5 years ago, 2012
Officials estimated more than $4 million in damages were done to almost 600 Clay County homes by Tropical Storm Debby.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Ronald Dale Massey for impersonating a police officer after a restaurant server became suspicious about Massey receiving multiple 10-percent discount trips to the restaurant’s buffet.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office recovered the body of Nathaniel Jones of Green Cove Springs from Black Creek, two days after he went missing while cleaning a boat on a dock.

10 years ago, 2007
A Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation cleared Green Cove Springs City Manager Don Bowles of voter fraud allegations lodged against him by Steve DuVal.

The Florida Highway Patrol investigated the death of Leila J. Davis of St. Augustine who was killed on State Road 16 when a loaded cement truck struck the driver’s side door of her vehicle.

Clay County officials held a ceremony to dedicate Camp Chowenwaw Park – a former Girl Scouts camp – as the county’s newest public park.

20 years ago, 1997
The first officer-involved shooting for the Clay County Sheriff’s Office since May 1995 ended in the death of Richard J. Sandt of Orange Park who pulled a .22-caliber handgun on officers.

Despite having urine thrown on her a week prior, animal rights activist Laura Strickland continued picketing near the Wells Road Veterinary Clinic alleging the veterinary office used unfair and cruel practices.

The Town of Orange Park Animal Control Division issued a rabies quarantine for a 1.5-mile radius of Elbow Road in the Holly Point subdivision after a rabid raccoon was picked up in the area.

30 years ago, 1987
Ted Biggs, finance manager for the City of Green Cove Springs, said the city needed to borrow $1 million to fund its wastewater treatment system and complete phase two of its electric utility.

Scott Cameron Dreyer, 19, of Orange Park, was captured in Middleburg where he had been hiding out after escaping from the Jacksonville Community Correctional Institution where he had been part of a work-release program.

Publix supermarket advertised whole Young ‘n Tender brand fryers for 49-cents a pound and cut up fryers for 59-cents a pound.

40 years ago, 1977
Clay County Dog Warden Robert Griffin urged the Board of County Commissioners for assistance in his job, which has him on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Virgil Fox, director of the Clay County Development Authority, said the old airfield at the World War II-era Navy base in Green Cove Springs could, according to a study, be transformed into a viable airport for Northeast Florida.

Fourth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Susan Black said she “would like to see if we can have justice with the media and cameras in the courtroom” on July 5, 1977 as an experimental pilot program was launched allowing photography during trials.