Damon Harris and Emily Hall are the 2019 West Nassau High School basketball homecoming king and queen. They were crowned during halftime of the Warriors’ victory over Yulee Jan. 18. The Warriors won 59-37.
Eight members of the Callahan Middle School Wind Ensemble will represent the school in the All-Duval-Nassau County Middle School Honor Band. Anthony Mikus, Chase Wood, Mia Hutchinson, Anthony Badea, Caleb Bryant, Connor Kirkland, Taylor Clayton and Victoria Lindsey will meet for practices starting Jan. 24. Atlantic Coast High School hosts the performance Jan. 26. More than 300 students auditioned through three levels of musicianship and evaluations, with the top 90 musicians selected to perform. Florida Bandmasters Association President Ian Schwindt will direct the band. “We are proud of all our outstanding musicians and offer special congratulations to these eight,” said CMS Band Director Paul Arnold.
State 4-H Council President Montana Smith came to Nassau County recently and shared her 4-H story with the Next Generation 4-H club and lots of guest 4-H members. She discussed the many ways she’s been involved with 4-H throughout her lifetime and encouraged 4-H’ers to get involved at the county, district and state levels. For more information about Nassau County 4-H, call 904-530-6353.
From monuments and museums to history in the making, the 2019 National Washington Youth Tour is a leadership experience that immerses young people from across the country in a historical and cultural trip of a lifetime to Washington, D.C., promoting awareness and understanding of the nation’s past, present and future.
Okefenoke REMC sponsors four students to participate in the all-expenses-paid Washington Youth Tour and invites high school juniors living in the eight counties it serves – Brantley, Camden, Charlton, Glynn, Ware and Wayne counties in Georgia and Baker and Nassau counties in Florida – to apply. If chosen, the students will become OREMC delegates and join more than 110 teens from other electric membership cooperatives across Georgia to represent the state June 13-20.
The fast-paced, high-energy program is designed to give students a taste of democracy in action, expose them to the nation’s rich history through visits to national monuments and museums, encourage students to become politically aware citizens, make new friends and gain leadership experience.
“I did not know I needed the people I met on the trip in my life until they were in it,” reflects 2018 Youth Tour Delegate Grant Bennett of Nahunta. “Today I could not picture my life without them. I met my future college roommate on the Washington Youth Tour.”
Kaden Grantham of Jesup, a fellow 2018 Youth Tour delegate, feels similarly. “Now I have friends across Georgia who I shared this experience with. My most important takeaway is being open to new things, and that young people need to represent something greater than themselves.”
The tour begins in Georgia where students get to know each other before boarding an airplane and flying to Washington, D.C., where they connect with more than 1,800 students from across the country. Plans are in the works to cruise down the Potomac River, lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery, meet with Georgia’s U.S. senators and representatives, take photos outside the White House and tour the U.S. Supreme Court, the United States Capitol, Mount Vernon and the National Cathedral.
Youth tour information and the application are available online at oremc.com/our-community, at each of OREMC’s offices or from your high school guidance counselor. Completed applications must be received in one of the OREMC offices by Feb. 25.
If you have questions or need information, contact OREMC Member Service Representative Dewayne Johns at 800-262-5131, ext. 1143, or via email at dewayne.johns@oremc.com.
Flavorful, small and emitting little smoke, e-cigarettes prompt kids to light up – even on school campuses. And school officials have had enough.
In 2018, the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office issued 20 citations for underage tobacco possession at Yulee Middle, 21 at Yulee High and one citation at West Nassau High School, according to Sheriff Bill Leeper. Compliance checks were also performed in stores across the county.
“I’m not able to distinguish between the type of tobacco or even cigarettes or e-cigarettes at this time, but we will start tracking that going forward,” Leeper wrote. “In our compliance buys of underage tobacco sales, we issued eight citations for tobacco sales to a minor and one for vape.”
WNHS officials want to extinguish the use of tobacco on campus.
According to a WNHS Facebook post Jan. 8, “Throughout the county and here at West Nassau, there has been a trend of students using vapes and JUULs on campus. Starting today, using these or other tobacco/nicotine products on campus will result in an automatic three-day, out-of-school suspension, as well as a tobacco citation, which includes a $25 fine, a court appearance and possible community service. Not only can using these products result in disciplinary action, but also health concerns for your student in the future, as described in this image. Parents please be vigilant of your child engaging in this behavior and students please consider the possible negative effects of using vapes and JUULs.”
