Five years ago, 2019

• The Orange Park Performing Arts Academy was evicted for more than $150,000 in unpaid rent, leaving its 60 students unsure where to begin the new school year.
• Forty-five Dodge Chargers at an estimated total cost of $1.2 million were unloaded at Garber Automall to be transformed into the fleet of squad cars for the newly created Clay County District Schools Police Department. This police department was in service for five years. 
• In a lawsuit the Clay County School Board filed against the Board of County Commissioners, the BCC was given seven days to “show cause” for why it denied its request for a special election to approve an estimated $300 million sales tax.

10 years ago, 2014

• Two Orange Park teens were lambasted online after filming and uploading a video of them stomping a baby gopher tortoise to death. A second video showed another tortoise being covered with alcohol and lit on fire. The Florida Wildlife Commission presented the videos to State Attorney Angela Corey’s office for prosecution.
• Negotiations flared up between Clay County and members of the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union, which represents 90 non-management employees in the Clay County Public Works Department. One issue involved whether employees should have the option to wear shorts instead of the mandatory pants. 
• The Clay County School Board appeared inspired by a previous grassroots political movement that advocated making the superintendent an appointed rather than an elected position. The school board voted 3-2 to send the measure for the BCC's approval so the referendum could be placed on the November ballot.

20 years ago, 2004

• Clay County Sheriff's Office Deputies apprehended Michael Bardin for burglary after being on stakeout in front of a Blockbuster video store. Bardin was previously suspected of burglarizing the store three additional times, stealing an estimated $1,100 worth of merchandise.  
• William McFaline was arrested for attempted murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon during a "road rage" incident that took place in a parking lot.
• Med Medbury, owner of Med's Pools on Blanding Boulevard, complained about a new county-wide sign ordinance that would prohibit flashing signs along roadways. Except for showing time and temperature, any other message was argued to be a "distraction to drivers." Medbury was prohibited from displaying personalized messages on his sign, such as "Merry Christmas."

30 years ago, 1994

• The Florida Department of Education awarded one of three $15,000 grants to Middleburg High School to bolster its Community-Based Instruction Program for students with intellectual and physical disabilities.
• The Clay County Sheriff’s Office charged Moody Wayne Collins Jr. of Keystone Heights with attempted first-degree murder with a firearm after shooting his 13-year-old son in the face with a .22-caliber rifle.
• Clay County Sheriff’s Deputy Christopher Dangerfield was treated for minor injuries at University Medical Center in Jacksonville after he was struck by a car on Longbay Road in Middleburg.

40 years ago, 1984

• The Clay County Board of Commissioners approved a site plan to build a new clinic for the Clay County Health Department on Deer Run Boulevard off of Blanding Boulevard. The facility was expected to cost $167,000.
• Clay County School Superintendent Jesse P. Tynes Jr. asked school board members to study a proposal extending the school day to seven, 50-minute periods in the wake of a state law offering school districts incentives for extending the school day.
• Fleming Island insurance agent Robert Larsen went on trial for allegedly killing his 48-year-old wife, Jacqueline Larsen.

50 years ago, 1974

• Homeowners turned out at an Orange Park Town Council meeting to protest having large amounts of sand in their city-ran drinking water supply.
• The Florida Pollution Control Department gave the owners of Wright’s Dairy 10 days to correct the pollution. The agency said the dairy was dumped into Peter’s Creek along County Road 315.
• Green Cove Springs City Council approved spending $16,500 for a study to determine the feasibility of generating its electricity and breaking away from its current provider, the Jacksonville Electric Authority.