Hilliard parents Zack and Brittany Crane and their son Oliver receive a $1,000 check from SCW Liquors Manager Tabitha Prose May 24. The couple entered a drawing and won money, which will be deposited into a college scholarship for Oliver. SCW Liquors owner Todd Jones offered the donation as prize. 

Amelia Island Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution Chaplain Sherry Harrell, right, presents the DAR JROTC bronze medal and certificate, as well as a check for $200, to West Nassau High School JROTC Cadet Sarah McGuire. Under the leadership of retired U.S. Air Force Col. Gregg Kline and retired U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Edward Spiezio, JROTC Unit 955 ranks in the top 5 percent of the 900 JROTC units nationwide. 

Now entering the fourth year of its Blue School Grant Program, the St. Johns River Water Management District anticipates offering up to $20,000 in grants for education projects that enhance student knowledge of Florida’s water resources through hands-on learning. The application period runs through Sept. 6, giving teachers all summer to prepare their project proposals for the 2019–20 grants.

“Blue School grants are a great way for the district to support student development in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields with our partnering local schools,” said St. Johns River Water Management District Executive Director Dr. Ann Shortelle. “We have funded 33 projects in the last three funding cycles, and I’m eager to see the next round of interesting, imaginative project ideas that could inspire students to pursue a lifelong passion for science.”

Up to $2,000 per teacher per school will be awarded to middle and high school teachers to enhance student knowledge of Florida’s water resources. Public and charter school teachers within the district’s boundaries are eligible to apply.

Grants may be awarded in three areas: fresh water resources field study, water conserving landscape projects or water conservation community/school awareness campaigns.

Examples of successful grant applications include:

• Water quality comparison of stormwater ponds on campus

• Field trip to Silver Springs for soil and water sampling

• Water unit in senior English class where students learned about water scarcity and created informative diagrams, flyers and presentations for the community

• Field trips to organic and conventional farms

• Seagrass restoration project

• Water conservation awareness posters and video

Teachers receiving grants will be notified Oct. 1.

Information about criteria and deadlines, as well as the online application, can be found at www.sjrwmd.com/education/blueschool.

Approximately one in 10 Americans age 60 and older have experienced some form of elder abuse. Some estimates range as high as 5 million elders who are abused each year.

Saturday was World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. First launched in 2006, it raises awareness on elder abuse and neglect across the globe. 

Estimates of elder financial abuse and fraud costs to older Americans range from $2.9 billion to $36.5 billion annually. It is also estimated that only one in 14 cases of abuse are reported to authorities, according to the National Council on Aging.

Abuse and maltreatment can happen in many places like an older person’s home, family member’s house or assisted living facility, and can happen to anyone, no matter the person’s race, sex, religion or cultural background. There are many types of abuse, including physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect and abandonment. 

If you need to report a suspicion of elder abuse, call Florida Abuse Hotline at 800-96-ABUSE (800-962-2873). Press option one to report suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation of the elderly or a vulnerable adult. This toll-free number is available day or night every day of the week. It is important to report suspected abuse as soon as possible. 

There are ways to prevent and address the issue of elder abuse through policies, services and programs that keep individuals integrated in their communities as they age.

Community centers work as intergenerational spaces that allow older people to build relationships and participate in the work, play and life of neighborhoods. The Nassau County Council on Aging provides a variety of activities, classes, workshops and presentations at the Fernandina Beach and Hilliard life centers. Visit www.nassaucountycouncilonaging.org for more information. 

Also, NassauTRANSIT aids seniors by transporting them to reduce social isolation. Information about the service is available on the COA website.

ElderSource serves a seven-county area across Northeast Florida by identifying the needs of elders and caregivers, developing plans to meet those growing needs, contracting with local agencies to deliver services to clients and providing oversight of the contracts to ensure good stewardship of funds and quality services. 

ElderSource provides many services, like their recent “Empower Yourself” workshop, which addressed strategies to avoid being scammed. More information on programming and services for both consumers and partner organizations can be found at www.myeldersource.org.

Education is important and programs can educate families and professionals who work with older adults to understand the importance of preventing isolation, how to spot the warning signs of abuse and what to do to address abuse or neglect. 

