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Sheriff’s office promotes three to corporal

Three corrections officers are corporals after a recent promotion. Sheriff Bill Leeper held a promotion ceremony Feb. 3, recognizing Nicolas E. Thornton, who has been employed with the sheriff’s office for the past four years; Melissa K. Godbold, who has been employed for the past 15 years and Brian K. Higginbotham, who has been employed for the past five years. They serve within the Nassau County Jail/Detention Facility. Their families attended their promotion ceremony to witness them move up in rank. 

 

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State funds park upgrades

Residents will soon see upgrades to Oxford Street Park in Hilliard.

Town officials received $500,000 for park improvements from the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program. Florida Park Services Asst. Director Chuck Hatcher presented a check during the Hilliard Town Council meeting Feb. 2. 

Park renovations include refurbishing existing playground equipment and renovating the basketball court, swimming pool and parking lot. 

A new walking trail, splash pad, covered picnic facility and new security lights will be added for a total of $470,000, according to information from Hilliard Town Clerk Lisa Purvis. 

In other town news, businessman Bobby Franklin told the council of his pending plans to build a new building for C.W. Hilliard American Legion Post 401 members. The current site on U.S. 1 north is leased to members and the lease ends soon, according to Franklin. 

A 1-acre site near the Winn Dixie exit is proposed. The post already sells beer and wine. Franklin asked that the town council consider amending the town code to include the sale of liquor as well. Licensed area restaurants are only allowed to sell beer and wine as long as food sales comprise 51 percent of total sales. 

“The veterans in this town need support from the community,” Franklin said. 

Council President John Beasley said that a veterans building would allow for the sale of beer, wine and liquor. 

The council will meet for a workshop at 6 p.m. Monday to discuss the town’s existing code for the sale of alcoholic beverages. The idea did draw some dissention from the council. Councilman Kenny Sims said he plans to attend the workshop, but he would not support the legalization of liquor sales to any businesses. 

In another agenda item, the council gave a unanimous consensus to approve on first reading Ordinance No. 2017-05, placing a one-year moratorium on the operation of medical marijuana treatment centers and medical marijuana dispensaries. 

Town officials have said that the moratorium could be lifted at any time, in the event that state lawmakers establish legislation before the moratorium ends. 

A public hearing will be held at town hall March 2 at 7 p.m. 

The council also unanimously approved the purchase of a new brush truck for the Hilliard Volunteer Fire Department. The 2017 Ford F-350 brush truck’s total cost with additional features is $37,383. An $11,900 skid unit was also approved for purchase. It will assist the new brush truck. The older brush truck has mechanical issues and is no longer viable, according to Station 4 volunteer Dallis Hunter. 

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Callahan Garden Club celebrates 76th year

UF/IFAS Nassau Master Gardener Dee Hester and Callahan Garden Club vice president Lynn Aiello, treasurer Bertie Tanner, president Donna Rau and secretary Lisa Emery join together to celebrate the Callahan club’s 76th birthday. Tanner also served as a master gardener for 20 years. 

 

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Students grab lunchtime grub

Cade Johns stands in a school lunch line to grab and grub. 

The Hilliard Middle-Senior High School sophomore tried the Cowboy Burger from the Grab & Grub food truck parked at the bus loop Feb. 1. 

“I think it’s pretty good. It’s better than that food,” said Johns, referring to regular cafeteria food.

The Cowboy Burger is a featured menu item that consists of an all-beef patty topped with cheese, crispy onion rings, jalapenos and barbecue sauce between baked buns. Red potato salad accompanies the burger. 

“It’s manly,” Johns said. “It’s a cowboy burger. It’s a little fancy.” 

The Nassau County Food and Nutrition Services Department’s first and only food truck rolled out Jan. 17. The food truck stops at all four high schools. 

On hand to prepare and serve meals were Truck Manager Audra Bower and Area Supervisor for Nassau County Schools Food Services Tom Chapp. Hilliard Food Service Manager Sherryl Sims and employee Mary Yake assisted with financial transactions. 

Director of Food and Nutrition Services Lauren Jones said the food truck fulfills a need for added mobility. 

“We were in need of a mobile feeding unit to help with our challenges during summer feeding and transporting food across the county,” she said. “We wanted to design something that not only could be used for summer feeding but also all school year long so that it did not just sit idle during times of the year. We went with a food truck design because it already has an appeal and is an increasing food service trend across the country.”

