Visit Us 463688 FL-200 #4 NOW OPEN Yulee, FL 32097 For (904) 849-7050 Free Samples Yulee572.CBDrx4u.com IN YULEE ™ WEEKEND Bull Riding Union Garrison New Year, EVENTS Saturday at Fort Clinch new food PAGE 8A PAGE 1B PAGE 5B $1.00 FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2020 / 14 PAGES, 2 SECTIONS • fbnewsleader.com Port of Fernandina to get $1.29 million grant PEG DAVIS Container on Barge Service.” be available soon and the equipment may News-Leader Responding on Twitter, Rutherford have to be purchased first with the grant wrote, “The Port of Fernandina is reimbursing the port. The federal Department of Transpor- receiving $1.3 million from @USDOT ‘It’s a win-win for all stakeholders and our The marine highway designation tation has awarded the Port of Fernandina to streamline the Fernandina Express community in Fernandina, so we’re was announced in August, when the money it needs to “purchase new marine barge service to Port of Charleston! This U.S. Department of Transportation’s terminal handling equipment essential federal award is the port’s first since super excited about it.’ Maritime Administration (MARAD) for the efficient loading and unloading for being designated as part of America’s - CHRISTOPHER T. RAGUCCI, PORT DIRECTOR AND CEO, announced nine new Marine Highway the Fernandina Express container barge Marine Highways.” WORLDWIDE TERMINALS FERNANDINA Projects including a barge service service between the Port of Fernandina In March, Rutherford sent a letter to from Charleston, S.C. to the Port of and the Port of Charleston,” according MARAD administrator and retired Rear Fernandina on the “M-95 Marine to a notice sent on New Year’s Eve to Adm. Mark H. “Buz” Buzby asking him Tuesday that the grant will allow the port it includes rubber-tired gantry cranes, Highway.” The M-95 runs parallel to Congressman John Rutherford, Sen. to support the “Fernandina Express to continue to invest in the revitalization reach stackers, chassis, and forklifts. I-95 and stretches from Portland, Maine Marco Rubio, and Sen. Rick Scott. Container Barge Service.” of the port, increasing economic activity “This equipment is quite expensive, and to Miami, Fla. The official title of the $ 1,291,800 Christopher T. Ragucci, who is and jobs. that’s why this grant from the federal With that project designation, the allocation is “America’s Marine Highway the CEO of Worldwide Terminals Asked what kind of equipment the government is so welcome,” he said. Grants – M-95 Fernandina Express Fernandina as well as port director, said port will be shopping for, Ragucci said Ragucci added that the money should GRANT Continued on 5A READY FOR A NEW YEAR PHOTOS BY PEG DAVIS/NEWS-LEADER Members of the Freckleton, Lindsey, and Martinez families enjoyed the beautiful weather on the waterfront at the Fernandina Harbor Marina on Tuesday evening as they anticipated the fifth annual Shrimp Drop and fireworks sponsored by Light Up Amelia Inc., Florida Public Utilities, First Port City Bank, the Amelia Island Tourism Development Council, and the city of Fernandina Beach. County wants to ban arcades Arcade in Callahan PAMELA BUSHNELL News-Leader burglarized Tuesday The Nassau County Board of PEG DAVIS charged two of the people suspected in County Commissioners held a special News-Leader an armed robbery Sunday, Dec. 8, at The meeting Dec. 30 to introduce a draft of Tracks Arcade in Yulee with a robbery an ordinance to ban gaming establish- After a rash of armed robberies of that occurred Friday, Dec. 6, at the Beach ments as public nuisances. The ordi- game rooms in the last six months and House Arcade, also located in Yulee. nance follows a similar action taken in just hours after the Nassau County Board Early on Oct. 23, an armed robbery May 2019 by the city of Jacksonville of County Commissioners held a special occurred at an adult gaming business that “shut down simulated gambling meeting to discuss what can be done to located just outside the city limits of establishments.” legally limit, close, or better protect adult Fernandina Beach, resulting in a loss of The board approved scheduling a arcades, another one was the site of a cash but no injuries, according to Leeper. public hearing on the proposed ordi- crime early Tuesday morning. In that incident, Leeper said, “a black nance for 6 p.m., Jan. 27, before they According to Nassau County Sheriff male with long dreadlocks entered the plan on voting on the ordinance. If it Bill Leeper, deputies were dispatched 8th Street Arcade at 1951 S. Eighth St. passes, it will mean immediate ces- to a report of a burglary at the Spin City about 5:30 a.m. Wednesday. Wearing a sation of all such establishments in Arcade at 542834 U.S. 