Locally, the Florida Department of Health in Nassau is beginning an Aging Friendly initiative to promote active, engaged and healthy living for people of all ages. If you are interested in becoming involved, email Mary von Mohr at Mary.vonMohr@FLHealth.gov or call at 904-557-9133. More information is available at http://nassau.floridahealth.gov.

Music teacher Joel Pace finds harmony in dual roles as he leads a community outreach. 

Be the Change Northeast Florida, Inc. assists people in Nassau and Duval counties in need of clothing and other necessities. The organization is a certified state nonprofit, with Pace as president. 

He has actively assisted communities through various outreaches for 28 years. His first outreach project began when he collected men’s clothing for the Clara White Mission. 

“I was going to do it one time,” Pace said. “Only once. And then after doing the one time, we had women’s clothing that was also brought to us. We were donating that to Purple Dove and other places and then people kept asking me, ‘Are you going to do this again? Can we bring you more clothes?’ So then we started getting a lot more clothes.” 

Pace also holds yard sales on the first Saturday of each month to raise funds to purchase necessities for the charities that the nonprofit supports. Walkers, strollers, crutches and other medical items are also available and often given to those in need. 

The next clothing giveaway is July 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 14244 Pace Rd., Jacksonville. The road is off Lem Turner just a couple miles outside of Callahan.

Clothes for men, women, children and infants are available. 

“Our clothing is always free,” Pace said. “We never charge for clothing. The yard sale items, we end up giving a lot of it away to people who are in need.” 

Andrea Brummett came up with the name for the nonprofit, according to Pace.

“She organized and was just a godsend,” he said. 

Michelle Messer watched as two of her sons sorted clothes and deposited them into marked bins. 

“We try to help out when we can,” she said. “It’s grown so much. People have a hard time getting rid of stuff, so it’s good to know they have an option to give to people who truly need it.”

Volunteer Lisa Graves coordinates clothing and organizes garments by size and gender.

“Since being a part of Be the Change, I have realized how much I take for granted,” she said. “I am blessed with the resources to go and get new clothes, but so many are not. It is such a blessing to see little children and adults come get clothing and to see the excitement in their eyes over a shirt or pants. I have seen little kids cry tears of joy.”

She continued, “We meet so many people in all walks of life and we hear so many stories. It is heartbreaking to hear some of the things people go through. However, it’s such a blessing to be able to minister to them and oftentimes pray with them. I am so grateful for everyone that donates clothing to Be the Change. They are the ones that make the ministry possible. We welcome volunteers and, I promise, you will be the one blessed.”

Aidan Messer enjoys giving back. He helped Graves as she stacked pants onto shelves. 

“It’s fun,” he said.

Brother Keith Messer, volunteers as well, putting clothing in bins and rearranging items. 

Music student Evin Fontenot started taking lessons about six weeks ago. He’s learning to play piano, electric guitar, ukulele and percussion. 

After learning about the activities, he would like to volunteer for projects. 

“I like helping and I like coming here,” Fontenot said. “I want to be a famous dirt bike racer. I want to be a musician, too.” 

Mom Alandria Miller stood nearby as her son improvised on drums. 

“I think Joel Pace is a blessing to have,” she said. “We’re in a home school program and the kids have an opportunity to learn music and serve others.” 

Be the Change also contributes to Making Strides for
Autism, Jacksonville Nurs-ing and Rehab Ministry and Helping to Enrich Autistic Lives. 

The West Nassau Hist-orical Society, the River Road
Baptist Church clothing ministry and the Northside Christian Food Pantry also receive assistance. As a child, Pace donated his time to help others under the guidance of his parents, James and June Pace.

“My parents didn’t have a lot of money, but they always gave to others,” he said. “They always would help everyone. They didn’t have much, but they found a way. They were always giving. Even Dad, toward the end of his life, that’s what he wanted to do with the money, was to give it to people who needed it. So they always taught me to give.” 

Pace keeps the message simple. 

“Our motto for Be the Change is we’re going to help you no matter who you are,” he said. “We don’t care about the color of your skin or your politics or your religion or anything. We are nondenominational. We are just there to help people.” 

The group’s purpose derives from the Scriptures found in Matthew 25:35-40 as Jesus commends those who feed and clothe the hungry, take care of strangers and the imprisoned. It reads in Matthew 25:40, “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of the brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

Pace said people have expressed their concerns that others may take undue advantage of the free distributions. 

