5 years ago, 2012
The Florida Highway Patrol reported that Patsy Ralph Simeoli, 52, of Middleburg was killed in a hit and run accident on Russell Road, just South of Watkins Road.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office reported that Angela Cook, 52, of Keystone Heights was killed after she crashed her vehicle into an oncoming vehicle on State Road 100. Cook was driving with her car lights off. She was pronounced dead at Shands Starke.

The 2012 primary election saw 32,465 of Clay County’s 129,943 registered voters cast ballots for a 24.98 percent voter turnout. Republicans had more voters with 25,567 voters compared to the Democrats’ 4,932 and the Non-Partisan’s 1,966 votes cast.

10 years ago, 2007
Principal David Nix sat ready and prepared for the first-year opening of Coppergate Elementary School.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office seized six vehicles and arrested 25 people in a Middleburg drug sweep using outstanding warrants.

The Clay County School Board blamed skyrocketing materials prices in the wake of Hurricane Katrina for a $20 million spike in the price tag for Oakleaf High School, scheduled to open for the 2010 school year. Total estimates ran as high as $54 million.

20 years ago, 1997
Clay County Clerk of Court John Keene admitted discussions of selecting Winn-Dixie as the county’s primary pharmacy provider for its employees had been conducted with other elected officials without the required Sunshine Law public notifications, casting a doubt on the entire program’s legitimacy.

A giardia and cryptosporidium outbreak at Eagle Harbor led the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Clay County Health Department to conduct a two-month microbiological study on Clay County’s water.

Poised to open on Aug. 29, the manager of the AMC Megaplex at Orange Park Mall said he still needed to hire 85 employees at the movie theater, which would have more than 200 workers when it opened.

30 years ago, 1987
The Board of County Commissioners delayed paving the Food Lion distribution center’s access road after the four bids came in over the $752,000 budget established with funds from a state economic development grant.

Clay County Jail trusty Merritt John Smith Jr., 21, was caught in Duval County after escaping while working in the jail’s laundry room.

The BCC denied Clay County Planning and Zoning Director Richard Post’s request for $17,600 to study the replacement of the Shands Bridge as part of the planned Outer Loop Bridge Crossing Project that would connect to Branan Field Road.

40 years ago, 1977
The Clay County Development Authority pushed for 11 industrial sites scattered throughout Clay County be included in the county’s new comprehensive plan.

New Montclair Elementary School Principal Don Thompson said the school was on target to open Aug. 22 with 650 students.

The Clay County School Board voted to raise millage from 6.4 mills to 7 mills in order to fund its proposed $24.7 million budget, up from $22.5 the current year.