5 years ago, 2012
Political newcomer Johnna McKinnon defeated one-term incumbent Frank Farrell in the District 4 race for the Clay County School Board with 52 percent of the vote compared to Farrell’s 47 percent. In the District 3 race, retired educator Tina Bullock defeated attorney Joseph Wiggins Sr.

After a 20-year career on the bench, Fourth Circuit Judge McCarthy “Mack” Crenshaw Jr. retired due to age restrictions in state law.

Baptist Health of Jacksonville announced plans to spend $39 million to build Baptist Clay, a small campus-like setting with two buildings comprised of 96,000 square feet of medical offices and a full-service emergency room.

10 years ago, 2007
Authorities in Brooklyn, New York captured 28-year-old Ricardo Velazquez, two years after he was named a suspect in kidnapping Jose Flores Torres from a Jacksonville apartment and crashing his car on Wells Road near Orange Park and fleeing the scene. Torres had been shot several times in the back and left in the road for dead.

Nancy Keating, executive director of Challenge Enterprises, was named the inaugural winner of the Louis L. Huntley Pacesetter Award by the Clay County Chamber of Commerce. Huntley’s son, Ward Huntley, presented the award with Ted McGowan of the Clay County Port.

Clay Today purchased the Clay County Leader from long-time publisher and founder Sarah Boe.

20 years ago, 1997
The Fourth Circuit State Attorney’s Office charged Charles “Chuck” Fryer for allegedly discharging improperly treated wastewater into a Fleming Island holding pond. Fryer, an employee of the Clay County Utility Authority, said he was only following orders.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office was awarded $138,000, while the Green Cove Springs Police Department was awarded $12,888 from the U.S. Justice Department to buy equipment to strengthen local law enforcement.

Hospice Northeast opened its first Clay County office at 1123 Kingsley Avenue in Orange Park.

30 years ago, 1987
Green Cove Springs Police investigated the mugging of Francis G. Harris, 65, of 309 Green St., in the city. Harris said he was robbed in his front yard while getting out of his truck around 9 p.m.

The Florida Department of Transportation’s 10-year plan called for building a $50 million commuter train system between Green Cove Springs and downtown Jacksonville, as well as a Jacksonville-to-Tampa Turnpike that would interconnect with a widened Branan Field-Chaffee Road.

Dan Clifton Wainwright of Middleburg became the 38th tax protestor since 1980 convicted by the federal courts in Florida. An electrician, Wainwright’s unpaid tax bill exceeded $21,000 over a four-year span.

40 years ago, 1977
Architect Edward Parker told the Clay County Board of Commissioners that the new Agricultural Center under construction on State Road 16 was 70 percent complete and he expected a June 1978 completion.

The Board of County Commissioners considered applying for a $57,291 grant of federal Title III funds to help employ local youth during the summer.

County officials estimated the cost of adding on to the Green Cove Springs Public Library to be around $25 a square foot for a total of $70,000.