The school’s social media post included a fact sheet graphic about the history of JUULs and the affects of using tobacco, including that “all JUUL e-cigarettes have a high level of nicotine” and, “according to the manufacturer, a single JUUL pod contains as much nicotine as a pack of 20 regular cigarettes.”
The tobacco products contain fruit or mint-flavored nicotine liquid refills or pods.
“Parents need to know that vaping devices can come in many forms that are easily concealable,” Leeper wrote. “They can resemble pens or USB flash drives. The visible smoke does not linger or leave a strong scent. E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices designed to deliver nicotine with flavorings and other chemicals to users in vapor instead of smoke. Some of the kids just think it’s fun – it’s fun to blow white smoke in the air. But there are serious health concerns with that. And the big concern is, when you introduce alcohol or drugs into a developing brain, the likelihood for addiction skyrockets. And that is the danger.”
Nassau County Schools Superintendent Dr. Kathy Burns responded via email about the WNHS post Jan. 9, writing, “Our district, as well as, school districts across the country, has seen a significant increase in the use of JUULs at both the middle and high school levels. We have had a board rule prohibiting electronic cigarettes, which would include JUULs for the past four years. The use or possession of tobacco products or paraphernalia is prohibited on all school campuses. This is a Class III violation in our Code of Student Conduct and will be disciplined accordingly.”
Class III violations are defined as, “Acts directed against persons or property and/or whose consequences may endanger the health or safety of others in the school,” including school buses and bus stops.
The 2017-18 Code of Student Conduct outlines possible actions taken when such infractions as the “use or possession of cigarettes and/or tobacco products or paraphernalia” occur.
Some of the disciplinary actions may be in-school suspension, corporal punishment, out-of-school or bus suspension or referral to law enforcement.
Leeper noted that an 8-year-old was caught with a smoking device at Callahan Intermediate School in 2017.
“The child got it from his house without his parents’ knowledge and took it to school,” he wrote. “The school called the parents and it was handled in-house.”
The sale of tobacco or nicotine and smoking devices, including e-cigarettes, to minors is prohibited.
“The Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco conduct compliance buy operations in Nassau County and throughout the state of Florida,” Leeper wrote. “Products must be under supervision of sales clerk(s) or in sight of the sales clerk. Establishments are required to post signs stating that sales to minors are prohibited.”
So far, most business owners are in compliance.
“We have attempted to buy these items using underage individuals in every vape shop in Nassau County, but were only successful in purchasing in one of them,” Leeper wrote. “It is unlawful to sell, deliver, barter, furnish or give, directly or indirectly, to any person who is under 18 years of age, any nicotine product or a nicotine dispensing device. Any person who violates this commits a misdemeanor of the second degree. It is unlawful for any person under 18 years of age to knowingly possess any nicotine product or a nicotine-dispensing device. Any person under 18 years of age who violates this commits a noncriminal violation. For a first violation, 16 hours of community service, or instead of community service, a $25 fine. In addition, the person must attend a school-approved anti-tobacco and nicotine program.”
In addition to compliance checks, the NCSO partners with various organizations to spread an anti-tobacco and anti-drug message.
“We teach the Drug Abuse Resistance Education in each fifth-grade class within the county to make students aware of the dangers of alcohol/drug/tobacco use as well as making good decisions,” the sheriff noted.
West Nassau High School’s Lillian Johnson received a scholarship to participate in pilot training classes this summer.
The scholarship is valued at nearly $20,000 and provides for transportation, room and board, academics and flight hours for Johnson to potentially earn a pilot’s license. The high school junior may choose from 11 pre-selected universities across the U.S., including Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona or Arizona, Kansas State University, Purdue University and the University of Oklahoma. The classes are eight weeks.
“Cadet Johnson is one of 150 Air Force Junior ROTC cadets around the world to receive the scholarship from Headquarters Air Force Junior ROTC, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Ala.,” a Department of the Air Force Air University press release notes. “More than 1,560 cadets applied for one of the 150 scholarships. There are more than 120,000 high school students enrolled in Air Force Junior ROTC at almost 900 high schools in the U.S. and overseas.”
