Five years ago, 2020
• Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Way Free Medical Clinic and Impact Clay have decided to proceed with their plan to create ClayPASS, an initiative to help residents navigate the confusing pathways of insurance.
• Orange Park’s Janet Goulet says she’s not able to work, but that doesn’t stop her from crocheting 36 afghans, 50 hats and 50 pairs of booties for children at the HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
• Local artist Steven Teller uses spray paint to create a colorful mural on the entrance wall of the Food Court at the Orange Park Mall.
10 years ago, 2015
• Green Cove Springs City Manager Danielle Judd provides the City Council with five proposals from companies seeking to manage the city’s electric distribution system.
• The Board of County Commissioners wants Comcast to fix its problems after the county spent $200,000 to have meetings broadcast on channel 260, but most residents only see a green screen when they tune in.
• The Clay High football team loses, 34-24, to Wakulla in the Class 5A state semifinals.
20 years ago, 2005
• The First Coast Metropolitan Planning Organization presents its Unified Work Program for area transportation projects for July 1, 2005, to June 30, 2006, which suggests officials consider establishing a commuter rail service connecting Clay County to Jacksonville.
• Sheriffs from four Northeast Florida counties join Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler at Jacksonville Memory Gardens cemetery for a press conference to unveil law enforcement’s unified plans to crack down on drunk and aggressive driving during the holidays.
• The Clay County Sheriff’s Office investigates the murder of 34-year-old Natalie Matthews, who was found dead in her Oakleaf Plantation home on Skipping Stone Way.
30 Years Ago, 1995
• Committee of 100 Chairman Jack Myers suggests a moratorium on new building projects in Northwestern Clay County to ease traffic congestion on Blanding Boulevard. He says bad traffic is causing a drop in shopping in that area.
• The Clay County School Board schedules a Dec. 14 public hearing concerning new attendance boundaries needed to open Fleming Island Elementary.
• St. Johns River State College President Robert McClendon says the construction of a performing arts center for Clay County is “doable” as the project gains support from both the Clay County School Board and the Board of County Commissioners.
40 Years Ago, 1985
• The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrests Frank Elgin Matyasi Jr. of Terrell, Texas, who was wanted in Kaufman County, Texas, on charges of murder, prostitution and aggravated robbery.
• The Green Cove Springs city limits grew one-third larger as the city council votes to annex Magnolia Point into its boundaries.
• Transportation consulting firm Harland, Bartholomew and Associates suggests establishing a 50-cent toll to help raise $51 million needed to four-lane Branan Field-Chaffee Road connecting Duval and Clay Counties.