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The dark line is where the owners of two hotels on Sadler Road want to build a walkway that would go over a secondary dune that is on the Egans Creek Greenway. The city commission approved a license agreement to build the walkover, but plans will have to be approved by city staff before building permits are issued. Submitted photo

The dark line is where the owners of two hotels on Sadler Road want to build a walkway that would go over a secondary dune that is on the Egans Creek Greenway. The city commission approved a license agreement to build the walkover, but plans will have to be approved by city staff before building permits are issued. Submitted photo

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City commission approves license agreement for walkover on Egans Creek

Julia Roberts
Thursday, October 5, 2023
Renovations to two hotels on Sadler Road will include a walkway over a dune in the Ron Sapp Egans Creek Greenway, over the objections of a city commissioner who says the agreement gives developers too much leeway. At the Oct.
North Atlantic right whale (#4510) with evidence of sublethal entanglement injuries along tail fluke. Photo courtesy NOAA

North Atlantic right whale (#4510) with evidence of sublethal entanglement injuries along tail fluke. Photo courtesy NOAA

Splash of cash

Sean Rosenthal
Thursday, October 5, 2023
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced an $82 million investment from the Biden-Harris administration to conserve and recover North Atlantic right whales. The funding comes from a $2.
The Fernandina Beach High School mascot is now Skully. Photos by Penny Glackin/Special

The Fernandina Beach High School mascot is now Skully. Photos by Penny Glackin/Special

Pirate mascot reimaged and renamed

Beth Jones
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
The Pirate mascot has been reimaged and now renamed. The Fernandina Beach High School mascot is now Skully. Nominations were taken over social media a year ago, when athletic director Mike Woodard reimaged his outfit.

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Now or never

Guest Columnist
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
Northeast Florida is at a crossroads of history for land conservation, and it is literally now or never. The people of Florida and their leaders have stepped up to the plate. Now it is time for you, the landowners, to step up to the plate in response.
Sea and shorebirds sit on a new island in the Nassau Sound CWA in late 2022. Submitted photo

Sea and shorebirds sit on a new island in the Nassau Sound CWA in late 2022. Submitted photo

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Riverstone development could threaten Critical Wildlife Areas

Sean Rosenthal
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has two designated Critical Wildlife Areas (CWA) next to or within close proximity to the proposed Riverstone development site on the south end of Amelia Island.
Vice Mayor David Sturges. Photo by Julia Roberts/News-Leader

Vice Mayor David Sturges. Photo by Julia Roberts/News-Leader

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Citizens question proposed changes to city’s LDC

Julia Roberts
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
The Fernandina Beach Planning Advisory Board met last week to begin addressing issues brought up by Vice Mayor David Sturges regarding sections of the city’s Land Development Code.
The Fort Clinch, a tug boat owned by the Ocean Highway and Port Authority that services ships coming in and out of the Port of Fernandina, is out of service as it has not been inspected by the Coast Guard. Port operator Nassau Marine Terminals says a contract has been signed with a shipyard to perform the inspection and service the tug, and maintenance is expected to begin in October.

The Fort Clinch, a tug boat owned by the Ocean Highway and Port Authority that services ships coming in and out of the Port of Fernandina, is out of service as it has not been inspected by the Coast Guard. Port operator Nassau Marine Terminals says a contract has been signed with a shipyard to perform the inspection and service the tug, and maintenance is expected to begin in October.

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Ships paying thousands more for tugs at the Port of Fernandina

Julia Roberts
Friday, September 29, 2023
Ships coming into the Port of Fernandina are paying thousands of dollars more than is customary to hire tug boats from Jacksonville, as the tug owned by the Ocean Highway and Port Authority was not inspected on schedule and so is out of service. At a special meeting Sept.
Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) received a $3,181,791.70 Florida Job Growth Grant from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and Enterprise Florida to support the Nassau County Transportation Education Institute. Governor Ron DeSantis and DEO Secretary Dane Eagle visited FSCJ’s Nassau Center on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, to announce the grant award which will allow the college to establish a designated truck driving training facility at the Nassau Center. Photo courtesy of Florida

Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) received a $3,181,791.70 Florida Job Growth Grant from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and Enterprise Florida to support the Nassau County Transportation Education Institute. Governor Ron DeSantis and DEO Secretary Dane Eagle visited FSCJ’s Nassau Center on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, to announce the grant award which will allow the college to establish a designated truck driving training facility at the Nassau Center. Photo courtesy of Florida

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Trucker training track coming to FSCJ Nassau

Sean Rosenthal
Friday, September 29, 2023
A training ground for truck drivers is coming to the Florida State College at Jacksonville Nassau Center in Yulee. Instructional truck driving is taught at FSCJ Nassau, but students have to complete in-truck training at FSCJ Cecil Center in Jacksonville.