After she earns her pilot’s license, the U.S. Air Force will fund monthly flights to help retain her skills. Johnson is not required to fly nor is
she required to enter the
Air Force after high school,
according to Senior Aero-space Science Instructor Col. Gregg Kline.
“It’s an incentive to put aviation in the hearts and minds of young kids,” he said.
Johnson, a junior, serves as class flight commander in her third period JROTC class. She is still considering whether she will enter the military after high school.
“The Flight Academy Scholarship Program is Air Force-level initiative in collaboration with the commercial aviation industry to address the national civilian and military pilot shortage,” according to the press release. “Those who participate in the program do not incur a military commitment to the Air Force or other branch of service, nor does completing the program guarantee acceptance into one of the military’s commissioning programs. The mission of Air Force Junior ROTC is to develop citizens of character dedicated to serving their nation and community, while instilling values of citizenship, service to the United States, personal responsibility and sense of accomplishment.”
Johnson is the daughter of Jeff and Crisalaina Johnson.
Travis and Destoni Wilson prep for new adventures as they downshift from a traditional home to mobile living on a school bus.
Travis knew early on that he wanted to live in a non-traditional way. He and his wife met in Callahan and began dating in their teens. They’ve been married for 13 years.
“I have wanted to do a bus since I was a kid,” he said. “A bus, a container, a U-Haul truck; whatever. I wanted to be able to travel. But we just kept getting delayed, delayed, so I think it was about two years ago we really started watching other conversions.”
In December 2017, the couple bought a 2000 International 3800 Bluebird school bus that they found online for $2,500.
Destoni is on board with her husband’s plan to sell their four-bedroom home and most of their belongings for the transition to life on wheels. They put their home on the market and held a moving sale. The proceeds should help the couple pay off about $38,000 in credit card debt and give them a buffer to start their new journey.
“We had a lot of debt,” she said. “We have, you know, all these things that made us feel stuck. And he came up with this idea that, ‘Hey, we can do this and get unstuck.’”
Callahan resident Lisa Emery stopped by the home a second time Jan. 4 to peruse household items stacked in the kitchen and dining area. She purchased a strobe light on this trip.
“I think it’s nice. I mean, I’d love to be able to do it,” Emery said of hitting the open road.
Including the purchase price, the couple has spent about $12,000 so far renovating the school bus, also dubbed a “skoolie” by mobile dwellers like the Wilsons.
They regularly post the renovation process via Instagram. They also blog about the experience.
The interior has homey touches of reclaimed wood and a comfy design that provides about 200 square feet of space that includes a bed, a kitchen area and a 1973 avocado green Argosy travel trailer stove. A composting toilet and a shower will provide for the couple’s personal needs. The heated interior will also be home to dogs Geordie and Sister Golden Hair.
“We really want to go out West – see out there – as far as pictures, it looks like a whole different world, you know, so we want to do a whole loop of the United States,” Destoni said. “We really love sloths, and so we ideally would like to make it down to Costa Rica and go to the sloth sanctuary down there.”
The couple attended a tiny house festival in St. Augustine in November. While there, attendees signed the bus, leaving messages and well wishes like, “Have fun my slothy friends” and “Happy travels.”
So that it can’t be mistaken for a bus in service, it will be painted a different color before the pair begins their trek.
In anticipation, Destoni left her airport job recently to button up all the final details. She shared her views on the value of time.
“I think the 9-to-5, be in debt, have children – that typical life that we’re kind of all supposed to do … we’re figuring out is not really for everyone, you know, and it’s not for us,” Destoni said. “So if we’re going to work, we really want to work on our own terms. We want to do something that we enjoy doing that doesn’t feel like work and you dread going to work every day.”
This isn’t the couple’s first foray into tiny living. Their first apartment was small. They also converted a portable building into a studio apartment before purchasing their current home.
“We’ve done this before,” Travis said. “We’ve lived this way before.”
“Not this tiny,” Destoni replied.
Her husband’s experience as a maintenance employee has worked out handily for the renovation. The skills he’s picked up along the way will help as the couple performs odd jobs to offset fuel, insurance, maintenance and Wi-Fi expenses.
