Regional

The Amelia Island Tourist Development Council says the work it does promoting tourism in Nassau County has a $900 million impact in the area, including $485 million in wages for 14,345 jobs that are supported by tourist spending. Given those statistics, the TDC’s Board wants to improve the organization’s image and the work it does to attract visitors to the county. AMELIA ISLAND TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

The Amelia Island Tourist Development Council says the work it does promoting tourism in Nassau County has a $900 million impact in the area, including $485 million in wages for 14,345 jobs that are supported by tourist spending. Given those statistics, the TDC’s Board wants to improve the organization’s image and the work it does to attract visitors to the county. AMELIA ISLAND TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

Tourist Development Council seeks to cast tourism in a positive light

News Staff
Friday, November 13, 2020
Locals, people who live in and around a tourist destination, are often derisive of visitors. Could there be a worse insult, in a beach community, than to call someone a “tourist?
In October 2016, Hurricane Matthew caused major damage to the Fernandina Harbor Marina, much of which has been repaired. A damage assessment by Applied Technology & Management found Dock 1, a wave attenuator, was damaged beyond repair and needed to be replaced, but the Federal Emergency Management Agency is refuting that claim and wants to pay only for repairs. ROBERT FIEGE/NEWS-LEADER

In October 2016, Hurricane Matthew caused major damage to the Fernandina Harbor Marina, much of which has been repaired. A damage assessment by Applied Technology & Management found Dock 1, a wave attenuator, was damaged beyond repair and needed to be replaced, but the Federal Emergency Management Agency is refuting that claim and wants to pay only for repairs. ROBERT FIEGE/NEWS-LEADER

State recommends FEMA pay for marina replacement costs

News Staff
Wednesday, November 11, 2020
The city of Fernandina Beach has an ally in its battle with the Federal Emergency Management Agency over reimbursement of millions of dollars for repairs to the Fernandina Harbor Marina following Hurricane Matthew – the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
A charter plane came to rest Sunday in a field at the Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport after running off a runway. The cause of the incident has not been determined, but the Federal Aviation Administration is investigating. CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH/SPECIAL

A charter plane came to rest Sunday in a field at the Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport after running off a runway. The cause of the incident has not been determined, but the Federal Aviation Administration is investigating. CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH/SPECIAL

No injuries reported in airport mishap

News Staff
Wednesday, November 11, 2020
Two pilots and four passengers were onboard when an airplane ran off the runway Sunday afternoon at the Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport. And while one pilot “bumped” his head, no one received medical attention following the incident.
JULIA ROBERTS/NEWS-LEADER

JULIA ROBERTS/NEWS-LEADER

300 Omni employees out of jobs

News Staff
Wednesday, November 11, 2020
An unstable tourism industry amid a global pandemic has resulted in the loss of 300 jobs on Amelia Island. On Friday, Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort informed 300 furloughed employees they would not be coming back to work.
Incumbent John Rutherford, a Republican, beat Democratic challenger Donna Deegan, a longtime Jacksonville TV personality, for the U.S. House District 4 seat. JOHN RUTHERFORD / DONNA DEEGAN

Incumbent John Rutherford, a Republican, beat Democratic challenger Donna Deegan, a longtime Jacksonville TV personality, for the U.S. House District 4 seat. JOHN RUTHERFORD / DONNA DEEGAN

Margin of victory smaller, but Rutherford still dominant in U.S. House race

News Staff
Wednesday, November 11, 2020
U.S. Rep. John Rutherford coasted to a third term in office Tuesday night with an overwhelming victory against Donna Deegan in the U.S. House 4th District. According to unofficial results, Rutherford, a Republican, captured 307,779 votes (61.
Jenny Higginbotham Barrett unofficially beat John Cascone for county judge in a runoff election Tuesday after neither garnered 50% plus one vote in a four-way race during the August primary.

Jenny Higginbotham Barrett unofficially beat John Cascone for county judge in a runoff election Tuesday after neither garnered 50% plus one vote in a four-way race during the August primary.

Callahan native to serve as county judge

News Staff
Wednesday, November 11, 2020
Nassau County has a new county judge after Tuesday’s Election Day. Jenny Higginbotham Barrett, a Callahan native and finance attorney, unofficially defeated John Cascone by a significant margin. Barrett collected 31,961 votes (58.
The city of Fernandina Beach is purchasing this 5.35-acre parcel of property, outlined in yellow, and putting it into conservation to prevent development on it. Commissioners noted owner Richard Keffer could have made a considerable profit on the land if it had been developed and acknowledged his efforts to work with the city to put the land in conservation. NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST

The city of Fernandina Beach is purchasing this 5.35-acre parcel of property, outlined in yellow, and putting it into conservation to prevent development on it. Commissioners noted owner Richard Keffer could have made a considerable profit on the land if it had been developed and acknowledged his efforts to work with the city to put the land in conservation. NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST

City buys land for conservation, delays decision on events

News Staff
Wednesday, November 11, 2020
The Fernandina Beach City Commission approved permits Wednesday for Veterans Day and Christmas parades in the city’s downtown but stepped back from making a decision about a Christmas tree lighting ceremony and New Year’s Eve Shrimp Drop and fireworks.
At its Wednesday meeting, held a day late due to Election Day, the Fernandina Beach City Commission approved a contract with Oasis Marina for the company to take over management and operations at Fernandina Harbor Marina on Dec. 1. JULIA ROBERTS/NEWS-LEADER

At its Wednesday meeting, held a day late due to Election Day, the Fernandina Beach City Commission approved a contract with Oasis Marina for the company to take over management and operations at Fernandina Harbor Marina on Dec. 1. JULIA ROBERTS/NEWS-LEADER

City OKs marina contract

News Staff
Wednesday, November 11, 2020
The Fernandina Beach City Commission approved a contract with Oasis Marinas to take over management of Fernandina Harbor Marina, a city-owned facility Westrec Marinas has managed for the past decade.
METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

Nassau COVID-19 numbers remain low

News Staff
Wednesday, November 11, 2020
Nassau County’s COVID-19 statistics are continuing to improve, the director of the county’s health department said at the Wednesday meeting of the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners, but she also expressed concern about what those numbers might look like after the upcoming holiday season,...
State Sen. Aaron Bean (R-Nassau County) was appointed Friday by state Senate President Wilton Simpson to serve as Senate president pro tempore. FLORIDA SENATE

State Sen. Aaron Bean (R-Nassau County) was appointed Friday by state Senate President Wilton Simpson to serve as Senate president pro tempore. FLORIDA SENATE

Bean appointed to state Senate leadership post

News Staff
Wednesday, November 11, 2020
A political force in Nassau County is now one of the highest ranking members of the Florida Senate. On Friday, state Senate President Wilton Simpson announced Aaron Bean (R-Nassau County) would serve as Senate president pro tempore.