Regional

Hilliard Town Council President John Beasley is joined by family after receiving recognition for 20 years of service to the town.

Hilliard Town Council President John Beasley is joined by family after receiving recognition for 20 years of service to the town.

Town honors Beasley

News Staff
Wednesday, December 9, 2020
Hilliard Town Council President John Beasley received recognition for 20 years of municipal service Thursday evening.  He was honored with a reception, which was attended by current and former town officials, family and friends.
In her final quarterly report to the City Commission as Fernandina Beach Main Street’s executive director, Arlene Filkoff thanked the commission for its support. “I feel like this program is starting to feel like a team coming together, and I think that in large part that is due to your leadership, along with the charter officers and city staff,” Filkoff told the commission. JULIA ROBERTS/NEWS-LEADER

In her final quarterly report to the City Commission as Fernandina Beach Main Street’s executive director, Arlene Filkoff thanked the commission for its support. “I feel like this program is starting to feel like a team coming together, and I think that in large part that is due to your leadership, along with the charter officers and city staff,” Filkoff told the commission. JULIA ROBERTS/NEWS-LEADER

City boards and committees must meet in person per governor

News Staff
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
The Fernandina Beach City Commission extended an order requiring face coverings be worn inside public buildings, but the city can’t enforce that order through fines because of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ decision to waive all penalties for noncompliance with facial covering ordinances.
Crawford Jewelers owner Gary Crawford, right, holds up construction plans of The Palms, a 4,200-square-foot shopping center being constructed on Sadler Road. Holding up the plans are Steve Johnson with Johnson Home Builders of Fernandina Beach. JOHN SCHAFFNER/FOR THE NEWS-LEADER

Crawford Jewelers owner Gary Crawford, right, holds up construction plans of The Palms, a 4,200-square-foot shopping center being constructed on Sadler Road. Holding up the plans are Steve Johnson with Johnson Home Builders of Fernandina Beach. JOHN SCHAFFNER/FOR THE NEWS-LEADER

Jewelry shop plans 2021 move to new shopping center

News Staff
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
While busy serving customers’ jewelry needs during this holiday season, Gary Crawford is well underway preparing for the new year by developing a small shopping center at 2149 Sadler Road in Fernandina Beach, where he plans to move his Crawford Jewelers store by May.
Fernandina Beach High School student Sarah Perkins uses a pipette to collect water for analyzing. Fernandina Beach High School students prepare biological slides that are ready to be put in the incubator overnight. KENDRA SHAFER/FOR THE NEWS-LEADER

Fernandina Beach High School student Sarah Perkins uses a pipette to collect water for analyzing. Fernandina Beach High School students prepare biological slides that are ready to be put in the incubator overnight. KENDRA SHAFER/FOR THE NEWS-LEADER

WATER WATCHERS: Young Fernandina Beach High scientists help St. Marys Riverkeeper monitor quality of area waterways

News Staff
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
KENDRA SHAFER / FOR THE NEWS-LEADER On a recent afternoon, six students from the Advanced Placement environmental science class at Fernandina Beach High School gathered at nearby Egans Creek with a science teacher, Joe Waas, and threw a bucket in the water from a small bridge.
The driving range at the Fernandina Beach Golf Club is temporarily closed to facilitate construction of Toptracer, an arcade-type game. The city is hoping the $600,000 spent to build the facility will help the golf club become financially self-sustaining. JULIA ROBERTS/NEWS-LEADER

The driving range at the Fernandina Beach Golf Club is temporarily closed to facilitate construction of Toptracer, an arcade-type game. The city is hoping the $600,000 spent to build the facility will help the golf club become financially self-sustaining. JULIA ROBERTS/NEWS-LEADER

City OKs 60-day golf course extension

News Staff
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Although management of the city-owned Fernandina Beach Golf Club has been discussed for hours at City Commission meetings, City Attorney Tammi Bach pointed out commissioners still have not answered a crucial question: What do they envision for the golf club?
LeeAnn Purvis

LeeAnn Purvis

Dreams become reality

News Staff
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
LeeAnn Purvis moves closer to her dreams of a music career.  The country music vocalist signed with Nashville Entertainment Weekly Records in November.
Kathy Smith

Kathy Smith

Callahan’s Smith succumbs to illness

News Staff
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Kathie Sciullo | NCR Reporter Kathy Smith will be remembered for her community service, business acumen and Christian faith.  The longtime Callahan resident died Sunday after a months-long battle with brain cancer. She was 69 years old.
Gabe Whittenburg, Hilliard Parks and Recreation Department director, visits with Silver Sneakers participant Patricia Bobbitt.

Gabe Whittenburg, Hilliard Parks and Recreation Department director, visits with Silver Sneakers participant Patricia Bobbitt.

Town fitness gets reboot

News Staff
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Physical fitness activities are available for all ages and abilities in Hilliard, with a new director adding improvements. New Hilliard Parks and Recreation Director Gabe Whittenburg has several ideas to reboot programs toward a myriad of interests. He took the helm in late October.
FILE AND SUBMITTED PHOTOS

FILE AND SUBMITTED PHOTOS

Former island businessman, mayor dies

News Staff
Wednesday, December 2, 2020
Friends who knew Franz Mitchell describe a gentleman who never lost his cool. But it was his vision for Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island that might resonate with many who never met the former Fernandina Beach commissioner and mayor. Mitchell, 87, died Nov. 24 at Community Hospice.
Inmates at the Nassau County Jail have not seen visitors since March and it’s unclear when they will again with coronavirus numbers rising. JULIA ROBERTS/NEWS-LEADER

Inmates at the Nassau County Jail have not seen visitors since March and it’s unclear when they will again with coronavirus numbers rising. JULIA ROBERTS/NEWS-LEADER

Visitation in limbo for inmates

News Staff
Wednesday, December 2, 2020
People with families and friends in the Nassau County Jail and Detention Center have had to forgo visits with their loved ones since March due to the coronavirus, and now rising numbers in the county have officials questioning when those visits will be reinstated.