Regional

Left: County Manager Taco Pope, left, speaks Wednesday in the Commission Chambers for the last Board of County Commissioners meeting of the year. Right: Commissioner Jeff Gray speaks Wednesday in the Commission Chambers for the last Board of County Commissioners meeting of the year. Photos by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Left: County Manager Taco Pope, left, speaks Wednesday in the Commission Chambers for the last Board of County Commissioners meeting of the year. Right: Commissioner Jeff Gray speaks Wednesday in the Commission Chambers for the last Board of County Commissioners meeting of the year. Photos by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

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Board Ok’s $19.5M construction contract for Westside Regional Park

Ashley Chandler
Thursday, December 19, 2024
On Wednesday the Board of County Commissioners officially approved just short of $20 million to fund construction of Westside Park, phase one. The $19,596,450.
Photos from Ashley Chandler/News-Leader From left, commissioners Jeff Gray and Alyson McCullough meet Dec. 9 for the Board of County Commissioners meeting in the Commission Chambers. From left, commissioners A.M. "Hupp" Huppmann, Klynt Farmer, John Martin, Jeff Gray and Alyson McCullough meet Dec. 9 for the Board of County Commissioners meeting in the Commission Chambers. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Photos from Ashley Chandler/News-Leader From left, commissioners Jeff Gray and Alyson McCullough meet Dec. 9 for the Board of County Commissioners meeting in the Commission Chambers. From left, commissioners A.M. "Hupp" Huppmann, Klynt Farmer, John Martin, Jeff Gray and Alyson McCullough meet Dec. 9 for the Board of County Commissioners meeting in the Commission Chambers. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

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Nassau County approves grant to city for batting cages

Ashley Chandler
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
The Board of County Commissioners approved a grant to the city for new batting cages among other measures last week.  On Dec. 9, the board approved $50,000 to go to the City of Fernandina Beach for new batting cages in Central Park.
From left, commissioners A.M "Hupp" Huppmann, Klynt Farmer, John Martin, Jeff Gray and Alyson McCullough meet Monday in the Commissioners Chambers. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

From left, commissioners A.M "Hupp" Huppmann, Klynt Farmer, John Martin, Jeff Gray and Alyson McCullough meet Monday in the Commissioners Chambers. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

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County commissioners split vote on code enforcement case

Ashley Chandler
Thursday, December 12, 2024
It’s become an uncommon occurrence for Nassau County’s commissioners to split a vote, but the board did just that on Monday. Commissioners disagreed on how to handle a Code Enforcement Lein reduction case, ultimately passing a motion 3-2 that followed the recommendation given by county staff.
Egan's Creek and the North Florida Land Trust's newly-acquired donation land from the Thornton Family is seen from Atlantic Avenue on Thursday. The nearly 400 acres will be known as the Thornton Family Preserve. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Egan's Creek and the North Florida Land Trust's newly-acquired donation land from the Thornton Family is seen from Atlantic Avenue on Thursday. The nearly 400 acres will be known as the Thornton Family Preserve. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

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Nearly 400 acres donated to North Florida Land Trust

Ashley Chandler
Thursday, December 12, 2024
The North Florida Land Trust (NFLT) has announced a “big win” for Amelia Island conservation. A family has donated nearly 400 acres of land to NFLT for the sole purpose of retaining its natural state.
Alberto Vanegas and Kenneth Raby are pictured with the first-ever great white shark catch made from the beaches of Amelia Island and maybe the entire state of Florida. The historic shark catch was made Tuesday and measured 9.5 feet long. Submitted photo

Alberto Vanegas and Kenneth Raby are pictured with the first-ever great white shark catch made from the beaches of Amelia Island and maybe the entire state of Florida. The historic shark catch was made Tuesday and measured 9.5 feet long. Submitted photo

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Amelia Island great white shark encounter

Guest Columnist
Thursday, December 12, 2024
Alberto Vanegas and his best friend, Kenneth Raby, drove onto American Beach Tuesday and backed his pickup truck down to the water’s edge. A fresh-caught blackfin tuna was soon barbed to a large 24/0 circle hook and carried some 400 yards offshore with a large drone.
Fireworks explode behind the Robert M. Foster Justice Center as the Christmas tree is lit Friday at Nassau County's Annual Tree Lighting. This year the event was held as part of the yearlong bicentennial celebration. Photos by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Fireworks explode behind the Robert M. Foster Justice Center as the Christmas tree is lit Friday at Nassau County's Annual Tree Lighting. This year the event was held as part of the yearlong bicentennial celebration. Photos by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Historic Holiday Celebration

Ashley Chandler
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Nassau County's Annual Tree Lighting was held Friday at the Robert M. Foster Justice Center. This year the event was held as part of the yearlong bicentennial celebration.
Foy Maloy, left, with Community Newspapers, Inc. Chairman Alan NeSmith, who shared the news that Maloy is stepping down as publisher of the News-Leader. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Foy Maloy, left, with Community Newspapers, Inc. Chairman Alan NeSmith, who shared the news that Maloy is stepping down as publisher of the News-Leader. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

News-Leader publisher stepping down

News Staff
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
A man who has spent his career bringing local news to communities, Foy Maloy, has announced he is retiring. Maloy, publisher of the Fernandina Beach News-Leader and regional publisher for Community Newspapers, Inc. Coastal Region, is stepping down after half a century in the business of journalism.
The Svalbard Global Seed Bank Vault is one of many seed banks around the world. Other notable seed banks include The Millennium Seed Bank Project at the Royal Botanical Gardens and the world’s oldest seedbank established in 1894, the Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry in St. Petersburg, Russia. Submitted

The Svalbard Global Seed Bank Vault is one of many seed banks around the world. Other notable seed banks include The Millennium Seed Bank Project at the Royal Botanical Gardens and the world’s oldest seedbank established in 1894, the Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry in St. Petersburg, Russia. Submitted

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Seed vault safeguards future of food, space agriculture

Taylor Clem
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
A twilight glow casts a soft light across a vast tundra of frozen permafrost, bordered by rugged peaks and valleys of jagged rock. Arctic winds howl, sweeping snow and ice into an unrelenting shroud that blankets hills, homes, and the people who live here.
From left, commissioners Klynt Farmer, Jeff Gray, A.M “Hupp” Huppmann, John Martin and Alyson McCullough pose for a photo following the Board of County Commissioners annual reorganizational meeting. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

From left, commissioners Klynt Farmer, Jeff Gray, A.M “Hupp” Huppmann, John Martin and Alyson McCullough pose for a photo following the Board of County Commissioners annual reorganizational meeting. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

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BOCC holds annual reorganizational meeting

Ashley Chandler
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
The Nassau County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met Monday for its annual reorganizational meeting to swear in three commissioners and appoint representatives to other boards and committees.
PHOTO BY PENNY GLACKIN/SPECIAL

PHOTO BY PENNY GLACKIN/SPECIAL

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5 Pirates pen to play, swim

Beth Jones
Friday, December 6, 2024
Five Fernandina Beach High School seniors will continue to compete on the college level, and they put it in writing Wednesday in the media center. “It’s a great day,” said Mike Woodard, athletic director.