 “I always go back to Matthew and what Jesus said to do,” Pace said. “He didn’t say, ‘Ask why do you need these clothes? How many kids do you have?’ I don’t need to do that. We’re blessed. God’s blessed us and we just want to bless people.’”

The community feedback keeps him focused. 

“I hear from people, that I don’t know that well, say that we’ve helped them tremendously and I didn’t even realize it,” Pace said. “We get a lot of messages like that from people who are so thankful that we have reached out and helped, because when we’re doing our giveaway, we have had as many as 300 people here.”

Another priority is to feed people through the Callahan Community Dinner. Gordon and Becky Gresch coordinate the free weekly community meal at the Multipurpose Building near the Northeast Florida Fairgrounds in Callahan. Dinners start at 5 p.m. and conclude within the hour. 

“Every week we usually have Callahan Barbecue,” Becky Gresch said. “Danny (Murray) gives us a wonderful deal, so for $125 a sponsor, we usually get a different sponsor every week. They can pay Danny directly and we go and pick up the food at 4:30 p.m.”

Unless a sponsor requests otherwise, meals consist of fried and barbecue chicken, green beans, greens, mashed potatoes and tea. Those who can’t stay pay $2 per plate for takeout. 

Able Heirs provides gospel music and a short message during the dinner. 

“It really goes a long way,” Gresch said. “We’re able to feed over 100 people with that food. And we’ve even had to increase the amount we’re getting this past year because our numbers have started to climb, which is really good.”

Murray has contributed additional food to accommodate the increased participation without charging an additional cost. “That’s him,” Gresch said. “He’s really great. He’s such a blessing to the community.” 

She has participated in the meal program for more than 10 years. Community volunteers and her family pitched in to help after Gleaners Dispatch, Inc. transitioned out of providing the meals locally. 

Gresch considers the act of providing community meals as an expression of God’s love.

“Jesus did the same thing, feeding people and then spiritually feeding, so seeing these same folks come back week after week, we have seen tremendous strides in just overcoming things like racism, awkwardness among classes of people, because this doesn’t really operate like a food line, like a soup line or something that you would picture like in the Depression where people are inching their way through and getting their soup and sitting down and eating and leaving,” she said. “This is more like a church without a church sign on the door, and so people are coming in and they are learning how to care for one another like a big family.” 

The dinner program is always in need of sponsors, whether it’s a one-time, weekly, monthly, quarterly or yearly contribution, according to Gresch. 

“Everything helps,” she said. “It just adds to that community spirit, because it’s the community helping the community. I think it makes for a really good cycle where the people of the community get stronger and the people supporting the community are lending their strength toward the whole event.” 

To volunteer for Be the Change, call Pace at 904-613-7647. 

Callahan First Baptist Church Pastor Lynn Hyatt reflects on four decades of service in western Nassau. 

Hyatt began serving the church July 1, 1979. He and wife Peggy had married Feb. 2 that same year. The pastor led his first Bible study in Callahan July 4. Seventeen people were in attendance that night. 

“I challenged them to bring somebody with them,” Hyatt recalled. “The next week we had over 60 people. We found the people hungry for the Word of God and for the practical application of the Word of God.” 

“And that’s why we grew,” Peggy interjected. 

“We’ve always encouraged our people to share their faith with others who do not have a relationship with Jesus,” Lynn Hyatt said. 

The Luther Rice Seminary graduate met his future wife at First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, then led by Peggy’s father, the late Homer Lindsay, Jr. 

Before arriving in Callahan, Hyatt served as youth pastor in Inverness.

“We packed up in a U-Haul and came to Callahan,” he said. 

Peggy felt God’s urging to follow her husband. 

“I’ve always said, ‘It’s God first, then my family, then the church,’” she said. “When Lynn was called here, I felt the calling of the Lord too, to serve and reach the community for Jesus.” 

Married at 19, she was unsure how she would fulfill the role as a pastor’s wife. 

“I got good advice from my mom, Shirley Lindsay and my grandmother Ruth Lindsay,” Peggy said. “My mom said, ‘Be yourself, love Jesus and love people.’ That’s my motto. What you see is what you get and I’m human, forgive me – and they have. People have been so loving and gracious.” 

