Regional

Kimberly Kessler is facing a first-degree murder charge in the case of Joleen Cummings, a Nassau County hairdresser with whom Kessler worked. A competency hearing was held last week, the results of which will be determined next month. JULIA ROBERTS/NEWS-LEADER

Judge hears evidence on Kessler’s competence

News Staff
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Defense attorneys said last week Kimberly Kessler is not mentally able to assist with her defense in the case against her for the murder of Joleen Cummings. The state maintained that Kessler is not delusional, though she may be uncooperative, and should stand trial. Judge James H. Daniel has taken...
A marker on the Fort San Carlos Plaza in Old Town Fernandina notes the story of the slave ship Guerrero, which hit a reef off of Key Largo in 1827 while on its way to Cuba carrying 561 enslaved Africans. Three hundred and ninety-eight surviving captives were sold as slaves. Two years later, 100 of the remaining people who survived the ordeal were taken from Fernandina to Africa by the U.S. government. PEG DAVIS/NEWS-LEADER

Fernandina’s place in the history of slavery

News Staff
Monday, March 2, 2020
The importation of human beings through the port at Old Town Fernandina and their use for slave labor is a story that does not appear in most Amelia Island tourist guides. Most of the treasure brought to Amelia Island by pirates was not meant for secret burial; it was meant to be sold. The treasure...
Jerry Decker, the newest member of the city’s Marina Advisory Board, offered a new idea to help pay off the marina’s debt – using the city’s Land Conservation Trust Fund – for an effort he called “Conserve the Marina.” JULIA ROBERTS/NEWS-LEADER

Using conservation fund to pay debt discussed

News Staff
Monday, March 2, 2020
The newest member of the Marina Advisory Board of the city of Fernandina Beach presented a completely new solution Monday to the Fernandina Harbor Marina’s multi-million dollar debt – using the city’s Land Conservation Trust Fund. On Feb. 4, the City Commis-sion appointed Jerry Decker to...
Assistant Director Valerie Feinberg, AICP, will be serving as interim director of the county’s Planning & Economic Opportunity Department beginning March 2. PAMELA BUSHNELL/NEWS-LEADER

Expansion at Summer Beach approved by county board

News Staff
Monday, March 2, 2020
The Nassau County Board of County Commissioners approved the final development plan for phase two of The Enclave at Summer Beach on Amelia Island this week amid citizen concerns about its impact on the tree canopy and traffic on Amelia Parkway. Margaret Kirkland, representing the Amelia Tree...
An evidence photo shows the gun used by Skylor Cole Johnson in the shooting of Benjamin Crews. NASSAU COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

State drops murder charge against Skylor Johnson

News Staff
Monday, March 2, 2020
The State Attorney’s Office for the Fourth Judicial Circuit has dropped a charge of second-degree murder against Skylor Cole Johnson of Hilliard, according to a court filing on Feb. 26 by Assistant State Attorney Donna Gregory Thurson.
Two replica ships will visit in April. ST. MARYS TALL SHIP ALLIANCE

Controversy over tall ships’ dock fee

News Staff
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
Authentic replicas of the Niña and the Pinta, two of the three ships Christopher Columbus used on his voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, will be returning to the Fernandina Harbor Marina during this year’s Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival, but the visit won’t be without some controversy. ...
The historic Standard Marine building on North Second Street is part of a parcel currently being considered for development by Gillette & Associates. The plan includes building townhomes on the lot but keeping the original building, although its planned use is still unknown. CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH

More big projects slated for the city

News Staff
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
Three more large construction projects are proposed for the city of Fernandina Beach: another hotel and two townhouse developments. Historic District Council members talked about one of the sites that would be affected by the new construction, the old Standard Marine building, at a Feb. 18 joint...
A North Atlantic right whale mother named Calvin and her calf were spotted Feb. 13 swimming in the ocean near Seaside Park in Fernandina Beach. Calvin is 28 years old and this is her fourth calf. FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

A rare right whale sighting from the beach

News Staff
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
CANDIS WHITNEY Special to the News-Leader Sunbathers and beachcombers delighted Thursday, Feb. 13, in the beautifully sunny beach day at Seaside Park in Fernandina Beach. Beyond them, a rare right whale mother and her newborn calf were leisurely swimming offshore. On the observation deck above...
Robert Gibbs, president of Dixie Towing, told Ocean Highway and Port Authority commissioners that he believes his company faces unfair competition a the Port of Fernandina. JULIA ROBERTS/NEWS-LEADER

Head of tugboat company wants in on jobs at port jobs

News Staff
Friday, February 21, 2020
The president of a tugboat company recently told the Ocean Highway and Port Authority that his business is being unfairly shut out of ship towing jobs at the Port of Fernandina. But Worldwide Terminals Fernandina CEO and Port Director Chris Ragucci said Robert Gibbs’ boats are simply not powerful...
Fernandina Beach City Attorney Tammi Bach told the City Commission that a bill to regulate short-term rentals in the state that's pending in the Florida Legislature won't change much in the city. JULIA ROBERTS/NEWS-LEADER

Short-term rental bill won’t affect city much

News Staff
Friday, February 21, 2020
At Tuesday’s meeting of the Fernandina Beach City Commission, City Attorney Tammi Bach gave a rundown of some bills currently under consideration in Tallahassee that could affect the city, beginning with short-term rentals, which Bach says the city will keep controlling for the most part, thanks...