Five years ago, 2019

• The Clay County Solid Waste Management Facility reports residents recycled 7.967 tons in 2018, reducing the amount of space used at the landfill, which means the county won’t have to pay other counties to use their landfills to dump trash.

• The Florida Department of Transportation tells Clay County that the construction of the new Shands Bridge as part of the First Coast Expressway will start in fiscal year 2022.

• Former Superintendent of Schools Charlie Van Zant files to run for his old job on the 2020 ballot.

10 years ago, 2014

• The Board of County Commissioners approved building a mega-sports complex with a portion of $20 million in unspent bond money.

• Fleming Island’s Mary Hunstein credited Baptist Clay and Wolfson Children’s Hospital with their quick reaction to saving the life of her son, Phillip, who stopped breathing with an apparent attack of Sudden Infant Syndrome.

• St. Johns River State College’s Work Ready Program, funded by CareerSource of Northeast Florida, provides mentoring and tutoring to teach general skills so students can immediately enter the workforce after high school.

20 years ago, 2004

• Sheriff Rick Bessler selected Maj. Craig Aldrich as his director of operations, Maj. Terry LaCasse as director of administration, Maj. Carl Crossley as director of communications, Capt. Mike Hardee as chief detective, Charlene Cox as executive assistant, and Sherry Salerno as secretary.

• Officials with the Florida Department of Environment Protection held a public hearing in Middleburg on a proposal regarding DuPont’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit and its impact on the Black Creek watershed.

30 years ago, 1994

• Fellow Clay County Commissioners voted for Patrick D. McGovern to be the chairman for one year.

• The BCC floated a proposal on how to handle solid waste considering the filled Rosemary Hill Landfill. Members are considering transferring trash to Nassau County.

• Despite losing his BCC race, Democrat Ronnie Coleman vows to remain active in Clay County politics and run for another office at the next election.

40 years ago, 1984

• Political newcomer Ann Wiggins shocks longtime incumbent Superintendent Jesse Tynes.

• The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal motorcycle accident that left Christopher Allen Miller of Orange Park dead.

• Scott Alan Decker, 21, is arrested in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and will be extradited to Clay County following a string of armed robberies.