Five years ago, 2020

• Businesses report that the COVID-19 pandemic creates hundreds of job opportunities around Clay County.

• Clay County District Schools open for classes after shutting down for the COVID-19 pandemic since March.

• With bed tax collections down 11.25% due to the pandemic, the Tourism Development Council said it faces a 30% shortfall to its budget, but it hopes its aggressive future plans will make up for the deficit.

10 years ago, 2015

• Panama City-based Sage Development Group announced plans to build a 125-unit facility called Seagrass Village on East West Parkway on Fleming Island.

• The Board of County Commissioners enthusiastically voted 5-0 to support the addition of a memorial monument – TAPS – to honor all county veterans since the Civil War who’ve died in the line of service.

• Nursing groups in Florida push for a measure that would allow them to practice across state lines, especially following a national disaster.

20 years ago, 2005

• Clay County Internal Auditor Mike Price warned county commissioners that an external investigation into illegal dumping at county borrow pits may interfere with state and FBI investigations.

• After walking out of heated contract negotiations between county officials and the union representing Clay County Fire Rescue, both sides agreed to meet again for a fourth session.

• Linda K. and Robert T. Harvey, of Orange Park, were sentenced to six and 10 years, respectively, for the sexual assault of Mary Nelson, 31, a mentally challenged Orange Park woman and Linda Harvey’s adopted sister.

30 years ago, 1995

• Clay County District Schools officials continued collective bargaining talks with teachers, whose demands include 100% health insurance for single coverage and staff development pay from $6 an hour to $10 an hour.

• A Clay County jury convicts Mary Ann Chism of manslaughter for the December 1991 shooting death of her husband, Richard Chism.

• About 35 volunteers from Naval Air Station Jacksonville rolled up their sleeves for Quigley House during the United Way’s annual “Day of Caring.”

40 years ago, 1985

• The Clay County Sheriff’s Office seized 442 marijuana plants weighing a half ton growing on Hattie Nolan Road in Clay Hill.

• The Board of County Commissioners agreed to consider a Jacksonville firm’s offer to operate and maintain the county’s landfill.

• Despite advice from an outside legal consultant and the county attorney against it, the BCC decides to keep the Lake Asbury Special Taxing District.