Regional

The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt is bigger this year than ever before, according to experts. Luckily, Amelia Island is not predicted to bear the brunt of it. Submitted photo

The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt is bigger this year than ever before, according to experts. Luckily, Amelia Island is not predicted to bear the brunt of it. Submitted photo

No need to be 'sargass-tic,' blob not headed for Amelia Island

Holly Dorman
Thursday, March 30, 2023
The blob is coming in from the Sargasso Sea, but not for Amelia Island. Reports of a massive, 5,000-mile long belt of sargassum seaweed heading for Florida have been pouring in, but experts say Northeast Florida has little to fear.

George on deck

Julia Roberts
Thursday, March 30, 2023
If the appointment is approved by the Fernandina Beach City Commission next week, City Engineer Charles George will serve as the interim city manager after the contract with current interim City Manager Mark Foxworth expires.
Fernandina Beach Pride parade 2022. File photo/News-Leader

Fernandina Beach Pride parade 2022. File photo/News-Leader

CCDF director tells city commission Pride events are inappropriate

Julia Roberts
Thursday, March 30, 2023
The head of the local branch of a political group told the Fernandina Beach City Commission he believes events should not be held in the city in conjunction with Pride, a movement that traditionally celebrates and commemorates the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.
Signs on lawns in the Pirates Bay subdivision protest Breakers RV Park. Photo by Julia Roberts/News-Leader

Signs on lawns in the Pirates Bay subdivision protest Breakers RV Park. Photo by Julia Roberts/News-Leader

County responds to writ filed by Pirates Bay

News Staff
Thursday, March 30, 2023
The Nassau County Board of County Commissioners and Intact Construction Management has responded to a writ filed by three county residents objecting to plans to build an RV park on Sadler Road, saying the plan for the park met development guidelines and should not be stopped.
Photo courtesy of USFWS/Larry Woodward and Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge The Okefenokee Swamp has long served as a home to thousands of animals and a popular tourist spot for people. Leaders of the Muskogee Creek Nation, whose ancestors populated the swamp, have called it “the most blissful spot of the earth.” The name “Okefenokee” means “land of the trembling earth” in the Muskogean language.

Photo courtesy of USFWS/Larry Woodward and Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge The Okefenokee Swamp has long served as a home to thousands of animals and a popular tourist spot for people. Leaders of the Muskogee Creek Nation, whose ancestors populated the swamp, have called it “the most blissful spot of the earth.” The name “Okefenokee” means “land of the trembling earth” in the Muskogean language.

Proposed Okefenokee mine hits home

Holly Dorman
Thursday, March 23, 2023
Local experts have shared how they believe a titanium surface mine near the Okefenokee Swamp would impact the St. Marys River, a staple of Nassau County. Emily Floore, executive director of St.

Award-winning author comes to Fernandina Beach

Guest Columnist
Thursday, March 23, 2023
Unless you have missed the library’s newspaper column the past month or two, you have heard me talk about our One Book, One Community (1B1C) initiative. The mission of this  year-long program is to promote literacy by encouraging community-wide discussions about one selected book.
Place your order for Easter bread bunny from Great Harvest Bread in time for your Easter table. Submitted photo

Place your order for Easter bread bunny from Great Harvest Bread in time for your Easter table. Submitted photo

Fun stuff is coming to the markets on Saturday

Guest Columnist
Thursday, March 23, 2023
Fernandina Beach Market Place and Fernandina Beach Arts Market are once again set to welcome you on March 25, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The farmers market is located on North Seventh Street, between Centre and Alachua streets in the historic downtown area.
Map courtesy of NDMC The U.S. Drought Monitor is jointly produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the United States Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Map courtesy of NDMC The U.S. Drought Monitor is jointly produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the United States Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Drought conditions improve but continue

Holly Dorman
Thursday, March 23, 2023
Drought conditions have continued throughout Nassau County as rainfall continues to be below average for this time of year. On the upside, parts of Nassau County are seeing improvements. As of March 21, the U.S.