The food truck is equipped with a full-size oven, flat-top grill, steam table, warmer, cooler, freezer, sandwich prep unit with cooler, hand-washing sink, a three-compartment sink, outdoor LED lights and speakers. Reach-in coolers are on the truck’s outside for self-service items.

“We wanted to be practical but also appeal to our high school student customer with something fresh and new,” Jones said. 

Another goal is to boost the number of meals distributed among high school students. 

“We chose to visit high school students regularly for several reasons,” Jones said. “The biggest reason is because they have the lowest participation in the school lunch program. Our elementary and middle schools serve between 59 and 67 percent of the students, whereas our high schools are between 42 and 57 percent.”

Menu items derive from local and state growers and business owners whenever possible. 

“The menu items are developed to be specialty,” Jones said. “You can’t go to a food truck and get something plain or normal. The menu will always include unique flavors, spices and food combinations. We wanted to feature local products as much as possible. We will rotate the menu at least monthly as it will only see the students once a week.” 

“Our first menu combination features a fresh all-beef patty raised and processed in Florida from Miami Beef. We also have a fresh garden salad offered every day that features locally grown romaine lettuce from Traders Hill Farm out of Hilliard and tomatoes from Immokalee and Palmetto. … All meals include an option of a fresh garden salad, fresh fruit, milk and/or 100 percent fruit juice.”

The food truck travels to Fernandina Beach High School on Mondays with two lunch periods served. It visits Yulee High School on Tuesdays for four lunch periods and visits Hilliard on Wednesdays for two lunch periods. West Nassau’s students grab grub from the food truck during two lunch periods each Thursday. On Fridays the food truck travels on a rotation, delivering food to the school that deemed it popular that week, according to Jones. 

The food truck will be in service during major events occurring at elementary and middle schools. It also visits the district building to accommodate staff and Adult Education students, according to Jones. 

Approximately 50 to 60 HMSHS students per lunch stop at the food truck.

Freshman Amaya Walker has already visited once before. 

“I like it,” she said. “I like the burger and the potato salad. It’s like what you would eat around town. I could eat it every day.”

Hannah Williams expressed her satisfaction with the extra menu choice. 

“It’s very different than the school lunch,” the sophomore said. “It tastes like when you go out to a restaurant.” 

Jones sees the menu preferences as a growing trend among high school students. 

“They want retail,” she said. “They want what they can purchase in retail food services. And we want to give them something different than the traditional cafeteria environment.” 

Future plans include adding breakfast menu items. 

“There is a ton of data on student eating habits and the reality is they have changed drastically at all age levels over the last 10 years,” Jones said. “Students are pickier – and more food and flavor savvy than ever before – even in the younger age groups. Many students eat out more than they eat at home, making it extremely challenging to accommodate their needs and wants within the federal school lunch and breakfast program due to our limited funds, strict nutrition standards and meal pattern guidelines.”

“All meals are $3.25 for students and include the main entrée, featured side item and the choice of fresh fruit, 100 percent fruit juice, milk, and a fresh garden salad, which are all included in the same price,” Jones said. 

The standard price for a cafeteria lunch is $2.75. The $3.25 food truck lunch includes a 50-cent up charge for the added cost of made-to-order meals.

“The really awesome thing is we are fully integrated with the cafeteria system and if students qualify for free or reduced price meals, they also can eat on the food truck for their regular free or reduced rate,” Jones said. “Our county has 51 percent of students who qualify for free and reduced priced meals – the highest it has ever been, so there are a lot of students who can benefit from this opportunity. Although we have so many students eligible for these benefits, we are only feeding approximately 67 percent of the free students and 64 percent of the reduced students across all four high schools in Nassau County. Our goal is to feed as many students as possible. After only two weeks of operation, our overall percentages are up slightly. We expect it to continue to grow in the coming weeks and months.”

Because the program is new, administrators have not had time to establish enough information to conduct a complete cost analysis. 

“We are still in the developing stage of the program and do not have definite costs to operate the truck on a regular basis,” Jones said. “It will largely depend on how many students participate and other events the truck will go to. We have been able to employ at least one additional person in the food service program and hope that the truck will increase participation and ultimately lead to more jobs as well. The overall costs include, food, labor, gas, diesel and maintenance costs, which will change over time.”

