5 years ago, 2012
Florida Department of Transportation officials announced construction would begin on the first phase of the First Coast Expressway in March 2013 on the section from Argyle Forest Boulevard to Interstate 10 in Duval County as part of an overall $1.8 billion project.

Clay County School Board Vice Chairman Janice Kerekes said while the issue of hiring a school superintendent instead of electing one was dead for the moment, the issue will arise in the future.

The State Commission on Ethics cleared County Commissioner Ronnie Robinson of any wrongdoing in allegations he misused his position to interfere with county fire inspection procedures.

10 years ago, 2007
Unions representing teachers and support personnel successfully bargained separate 7.5 percent salary and benefits hikes with the Clay County School Board.

About 300 people packed into Orange Park Town Hall council chambers to debate whether council should approve a poker room at Orange Park Kennel Club.

Clay County School Superintendent David Owens led a dedication ceremony for Coppergate Elementary School, which cost the district $14.1 million.

20 years ago, 1997
The Duval County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death of Mildretta Messer, 57, of Green Cove Springs to be a drowning. She had been missing for five days when her body was pulled from the St. Johns River.

The Green Cove Springs Rotary Club named Wynema Lovell “Citizen of the Year” for her work with the Food Pantry of Green Cove Springs.

A pickup truck driven by Gene W. Higginbotham Jr. of Middleburg slammed into a Chevrolet Suburban and killed three passengers. A passenger in Higginbotham’s vehicle was also killed in the crash.

30 years ago, 1987
Clay County public school teachers and district officials agreed to a new contract giving teachers a 7 percent raise, a $200 bonus and an additional $50 for insurance coverage.

Orange Park Police Department officers arrested 14 juveniles and three adults implicated in 130 burglaries to auto storage sheds and residential thefts.

The Clay Board of County Commissioners passed an ordinance to hike the gas tax by two cents and voted to set a referendum to allow voters to decide if they wanted to add an additional penny to the current sales tax.

40 years ago, 1977
Methodist Hospital Foundation of Jacksonville took over management of Clay Memorial Hospital in Green Cove Springs for $6,000 a month.

The Clay Board of County Commissioners approved a request from Florida Power & Light to run $6.3 million worth of electric transmission lines across Clay County in order to connect substations in Clay and Duval counties. The lines would serve Clay Electric Co-op customers.

Jacksonville attorney William Sheppard filed a lawsuit against the Clay County School Board on behalf of Michael Zorick, a blind man from Los Angeles, who was turned down for a physical education teacher job at Middleburg Elementary.