5 Years Ago, 2012
Orange Park Town Council debated buying two Doctors Lake properties at 644 and 670 Nelson Drive – between five and 12 acres – to develop a new park that would include nature trails, boardwalks, canoe and kayak launch sites for $950,000.

Fourth Circuit Court Judge Don H. Lester granted a continuance in the trial of Jarred Harrell who was accused of killing 7-year-old Somer Thompson in Orange Park. Officials set a May 7 trial date.

Green Cove Springs City Council approved spending $50,000 to consulting engineers Causseaux, Hewett & Walpole Inc. of Gainesville to draft a master plan to assess the city’s stormwater drainage system.

10 Years Ago, 2007
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office investigated the shooting of Brittany Hopkins of Middleburg who was struck in the neck by a stray bullet while playing at her aunt’s home in the 2900 block of Llama Court off County Road 215.

The Green Cove Springs City Council debated annexing a large tract of land that was formerly part of Gustafson Dairy.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office investigated how thieves stole more than $230,000 in medical parts and equipment from a panel truck and then set the truck on fire. The truck belonged to the nonprofit aid agency America’s Heart.

20 Years Ago, 1997
Rebecca Adams was sentenced to six months probation, 120 hours of community service and ordered to pay $500 in court costs and $1,000 in administrative fees to the Florida Department of Children and Families after being arrested for knowingly filing a false report of child abuse against a Clay County Commissioner.

A 3-hour Clay County School Board workshop ended with growth data pointing to the need to build a new high school and two other schools. If constructed, the new high school would be “either north and west of Doctors Lake, or in the Fleming Island area.”

James Alan Parker of Bostwick took up a Clay County Sheriff’s deputy’s offer of a ride while hitchhiking south on U.S. Highway 17. A quick computer check found Parker was wanted in Virginia for indecent exposure and felony embezzlement charges.

30 Years Ago, 1987
The Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested Clay Thomas McElvain of Jacksonville for allegedly robbing the Southeast Bank on Blanding Boulevard in Orange Park. Police said, however, McElvain was not a suspect in the robbery of the Wells Road branch of Duval Federal Savings and Loan that occurred two weeks prior.

Middleburg residents welcomed the announcement by Clay Video – the local cable television provider – that the company had begun installing cable service in the Black Creek area.

Clay County and the City of Green Cove Springs held joint discussions on how to supply water and sewer service to the 712,000-square foot Food Lion distribution center planned for just south of the city.


40 Years Ago, 1977
Judge Lamar Winegeart arraigned William Ronald McMullan on first degree murder charges in the shooting death of Janita Estes. Public Defender E.E. Durrance said he could not represent Winegeart because his wife worked closely with the victim’s mother.

A University of North Florida report found that Green Cove Springs got the lion’s share of county recreational funds while noting the Town of Orange Park was experiencing a 19 percent annual growth rate.

The Town of Orange Park was notified it would be getting a $670,000 grant from the Economic Development Administration to extend water and sewer lines from Bellair Boulevard to DeBarry Avenue.