The Loop | June 25, 2026 | No. 4

From our desks at The Baker County Press...

Welcome to The Loop — your weekly Baker County cheat sheet for civic updates, community wins, things to do, and the occasional historical feud that makes modern comment sections look tame.

This week: the county is talking trash, we might be getting oil changes while we eat our Grand Slam breakfast, the Woman’s Club brought goats and health goals to the fairgrounds, Shoals Park did something for the children, a God-fearing woman “blesses” out her enemies and a few other things.

Let’s get into it.

🏛 In The Loop

🗑️ Talking trash, but make it a workshop.

Baker County may be changing the hours at county collection sites — but not before residents get a chance to weigh in.

Commissioners postponed a decision June 16 and agreed to hold a public workshop on the proposal next month.

The plan would make collection site hours more uniform, cut down on split shifts and help reduce staffing and equipment costs.

In other words, the trash schedule is trying to become less... hot garbage.

One change suggested replacing the current Wednesday split shift with one 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. shift. The broader countywide schedule would begin Oct. 1.

Public Works Director Chris Lee said attendants support the change, especially because it would eliminate the dreaded go-home-then-come-back-later workday.

Very few people dream of returning to the dump during the hottest part of the afternoon.

But the discussion got bigger than hours. Discussions were had about commercial waste, trailers stuffed full causing traffic backups, and site attendants getting threats while trying to enforce the rules — aka DO THEIR JOB 💁🏻‍♀️.

The workshop is set for 6 p.m. Monday, July 20, and residents are encouraged to attend (the polite ones anyway).

*respectfully*

🚓 Routine stop, with a uhhh...not-so-routine outcome

What started as a faulty headlight stop on North Boulevard West turned into a drug-evidence case late June 17, according to the sheriff’s office.

Deputies said they stopped a Nissan shortly before 11 p.m. and noticed the passenger acting nervous and holding something in his hand.

Investigators said Kirk first told deputies he was holding marijuana.

Then, when ordered out of the vehicle, he allegedly tried to put a plastic-wrapped substance containing white powder into his mouth.

Deputies said he resisted their efforts to stop him from swallowing the item and refused commands after being taken to the ground.

Authorities were unable to recover the substance.

Kirk was taken to Ed Fraser Memorial Hospital for medical clearance before being booked into the county jail.

He faces charges of resisting an officer without violence and altering, destroying, concealing or removing physical evidence.

The driver was issued a warning for faulty equipment and released. I’m sure this isn’t the wildest thing BCSO has encountered.

🧇 Can we “Take 5” and talk about this??

A new Take 5 Oil Change could be coming to South Sixth Street in Macclenny.

Driven Brands Inc., the parent company of Take 5, is looking for city approval for a new automotive oil change business on the vacant commercial parcel between Waffle House and Motel 6 along U.S. 90.

So yes, potentially you could grab a waffle, a room, and an oil change — all in one very specific stretch of road.

The proposed project includes a 1,700-square-foot building with three drive-through service bays, vehicle stacking lanes, parking, stormwater improvements, landscaping, and utility connections.

The property is already zoned Commercial General, but automotive service businesses need special exception approval from the city.

Gotta get this guy on board.

Driven Brands says the project would fit the surrounding commercial area and would not create major traffic, noise, or infrastructure issues.

The Macclenny Zoning Adjustment Board is scheduled to consider the request at 5 p.m. July 13 at City Hall.

Residents will have a chance to speak for or against the proposal during the public hearing. So if you wanna have breakfast while your car is serviced, it could be a win for you. If you’re wondering at the logic behind another oil change place 5 seconds down the road from the existing Jiffy Lube... well, you’re thinking what I’m thinking.

Lighten The Loop

🩺 Well, that was a healthy turnout.

The GFWC Woman’s Club of Macclenny’s fourth annual Community Health Fair brought about 420 people and 98 vendors and organizations to the county fairgrounds June 6.

There were a lot of blood pressure checks, petting of goats, wellness chats, and “wait, we have that here?” moments. Oh, and coffee and Thai food. 🤤

This year’s fair focused on prevention, nutrition, fitness, environmental health and holistic wellness education.

Workshops covered everything from probiotics and sourdough bread to essential oils, juicing, organic gardening and protecting the St. Marys River.

Basically, if your body, pantry, garden or riverbank needed attention, someone was there with a table.

The event also supported Samaritan Food Bank, with fundraising efforts aimed at helping the organization obtain a commercial freezer and cover operating expenses.

Woman’s Club leaders said the real win was not just the crowd size, but the conversations — residents finding resources, asking questions, and leaving with information that could help their families.

Healthier lives, stronger Baker County. Very much the assignment.

🔥 What’s Happening

🛝 Shoals Park just got more kid-approved.