Her husband said, “No pastor and wife could have asked for a church family to be more gracious and loving and easy to lead.”

In retrospect, Hyatt believes that he responded faithfully to serve others. 

“I was confident that God had called me to pastor and I was confident that He had called us here,” he said. “And we were committed to spending our lives here, but never expected to spend our lives here.” 

As Callahan grew, the congregation expanded. A gymnasium was built in 1984. The multipurpose building provided added space necessary for Sunday School classes. The former auditorium was renovated in the early 1980s, with the balcony finished for utilization. The existing auditorium was newly built in 1994. 

Hyatt said that God’s vision for the church unfolded gradually through the decades.

“It’s always been a step-by-step – incremental,” he added. “I think if He had shown me on the front end, it would have scared me to death. We’re thankful that God has been faithful and our people have been faithful, loving and patient.” 

During his tenure, the congregation has grown to 500 to 600 in attendance. In January, a new congregation, led by Pastor Todd Carr, started meeting at Wildlight Elementary School with more than 200 in attendance for Sunday worship at 10:15 a.m. 

“The planting of the church has been a blessing, because we sent so many of our leaders over there,” Hyatt said. “We’re watching God raise up new leaders here, which is a blessing.” 

CFBC shares the gospel message through numerous outreach programs. 

“Our missions ministry is huge,” Hyatt said. “We have partnerships all over the State of Florida, all over the United States and all over the world.” 

The church also provides support efforts to Nassau County School District teachers with a campus cleanup day, school resources and supplies. Community projects have assisted residents with home repairs. Future plans include expanding the food pantry and other outreaches. 

On Sundays, Bible study starts at 9 a.m., Worship services begin at 10:15 and evening worship services are held at 6:30 p.m. Family Supper begins at 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays with discipleship classes at 6:45 p.m. Saturday Night Worship is at 6:30 p.m. in the Family Life Center. 

“We want to expand our community outreach to make a greater impact on Callahan and surrounding communities,” Hyatt said. “We’re asking God to give us a location to center those activities.” 

The couple has two adult children and four grandchildren to share life experiences. At this stage, the pair feels energized to accomplish even more to assist the community. 

“It seems that God has saved some of the best for this next phase of ministry,” Hyatt said. 

The pastor and his family will be honored Sunday during a celebration service marking his 40-year tenure. Special guest speakers and music are planned. The service begins at 10:15 a.m. Lunch follows in the gymnasium. 

Raymond Fachko displays a copy of the Nassau County Record on a mission trip to Cuba. He is joined by fellow Nassau County residents Lorie Bell, Raymond Pace and Steve Moser, who is children’s pastor at Callahan First Baptist Church. This was Fachko’s second trip to help with church construction. He said the teens in Cuba speak English and desire reading material from the United States. Submitted

Grocery staples were handed out to area families June 21. 

The joint effort with United Way of Northeast Florida and Farm Share, Feeding Northeast Florida was part of a “Day of Action, Nourishing Northeast Florida” that included simultaneous food distributions in Nassau, Duval, Clay, Baker and St. Johns counties. 

The food distribution to help fill food gaps in Callahan was enough to assist 150 families. It included milk, pork loins, chicken, orange juice, canned foods and dry goods. 

Full Life Ministries at 540223 U.S. 1 hosted the giveaway that began at 8:30 a.m. in a neighboring parking lot near Ratliff Road. 

Bishop Jonathan Graham said, “We do a food pantry in Jacksonville and we wanted to do one in Callahan. We just enjoy feeding people.” 

The five-county food giveaway provided enough items to assist 1,000 families.

“We’re really pleased to come together to help people in need,” said Erica La Spada, United Way of Northeast Florida’s manager of volunteers and community engagement.

Volunteers like Amy Dyar unloaded boxes, greeted residents and filled waiting arms, boxes and carts with bags of food. She served in Nassau County before retiring from her job with United Way. She returned to the area to give back. 

“I feel a special love in my heart for Nassau and it means a lot, too,” she said. 

Barnabas Center has received several donations and announces assistance in planning for future donations.

Chances are there will be people in need in Nassau County for a very long time. In response, Barnabas launched a new wills and estates program to help the community understand more about making a financial contribution to benefit others through their wills and estates. 

