Five years ago, 2021

• Keith Brandon is hired as the new Veteran’s Services Officer for Clay County.

• Washington, D.C., developer Banks Shao told several residents of the Orange Park Country Club he hopes to buy, restore and reopen the shuttled golf course and country club.

• Superintendent David Broskie told the school board that district buses travel 7.7 million miles a year and is five drivers short of being fully staffed.

10 years ago, 2016

• Addison Davis celebrates a landslide victory against Rebekah Shively in the race for Clay County Superintendent for Schools.

• “Academy Wing” is dedicated to Charles “Mickey” Fields at Orange Park High.

• James Boys continue their ministry work at Orange Park United Methodist Church by restoring bicycles for the J.P. Hall Children’s Christmas Party and free wheelchair ramps for the community.

20 years ago, 2006

• A Middleburg family mourned the loss of Pfc. Kevin J. Ellenburg, 20, who died from injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated while he was fighting in Baghdad while he was assigned to the 1^st Battalion, 22^nd Infantry Regiment, 1^st Brigade, 4^th Infantry Division.

• Clay County voters approved two amendments changing the makeup of the Board of County Commissioners. One allowed for an at-large commissioner, the other allowed for a chairman.

• The Orange Park Town Council was presented a proposal to build a mausoleum on the grounds of the town-owned Magnolia Cemetery.

30 years ago, 1996

• Keystone Heights residents raised concerns that CityTel would erect antennae in the city cemetery. Council Member Tony Brown assured residents it wouldn’t be near any graves.

• Clay County Fire Rescue called on volunteers to help stage a mock explosion at the Orange Park Mall to give firefighters and other first responders valuable training time.

• Florida Education Commissioner Frank Brogan reported that Clay students’ 21.4 composite score on the ACT Test was better than the state and national composite scores of 20.6 and 20.9, respectively.

40 years ago, 1986

• Shoppers were forced out of the Blanding Boulevard Pic and Save after the air inside the store became “polluted with an unknown type of noxious fumes,” according to fire and rescue officials.

• Orange Park Town Council considered keeping Town Manager Larry Myers of a month-to-month contract in a vote of lack of support.

• Incumbent Clay County school board member Robert Paterson was defeated by up-and-coming challenger John Thrasher, while Board of County Commissioner incumbent Democrat James Jett fended off a challenge by Fred H. Cline.