Five years ago, 2021

• The parent company that owns the Orange Park Mall, Washington Prime Group Inc., filed for bankruptcy protection, but mall officials said it won’t have any effect on operations.

• The Safe Animal Shelter in Middleburg reported it is inundated with kittens and is offering a “buy one, get one” deal and is unable to accept any more animals.

• Fleming Island High’s Cody Carwile, who was 12-0 with 121 strikeouts in 73 innings, was selected as the Class 6A Baseball Player of the Year and Florida’s Mr. Baseball.

10 years ago, 2016

• The Board of County Commissioners voted to put a one-cent sales surtax on the Aug. 30 primary ballot for Capital Improvement Projects to support continued growth and expand the county’s economy.

• The 1^st District Court of Appeals upheld two life sentences given to Ryan Wilder in connection with Clay County Sheriff’s Office drug detective David White during a methamphetamine trafficking raid on Alligator Boulevard.

• The Clay County Public Library system kicked off its Summer Ready Program, providing a safe place for students to enjoy their summer break and keep their minds active.

20 years ago, 2006

• Residents pleaded with county commissioners to prosecute two men described as looters and recover the stolen artifacts from Fort Heileman in Middleburg after it was bulldozed in May.

• Joshua Allen Palin, the director of an Orange Park daycare center, was sentenced to 17 years in prison on charges of child molestation after he was found guilty of inappropriately touching children.

• The Police Activities League opened a new recreation center at 1027 Blanding Boulevard in Orange Park.

30 years ago, 1996

• Nathaniel E. Lassiter, 16, of Maxville, was killed after he was riding a tractor and he was struck by a farm truck.

• 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.

• A man with a cloth sack over his head and a handkerchief-covered handgun robbed the SouthTrust Bank on Wells Road. Although he asked for $100 bills, the teller gave him a bag of $1 bills.

40 years ago, 1986

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

• 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.

• Supervisor of Elections Dorothy Holt and her staff met with Chamber of Commerce members to register voters ahead of the Aug. 2 primary.