Regional

A screenshot of the realtor.com website Tuesday afternoon. The website listed over 900 properties for sale in the Fernandina Beach area. REALTOR.COM

A screenshot of the realtor.com website Tuesday afternoon. The website listed over 900 properties for sale in the Fernandina Beach area. REALTOR.COM

Virus makes real estate market feel woozy

News Staff
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Real estate, like almost every other business, has been affected by the coronavirus. Betsie Huben has been in real estate for 15 years, with eight of those years here in Nassau County as she worked mainly in residential property.
Fernandina Beach Fire Chief Ty Silcox looks on as two kayakers raise their arms in the air after returning to shore Friday, the day Nassau County beaches reopened to the public. Ocean Rescue Lifeguard Spencer Cutajar, seen in the water with a flotation device, along with Ocean Rescue Supervisor Haynes Cavender and NCSO Deputy Garth Holton responded to calls that the kayakers were in trouble. TERRY EBERLE/SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-LEADER

Fernandina Beach Fire Chief Ty Silcox looks on as two kayakers raise their arms in the air after returning to shore Friday, the day Nassau County beaches reopened to the public. Ocean Rescue Lifeguard Spencer Cutajar, seen in the water with a flotation device, along with Ocean Rescue Supervisor Haynes Cavender and NCSO Deputy Garth Holton responded to calls that the kayakers were in trouble. TERRY EBERLE/SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-LEADER

Kayakers get help on 1st day of open beaches

News Staff
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Terry Eberle | Special for the News-Leader Two kayakers from Jacksonville were rescued Friday afternoon off Peters Point on the first day that Nassau County beaches were reopened to the public. Beachgoers noticed the kayakers had entered the water and were being taken far out to sea. Around 2 p.m.
People were on the beach at sunrise when the city of Fernandina Beach reopened its shoreline Monday, May 4. Social distancing is required, but there are no restrictions on open hours or activities on the city’s beaches. Beachgoers were observed following the guidelines put in place to avoid spreading the novel coronavirus. Nassau County’s beaches from Peters Point to Amelia Island State Park are open from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. daily with no group sports allowed. JULIA ROBERTS/NEWS-LEADER

People were on the beach at sunrise when the city of Fernandina Beach reopened its shoreline Monday, May 4. Social distancing is required, but there are no restrictions on open hours or activities on the city’s beaches. Beachgoers were observed following the guidelines put in place to avoid spreading the novel coronavirus. Nassau County’s beaches from Peters Point to Amelia Island State Park are open from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. daily with no group sports allowed. JULIA ROBERTS/NEWS-LEADER

Public beaches reopen without major snags

News Staff
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Most of the public beaches on Amelia Island are now open. Officials say it has gone smoothly so far. Officials in the county and the city said distancing guidelines are being followed, with some help from the county.
FILE PHOTO

FILE PHOTO

Bar will investigate filings for 4th Circuit election

News Staff
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
The Florida Bar is investigating why a sitting judge in the 4th Judicial Circuit, which includes Nassau, Duval, and Clay counties, abruptly withdrew his candidacy for re-election on the same day a Jacksonville attorney filed paperwork to run for the same position.
Hilliard Middle-Senior High School’s Emilee Dover displays flowers and a balloon she received as part of a community wide effort to adopt the Class of 2020 in honor of its upcoming commencement. West Nassau High School senior Aden Nettles shows off his gift of specialty socks. Submitted

Hilliard Middle-Senior High School’s Emilee Dover displays flowers and a balloon she received as part of a community wide effort to adopt the Class of 2020 in honor of its upcoming commencement. West Nassau High School senior Aden Nettles shows off his gift of specialty socks. Submitted

Adopted seniors showered with graduation gifts

News Staff
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
A group of women want to ensure that the Class of 2020 receives recognition for their academic efforts.  Friends Tina Smith and Carolyn Smith started the project asking residents to adopt seniors from Hilliard Middle-Senior High and West Nassau High schools.

Council approves outdoor bar plan

News Staff
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
A site plan for an outdoor bar received approval from the Callahan Town Council Monday night.  In July, SCW Liquors proposed a site plan that needed some retooling, including adding parking spaces, creating two ADA compliant restrooms and electrical upgrades.
Five residents and four employees have tested positive for COVID-19 since the virus began affecting Nassau County in March. On Saturday, an 83-year-old woman died from the virus. Her location was not disclosed. Photo by Samantha Coxwell

Five residents and four employees have tested positive for COVID-19 since the virus began affecting Nassau County in March. On Saturday, an 83-year-old woman died from the virus. Her location was not disclosed. Photo by Samantha Coxwell

COVID-19 claims first Nassau patient

News Staff
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Since COVID-19 erupted in Nassau County in March, four employees and five residents at Life Care Center of Hilliard have tested positive.  Additional information about the patients or their current condition was not provided by parent company Life Care Centers of America.
Bogey Creek Preserve is an example of NFLT partnering to acquire land to be conserved and protected for the public's use.

Bogey Creek Preserve is an example of NFLT partnering to acquire land to be conserved and protected for the public's use.

NFLT and county leaders to hold public land conservation webinar Tuesday

News Staff
Friday, May 1, 2020
North Florida Land Trust and Nassau County Leadership are scheduled to hold an online public workshop on Tuesday, May 5, at 1 p.m. to discuss Nassau County’s Conservation Lands Acquisition and Management program, also known as “CLAM,” according to a news release.
Gov. Ron DeSantis. THE FLORIDA CHANNEL

Gov. Ron DeSantis. THE FLORIDA CHANNEL

BOCC decides to reopen county beaches today

News Staff
Friday, May 1, 2020
The Nassau County Board of County Commissioners voted Wednesday to move the reopening of the county’s beaches to Friday, May 1, at 6 a.m. The board voted last week to open on May 6, but they also said it could happen earlier. The BOCC decision came after Gov.
West Nassau High School senior Chase Gordon and Hilliard Middle-Senior High School senior Sydney Starling display the signs they received as part of “Operation Senior Sign” last week. To honor seniors, volunteers distributed yard signs to seniors across Nassau County. Submitted

West Nassau High School senior Chase Gordon and Hilliard Middle-Senior High School senior Sydney Starling display the signs they received as part of “Operation Senior Sign” last week. To honor seniors, volunteers distributed yard signs to seniors across Nassau County. Submitted

School district announces new graduation schedule

News Staff
Friday, May 1, 2020
The Class of 2020 will take the grad walk a bit later than previously scheduled.  The Nassau County School District outlined two options, pending social-distancing requirements with commencement exercises scheduled for either June or July.