Local resident Carolyn Phanstiel shared her reflections on the reasons she provided for Barnabas in her will.

“An important motivation is my wanting to be a good role model for my children and grandchildren. I have met with them to explain why, along with them, I have written Barnabas into my will. More than anything, I want this kind of legacy to be a Phanstiel family value.”

Barnabas asks that potential donors and supporters leave a legacy to help others through their estate planning. 

Estate planning can sound intimidating and like something that can wait for retirement. Many people believe it is only for the very wealthy, but in reality, it is important for everyone to consider and the time to create a plan is now. Without a plan, decisions about your assets, your healthcare and the care of your children are left to the courts and state laws to handle. 

Barnabas offers free estate and will planning information. Interested persons should contact Tania Yount, chief development officer, at tyount@Barnabasnassau.org or 904-261-7000. 

Barnabas Center’s mobile food pantry team will hold a free food distribution for lower-income Nassau County residents June 24. Sign-in begins at 10:30 a.m. and the distribution will last until all the food is distributed at the Northeast Florida Fairgrounds, 543378 U.S. 1, Callahan. The fairgrounds are located 1.2 miles north of Callahan on U.S. 1. 

The Bank of America Foundation recently granted Barnabas $10,000 to support the Barnabas Meal Pack Program.

Barnabas Center, in partnership with the Nassau County school system, operates the Meal Pack Program, which provides nutritious food to impoverished schoolchildren ages 5-12. Each pack of food helps to sustain a child over weekends and school holidays. 

If you or someone you know needs food or other assistance, or you’d like to help be part of the solution contact Barnabas at 904-261-7000. 

Barnabas also operates a food pantry, providing more than 370,000 pounds of food to individuals and families each year.

On May 11, the National Association of Letter Carriers collected food donations to aid the millions of Americans who struggle with hunger. 

The “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive is the nation’s largest single-day food drive, having collected more than 1 billion pounds of food since its inception as a national food drive in 1993. This one-day food drive benefited the Barnabas Food Pantry locally.

Sorting, unloading and boxing the food required the help of many. Barnabas appreciates the volunteers and partners, including Rayonier and Amelia Island Rotary and the community at large for making the 2019 “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive a success. 

This year, 21,061 pounds of food were donated and delivered to Barnabas. The postal carriers did the hard work of loading the donated food into their trucks along their mail routes and bringing it to the Barnabas Food Pantry. Volunteers helped unload and sort the food. 

Barnabas recently received 5,100 pounds of food from Publix through its “Food for Sharing” program. The program is held twice a year and gives people the chance to donate food to help the hungry. People of the community choose one of three donation amounts and Publix donates the food in that bundle to local food pantries.

The donation will support the Barnabas Food program by supplying the pantry with non-perishable food items to be provided to people in the community experiencing hunger.

Barnabas serves more than 2,000 unduplicated households in Nassau County, every year, who don’t know where their next meal is coming from. 

WestRock donated $7,000 to Barnabas recently as its support of the sixth annual Empty Bowls Luncheon and to assist the food pantry.

For more information about Barnabas’ Food Pantry programs and how to volunteer or receive assistance, visit www.BarnabasNassau.org.

Reconstruction on Orange Street in Hilliard could start in October.

Sections of the street were damaged during Hurricane Irma in September 2017, causing the road’s closure since then. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will lead the project. 

A section of the street has a large horizontal crack across the entire lane. Culverts will also be replaced. Recent rains hit in April and caused drainage overrun along the area. 

The project was federally obligated Aug. 19, with FEMA paying 75 percent of the $1,037,601 project cost, according to FEMA spokesman Alberto Pillot. 

Town Clerk Lisa Purvis noted via email that state funds will pay 12.5 percent and the town will pay 12.5 percent of the balance.

The Hilliard Town Council unanimously approved nearly $305,000 for an engineering agreement with Mittauer and Associates, Inc. for services associated with the culvert replacements and the town’s agreement with FEMA.  

Albert Jackson Tyner awaits news that a kidney is on its way. 

The Callahan resident has been on a transplant wait list for more than two years after his kidney crashed Oct. 12, 2016. Following the health crisis, he was soon diagnosed with sepsis and spent 21 days in the hospital. He lost his other kidney to cancer around 2000. 

