5 Years Ago, 2011

Clay County Animal Care and Control announced it would focus only on dogs and cats and would no longer take in exotic animals, pet snakes and birds.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office got an assist from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration in raiding a methamphetamine lab on Bullrush Court in Middleburg. Jonathan Bodhi Meyers and Jennifer Lynn Baggett were charged with conspiring to make meth. Two young children were taken into protective custody.

Ted Hanner of Middleburg was sentenced to 18 days in jail for a boating accident that killed his son Travis Hanner,17, and Halee Mickey, 15, in a crash on Black Creek.

10 Years Ago, 2006

Barbara Kirkman, Clay County supervisor of elections, predicted a dismal 20 percent voter turnout for the primary.

Patrick Hutton, M.D., an Orange Park orthopedic surgeon, was elected to serve as president of the Florida Medical Association.

The Clay County School District planned public meetings with local governments to explain how an interlocal agreement on school concurrency would work. Concurrency keeps developers from building homes faster than a school district can build schools.

20 Years Ago, 1996

The Florida Highway Patrol charged John Eric Gannon of Green Cove Springs with DUI manslaughter after a two-vehicle crash killed Carolyn A. Knight and Lindley Lawrence of Orange Park.

LeAnn Shannon of Orange Park set the world record in the 400 meter wheelchair race and won gold medals in the 100 meter, 200 meter, 400 meter and a silver in the 800 meter in the 1996 Paralympics in Atlanta.

Moosehaven resident Elsie Gordon celebrated her 104th birthday at the retirement community along Park Avenue in Orange Park.

30 Years Ago, 1986

The Board of County Commissioners awarded a $424,624 contract to EWP Construction Co. of Jacksonville to pave Branan Field Road from Old Jennings Road to Havenwood Road in Argyle.

Attorneys for B.J. Lakin, a coach with Orange Park Athletic Association, agreed to settle for $475,000 in a case in which Lakin sued after being struck by lightning during baseball practice and ended up in a coma. The money would be placed in a trust and pay for his ongoing medical care.

Betsy Annette Harris of Orange Park was sentenced to 48 months in state prison for DUI manslaughter in the death of Jeff Lynn Farley.

40 Years Ago, 1976

When teachers reiterated their demand for a 17 percent pay hike during a contract negotiation session, Clay County School Board Negotiator Ross Miles said, “As far as I’m concerned, this meeting is adjourned.” They were also presented a coaches’ supplement schedule of $1,900 per coach per school.

Meredith Joy Smith of Orange Park was sentenced to 25 years in prison for robbing a convenience store while brandishing a straight razor. Smith originally pled not guilty and said he was in Kansas City the day of the robbery.

John Baroun, 65, of Green Cove Springs, pled not guilty to one count of second degree murder in the shooting death of Arlesia Battles that took place Aug. 20 outside the Pine Street tavern.