5 Years Ago, 2011
Members of the teacher’s union, Clay County Education Association, voted to approve a new contract with the Clay County School District. The contract agreed to pay teachers a $1,000 bonus for not using all their personal days during the school year.

Orange Park Town Council voted 3-2 to purchase a $306,000 software package that would be used to integrate many of the town’s internal functions, such as budgeting, inventory control and utility billing.

Lee Bentley, planning and zoning director for the City of Green Cove Springs, announced he was withdrawing his name from consideration to be the city clerk.

10 Years Ago, 2006
Green Cove Springs City Council approved plans to build a $2.5 million, two-story, 215-space parking garage on the northwest corner of Palmetto Street.

Orange Park Town Council deferred a request from Seven Bridges School to build a 4,333-square foot Montessori School at the corner of Plainfield and Loring avenues.

Clay County School Superintendent David Owens announced that David Nix would be principal of Coppergate Elementary School when it opens in August 2007.

20 Years Ago, 1996
Orange Park Kennel Club marked its 50th year of greyhound racing in Orange Park by ending its Dec. 6 night of racing with fireworks.

Rather than conduct a formal review, Green Cove Springs City Council voted to accept the resignation of City Manager William Emmerich who was relieved of all of his duties and placed on leave until Jan. 2.

The University of Florida men’s golf team began its season ranked No. 1 with help in part from Middleburg brothers Josh and Kort McCumber, nephews of PGA Tour star Mark McCumber.

30 Years Ago, 1986
Orange Park Town Council voted to change the zoning between Loring and Kingsley Avenues on U.S. 17 from commercial neighborhood to commercial general citing the new classification would allow more businesses to come into the town.

Green Cove Springs City Council voted to have consulting firm Langton & Associates apply for another Community Development Block Grant to make street and drainage improvements on Forbes, Spruce and Hills Streets.

The Clay County Builders Council agreed to open talks with the Clay County School District involving growth management and how it impacts schools.

40 Years Ago, 1976
Orange Park High Principal Walter Brock was listed in satisfactory condition in the Intensive Care Unit at Greater Orange Park Community Hospital after “taking ill” at the school. Brock, 38, was to be held for two days of observation.

Charles Bickerstaff said he wanted to set up a Jaycees chapter for the 27 inmates in the former Doctors Inlet Road Prison. He said many of the inmates were working to “better their own prison community.”

The Clay County Transit Authority announced it was expanding services from two buses to four with help from a grant from the Florida Department of Transportation.