He now seeks a kidney from a living donor. A harvested kidney from a deceased donor is also an option. 

“It’s usually a five-year wait, but it could come whenever,” Tyner said. 

Known to his friends as Jack, the 70-year-old veteran served in the U.S. Marines. He drives a white 2003 Chevy Silverado with a message on the rear window that reads “I did my part. Now I need your help kidney transplant (904) 878-7129.”

The phone number links callers to a Google phone account that advises them to go to www.livingdonor.org to submit an application to become a kidney donor. 

“I drive around quite a bit,” Tyner said. “The sign gives me a billboard, or something like that, as a method of getting the word out.”

He stays close to home so that if a donor becomes available, he can travel to  Jacksonville’s Mayo Clinic rather quickly. The message attracts attention around town.

“Occasionally people let me know – a thumbs up – or a honk of the horn, something like that,” Tyner said. 

He wants that message to raise awareness of organ donations.  

“It’s not necessarily about me,” Tyner said. “There’s a lot of people out there looking for donors.” 

He reports monthly to a dialysis clinic to have his blood drawn and to ensure his blood chemistry aligns with the numbers necessary for transplant. 

At night, he undergoes dialysis while resting or sleeping. 

He receives the filtering treatments in 90-minute intervals five nights a week. 

He has a pacemaker and has undergone a shoulder replacement and heart valve replacement surgeries. 

Despite those challenges, Tyner still enjoys fishing.

“I guess that’s my hobby,” he said. 

Wife Margaret assists with scheduling appointments and keeping his diet on track.

“She’s been my other half for 36 years,” he said. 

Tyner also spends his free time raising donor awareness by encouraging others to become donors.

“There are people out there who need our help,” Tyner said. “It could be the difference between life and death to me. Just be a donor, whether it be living or after. One person can save seven lives.” 

He just wants others to think of the impacts becoming a donor could have on those in need.

“There’s so many organs going to waste,” Tyner said. “Once you’re gone, you don’t need it. And your family will always know that you live on through that person.” 

Timucuan Parks Found-ation took Special Olympics youth from the North Florida School of Special Education on a special outing on the water. The group of teens, chaperones and volunteers enjoyed a day of kayaking in the Timucuan Preserve. 

Kayak Amelia guided the group from their Heckscher Drive location on Simpson Creek in Talbot Islands State Park, through the Timucuan Preserve to the Alimacani boat ramp. They also enjoyed some time swimming and seine netting for small fish and jellyfish.

“The weather was perfect for the trip, and the teens and chaperones, most of whom had never kayaked, enjoyed the adventure,” said Felicia Boyd, TPF program and outreach director. “The Timucuan Preserve has an amazing network of creeks and tributaries, and I encourage everyone to get out on the water to experience and explore our beautiful natural spaces.” 

TPF volunteers assisted with the day, as did JaxParks and REI volunteers. The outreach was made possible in part by an NPS Challenge grant, a funding award from the National Park Service and Outdoor Foundation, designed to challenge and engage new audiences and connect them with local parks and preserves.

The Florida Forest Service accepts applications for the Longleaf Pine Private Landowner Incentive Program through Aug. 2.  

The primary objective of the Longleaf Pine Private Landowner Incentive Program is to increase the acreage of healthy longleaf pine forests in Florida by assisting eligible, non-industrial private forest landowners with the long-term investment necessary to establish and maintain the valuable longleaf pine ecosystem.

“We are excited to expand the program this year to include all counties within the historical range of longleaf pine, providing assistance to more landowners across the state,” said Jim Karels, state forester and director of the Florida Forest Service.

Longleaf pine forests are native to the southeastern United States and are among the most diverse ecosystems in North America. Longleaf pines provide high-quality wood products and are valued for their resistance to damage by insects, disease, wildfire and storms. Due to urbanization and conversion to other land uses, longleaf pine forests have been dramatically reduced and now cover less than 4 percent of their historical range. Florida is home to more than 2 million acres of longleaf pine ecosystems, which represent more than half of all current longleaf pine forests.

