Five years ago, 2021

• Middleburg High custodian Henry Burkes, who worked at the school for more than 40 years, is honored when the county renamed the service road at the school in his name.

• Clay County’s new traffic and engineering director, Richard Smith, has a Herculean task to tackle the county’s exponential growth.

• Clay County received $38 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act funding to provide aid to nonprofits, businesses and families, to enhance public safety at government buildings and to address medical and public health needs.

10 years ago, 2016

• Although the issue of transgender students having access to restrooms and locker rooms wasn’t on the school board’s agenda, 15 residents spoke supporting a letter issued by the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education that offered guidance to ensure safety of transgender students, while six attendees spoke opposed of allowing special accommodations.

• County Manager Stephanie Kopelousos said when the new Shands Bridge is completed as part of the First Coast Expressway, the old Shands Bridge will be shuttled, with a portion to remain on both sides as a pier for fishing and outdoor enthusiasts.

• Residents complain at a Green Cove Springs City Council meeting about the noise at the Green Cove Springs Dragway at Reynolds Industrial Park.

20 years ago, 2006

• The Clay County School Board votes to approve construction of elementary school “K” on County Road 215 near Shedd Road and “W” at Plantation Oaks Boulevard and Oakleaf Village Parkway.

• Sam Ward of Fleming Island High, Kenneth Francis of Green Cove Springs Junior High and David Nix of Ridgeview Elementary were selected as Clay County District Schools' Principals of the Year.

• The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrests three adults and three teens in connection with vandalism and break-ins that took place at RideOut and Ridgeview elementaries and Fleming Island and Ridgeview highs, costing thousands of dollars in damages.

30 years ago, 1996

• Clay County Sheriff Scott Lancaster fires deputy Jeffery Peed for not reporting his roommate smoked marijuana, deputy Matthew O’Leary for falsifying reports and misappropriating funds, corrections officer Kevin Sievers for making inappropriate remarks to a woman inmate and corrections officer Blanch Sanders for allowing an inmate to leave a maximum-security area.

• The Green Cove Springs City Council votes 4-1 to reduce the 1,000-foot buffer zone to 500-feet for restaurants that sell alcohol and are located near churches.

• After three months of legal wrangling, the Green Cove Springs City Council and its Zoning Adjustment Board approve a settlement agreement to proceed with a county jail expansion project.

40 years ago, 1986

• Clay County law enforcement agencies combine to make 41 arrests for selling alcohol to minors after an undercover sting operation involved 94 businesses that sold packaged spirits.

• A Clay County Grand Jury found former Orange Park Town Council member David Brownell violated the open government Sunshine Law was “not worthy of further action.”

• The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Raymond Lee Harris of Macclenny for one count of attempted murder of a police officer and attempted murder of threatening his wife and deputy at New Kingsley Beach on State Road 16.