5 Years Ago, 2011

The Clay Board of County Commissioners approved a rezoning request that would allow Haven Hospice to build an 18-bed hospice along Blanding Boulevard.

Pete Sutton, general manager of the Clay County Agricultural Fair, was named secretary-treasurer of the Florida Federation of Fairs during its annual convention in St. Augustine.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission charged Ted Hanner of Middleburg with misdemeanor reckless operation following an investigation into the February boat crash that killed his son Travis Hanner, 17, and daughter Halee Mickey, 15, who both died of severe head injuries.

10 Years Ago, 2006

Joshua Allen Palin, director of an Orange Park daycare center, was sentenced to 17 years in prison on charges of child molestation in which he was found to have inappropriately touched multiple children under his care.

Still in shock that the remnants of Fort Heileman in Middleburg had been bulldozed in May, residents pleaded with county commissioners to prosecute two men described as looters and recover the stolen artifacts taken from the fort’s cemetery.

The Police Activities League opened its new recreational center at 1027 Blanding Boulevard near Orange Park.

20 Years Ago, 1996

Florida Education Commissioner Frank Brogan recognized Wilkinson Junior High Principal Ed Paulk with the “Commissioner’s Principal Achievement Award” for creating a positive school climate for learning and teaching.

Nathanial E. Lassiter, 16, of Maxville, was killed after the tractor he was driving on County Road 218 was struck by a farm truck.

A man with a cloth sack over his head and a handkerchief-covered handgun robbed the SouthTrust Bank at 1938 Wells Road. While he asked for a bag full of $100 bills, the teller gave him $1 bills before fleeing the bank.

30 Years Ago, 1986

Albert C. Malone, provost of the Orange Park campus of St. Johns River Community College, applauded news of a $3.75 million appropriation earmarked for building 10 classrooms and other administrative buildings here.

The Clay Board of County Commissioners approved the 977-acre Pace Island residential development on Fleming Island. As planned, it would include 845 single-family homes, 325 garden homes, 80 townhomes and preserve 400 acres in its natural state.

Dorothy Holt, Clay County Supervisor of Elections, and staff conducted outreach to Chamber of Commerce members to register voters in preparation for the Aug. 2 primary election.

40 Years Ago, 1976

The Clay County Development Authority voted to spend up to $8,000 on a countywide water quality study that would be conducted in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey.

Clay County School Board members tabled a salary schedule increase for teachers after disagreeing with Superintendent Jesse Tynes who presented the measure.

The Clay County Education Association and the school district ended teacher contract negotiations in an impasse after neither side could come to terms on a new agreement.