Five years ago, 2014

School board members Carol Studdard, Janice Kerekes and Tina Bullock all “stepped out of their comfort” zones by working service jobs – Studdard as a teacher’s assistant at Ridgeview High; Kerekes as a bus monitor; and, Bullock as a teacher’s assistant at Keystone Heights Elementary.

Holocaust survivor Bob Fischer talked with students at Oakleaf High, telling them stories about being taken captive at 7 in Czechoslovakia.

Town of Orange Park creates at Nuisance Abatement Board to address properties with repeated crimes.

10 years ago, 2009

Two days of desperate searching ends with the discovery of a 7-year-old Somer Thompson’s body in a Folkston, Georgia, landfill.

Art Shuster is selected as the Clay Today/Clay County Chamber of Commerce’s “Business Person of the Year.”

Ashley Robinson is crowned as Fleming Island High’s Homecoming Queen.

20 years ago, 1999

Despite passing the highest millage rate in county history (8.9885), the Board of County Commissioners slash the Sheriff’s Office budget by nearly $333,000.

Even with a record crowd at Orange Park High’s Hoyt B. Cotney Stadium, the Raiders lost to Tallahassee Lincoln 35-14 in a key District 1-6A game.

After losing three days of classes by Hurricane Floyd, the Clay County School District requests a waiver from the Florida Department of Education’s requirement that students receive 900 classroom hours a year.

30 years ago, 1989

A cache of automatic and assault rifles stolen in Orange Park were recovered by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Naval Investigative Services.

Joan Lewis, Joe Greene and Patricia Malone were appointed by Gov. Bob Martinez to the Board of Directors at St. Johns River Community College.

Green Cove Springs City Council reconsiders its list of five finalists for the city manager’s job and none garnered a majority of support.

40 years ago, 1979

The Middleburg Challengers are named 4-H Club of the Year at the annual 4-H banquet.

Clay High’s Homecoming parade included a display by the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels.

Reserve champion 4-H steer shown by Jared Wroten of Middleburg was bought by the Banks of Green Cove Springs for $1,950 – or $1.95 a pound.