Regional

Wildlight Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Kristan Cronin was named Nassau County’s Teacher of the Year on Jan. 29.

Mother of all inspirations

News Staff
Wednesday, February 10, 2021
Kristan Cronin didn’t have to look far to find inspiration in the field of education.  She simply looked toward her mother. Cronin’s mother, Nancy Hall, was a longtime educator in Indiana, where she taught high school special needs students. But it wasn’t Hall’s efforts in a...
Ten large animals, plus dogs, cats and a ring-tailed lemur, were confiscated from a Dunnellon woman’s livestock trailer Jan. 26.

Dunnellon woman faces animal cruelty charge in Nassau County

News Staff
Thursday, February 4, 2021
A Dunnellon woman is facing a third-degree felony after Florida Department of Agriculture officials found numerous large animals “extremely dehydrated and stressed,” according to an arrest report. Loren Jean McCutcheon, 54, of 13050 SE 120th St. in Dunnellon, was charged Jan. 26 with causing...
John Rutherford

Rutherford reappointed to House Appropriations Committee

News Staff
Thursday, February 4, 2021
For the News-Leader   WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. John Rutherford (R-Jacksonville) was reappointed to the House Appropriations Committee, where he has served since 2018.  Rutherford will sit on three subcommittees with jurisdictions significant to Northeast Florida: Military...
The Nassau Teachers' Association and the Nassau County School District are expected to return to negotiations Feb. 8.

Teachers still unhappy with contract negotiations

News Staff
Thursday, February 4, 2021
A small red wave washed over the Nassau County School Board on Jan. 28. Members of the Nassau Teachers’ Association – clad in “Red for Ed” attire – spoke during the meeting, offering thoughts and criticism of the board’s recent 2020-21 teaching contract offer. Earlier in January,...
The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island is debuting renovated rooms, new restaurants and more during its 30th anniversary.

Popular Amelia Island resort debuts renovation

News Staff
Thursday, February 4, 2021
For the News-Leader   Since opening in 1991, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island has remained at the forefront of Northeast Florida luxury with warm hospitality, nature-driven experiences and award-winning amenities.  In honor of its 30th anniversary this year, the iconic...
Nassau County Commissioner John Martin asks a question during the BOCC’s Monday meeting.

Health director: Expect more COVID-19 deaths

News Staff
Thursday, February 4, 2021
Florida Department of Health – Nassau Director Eugenia Ngo-Seidel offered her weekly COVID-19 update during the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners special meeting Monday. As of Jan. 31, Nassau County had 6,986 positive cases of COVID-19 ...
Publix

Publix out of vaccine appointments already

News Staff
Thursday, February 4, 2021
Appointments to receive the COVID-19 vaccination at Publix pharmacies were all claimed soon after they became available Wednesday, and no appointments are currently available in Nassau County. According to Publix spokeswoman Maria Brous, the company reserved more than 41,000 vaccines for Florida...
Oasis Marinas took over the Fernandina Harbor Marina in December and has since been working to improve amenities. The boaters lounge has been refurbished with new furniture and a coffee bar, where boaters can relax with a view of the south basin of the marina.

Advisory board discuss boundary of Fernandina marina

News Staff
Friday, January 29, 2021
Fernandina Beach Marina Advisory Board member Paul Lore, who also leads the Citizens for the Restoration of the Fernandina Harbor Marina, wants to know where the marina begins and ends, a question that could affect how the marina makes money. At its Monday meeting, Lore told the advisory board...
The Fernandina Beach City Commission met Wednesday to shape a plan to tackle its goals. Dates were set for when specific goals will be accomplished, including addressing debt and approving a concept plan for waterfront development.

Fernandina commissioners set 2021 goals

News Staff
Friday, January 29, 2021
The Fernandina Beach City Commission wants to move forward with plans for the Amelia River waterfront, take better care of its assets and address debt. The commission put dates on those plans at its annual goal-setting session Wednesday at the Fernandina Beach Golf Club
Marilyn Bailey celebrates receiving the COVID-19 vaccine at The Lakeside at Amelia Island.

‘A NEW BEGINNING’

News Staff
Friday, January 29, 2021
For Melissa Sloper, Jan. 14-15 were two busy days that culminated with relief and joy. Sloper is the executive director of The Lakeside at Amelia Island, a community that offers independent and assisted living, as well as dementia care, for seniors. Like most facilities, Lakeside was hit hard...