The Longleaf Pine Incentive Program offers incentive payments for the completion of timber stand improvement, invasive species control, prescribed burning, planting longleaf pine, establishing native plant understory and mechanical underbrush treatments. Private lands in the 58 Florida counties north of Lake Okeechobee are eligible. To learn more and access an application, visit FloridaForestService.com or contact your local Florida Forest Service county forester, James Tootle, at 845-7238.

The Longleaf Pine Private Landowner Incentive Program is supported through a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation with funding from the Southern Company, USDA Forest Service, The Nature Conservancy, Natural Resources Conservation Service, US Department of Defense, Halliburton Company and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Four Nassau County commissioners were recognized by the Florida Association of Counties for their achievements.

Commissioners Aaron Bell and Thomas Ford earned the “Certified County Commissioner” designation following completion of a comprehensive study program developed by the association. Each received his designations along with 14 other county commissioners from across the state at the FAC’s annual conference in Orange County June 13.

“The Certified County Commissioner Program has taught me so much about important issues we are faced with as elected officials, including managing growth and protecting the environment,” Bell said.

Ford echoed his statement and added, “The Certified County Commissioner Program also provides elected officials with a greater understanding on Sunshine Law, ethics and ideas on how to provide our residents with the services they desire while keeping taxes low.” 

CCC certification is not a requirement to serve as a county commissioner in Florida. However, county commissioners may voluntarily enroll in the program and complete a series of courses totaling 42 hours. The coursework is designed to provide information and enhance skills relevant to a commissioner’s duties and responsibilities as an elected official.

“The program provides an overview into the intricacies of county government where commissioners can learn a variety of valuable tools necessary to assist them in their public service every day,” said Florida Counties Foundation Executive Director Eric Poole. “Those that choose to participate in the program display an exceptional commitment to serving Florida’s counties.” 

Commissioner Justin Taylor graduated from FAC’s voluntary Advanced County Commissioner Program, a special leadership program designed for CCC graduates.

The ACC program focuses on leadership with an emphasis on the future of Florida. Participants are tasked with preparing for the future by thinking and acting anew and asserting skillful leadership in times of daunting challenges and rapid change.

“Given that this is a voluntary program, those commissioners who chose to participate have shown an exemplary commitment to the betterment of the communities they serve,” said Poole. “The program is structured in a way that allows veteran commissioners from across the state to work collaboratively on Florida’s most pressing challenges.”

“The ACC Program provided me with an excellent opportunity to network with colleagues from other counties and has helped to maximize my leadership skills,” Taylor said. “I feel certain that program has given me the knowledge needed to effectively represent my district, as well as Nassau County”. 

The ACC program is organized as a series of three seminars with 27 total hours of course work. Participating commissioners must commit to fully participate in all three seminars in order to graduate. 

In addition to graduating from the ACC Program, Commissioner Taylor was recognized as a Presidential Advocate for his hard work during the 2019 Legislative Session. Commissioner Daniel Leeper also received this designation, but was unable to be in attendance. 

Walter “Junior” Boatright’s name lives on in Callahan through family and now a county building.

The County Building on Mickler Street was changed to the Walter “Junior” Boatright County Building June 27 during a commemoration service punctuated with humorous anecdotes about the late Nassau County commissioner. The county commission approved the renaming of the building in his memory June 14. 

Boatright died Dec. 12 after battling health issues. 

He served as the District 5 representative for eight years, starting Nov. 18, 2008. During his high school years at West Nassau, Boatright played football for the Warriors. The 1977 grad served as a sports announcer for his alma mater for many years. 

Current District 5 County Commissioner Justin Taylor opened the ceremony, which was held outside in a grassy area near the new signage. He recalled Boatright’s down-to-earth approach to government, saying, “Junior always told me, ‘You’re not going to please everybody. But just do what you believe is right and you’ll be OK.’”

Boatright gave him an honest opinion about how to handle matters. 

“And I’ve always appreciated him for that,” Taylor said. “And the best part about Junior, every time you saw him, he was smiling or laughing or cutting up or picking on somebody. It’s who he was. He truly enjoyed life. And we all miss him. He’s truly missed. I just want to tell Tonya, Jeremy (and) Steven, thank you for sharing Junior with this community and allowing us to recognize his service by dedicating this building.” 

Tonya Boatright spoke of how her husband would have responded to the fanfare.

