5 years ago, 2013
Faced with a $3 million increase in state-mandated contributions to the Florida Retirement
System due to new legislation, the Clay County School District was forced to dip into its reserve fund to balance the 2013-14 budget.

A jury would determine whether Derrell Paul Emery Jr. was guilty of first-degree murder for the shooting death of Leroy McDonald Jr. and second-degree felony murder for the death of Todd Allen Bradshaw Jr. that occurred in the Oakleaf community.

A five-hour discussion at a County Commission meeting ended in a 3-1 vote to allow 154 single-family and multi-family residential units to be built on 103 acres of the former “Front 9” holes of the once highly-regarded Ravines 18-hole golf course, despite stiff opposition from current residents.

10 years ago, 2008
The Clay County School Board voted to continue collecting the residential impact fee homebuilders pay when they construct new developments, despite a tremendous downturn in the homebuilding industry.

Meanwhile, the County Commission held a public hearing a newly-drafted land regulation that would enact an impact for road construction on homebuilders, which had been delayed under threat of a lawsuit by developers.

Clay County Archivist Claude Bass announced historical tours of the archives would resume as the archives embarked on a new expansion program.

20 years ago, 1998
Green Cove Springs City Manager Eric Meserve suggested city council add $2 a month to the price of residential garbage collection to help shore up the city’s ailing enterprise fund, which works as a reserve fund.

Winn-Dixie Stores announced it planned to a 52,500 square foot Winn-Dixie store at the corner of U.S. Highway 17 and County Road 220 on Fleming Island bringing with it 150 new jobs.

The St. Johns River Water Management District reported the theft of a Hydrolab Datasonde 3 taken from underneath Doctors Lake. The device, valued at $9,550, was placed there to test the lake’s water.

30 Years ago, 1988
The Festival of the Lakes Art Show announced a call to artists and vendors for Sept. 3-4 held at Theme Park next to Lake Geneva in downtown Keystone Heights.

The Clay County Historical Commission announced the sale of the new book “Politically Speaking,” which was edited and compiled by Edna Master McDonald, was on sale. The copyrights to the book were owned by the Board of County Commissioners.

A final budget workshop continued looking at ways to trim the Clerk of Court budget in hopes of lowering the new proposed millage rate even further than its 8.3652, down from the previous 8.4685.

40 years ago, 1978
On advice from the town attorney, Orange Park Town Council voted unanimously to ignore a ruling from Circuit Judge Lamar Winegeart who stated the town “unconstitutionally applied” its sign ordinance to Best Western’s application for an electric sign.

Green Cove Springs City Council agreed to pay Evans Construction Co. $100,000 to end a three-year suit in which the city claimed the construction of sewer collection lines went 260 days past the agreed-upon completion date.

Actor Cesar Romero received a certificate of appreciation from Bill Jameson, president of the Clay County Chamber of Commerce in a special ceremony at the Orange Park Mall Center Court.