5 years ago, 2012
The Clay County Development Authority moved forward to select a site to build a ball park through its franchise agreement with Big League Dreams despite the county auditor determining it would take 75 to 125 years to pay off local bonds used to fund the $21 million deal.

Gordon Chevrolet selected Carlton Construction of Jacksonville as its general contractor for a $490,000 re-modeling project.

For the third year in a row, Middleburg-based rock band Red Jumpsuit Apparatus announced it would return home for an intimate, all-ages show at Prevatt’s Sports Bar and Grill on Blanding Boulevard on Dec. 21.

10 years ago, 2007
Penney Farms resident Meinhardt Raabe, who played the “Coroner of Oz” in the classic film The Wizard of Oz, traveled to Hollywood for the unveiling of a star honoring the Munchkins on the famous “Hollywood Walk of Fame.”

The Keystone Heights City Council voted 4-0 (with council member Lyndel Hale absent) to hire Jacksonville resident John R. Schneiger as the city’s first-ever city manager.

The Florida Highway Patrol said Kevin W. Phillips, 42, of Green Cove Springs died after he failed to stop at a stop sign and crashed into the path of a Toyota SUV at County Road 315 and State Road 16.

20 years ago, 1997
The City of Keystone Heights won the honor of “Florida’s Outstanding Rural Community of the Year” for 1997 at the annual Florida Rural Development Conference held in Ocala.

The Clay Board of County Commissioners voted to terminate an auditing contract with DuVal, Horne and Co. that the firm was performing on the Clay County Clerk of Court office.

Clay County Habitat for Humanity dedicated the new home of Shirley Jenkins and her four children in Green Cove Springs.

30 years ago, 1987
Jan-Michael Vincent, star of the television series “Airwolf,” was in Clay County to spend two weeks training alongside National Guard members as part of “Warrior University.”

On a 3-2 vote, the Clay County School Board delayed implementing residential impact fees once again saying the issue needed further study.

Orange Park Town Council voted 3-2 to not renew Town Manager Larry Myers’ contract for one more year. He would stay on until January, when his contract ended.

40 years ago, 1977
Southern Bell began construction on a $2 million computerized telephone switching facility in Green Cove Springs that would serve 4,350 customers when completed.

U.S. Rep. Bill Chappell(D-4) of Ocala, presented Penney Farms Mayor James Saunders with an American flag that had flown over the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C.

Keystone Heights Mayor Charles Head would be unopposed for the Dec. 6 city election, while five other candidates would compete for three open seats on city council.