Five years ago, 2020

• State and local officials, like Florida Sen. Rob Bradley and Rep. Travis Cummings who championed the project, meet on College Drive to break ground for the new Pace Center for Girls Clay.

• The school district decides that students from third through 12th grade must wear face coverings in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Clay County suspends CARES Act applications after assistant county manager Troy Nagle reported the county received more than 3,000 applications on the first day.

10 years ago, 2015

• The Clay County School Board passed a 7.137 millage rate, a slight decline compared to a 7.222 rate from the previous school year.

• The recent expansion project at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Middleburg has attracted other medical providers, including Brooks Rehabilitation.

• Inventor and carpenter Shawn Gallagher creates pieces of art at Doctors Inlet by using magnifying glasses and the sun’s rays to scorch designs and messages into blocks of wood.

20 years ago, 2005

• The Clay County Sheriff’s Office investigated a two-car crash on County Road 214 near Twin Lakes Road that killed 17-year-old Richard Thompson. His car crashed head-on with a pick-up truck.

• Members of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church on Fleming Island consecrated its new sanctuary on Pine Avenue.

• The Clay County Board of Commissioners approved the Master Plan for Lake Asbury that addressed residents’ concerns to balance development with maintaining wildlife and hot spots.

30 years ago, 1995

• Bruce Brock, 17, of Green Cove Springs, is convicted of first-degree murder in the shooting death of 15-year-old Anita Sue Russell on Aug. 3, 1994, on Forbes Street.

• High levels of radon were found at McRae Elementary during testing during construction, prompting officials to seal off a portion of the slab to trap the potentially deadly gas.

• Citing financial reasons, Florida Solite, a light aggregate kiln and center of controversy and complaints, closed its Russell Road plant in Green Cove Springs.

40 years ago, 1985

• The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Victor Joseph Russo, 23, of Alabama, after a police officer from Birmingham recognized him while he was on maneuvers at Camp Blanding. Russo was wanted in Alabama for double murder.

• The BCC agrees to spend $6,000 in matching funds to maintain JTA bus service between Orange Park and Jacksonville.

• Sheriff Jennings Murrhee asks the Board of County Commissioners for a 26% budget increase to expand the county jail and hire more deputies.