Travis looks forward to living frugally.
“For those wanting to free themselves of financial trappings, find your path,” he said. “I mean that’s really all it is. If you’re into home ownership, go ahead and do it. If you’re into building something, there’s so many different ways to build things. My dream is probably a silo home and an A-frame home connected to it. Container homes are awesome. But this consumerism – this materialism – this is what got us into $38,000 credit card debt and now we’re clawing our way back out of it. And it sucks, because that’s the way life is right now.”
The road to financial peace hasn’t been easy, but Travis believes it will bring huge returns.
“People are just getting into buying things and just having more things,” he said. “I don’t want things anymore. I want experiences, because I can’t take any of this with me. We have intentional things that we want to do. We want to see a sunset or a sunrise every single day while we’re on the road, no matter where we are. And just take that time to kind of meditate and center ourselves for the day or the next day or the night or whatever and live more purposely.”
The blogger elaborates online about the turnaround he and Destoni made.
In a June 25 excerpt from “How Building a Skoolie Ruined Our Life,” Wilson wrote, “Building this new tiny home on wheels hasn’t ruined our lives; it just ruined the old life that we were so used to. This experience has brought out so much in each of us. It has forced us to learn. It has forced us to be uncomfortable. It has forced us to work harder than we have in years. And it has forced us to re-evaluate everything in our lives and what we want out of the years we have left.”
The pair plans to roll along in a nomadic style until they find a place that best aligns with their goals. But first, they want to hike and explore areas inside the U.S., Canada, Mexico and South America.
“We really have not ruled out anywhere of living,” Travis said. “The only thing is, we don’t really like the cold and the snow and we’re going to try to stay away from that as much as possible.”
“Well, we’ve never lived in the snow, either,” his wife interjected.
“We’re open,” Travis replied. “If we become snowbirds and we move from one place to the other in different seasons …”
“I honestly think that would be best for us,” she said.
“Ultimately at some point, I hope to find a place that inspires us to stay,” Destoni added. “That’s the way that we like to say it – a place that would inspire us to stay that we could call home.”
Through it all, the couple has received support from friends.
“We’ve been doing this and talking about this for so long that people … are just … they’re excited to see it happen, too,” Travis said.
By the same token, the couple has answered many questions for their change of course.
“There’s ton of reasons why everyone does this,” Travis said. “Ours was we wanted to get out of debt. We wanted to explore, we wanted to find a new place to live and so these three things, we can get that from this. And so that’s kind of where we’ve been, but there’s so many reasons why people choose to work nomadically or live nomadically or travel all over the place. And technology’s allowed us to. Everyone can work nomadically. It’s enabling the younger generations to say, ‘Hey, I don’t have to be stuck where I was born.’ I can move around and I can go work eight hours a day – but I could be looking at Yosemite National Park.’”
Follow the Wilsons’ adventures at www.SlothHighFive.com and on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube as Sloth High Five.
Joel Pace Piano and Music and Be the Change Northeast Florida will hold a clothing giveaway and fundraiser yard sale Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Clothing is given out free to anyone in need or who needs to stretch their budget. Come support the ministry at 14244 Pace Rd., Jacksonville.
Paving on Crawford Road could start before the year’s end, taking 12 to 18 months to complete.
The road lies inside Norfolk Southern Railway’s property and has been discussed since 2016.
“The western 1.3 miles is an 80-foot county right-of-way,” according to Nassau County Transportation Engineer Robert T. Companion. “The eastern 5.2 miles is a 60-foot right-of-way.”
The county is in the process of negotiating an easement agreement with railroad officials.
“I can see the light of the end of the tunnel – and it’s not the train coming back in the other direction, which it was before,” County Attorney/County Manager Mike Mullin said during the Board of County Commissioners meeting Jan. 14.
Commissioner Aaron Bell asked if there was a timing issue with the grant, adding, “Are we going to be done in time or can we get an extension to spend the money now that it seems like we’re moving?”
A nearly $4.6 million Florida Department of Transportation Small Community Outreach Program grant will fund the project, but it comes with a Dec. 31 expiration deadline. County officials plan to request an FDOT extension.
“The grant was first approved a few years back, and due to the right-of-way and easement negotiations, a significant amount of time has passed,” Companion noted.