“It’s such an honor, such an overwhelming, emotional day,” she told the Record. “Junior would be so elated. Our family is so humbled by this recognition of him. And more than likely, he would probably be saying, ‘I don’t know what the big deal is, ‘cause I’m just a normal person like everybody else.’”

She added, “So we truly love everyone and the outpouring of all friends and political officials. He loved his county and he definitely represented his county and he loved the West Side.” 

Jeremy Boatright recalled how his dad embraced his role as commissioner. 

“He felt very strongly about the title of being a public servant,” he said. “He took pride in it. And he wanted to lead by example, so this right here is a testament to how he conducted his life and how he handled himself as a true public servant, so we are again, humbled and appreciative. And I know he’s probably smiling and laughing and probably thinking, ‘You guys are idiots for standing out here in this heat. Let’s get out and let’s go have a drink at Shuckers.’ Thank you again. We appreciate it and we looking forward to seeing this for years to come.” 

Retired Nassau County Administrative Judge Robert Foster read a list of “Juniorisms” he heard Boatright express through the years. 

The pair often lunched together at Shuckers in Yulee. 

“Junior had an uncanny ability to discern insights into others,” Foster said. 

“He was a great judge of character. He would leave meetings and he would say, ‘That guy was as happy as if he had good sense. He thinks the sun comes out just to hear him crow. The porch light’s on, but no one’s there.’”

Foster closed his tribute with a quip about the judicial complex in Yulee that bears his name. 

“As he looks down on this building, (I) ask him to look east to Yulee, to the judicial center, my building, and with definite proof, I can finally tell him, ‘See, I told you mine was bigger.’ God bless you Junior, you live in our hearts every day. We love you. We love your family.” 

The Amelia Island Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution host a flag retirement ceremony at Nassau County Fire Rescue Station 20. Vietnam Veterans of America Post 1088 provided the color guard. After the ceremony, the retired flags went to Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors to accompany veterans at the La Flora Mission crematory.

The Florida Department of Transportation delayed its work on County Road 121 to Aug. 1, weather and unforeseen circumstances permitting. The erosion repair work will be between Carroll Corner Road and Turkey Trot Trail. Detours will be necessary to repair a bridge culvert damaged from erosion. The detour will take northbound and southbound drivers on County Road 121 to U.S. 301 via County Road 108 and Henry Smith Road. Electronic message boards will be placed ahead of the closure on County Road 121. Motorists are encouraged to utilize the Florida 511 app to plan ahead. CDM Contracting Inc. is projected to complete the $387,000 repair project by late 2019, weather and schedule permitting.

A 29-year-old Georgia woman died in a Hilliard crash Thursday morning. Her name has not been given to the media, as next of kin has not been notified yet.

According to a press release from the Florida Highway Patrol, the woman, who is from St. Marys, was driving a 2003 Nissan Altima westbound on a private driveway at 554820 U.S. 1. She was facing a stop sign while Clarence L. Williams, 65, of Jacksonville, was driving a 1997 International tractor-trailer northbound on U.S. 1.

The woman attempted a left turn, entering Williams’ lane of travel and Williams was unable to avoid striking the Altima on the driver’s side of the vehicle.

The accident occurred at 7:27 a.m. The woman was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash while it is unknown whether Williams was. FHP investigators said alcohol was not a factor in the crash.

Barnabas Center Chief Development Officer Tania Yount accepts a $1,000 donation from James Blount and Brook Brandt of Hagan ACE Hardware. The Hilliard store provided customers the option to round up their totals from May 17-27, with $498.07 raised from customers
rounding up. The company then matched the donations, rounding up themselves. For more informa-tion about Barnabas’ assistance programs, visit www.BarnabasNassau.org. 

Sheriff Bill Leeper presents Nolan E. “Bubba” Chancey, Jr. a plaque in appreciation for his years of service in law enforcement. He retired after serving 20 years with the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office. He started his career with NCSO in Corrections in 1999 after retiring from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in 1998. After he was promoted to sergeant, he was instrumental in assisting in the transition from the old jail facility to the new jail that was built in 2002. He went back to school to obtain his law enforcement certification and became a patrol deputy, and at the time of his retirement, worked in the Civil Unit. Chancey, with his wife Tambria by his side, signs off on the radio for the final time.