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Characters share name in library tale

Two different women with the same first name run library branches within the Nassau County Library System. 

Susan McKenney has served for nearly 17 years while Susan Stanley has been employed for six years, with three of those as a librarian. Both women reside in Yulee. 

McKenney previously worked at each branch within Nassau County after working for the UF/IFAS Nassau County Extension Office. She returned to the Bryceville branch in October, having served at the location in years past. 

“Of all the people to leave Bryceville people to, she’s wonderful,” Stanley said of her replacement. 

“I love Bryceville,” McKenney said. “I love the people. There’s a lot of really nice people that were here when I was here before. It’s terrific.” 

Stanley also enjoyed the camaraderie with Bryceville residents but is equally happy to be the branch librarian at Hilliard. She replaces Rosemary Szczygiel, who transferred to the Yulee Branch. 

“I love it,” Stanley said. “I miss the people of Bryceville, but there are wonderful people here too. I’m just doubly blessed. I get to meet more.” 

McKenney’s career allows her to cultivate a love for reading.

“There’s nothing about books I don’t like,” McKenney said. “I’ve been an avid reader ever since I learned how to read. Theoretically, there’s nothing you can’t do if you can read. If you can read the instructions, you can do it.” 

A certified library assistant 3 through the American Library Association, McKenney enjoys making suggestions for books and other publications. 

“I love to do reader advisories and tell people what to read, especially fiction,” she said. “That’s my most favorite thing to do.” 

McKenney is also a purist when it comes to selecting reading materials, opting for traditional books instead of e-books.

“I still read the book,” she said. “I love the way they feel in your hands. When I read, I like to hear it in my own mind. I feel like when I hear someone else’s voice or their inflection, it changes the story for me.” 

More importantly, it’s what McKenney can accomplish for visitors who browse up to 7,599 inventory items, including children and adult DVDs, CDs, newspapers, periodicals, juvenile and young adult books, fiction, nonfiction and large print materials. She is also responsible for coordinating inner-library loans and loans from libraries in other states. 

“The requests come to me and I try to find a library that will loan them out to me and I process them and send them to the patron,” McKenney said. “We also loan books to out-of-county libraries and I process those as well.” 

Volunteer Jessica Morton assists with shelving book returns, clearing book drops and retrieving mail. She has volunteered at the branch for six years.

“I get to see all the new stuff,” she said, adding that she likes, “Checking out the books and DVDs.” 

Heather Griffin is Library Assistant 2 at Hilliard. She helps to ensure that programs and services run smoothly. 

“Heather is wonderful,” Stanley said. “She’s very knowledgeable and loves books. We both feel the same in that we both feel that we both want to help and both want to serve the community.” 

Online access is also available at both branches. 

“You can do just about anything on the computer,” McKenney said. 

Visitors may create job resumes, file tax returns, conduct job searches and government research, email, print pay stubs and access the Internet. 

“We have some seniors so it’s nice for them to not have to drive so far to get to a library,” McKenney said. 

The branch also offers an electronic cloud library consisting of e-books that may be stored electronically. 

 “We’re able to get a better selection,” she said. “If you need help downloading to your electronic device, we’re able to help you with that.” 

The available online search engines assist with research, which may not always be easy to find, according to McKinney.

“Anything you need to know can be found at the library and we know how to find it,” she said. 

Stanley offers various activities and programs at the Hilliard branch. 

She hosts the Brown Bag Book Club on the second Thursday of each month. Book enthusiasts meet to discuss a selected genre. In January the group covered mysteries. February features romance novels while March highlights “The Keeper,” a second in a series of three dystopian novels from David Baldacci. Dystopia is defined as “a society characterized by human misery, as squalor, oppression, disease and overcrowding,” according to dictionary.com.

“Lunch & Learn” is held on the third Thursday of each month. Stanley invites residents to come out and hear professional organizer June Carter outline tips on “The 34-Minute Time Management Process” today at noon.

“Bring your brown bag lunch and learn something,” Stanley said. “I’m trying to provide a wide range of topics. Not just how to declutter but how to put things that are important to you and put them first and learning how to say yes and no to what you’re asked to do.” 

