Regional

Jeb Branham. FILE PHOTO

Attorney for OHPA appointed to bench

News Staff
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Jacksonville Beach attorney and Ocean Highway and Port Authority legal counsel Jeb Branham will serve as a judge in the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court. Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Branham, who also currently serves as legal counsel for the towns of Callahan and Baldwin.
MICHAEL RITTER/FOR THE NEWS-LEADER

First dip in the water

News Staff
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Foar From Home, a group of four who play to paddle their boat, Courageous, in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge in 2021 tested their vessel for the first time Sunday at the Dee Dee Bartels Public Boat Ramp in Fernandina Beach. The four members of Foar From Home are military veterans Billy...
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Fernandina Beach's Shop with Cops

News Staff
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
The Fernandina Beach Police Department recently held its 17th annual Shop with Cops event at its Lime Street headquarters. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was held at the police station, where a drive-through event is conducted. Each child received wrapped gifts and a $100 gift card. More...
Attending the dedication of the newly named Elmo Myers/Nassau County Community Development Corporation Reception Room at the Peck Center were, from left, Dawn Eggleston; Myers’ widow, Annette Myers; Fernandina Beach commissioners Mike Lednovich, Len Kreger, Phillip Chapman, John Miller and Chip Ross; Myers’ granddaughter, Delaney Myers; Dedria Myers; and Myers’ son, Donald Myers. SUBMITTED

Myers honored with room dedication at Peck Center

News Staff
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Elmo V. Myers, the Nassau County Community Development Corporation founder, Peck High School advocate, community activist and businessman, was recently honored by Fernandina Beach leaders and the community for his service to the community.
Outgoing Mayor Johnny Miller gives the pin he wore to his last City Commission on Tuesday to Bradley Bean, who won Miller's Group 1 seat. Miller was term-limited from running again. JULIA ROBERTS/NEWS-LEADER

City leaders reject idea of selling sewer system

News Staff
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
After new Fernandina Beach City Commissioners Bradley Bean and David Sturges took their oaths of office, outgoing Mayor Johnny Miller handed over the reins of city government Tuesday to incoming Mayor Mike Lednovich, who promised to work to build a better city. 
The contract between the city of Fernandina Beach and Waste Management requires yard debris to be bagged and bundled before being picked up by the company for transport to a landfill off the island, but the company says most of the debris is simply placed on the right of way, such as this pile on Tarpon Avenue. Waste Management has been picking up the piles but wants to increase its rates to pay for the extra time and labor required to do so. JULIA ROBERTS/NEWS-LEADER

Waste Management floats rate increase for city

News Staff
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Less than two years into a five-year contract, Waste Management has proposed a 33% increase in residential rates for Fernandina Beach to deal with increased costs related to the collection of yard waste. At Tuesday’s City Commission meeting, the company’s management pointed to a recent survey...
JULIA ROBERTS/NEWS-LEADER

Golf board recommends Indigo stays, with caveats

News Staff
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
At a special meeting Wednesday, the Fernandina Beach Golf Course Advisory Board said it wants Indigo Golf Partners to continue managing the city-owned golf club but requested changes be made in the city’s contract with the company that would measure the golf course management company’s...
Rivers Edge Church Pastor Gerald Wollitz stands in front of the church’s new home at 552089 U.S. 1, Hilliard.

Church ready for new home

News Staff
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Rivers Edge Church will relocate to a new building in Hilliard as early as the first weekend of February. The interdenominational congregation meets at Friendship Alliance Church in Callahan on Saturday evenings after COVID-19 closed access to Callahan Middle School, where previous services were...
Knights Bob Gerth, Breant Dickerson and Kenny Dalton present a check to Mark Avakian of the Coalition for Homeless of Nassau County. JACK DEACON/SPECIAL

Knights of Columbus hold 11th annual charity event

News Staff
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
The 11th annual Knights of Columbus charity golf tournament was Dec. 4 on the Oak Marsh Course of the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort. Always very competitive, this year’s event was no exception. Eighty-eight men and women played with prizes awarded to the top three teams. First place went...