St. Mary Shoals Park has a new reason for families to make the trip.

Baker County announced new playground equipment has been installed at the park’s western entrance near CR 125 North, also known as the OHV side of the 2,500-plus-acre park.

The new playground is part of the county’s ongoing effort to upgrade at least one county park each year with new equipment and improvements for families and visitors.

The county also gave a special shout-out to Kayla Riggs from county administration, who volunteered for the very serious government duty of giving the playground a “test run.”

Cop slide not included... sadly. 😅

Important public service work! Official finding: ready for fun.

The playground is located at St. Mary Shoals OHV Park, 9316 Odis Yarborough Road in Glen St. Mary.

Pack snacks. Bring water. Let the kids burn off the energy we all wish we still had.

🥎 Lady Wildcats are still collecting wins.

The season may be over, but the Lady Wildcats are still showing up on the scoreboard.

Six Baker County softball players were named to the 2026 All-First Coast softball team by The Florida Times-Union after a standout season that carried the Lady Wildcats deep into the postseason.

Grace Masterson and Baleigh Shields earned first-team honors.

Chloe Johnson was named to the second team, Gabriella Gray made the third team, and Mallory Jackson and Ly’Nasia Green received honorable mentions.

That’s no typo.

Six Wildcats. One regional list. You know, typical Baker County behavior, crushing it at softball.

The Times-Union said selections were based on factors including coach nominations, staff observations, stats and strength of competition.

The cleats may be put away for now, but Baker’s softball season clearly left a mark across the First Coast.

⚡ Loop Around Town

June events coming in hot... check out what’s going on around town (before it happens)

⚾ Halos tryouts are on deck.

Baker County Halos have tryouts coming up for players ready to grow as a team, build confidence, and, according to their page, “dominate the clay.”

Softball/baseball people do love a dramatic dirt moment.

When: 9 p.m. Friday, June 26
Where: Baker County Little League

Sponsored Content

⚡ Loop Tea Loop

Baker County Lore, Lightly Steeped

Every week, we’ll dig up a little Baker County history, folklore, or old-school community drama from the archives.

The kind of stuff that makes you realize this place has always been a little weird. Deeply interesting. And committed to the plot...

Part 3: The Widow on the Porch (with the mouth of a sailor)

Last week, we left off with the Mizell posse riding after the Barbers following Sheriff Dave Mizell’s death.

Mose Barber and Jack Barber escaped through Boggy Creek on strong horses.

But Isaac Barber did not.

According to local historian Gene Barber’s account, the posse came upon Isaac Barber and killed him immediately.

The story says each man in the posse was then required to fire into Isaac’s body, making it harder to accuse any one person of the murder.

That’s some serious, “If I go down, you’re going down with me” stuff.

Two brothers, Dick and Sam Bass, reportedly happened onto the scene and were ordered to fire too, so they would also be implicated and stay quiet.

Dick Bass obeyed under threat. Sam Bass ran.

And that is where Harriet “Hattie” Geiger Barber enters the story.

Sam rode to Isaac Barber’s home and told his widow what had happened.

Harriet got a gun. Gave Sam a gun, and waited.

When Judge John Mizell and the posse arrived at the Barber place, Mizell was reportedly heard telling the men to round up the cattle.

Then Harriet stepped onto the porch.

According to the account, this church-founding, God-fearing woman unleashed such a verbal blast that Sam Bass later said he had never heard anything like it before or since.

History didn’t record the exact words, but we feel confident they were not “welcome, gentlemen.” 🤬

The posse turned and left. They never bothered her again.

The story says the Barber cattle were later stolen anyway, along with cattle belonging to other members of the family by the very same clans.

But the feud was still not finished.

The next day, Little Mose Barber was killed at Lake Conway after being bound, weighted down, and thrown into the water.

The account says he fought to survive, surfaced, grabbed the boat, and was eventually shot.

His body surfaced later, and the men accused in his death were brought to court.

They were acquitted — a reminder that in Reconstruction-era Florida, power, fear, and the courthouse did not always point in the same direction as justice.

By the end, the surviving Barber widows had little power to reclaim the family’s land or cattle through force or law.

Mose Barber Sr. and Jack Barber eventually rode north, then Mose said he wanted no part of that country again.

He and Jack headed toward Texas. Mose never returned.

So yes, the Barber-Mizell feud may have started with cattle, taxes, courthouse power, and one very disputed heifer.

But by the end, it had become something much darker: dead men, widows, stolen property, courthouse control, and family stories that lasted for generations. Who knew Baker County was such a wild west of drama?

Alright folks, that wraps it up!! Got thoughts? Stories? Feedback? Shoot it to me at sales@bakercountypress.com. Go ahead, I can take it.