Regional

Boy Scouts and leaders from Callahan Boy Scout Troop 351 wear safety vests, gloves and masks for their first Adopt-a-Road clean-up event. They collected more than 175 pounds of litter and debris during their first clean-up event.

Boy Scouts and leaders from Callahan Boy Scout Troop 351 wear safety vests, gloves and masks for their first Adopt-a-Road clean-up event. They collected more than 175 pounds of litter and debris during their first clean-up event.

Scouts adopt Warrior Drive

News Staff
Friday, August 14, 2020
Callahan Boy Scout Troop 351 recently joined the Keep Nassau Beautiful Adopt-a-Road program.  The troop’s Adopt-a-Road signs are mounted on Warrior Drive, where the scouts have committed to sponsoring roadway clean-up events to help keep the area around West Nassau High School clean and litter free.
The Bearded Villains Volunteer Group delivers a little over 100 beanie babies, sanitized and prepackaged, to the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office for deputies to distribute to children in the community. These were donated by Katherine Hargesheimer and her family.

The Bearded Villains Volunteer Group delivers a little over 100 beanie babies, sanitized and prepackaged, to the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office for deputies to distribute to children in the community. These were donated by Katherine Hargesheimer and her family.

Villains deliver donation

News Staff
Friday, August 14, 2020
The Bearded Villains Volunteer Group delivers a little over 100 beanie babies, sanitized and prepackaged, to the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office for deputies to distribute to children in the community. These were donated by Katherine Hargesheimer and her family. 
A graphic provided by the Florida Department of Health depicting the novel coronavirus.

A graphic provided by the Florida Department of Health depicting the novel coronavirus.

The COVID-19 numbers for Nassau County

News Staff
Wednesday, August 12, 2020
Tuesday, Aug. 11: As of Tuesday, Aug. 11, the "total confirmed cases in Nassau County" from daily lab results for COVID-19 reported to the Florida Department of Health was 1,253, which includes residents and non-residents. Fifteen cases were added today.
FILE PHOTO

FILE PHOTO

School Board adopts 2020-21 budget

News Staff
Wednesday, August 12, 2020
At almost $200 million, the Nassau County School District’s fiscal year 2020-21 budget represents a 2.65% increase in revenues, due in part to rising property values in the county.
MICHAEL MILLER/NEWS-LEADER

MICHAEL MILLER/NEWS-LEADER

NCSB and superintendent candidates weigh in

News Staff
Wednesday, August 12, 2020
There are three candidates for Nassau County School District superintendent and two vying for the District 4 seat on the Nassau County School Board in this year’s elections. Gail G. Cook was unopposed for the District 2 seat and will be considered elected on Nov. 3.
FERNANDINA BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT

FERNANDINA BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT

Fire destroys Fernandina home

News Staff
Wednesday, August 12, 2020
A lightning bolt during a thunderstorm Sunday night is probably the cause of a fire that destroyed a Fernandina Beach home. No one was injured in the fire at 1211 Jasmine St., but the house and its contents appear to be a total loss for owner Joyce Coes.
Former city comptroller Patti Clifford told the Fernandina Beach City Commission she believes City Manager Dale Martin should have been more specific about funds that were taken out of the 2021 fiscal year budget that would have been used to reduce the amount of debt the city-owned marina and golf course owe to the city’s General Fund. She also cautioned against using the city’s reserves to prop up the budget, suggesting instead that the city freeze hiring to save on salaries, pensions, and benefits.

Former city comptroller Patti Clifford told the Fernandina Beach City Commission she believes City Manager Dale Martin should have been more specific about funds that were taken out of the 2021 fiscal year budget that would have been used to reduce the amount of debt the city-owned marina and golf course owe to the city’s General Fund. She also cautioned against using the city’s reserves to prop up the budget, suggesting instead that the city freeze hiring to save on salaries, pensions, and benefits.

City’s new budget requires dipping into its reserves

News Staff
Wednesday, August 12, 2020
At an Aug. 5 budget workshop that focused on the General Fund, the Fernandina Beach City Commission told City Manager Dale Martin they do not want to cut contributions to local nonprofits in order to balance the budget. Because it was a workshop, no votes were taken.
Advanced Disposal representatives told the Fernandina Beach City Commission that collection of yard waste is the “most frustrating” part of their job. The organic debris was previously mulched by the city, but the city has stopped that operation, forcing Advanced to make multiple trips on and off the island. This yard waste on North Fletcher Avenue was still waiting for removal after two weeks of being placed curbside. JULIA ROBERTS/NEWS-LEADER

Advanced Disposal representatives told the Fernandina Beach City Commission that collection of yard waste is the “most frustrating” part of their job. The organic debris was previously mulched by the city, but the city has stopped that operation, forcing Advanced to make multiple trips on and off the island. This yard waste on North Fletcher Avenue was still waiting for removal after two weeks of being placed curbside. JULIA ROBERTS/NEWS-LEADER

Uncollected yard waste in city frustrates many

News Staff
Friday, August 7, 2020
Piles of leaves, branches, palm fronds and other yard waste are a common sight on streets in Fernandina Beach. Citizens complain to city employees that Advanced Disposal – the city’s contractor – does not do a satisfactory job of picking up yard waste.
Danny Leeper and Klynt Farmer

Danny Leeper and Klynt Farmer

Farmer, Leeper send answers ahead of primary

News Staff
Friday, August 7, 2020
The News-Leader recently sent a questionnaire to the remaining candidates in the Aug. 18 primary races for seats on the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners who we had not yet interviewed.
FILE PHOTO

FILE PHOTO

CARES Act funds available to help some residents

News Staff
Friday, August 7, 2020
The Nassau County Board of County Commissioners met Wednesday and approved another one-week extension of the county’s COVID-19 emergency declaration and heard an updated status on CARES Act funds availability from the state and the implementation of county CARES Act projects.