Traders Hill Farm visits for a “Lunch & Learn” March 16. A book sale will be held noon to 7 p.m. March 2, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 3 and 9 a.m. to noon March 4 at the Hilliard branch. 

Also at the branch, an African-American Read-In is scheduled for Feb. 23 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The West Nassau Mass Choir will also perform. 

Citizens may bring a poem or reading selection or join in to listen to others read a two to three minute piece written by an African-American. Folksinger/songwriter and musician “Mrs. Kate” Carpenter performs songs from her new CD “I Think I Can” April 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hilliard Branch Library. The public is invited to attend. 

The library is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursdays, noon to 8 p.m. 

The Hilliard Branch Library is located at 15821 C.R. 108. Call 904-530-6500. Choose option 4 to learn more. 

The Bryceville Branch Library is located at 7280 Motes Rd. Hours of operation are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursdays, noon to 8 p.m. Call 904-530-6551 or 844-200-7245 to learn more about the branch. 

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Teens die in accident

Two Jacksonville teens died in an accident on U.S. 17 Wednesday night.

Kay Stanley Deraway IV, 16, was driving a 2002 Nissan Sentra with Travis Lighthall, 15, as his passenger.

They were southbound on U.S. 17 near Harts Road when, for unknown reasons, the Sentra veered onto the right shoulder. Deraway tried to correct the vehicle and crossed the roadway.

Stuart Henry Savedoff, 76, of Fernandina Beach was driving a 2012 Kia Soul northbound and was unable to avoid striking the Sentra’s passenger side with the front of his Soul.

Deraway and Lighthall died at the scene while Savedoff was taken to UF Health Jacksonville with serious injuries. All three were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.

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Mishap injures teen

A Bryceville father makes a financial plea to help cover his son’s medical expenses. 

Paul Megois created a GoFundMe account after son Dalton, 17, accidentally shot off part of his thumb and index finger Feb. 13.  

Dalton’s parents and grandparents were home at the time of the accident, according to Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper. 

The remaining three fingers were mangled by the accident. He and a friend were shooting at targets in the backyard of the teen’s residence just after 6 p.m. at 1504 County Road 119. According to Megois, Dalton was an experienced marksman, having shot guns since he was 5 years old. 

Dalton was shooting at targets with a World War II Mosin-Nagant bolt-action rifle when he attempted to add a bayonet to the gun’s barrel. However, the bayonet did not slide on as smoothly as he had planned, according to his dad. 

Dalton held his hand over the open barrel, attempting to adjust the bayonet shortly before the gun fired. 

“He knew the gun was chambered but those guns have a de-cocking mechanism and he disengaged the mechanism, and the firing pin still went off,” Megois said.

Dalton was initially transported to UF Health Jacksonville. 

Because a hand specialist was not on duty at the time of his arrival, the teen was transported to Blake Medical Hospital in Bradenton where he is recovering, though Megois said he should be released this week. 

“His spirits are really low,” Megois said. “He will have to undergo multiple surgeries in hopes of saving his fingers.” 

Dalton is a junior at West Nassau High School with plans to study nursing in college while working as a certified nursing assistant. He has already completed some coursework.  

His dad and mom Nicky are trying to keep their son’s spirits high. 

Although Dalton uses caution when he handles firearms, accidents can still happen, his dad said.

“Complacency happens with the most careful gun owners,” Megois said. 

Donations toward Dalton’s medial expenses may be sent via https://www.gofundme.com/daltons-digits.

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K-9 team sniffs out crime

Saber knows how to sniff out crime. 

The 4-year-old German Shepherd and K-9 officer works with the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, sniffing out narcotics. Partner NCSO Patrol Deputy Chris Walton has worked alongside his canine partner since October 2015. Saber and Walton are teamed to locate marijuana, heroin, cocaine and methylendioxymethamphetamine or MDMA, also known as “Ecstasy,” according to Walton. 

For Saber, it’s all part of a night’s work.

“When they make contact with that odor, they are trained to get as close as possible to a source,” Walton said. 

Saber completed a demonstration in the NCSO parking lot Jan. 20, showing her ability to detect narcotic-laced scents. Walton prepared Saber by putting her on a leash and turning her eyes away from the area. He walked over to an SUV and placed a scented item atop the front left tire. 

