them repeatedly throughout the day, and that evening came onto the property daring Mr. Dugger to come outside. That is when he damaged the vehicles.

That was in early April. Now, the city’s new chief executive officer is considerably closer to achieving his goal after Rayonier offered an alternative site in exchange for the city abandoning its lawsuit aimed at forcing the giant timber company and cellulose manufacturer to proceed with the sale of a previous site.

“On the surface it looks good,” Mr. Rhoden told city commissioners during a board meeting on May 14 when he presented an update on the ongoing dispute with Rayonier. “If it turns out not to be a viable site we’ll proceed with our litigation. We’re hopeful we’re not going to have to do that.”

Engineering tests, including soil samples, first must be completed to determine if the ground meets state environmental standards for the weekly disposal of up to 50,000 gallons of treated wastewater, otherwise known as “sludge.”

The legal conflict with Rayonier had its origins in a decision by the city 11 months ago to buy 114 acres of timberland the company owned north of Steel Bridge Road in an area known as Trail Ridge. The decision was controversial from the start because nearby homeowners voiced opposition to the plans at a commission meeting, which may have tipped off Rayonier to the company’s plans.

Rayonier, through its property management subsidiary TerraPointe Services Inc., had entered into a contract to sell the parcel for $399,000 to Macclenny real estate agent Lewyn Boyette, who unbeknownst to Rayonier was actually serving as an intermediary for the city to acquire the land. The city later spent about $20,000 on site tests, including engineering and soil sampling.

Two Glen St. Mary teens were seriously injured early Monday evening when the 1994 Polaris they were on flipped on CR 139B.

The Florida Highway Patrol could not identify the driver, but the victims, both 14, were Parker Holman and Cole Cushman.

According to Trooper Justin Smatt's report of the 5:35 pm incident west of CR 125, the driver lost control of the eastbound ATV after it left the roadway and veered back before overturning. The two youths were ejected.