Nationwide pumpkin shortage has prices up

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Just off St. Johns County Road 210, west of I-95 is Tommy's.

It's a garden center turned Fall festival.

"In the past few years the garden business has gone down just a bit, especially in the Fall," said owner Tommy Outley.

Usually during the year he's selling plants and garden supplies.

But the last two years, right before Halloween, he has turned his property into a family friendly Fall experience.

"I do it for the fun of it," Outley said. "I just love being able to give something to the community to bring folks together."

He is selling tons of pumpkins, literally.

Outley says he has sold more in the last month than he sold all last year.

"It's because of the nationwide shortage, folks are coming and buying them up."

So he has figured out a way to turn his garden business, as well as the nationwide pumpkin shortage, into a success.

Clay 20, Orange Park 14

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. -- Clay defeated Orange Park 20-14 on Friday night.

Tuesday is final chance to register for November election

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Tuesday is the final day to register to vote ahead of the November election.  Many Supervisor of Elections offices will have extended hours to help accommodate the last minute rush.

"We see this always in a Presidential cycle," explained Jerry Holland, Supervisor of Elections for Duval County.    "We'll probably have between 30 and 40,000 people that will have registered in the last 30 or 40 days and so, it's exciting to see this many people get involved in it."

Extended Hours:

Duval County-open until 7:30 p.m.

St. Johns County-open until 7:00 p.m.

Clay County-open until 5:00 p.m.

According to Holland, voters do not need to bring identification to register, but they will need a photo I.D. on Election Day.  As of Monday, the number of voters registered reflected a more conservative population than in the 2008 election cycle.

Fla. Supreme Court throws out death sentence

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - The Florida Supreme Court is throwing out the death sentence of a north Florida man convicted of fatally stabbing his father's girlfriend.
            
The court on Thursday ruled that Leo L. Kaczmar III is guilty of murdering Maria Ruiz in late 2008 and burning down a house in Green Cove Springs in an effort to conceal the crime.
            
But a majority of justices also ruled that Kaczmar should have been acquitted of attempted sexual battery. The ruling also states that it appears Kaczmar killed Ruiz because she rebuffed his advances and that the murder was not cold, calculated and premeditated.
            
That's why the court decided to order the trial court to hold a new sentencing hearing.

Man arrested on domestic battery after Clay SWAT callout

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. -- A man involved in a Tuesday morning SWAT callout in Clay County has been arrested.

Richard Alan Heselschwerdt, 40, was arrested and charged with domestic battery after poking his wife in her left eye during an altercation at their home on Eaton Drive, according to an arrest report from the Clay County Sheriff's Office. The couple's teenage son was in the home, but was not harmed.

The situation began after Heselschwerdt returned home from a trip to St. Augustine and he and his wife began arguing. He then began pointing his finger at her and poked her in the eye, but did not cause an injury, the report said.

Heselschwerdt told his wife that if she called any of his family to the home, or called anyone to take their son, he would shoot them. He then went into the room where his son was sleeping, which is also where firearms are stored, and shut the door.

JU Orthodontists Set the Record Straight During National Orthodontic Health Month

JU Orthodontists Set the Record Straight During National Orthodontic Health Month

JACKSONVILLE, FLA. – Orthodontists at Jacksonville University are taking time during October’s National Orthodontic Health Month to educate the public and clarify best practices for the maintenance of your smile.

Dr. Mark Alarbi, dean and program director of the Jacksonville University School of Orthodontics, said there are many myths that need to be busted regarding orthodontic care, but one of the most common misconceptions is that parents need to wait for their children to loose all of their baby teeth before evaluating the need for braces.

Last free BoatSmart class of the year to take place in Clay

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. -- Boaters will have a chance to brush up on their skills and knowledge for free, courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 14-5 is offering its last BoatSmart class of 2012 on Saturday, Oct. 27 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The class, which is approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and the State of Florida, will be held at Clay Port Inc. on the south side of State Road 16.

Boaters can use this class to obtain their State of Florida Boating Safety Education ID card, according to a release from the Coast Guard. The ID card from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission is required for boaters born after Jan. 1, 1988.

To reserve your spot in the class, call Wayne Beard at 386-698-2353 or email him at flotilla14.5@gmail.com.