The total project cost is $8,473,264. The county will pay $3,890,267, which will derive from the one-cent gas tax and county transportation budget, according to Companion.
Other preparations are necessary before the project can move forward.
“The design plans are complete, but we still need to finalize the construction easement with Norfolk Southern, obtain the St. Johns River Water Management District and Army Corps of Engineers permits (currently underway) and work with Okefenoke Rural Electric to relocate some utility poles,” Companion wrote.
“This process is still approximately two to three months away from completion. Once those steps are complete, the bid process to secure a construction contractor and construction engineering inspection firm to oversee the project can begin. The bid process takes approximately four months from start to finish, if the process goes smoothly. Once a contractor is secured there is a roughly one month time frame for pre-construction meetings, utility meetings and mobilization before citizens will begin to see construction begin.”
A wall of mirrors encourages Callahan Intermediate School students to envision themselves as leaders.
The school’s leadership team utilized the concept, “Mirror, mirror on the wall, there is a leader in us all.” It’s a popular theme that’s been used to decorate schools around the United States and shared widely on social media.
Local artist Lauren Moore spray-painted and created CIS’ layout that features colorful mirrors of various shapes and sizes.
“The project took me 41 total hours with the help of my wonderful mother Susan, aka, Sweet Sue,” Moore wrote via email Monday. “She’s a master of cutting in with a paintbrush, so I gave her the hard and unfun tasks of trimming by the ceiling.”
Designit Graphic employees and Moore installed the mirrors at students’ eye-level during Christmas break, according to CIS Principal Monica Cason.
Moore and staff members donated the frames.
“What I love most about the new hallway is that I was able to visually recreate an area to boost the ambitions and creativity of the 600 students,” Moore wrote. “I hope the kids walk by every day and see themselves and all the visuals and understand the message and feel inspired.”
While one wall includes mirrors of various shapes and sizes near the school cafetorium, another wall features silhouettes of children reading, dancing and playing. A third section of wall includes key words that encompass the ideal leader, such as caring, accountability, believe, courage, dreamer, service and respect.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating arson and burglary attempts to six unlocked vehicles located in Callahan and Hilliard.
The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office was also on scene to investigate the incidents that occurred Jan. 30 between 7:30 and 10 p.m.
Callahan resident Doris Brewer Horne discovered around noon Thursday that someone had tampered with her 2006 Honda Ridgeline.
“I went to open the front (driver’s side) door and it wouldn’t open,” she told the Record. “I tried the back door and it opened.”
Horne said she could smell smoke coming from the vehicle.
None of the contents were missing, according to Sheriff Bill Leeper.
“But the suspect attempted to set fire to the front seat as well as the door panel,” he wrote Thursday afternoon. “No further damage was noted.”
A second vehicle on Dixie Avenue was also affected.
“Nothing was missing from the vehicle, but the suspect attempted to set fire to the front seat – but was unsuccessful. However, the carport was set on fire with minimal damage,” Leeper noted.
Three vehicles parked outside Cochrane’s Collision Center on Brandies Avenue were burglarized, but nothing was missing.
“The suspect attempted to burn the seats inside each vehicle,” Leeper wrote. “No other damage was noted.”
In Hilliard, attempts were made to set fire to a seat inside a vehicle on New Oak Street. Twenty-five CDs were reported missing from the vehicle, according to Leeper.
In an update Monday, the sheriff wrote, “There were similar reports in Jacksonville on U.S. 1 around the ADESA auto auction business, so (we’re) looking into it to see if they are related.”
Anyone who noticed suspicious activity or has information about the incidents should call the NCSO at 904-225-5174.
Convoy of Hope returns to Callahan with a community event that includes food and free services for families.
Area pastors and business leaders have partnered with Convoy of Hope to present a free family-friendly event at West Nassau High School Feb. 16. Doors open at 11 a.m.
Volunteers from Crossroads Family Worship Center, First Baptist Church of Callahan, Second Baptist Church of Callahan, First United Methodist Church of Callahan, Rivers Edge and other fellowships will lend assistance.
Crossroads’ Pastor Jeul Strickland said, “It’s going to be big. We’re offering all of this to the community to help anyone that is in need, free of charge.”
Convoy of Hope will distribute two bags of groceries per family.
