Regional

Gannon Woods, a member of Amelia Baptist Church, helps to clean up the church's parking lot Friday. Woods and others volunteered to clean up debris on the church's property after Hurricane Helene spread Tropical Storm force winds into Nassau County in the early hours of Friday morning. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Gannon Woods, a member of Amelia Baptist Church, helps to clean up the church's parking lot Friday. Woods and others volunteered to clean up debris on the church's property after Hurricane Helene spread Tropical Storm force winds into Nassau County in the early hours of Friday morning. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Hellacious Helene

Ashley Chandler
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
In the late hours Thursday night, a monster of a storm smashed into Florida's Big Bend region, roaring inland causing deadly conditions across the southeast United States.
Taken by News-Leader Publisher, Foy Maloy, on Glenwood Road, off Blackrock Road in Yulee. "These fallen trees stripped the power lines down," said Maloy.

Taken by News-Leader Publisher, Foy Maloy, on Glenwood Road, off Blackrock Road in Yulee. "These fallen trees stripped the power lines down," said Maloy.

Picking up after Helene

News Staff
Thursday, September 26, 2024
Sept. 28, 4:15 p.m. —  Interim City Manager Jeremiah Glisson announced that city staff have cleared all roadways after Hurricane Helene. They will temporarily shift from the regular yard waste collection to focus on removing storm debris, which is expected to take a few weeks.
Assistant County Manager Marshall Eyerman speaks at the Final Public Legislative Hearing regarding the Fiscal Year 2024-'25 Budget and millage rates on Monday at the Board of County Commissioners meeting. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Assistant County Manager Marshall Eyerman speaks at the Final Public Legislative Hearing regarding the Fiscal Year 2024-'25 Budget and millage rates on Monday at the Board of County Commissioners meeting. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

County holds final public hearing regarding budget, millage

Ashley Chandler
Thursday, September 26, 2024
The Nassau County Board of County Commissioners held its second Legislative Public Hearing regarding the Fiscal 2024-'25 Budget and millage rates at the Monday Sept. 23 BOCC meeting.
Ashley Murray, left, is surprised with a check from TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, as a part of the Most Valuable Teacher Initiative. The check, for $1,000, is to use in her classroom. Also pictured, Kayla Vanderlaan, middle, Director of Marketing and Community Relations for Gator Bowl. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Ashley Murray, left, is surprised with a check from TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, as a part of the Most Valuable Teacher Initiative. The check, for $1,000, is to use in her classroom. Also pictured, Kayla Vanderlaan, middle, Director of Marketing and Community Relations for Gator Bowl. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Yulee teacher honored by TaxSlayer Gator Bowl

Ashley Chandler
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
On Wednesday, Ashley Murray, a teacher at Yulee High School, was surprised with a check from TaxSlayer Gator Bowl as a part of the Most Valuable Teacher Initiative.  The check, for $1,000, is to use in her classroom.  Murray told the News-Leader she felt "blessed" by the recognition.
YMCA

YMCA

YMCA’s EnhanceFitness aims to lower risk of falls

Ashley Chandler
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
This week, Sept. 23 through 27 is National Falls Prevention Awareness Week.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says every year more than one in four older adults reported falling and about 41,000 older adults die as a result of a fall.
County Manager Taco Pope speaks Wednesday at the Board of County Commissioners meeting. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

County Manager Taco Pope speaks Wednesday at the Board of County Commissioners meeting. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

BOCC proceeds with city partnership to obtain recreation land

Ashley Chandler
Friday, September 20, 2024
The Board of County Commissioners moved forward with a partnership with Fernandina Beach on Wednesday at the BOCC meeting. The county will supply $1.7 million for the Ybor Alvarez Sports Complex.
Nassau County School District

Nassau County School District

Banned books have returned to shelves in Nassau County

Tracy Dishman
Thursday, September 19, 2024
Dozens of books returned to school library shelves in Nassau County schools following a settlement in a First Amendment lawsuit against the Nassau County School Board. The agreement resolves accusations of unconstitutional censorship in a state that has become a hotbed for book bans.
Volunteers of the Hope Closet include mothers who have lost children to drug addiction, their friends and families. Michele Holbrook founded the charity in December 2023.  From top L –Colleen Perry, Joan Shelley and Connie Bryant. Bottom L -  Marcie Hamilton, Michele Holbrook and Jess McCabe. Photo by Pamela Bushnell/News-Leader

Volunteers of the Hope Closet include mothers who have lost children to drug addiction, their friends and families. Michele Holbrook founded the charity in December 2023.  From top L –Colleen Perry, Joan Shelley and Connie Bryant. Bottom L -  Marcie Hamilton, Michele Holbrook and Jess McCabe. Photo by Pamela Bushnell/News-Leader

Chandler's Hope: A mother's grief gives solace to homeless

Pamela Bushnell
Thursday, September 19, 2024
After the loss of her son, Chandler, at age 28 to drug addiction, Michele Holbrook felt compelled to do something positive with her grief.  “It had been a long battle with Chandler,” said Holbrook. “We tried everything, but the disease is just so powerful.
The city of Fernandina Beach shared this photo on social media Thursday with a resolution declaring a Local State of Emergency. The state of emergency is due to “extraordinary and unprecedented” rainfall that “overwhelmed the city’s stormwater system and entered the city’s wastewater system,” a news release from Interim City Manager Jeremiah Glisson said. Submitted photo

The city of Fernandina Beach shared this photo on social media Thursday with a resolution declaring a Local State of Emergency. The state of emergency is due to “extraordinary and unprecedented” rainfall that “overwhelmed the city’s stormwater system and entered the city’s wastewater system,” a news release from Interim City Manager Jeremiah Glisson said. Submitted photo

City, County face flood waters

Ashley Chandler
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Flooding has been consistent in some areas across Nassau County for weeks and Fernandina Beach is in a State of Emergency.  The county told the News-Leader that rain totals in Nassau County were up 204% above average in the month of August.
Mayor Bradley Bean declares a state of emergency for Fernandina Beach in response to severe weather conditions which have inundated stormwater and wastewater sewer systems. Submitted photo

Mayor Bradley Bean declares a state of emergency for Fernandina Beach in response to severe weather conditions which have inundated stormwater and wastewater sewer systems. Submitted photo

UPDATE: Mayor declares state of emergency

News Staff
Thursday, September 12, 2024
9-13-24: Following prolonged and intense rainfall, the city of Fernandina Beach declared a Local State of Emergency at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 12.