Five years ago, 2019 

• After the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, it was mandated across Florida that every school must have at least one officer present on campus. Clay County District Schools initiated the process of establishing its own police department, which was a move that was initially supported. However, citing poor performance and high costs, CCDS would eventually hand off its police department to the Sherrif’s Office in 2023.

• Erik Williams, a sixth grader from St. Johns Country Day School, won his second Clay County Spelling Bee title in a row after 17 rounds. His winning word was “piazza” – a public square or marketplace in a town, usually Italian.

10 years ago, 2014 

•  The Board of County Commissioners (BCC) supported a water project that cleaned out Alligator Creek. The ultimate goal was to raise the water levels of the lakes in the Keystone Heights area by finding the “obstructions or impediments to flow.” Alligator Creek is a long, winding water source that flows through the Etonia Lake Chain, including Lake Brooklyn and Lake Geneva.

•  Barco-Newton YMCA children’s sports coach Jimmy Laverne Holmes of Fleming Island pleaded guilty to federal charges of receiving child pornography over the internet.

20 years ago, 2004 

• A weekend party in Middleburg that ended with a stabbing incident led to a second-degree murder charge for Joshua Ingle, who was accused of killing Steven Manninger.

• The BCC voted in favor of a burn ban in response to a dry spell that led to a rash of fires in Middleburg, McRae, Clay Hill and Keystone Heights.

30 years ago, 1994 

• Clay High Principal David Owens announced his intention to change the name of the school’s mascot from the “Blue Devils,” which led to a groundswell of public opposition from the community.

• The BCC voiced support for Sheriff Lancaster’s three-pronged plan to curb juvenile crime. Lancaster wanted to establish a juvenile boot camp, a countywide teen curfew and a pre-trial detention facility.

40 years ago, 1984 

• The BCC narrowed down the list of potential candidates for county administrator to three. Ultimately, former U.S. Navy officer Larry Myers topped the list, beating out Will McDonald and Charles Rosebrough.

• Forty Clay County firefighters applauded a BCC vote to purchase seven new firefighting vehicles for the county.  

50 years ago, 1974 

• Sen. Lawton Chiles was chosen to be the featured speaker at the Greater Clay County Chamber of Commerce annual meeting and installation banquet.

• The Clay County School Board planned a special Jan. 31 meeting where it would open bids to construct “School H,” an elementary school to serve the growing Lakeside area near Orange Park.