In July, the non-profit delivered cleaning supplies and food during a stop at First Baptist Church of Callahan. Before that, Convoy of Hope distributed about $30,000 worth of goods to residents following Hurricane Irma in September 2017.
“Now they’re coming back to the community to do a block party to show that they’re still concerned about our community,” Strickland said. “I am thankful for the cooperation of the pastors and businesses that are helping with this event.”
A hamburger and hot dog lunch will be held in the cafetorium, with enough food to feed 1,500 people, according to organizers.
Haircuts, dental hygiene information, health services and family portraits will be offered. A kids’ zone will feature bounce houses and art and craft projects. West Nassau’s Air Force JROTC Flight 955 will assist with activities. A bloodmobile will also be onsite.
“We’re going to have kids out there as part of their community service projects,” said Senior Aerospace Science Instructor Col. Gregg Kline. “We’re flexible. We’re labor wherever they need it.”
Representatives from the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Forest Service and the Callahan Volunteer Fire Department will be also be on campus.
Bryceville Elementary and West Nassau High School placed third in the state’s “Spreading Literacy One Week at a Time” video contest.
The Florida Department of Education announced the winners of the “Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida!” contest Feb. 8. The goals of the annual week-long celebration are to promote literacy and encourage Florida students to establish excellent reading habits.
“Congratulations to the winners of the 2019 ‘Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! Spreading Literacy One Week at a Time’ video contest,” said Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran. “Strong reading skills are necessary for students to succeed in all aspects of life, and I am extremely proud of all of the students who took the time to share their love of reading.”
To compete in the contest, students created a YouTube video that communicated how they share literacy or the importance of reading in their lives. With the focus on sharing a love for reading, submissions were judged by the number of YouTube views each video received. The top three submissions in each grade grouping (elementary, middle, high) earned a cash prize to purchase books for their school library.
BES students sang a modified version of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” with lyrics changed to coincide with the importance of checking out the library’s offerings.
“Just a small town girl livin’ in a lonely world. She took the sidewalk down to the library. Just an unread book sitting on a dusty shelf, always waitin’ for someone to check it out. A teacher in the library saw them looking so lonely. He gave the book to the girl. She read on and on and on and on. Adventures waiting all along the bookshelves. Their stories waiting to be read. Reading people livin’ just to find a new book hiding somewhere on the shelf. Books will shock; books will scare. Some were made for lighter fare. Oh, the adventure never ends. It goes on and on and on and on. Don’t stop your reading. Hold on to that feelin’. Reading people, oh-oh, don’t stop.”
The story portrayed in the song played out as the children sang. The video is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17wP6G3VHLg&frags=pl%2Cwn.
WNHS students presented a skit about the importance of reading. “Students have to read to increase their literacy,” the video shares. “Don’t become illiterate. Just read, Florida.”
The WNHS video is viewable at www.youtube.com/watch?v=92woBmEM0o8&t=50s&fbclid=IwAR1w_AdGGEDAFD-eAu0wJ....
Florida Lottery Secretary Jim Poppell said, “The Florida Lottery is proud to partner with the Department of Education to congratulate the contest winners of Celebrate Literacy Week. Reading is the key that unlocks so many doors for our students both inside and outside of the classroom.
“Since its inception, the Florida Lottery has enabled more than 800,000 students to attend college through the Bright Futures Scholarship Program, which has allowed so many of them to realize their dreams. I want to thank Governor (Ron) DeSantis, Commissioner Corcoran, the Florida Legislature and our partners across the state for helping us in our mission to enhance Florida’s education system and create more opportunities for the next generation.”
BES and WNHS each won $300 for new books for their school libraries.
“Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida!” is in its 11th year. It is designed to raise awareness about the importance of reading and to inspire Florida’s students and families to make reading part of their daily routines. The week-long celebration is sponsored by The Florida Lottery, the Florida Education Foundation and the FDOE.
Fernandina Beach resident and public servant James Byron (Jim B.) Higginbotham was born into a politically connected family.
His father, John B., served as a county commissioner and his mother, Wynelle Davis, was the daughter of a state senator. Content to follow his father’s footsteps in the construction business, Higginbotham did not plan to go into public service or politics. It would, nonetheless, be his destiny. Higginbotham passed away Feb. 8 at age 74 after a brief illness.