1 in Callahan. mask and brandishing a gun, the man fired Nassau County. “The investigation revealed that a side a round into the ceiling before then shoot- Board Chairman Justin Taylor has glass door had been broken out and inves- ing in the direction of a clerk who was already taken a stand on the issue: PAMELA BUSHNELL/NEWS-LEADER tigators found empty cash drawers on the trying to hide.” “When we started hearing from the Jerry Bass, who leases space to two gaming establishments, proposes floor near the cashier area. There is one Three St. Marys, Ga. men allegedly Sheriff’s Office about drugs, prostitu- regulation of the facilities rather than a ban. He and gaming site own- unknown male suspect at this time who robbed the Cyber Center internet café tion and an increase in violent crime, ers claim they provide recreation and socialization, especially for was last seen in a blue 4-door vehicle,” on U.S. 1 in Callahan in June, accord- I don’t think this is what we want in elderly customers who would otherwise be isolated in their homes. Leeper wrote in an email that included ing to Leeper. The three young men Nassau County. I’ll be blunt: When grainy still frames of the suspect’s vehicle were playing on machines inside Cyber it comes back in January, I’m going outside the arcade. “Anyone who may Center around 2:45 a.m. After all the to vote for the ordinance. I hope it’s in operation. activities are legal. have information is asked to contact the other patrons had left the establishment, the direction we all go,” Taylor said The draft asserts that gaming and The draft states, “Between May 1 Nassau County Sheriff’s Office at 904- semi-automatic handguns were pulled on Monday. gambling are not presently lawful by and December 30, the Nassau County 225-5174 or First Coast Crime Stoppers the business clerk, who was robbed of Since the closing of such estab- state statute (Florida Statutes, Chapter Sheriff’s Office has reported several at 1-866-845 TIPS.” $6,500, according to Leeper. Two sus- lishments in Duval County, 14 new 849) and that “simulated gambling hundred calls for service associated The cash-oriented businesses seem to pects in that robbery were arrested in gaming sites have opened in Nassau devices” deceive residents and tour- be a magnet for crime. Earlier this month, late June and one was arrested in July by County for an estimated total of 29 now ists alike into thinking that gambling BAN Continued on 3A Nassau County Sheriff’s Office detectives Nassau County Sheriff’s Office detectives. INDEX RELIGION, 4B LOOKING BACK 50 YEARS CLASSIFIEDS, 6B SCHOOL NEWS, 3B Container Corporation announced COMMUNITY, 5B SERVICE DIRECTORY, 6B it would build a multi-million dollar EDITORIAL, 6A SUDOKU, 2B system that would eliminate virtu- OBITUARIES, 2A SPORTS, 8A ally all air pollution coming from its OUT AND ABOUT, 2B WEEKEND, 2B plant. Jan. 8, 1970 News-Leader, 166th year. No. 2, Copyright, 2020 NL Friday 01.03.20.indd 1 1/2/20 6:42 PM 2A FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2020 NEWS News-Leader BLOOD DRIVE SATURDAY Citizen input needed on county recreation plan Nassau County is embarking on development of a long-range recreation master plan for the entire county, with the goal of completion in fall of this year. The plan will be evaluating rec- reation needs in the community as we grow, identify existing and future opportunities, and make recommendations regarding operations and maintenance into the future. As part of the planning pro- cess, the county will conduct a variety of public outreach, events to learn more and provide ation of the master recreation including a statistically valid sur- input into the planning process. plan is available at nassaucoun- vey, one-on-one meetings with Those events will take place tyfl.com/recplan. FILE PHOTO county commissioners and other 6-7:30 p.m. Jan. 29, at Yulee For more information on The American Legion Post 54 will sponsor a blood drive from 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday. officials, and stakeholder meet- Middle School, 85439 Miner other planning initiatives, go All donors will receive a free OneBlood long-sleeve T-shirt plus a wellness checkup that ings with various groups related Road, Yulee and 6-7:30 p.m. Jan. to www.nassaucountyfl.com/ includes blood pressure, temperature, iron count, and cholesterol screening. American to recreation in Nassau County. 30 at the Fairgrounds Building, planning, call (904) 530-6300, Legion Post 54 is located at 626 S. Third St. There is a great need for donated blood this The public is invited to 543350 U.S. 1, Callahan. or email planninginfo@nassau- time of year. Please remember that donating one pint can help save three lives.