Local

Participants in the kids category, from left, Clyde Head and Frank Camacho react during the watermelon-eating contest. There were around 50 participants in the kids category of the contest. Photo courtesy of Calen Burnette/Calen Burnette Photography

Participants in the kids category, from left, Clyde Head and Frank Camacho react during the watermelon-eating contest. There were around 50 participants in the kids category of the contest. Photo courtesy of Calen Burnette/Calen Burnette Photography

County lights up the sky

Ashley Chandler
Wednesday, July 10, 2024
The skies were dreary the afternoon of the Fourth of July, but Nassau County residents still got out to celebrate, many of them at the Northeast Florida Fairgrounds.
Storm clouds hover over Thomas J. Shave Jr. Bridge on Wednesday morning, one day after the bridge was briefly closed when officers observed what appeared to be two funnel clouds forming nearby. Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Storm clouds hover over Thomas J. Shave Jr. Bridge on Wednesday morning, one day after the bridge was briefly closed when officers observed what appeared to be two funnel clouds forming nearby. Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Bridge closure prompts questions about emergency management

Ashley Chandler
Friday, July 5, 2024
On Tuesday, the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office shut down the bridge. When what appeared to be two funnel clouds formed nearby, officers on Tuesday morning were forced to close Thomas J. Shave Jr.
Judge Gary Early. Julia Roberts/News-Leader

Judge Gary Early. Julia Roberts/News-Leader

City and OHPA reach agreement

Julia Roberts
Friday, July 5, 2024
The city of Fernandina Beach and the Ocean Highway and Port Authority have reached a tentative agreement about the port authority’s Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT), which has not been paid for five years.
Infamous Dance gives local youths a chance to create community while learning dance. Pictured is Coach T (Tayren Way) with Gianna Wright, Talayah Shelby, Irie Roberson, Sarah Roberson, Kawaii Mitchell, Cassidy Bell, Ji’love Hopkins, Jamaya Goodwin, Hadleigh White, Jayla Washington and Dariona Terrell.  Photo courtesy of Infamous Dance

Infamous Dance gives local youths a chance to create community while learning dance. Pictured is Coach T (Tayren Way) with Gianna Wright, Talayah Shelby, Irie Roberson, Sarah Roberson, Kawaii Mitchell, Cassidy Bell, Ji’love Hopkins, Jamaya Goodwin, Hadleigh White, Jayla Washington and Dariona Terrell.  Photo courtesy of Infamous Dance

Infamous Dance: Local dancers with attitude

Julia Roberts
Friday, July 5, 2024
Three days a week, some very motivated girls gather in an empty room on Elm Street in Fernandina Beach to learn hip-hop dance from Tayren Way. His qualifications? Loving dance and loving his dance troupe, Infamous Dance.
Submitted photo

Submitted photo

Four arrested in multi-store theft spree

Tracy Dishman
Wednesday, July 3, 2024
On Saturday, the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office responded to a theft at Hagan Ace Hardware store on Miner Road, where four suspects stole 24 Stanley cups, concealing them in their shirts and bags before fleeing in a silver Chevy Malibu, said a release from the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office.
Terry Lacoss, left, visiting with Benny Hendrix in the hospital not long after Hendrix underwent surgery to repair his arm after a shark bite. Submitted

Terry Lacoss, left, visiting with Benny Hendrix in the hospital not long after Hendrix underwent surgery to repair his arm after a shark bite. Submitted

Local man seriously injured in shark attack

Tracy Dishman
Wednesday, July 3, 2024
A man was attacked by a shark while boating along the Florida coast on Friday, resulting in serious injuries to his arm, according to authorities.
Light Up The Sky Independence Day Celebration will be held on the Fourth of July as a part of the county's bicentennial. Submitted

Light Up The Sky Independence Day Celebration will be held on the Fourth of July as a part of the county's bicentennial. Submitted

County ready to boom

Ashley Chandler
Wednesday, July 3, 2024
Tomorrow Nassau County will be popping. Fireworks, that is.  Nassau County has teamed up with the towns of Callahan and Hilliard and the Northeast Florida Fairgrounds to bring an extra special Independence Day celebration to the community.
City of Fernandina Beach

City of Fernandina Beach

Developer dispute settled for over half a million dollars

Julia Roberts
Friday, June 28, 2024
Fernandina Beach has settled with a local developer for over half a million dollars, primarily addressing disputed building department fees that the developer described as "extortion." During the June 18 city commission meeting, the commission unanimously approved refunding $68,167.