Five years ago, 2019

• After a decade of being dormant, the Clay Theatre reopened as a venue space for weddings, gatherings and parties. The original theater, known for its Art Deco style, opened in 1937.

• Keystone Heights Mayor Karen Lake and Councilmember Larry Peoples slipped into a verbal altercation when Peoples introduced three proposals which Lake said would "minimize the power of mayor." One of the proposals would limit council members from contacting city staff off-duty, which Lake vehemently opposed. In 2022, Clay Today received abusive texts and emails sent by Lake to City Manager Lynn Rutkowski at 11:06 p.m.

•   The Clay County Sheriff’s Office partnered with Clay County Special Olympics for a weeklong celebration ahead of the Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games at Walt Disney World. Then, deputies worked for tips at the Longhorn Steakhouse in Fleming Island. 

10 years ago, 2014

•     The Clay County Board of County Commissioners voted 4-0 to approve the application from East West Partners, owners of Eagle Harbor, to basically re zone several parcels of land in a way that will expand their uses and make them more appealing to buyers.

•  Backed by a $10,000 grant from the Healing Every Autistic Life Foundation, 20 new iPads were purchased to help boost education among students with autism.

20 years ago, 2004

• Sgt. Jonathan Hartman of Orange Park was killed in Iraq while riding in a convoy with the 2nd Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment

•   Middleburg resident Arwen Pritchett got a surprise visit from The Learning Channel’s popular reality makeover show, “While You Were Out.”

30 years ago, 1994

•   The Clay Co. Sheriff’s Office arrested Keith Allen Stallings, 22, of Orange Park, after he allegedly caused an estimated $5,000 in damages to toilets and urinals at the restrooms at New Kingsley Beach.

•  Clay County BCC member Pat McGovern said he planned on campaigning hard for re-election even if unopposed.

• The Clay Co. School Board wrestled with a policy that many feared would lead to the teaching of homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle. Board Member Lisa Graham insisted homosexuality would only be taught in conjunction with education on sexually transmitted diseases.

40 years ago, 1984

•  The Clay County School Board voted to file an eminent domain lawsuit to take over 37 acres near Ridgeview Elementary School. The board planned to build a new junior high on the property owned by the Supervisor’s Social Club Inc.

•  The Clay County Board of County Commissioners approved $20,000 to expand the parking lot from 72 to 152 spaces at the county courthouse.

•  Humana Hospital of Orange Park broke ground on Kingsley Avenue's $1.9 million day surgery center.

50 years ago, 1974

•  The Clay County School board voted 5-0 to reassign Orange Park High Principal Thomas Moe. About 250 people who were against the measure attended the meeting.

•  Green Cove Springs completed the installation of its new 200,000-gallon elevated water tank. The $350,000 tank was part of a $3 million upgrade to the city’s water and sewer system.

•  Florida Senate President Mallory Horne was scheduled to lead a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating four-laning of U.S. Highway 17 at the Governor’s Creek Welcome Station