Higginbotham spent more than 40 years in service to Fernandina Beach in various capacities, from Public Works Department director to county commissioner for District 1, to leadership roles in civic organizations. He once told the Record’s sister newspaper, the News-Leader, “I love this area and want to do so much more to make it a premier place to live, work and play.”
In his race for the District 1 Seat on the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners, Higginbotham’s position on beach issues, according to his campaign ad, was “Not to have a speedway, however, not to deny access and parking on the beach.”
Born in Fernandina Beach, he and siblings Vivian, Richard and Johnny were raised in Hilliard. After receiving an associate degree from Lake City Community College, he joined the Air Force and served as a jet mechanic stationed in the Philippines during the Vietnam War from 1966 to 1969.
Following his military service, he joined Houdaille-Duval-Wright construction firm in Jacksonville, where his father and brother had also worked. Living in Jacksonville at the time, he met and married his first wife, Jan R. Spottswood, who would become mother of his three children, son Barry and daughters Laran and Erin. Jim and Jan were married for 17 years.
“His passions were his children, his community and the city,” Jan said.
When Houdaille-Duval-Wright won the bid for a six-block revitalization project on Centre Street in 1977, Higginbotham was the construction superintendent. The project transformed Centre Street from a straight line into graceful curves from Eighth Street to the waterfront. During the project, Higginbotham was recruited by then-city manager Grady James to become Public Works director for the City of Fernandina Beach.
According to Jan, it wasn’t an easy sell. Higginbotham did not want the job, which included oversight of multiple departments: Administration, Solid and Wastewater Treatment, Streets and Highways, Water Collection, City Vehicle Mainten-ance and Repair, Bosque Bello Cemetery, and the Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport. Jan urged him to consider the opportunity, so after nine years in construction, Higginbotham switched gears and the family moved to Fernandina Beach to accept the job. He would remain in the role for the next 25 years, until retiring in 2003.
He also served on the Mosquito Control Board, the Nassau County Metropolitan Planning Organ-ization, three terms on the BOCC, with two as chairman, eight years on the Amelia Island Tourist and Developmental Board and 10 years on the Shrimp Festival Committee. His last run for office was in 2015, with an unsuccessful bid for a seat on the Fernandina Beach City Commission.
Higginbotham was president of the Fernandina Beach Kiwanis Club and director of the Amelia Park Neighborhood Association and active on the Bike Path Planning Committee and in Special Olympics. He sang in the choir at First Baptist Church of Fernandina Beach.
Daughter Erin recalls her father’s firm stance on height limits for buildings at the beach and his vigilance in monitoring flood damage each time a storm came by the island. Jan recalls him driving a green city truck along the north end of the beach during storms to assess damage in real time until he and his truck were once inundated by a wave and nearly swept out to sea.
“He came home wide-eyed and soaking wet. … He didn’t do that again,” recalled Jan.
“My dad was the kind of person who would take a problem and get dirty trying to figure it out,” said daughter Erin. “He wasn’t the kind of guy who was trying to climb the ladder (of success).”
Jim and Jan divorced in 1994 and he married Carol Decker six years ago. Already retired by then, Higginbotham shared a story with Carol from his days on the Centre Street construction project. He told her about a business owner who became angry about all the construction commotion and blamed him for business losses. The business owner wanted him arrested, so she called the police.
The story goes that a police officer came and pulled him from the street, telling Higginbotham they needed to go for a cup of coffee. As they sat with their cups of coffee in plain sight of the business owner, the officer explained his strategy. They were going to stall long enough to convince the complainant the officer was giving Jim B. a lecture and a ticket. According to Higginbotham’s story, he and the business owner become friends within a couple of days and there were no more complaints.
“I don’t think he got to travel much earlier in life,” said Carol. “He loved to travel anywhere by car, and we went on some bigger trips to Paris and Germany, Canada and California. We enjoyed life together.”
His former colleague on the BOCC, John Crawford, expressed great respect for Higginbotham’s public service. “Jim knew stuff. Jim was an incredible problem solver. … His presence often helped us make better decisions,” Crawford said.
Now Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller for Nassau County, Crawford continued, “I could give a voluminous résumé of Jim’s accomplishments from when we served together in government, but I want people to know my friend based on the qualities that really frame a life well-lived. He was a great citizen, a great and selfless public servant … a guy with an infectious laugh, a giant heart, and an even larger smile.”
Ace Hardware Corporation announces that Hagan Ace Hardware in Hilliard achieved designation as a “Pinnacle Performance Retailing” store for its outstanding performance.
Developed as part of Ace’s long-term retail growth strategy, 20/20 Vision, Pinnacle Performance Retailing is laser-focused on Ace’s customers, helping to ensure that Ace stores deliver on its brand promise day in and day out.
“The team at Hagan Ace Hardware is incredibly pleased to have earned the status as a Pinnacle Performance Retailing store,” said Jacob Hagan, director of Store Operations at Hagan Ace Hardware. “What this means for our customers is that we are more committed than ever to providing our loyal shoppers with the best possible retail experience; from customer service to product offerings and more, we’re taking ‘Ace helpful’ to a new level.”
Hagan Ace Hardware began as a single store in 1962. Now, four generations and 57 years later, the business continues to grow, and today has eight locations, including stores in Hilliard, Glen St. Mary, Mandarin, Orange Park, St. Augustine, St. Augustine Beach, Palatka and Green Cove Springs.
For more than 90 years, Ace Hardware has served its neighbors with helpful service and quality products. With more than 5,200 stores in more than 65 countries, the team at Hagan Ace Hardware is one of only a few hundred Ace retailers to achieve this prestigious Pinnacle status. To achieve Pinnacle Performance Retailing, the team at Hagan Ace Hardware successfully completed a number of key performance drivers that will help them provide a better overall shopping experience in their local community.
One example of a proven performance driver is “Helpful Certification,” the foundational element of Ace’s “Certified Ace Helpful” retail training curriculum. To become certified, Hagan Ace Hardware associates complete courses such as Helpful 101 and 201 and the stores conduct a week-long team-based certification event.
“Achieving Pinnacle Performance Retailing is a tremendous accomplishment for an Ace store,” said John Tovar, vice president of Retail Operations and New Business, Ace Hardware Corporation. “We’re pleased to recognize Hagan Ace Hardware and its associates for their outstanding achievements, and proud to say they are a part of the Ace family.”
Hilliard resident Mary Scott displays information about African-American inventors Garrett Augustus Morgan and Charles Richard Drew before the African-American Read-In event in the Hilliard Library Branch Feb. 21. Morgan invented traffic lights and gas masks. Drew developed the first blood bank for blood storage. West Nassau Mass Choir members sing “Oh Freedom!” Participants highlighted African-Americans’ historical contributions.
Sheriff Bill Leeper has led the Florida Sheriff’s Youth Ranches as board chairman for two years. FSYR President Bill Frye recognized him for his leadership Thursday.
During Leeper’s time as chair, the youth ranches expanded their operations to include girls at the traditional “Boys Ranch” north of Live Oak in Suwannee County in order to provide services to all children who are from broken homes and neglected to provide security, guidance and assistance so they are able to face the future with a sense of direction, ability and hope. They opened a scholarship house at the FSYR Villa in Polk County to serve former residents who are pursuing their college degrees and they expanded their six resale thrift stores around the state to raise additional funds for the ranches organization.
FSYR serves kids from all 67 counties in Florida and has programs in Live Oak, Bartow, Safety Harbor, Parrish, Pierson and Inglis and served nearly 7,700 kids in 2018.
The Florida Sheriff’s Boys Ranch was started by sheriffs in 1957 and has served the youth of Florida ever since as a non-profit organization, providing children with a nurturing family structure through cottage homes. A full-time house mom and dad work with each child to develop a strong work ethic, respect and a sense of responsibility. In addition to family-style living, they use a clearly defined model of care, making sure the children in their programs are given the same opportunities to attend school and participate in extracurricular activities as their peers. Ninety percent of the youth graduate from high school.
By utilizing a network of residential campuses throughout Florida, the trained and devoted staff of the youth ranches are well-equipped to nurture needy, neglected boys and girls and provide a warm sense of security, guidance and tenderness through their mission to prevent delinquency and develop lawful, resilient and productive citizens.
Visit their website at www.youthranches.org for more information.