After casually sniffing a Jeep, a Toyota sedan and a Volkswagen without reaction, Saber walked to the SUV that had a scented item. Upon sniffing the area, Saber sat beside the tire and refused to move, turning her attention to the affected tire. Once Walton removed the item, he rewarded Saber with her favorite chew toy. She was then released momentarily off the leash, free to chew the rubber toy. 

“The accuracy on these dogs is pretty amazing,” Walton said. 

Because narcotic scents linger, Saber and other K-9 officers trained in scent detection can smell odors even long after the drug has been removed.

“If there’s nothing, there was something,” NCSO Sheriff Bill Leeper said. 

Walton enjoys the enthusiasm Saber has for training and working to detect narcotics. 

“She loves to work,” Walton said.

Three additional canine teams comprise the narcotics crime unit, including German Shepherd/Belgian Malinois mix Lokey and Deputy Trevor Zittrower, Belgian Malinois Armor and Deputy James Ennis and German Shepherd Diesel and Deputy Kyle Tholl. 

Leeper noted how the NCSO benefits by utilizing Saber and the other canines in the unit. Though they cost thousands of dollars to train and support, funding derives mostly from state and federal grants. Portions not covered by grants are “offset by the benefits received through their participation in forfeiture work.”

“The K-9s’ contribution to NCSO comes in several different ways,” he wrote via email Jan. 23. “There is the benefit of public relations between the agency, the community and our schools. Monetarily the narcotics K-9s are instrumental in many asset forfeiture cases, which in turn generate revenue for the county, which according to Florida State Statute, can be used to purchase additional equipment or can be donated to non-profit organizations within our community. Our narcotics K-9s are dual purpose K-9s, which means they are trained in narcotics detection, as well as tracking. The tracking benefits of our K-9s serve as a valuable tool in the apprehension of fugitives as well as locating missing children. They also supplement the tracking services of our bloodhounds, which are utilized by corrections personnel.”

Saber lives with Walton so that she can rest and relax before each 12-hour shift. She and Walton also train several hours a week.

“I enjoy dogs,” he said. “I enjoy working with dogs and I enjoy working narcotics. It’s a passion of mine.”

The deputy dislikes the ill effects that narcotics abuse has on citizens.

“I enjoy the work, getting it off the street and getting it out of people’s hands,” Walton said. 

He praised Saber and the K-9 unit that serves Nassau County. 

“Their sense of smell for detector work for which we do is far superior to humans,” he said. “Their sensitivity to odors is a great value to law enforcement officers. It’s just a great tool that law enforcement utilizes. We have a great unit. I can’t speak highly enough of them. They’re a joy to work beside and they feel the same about narcotics work. It takes a lot of dedication to work in a unit like this and it’s equally rewarding because of the work and the partnership you experience.” 

Since October 2015, Saber has completed 100 deployments with Walton and assisted in removing 30.7 grams of cocaine, 401.14 grams of marijuana and 52.53 grams of meth. 

Walton said Saber’s safety is “first and foremost.” 

He has come to learn her personality traits just as he would have working with humans.

“You learn it. You see it every day,” Walton said. “I know when she’s off. I know when she’s not on point or having an off day. My attitude affects her attitude and her attitude affects my attitude.” 

When Saber doesn’t seem as tuned into her duties as she could be, Walton motivates his canine partner by giving her increased attention or refocusing her to the tasks at hand. “It doesn’t happen often,” he said. 

The dogs may provide a quicker turnaround in crime detection. 

“Our narcotics detection and enforcement would continue without the presence of K-9s; however, the K-9s’ keen sense of smell makes a patrol officer’s task of locating hidden narcotics much more effective and efficient,” Leeper wrote.

Walton would like to continue work with Saber in the years ahead. 

“She’s that good of a dog,” he said. “As long as I can … it may sound funny, but she makes the job that much better.”

 

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Marriage surpasses eight decades

Allen and Beatrice Ricks’ love story began more than 81 years ago when they met at an ice cream social. 

“It was nice,” Allen said of their first date, occurring in the summer of 1935. 

They married that same year on Christmas Day. The holiday provided the families a day off work, allowing the young couple to tie the knot. 

The couple’s whirlwind courtship revolved around simple outings. On Sunday nights Allen walked more than a mile to see his intended. 

“We went to dances and we went to church,” Beatrice recalled. 

Although he retired as a boilermaker, he also worked in phosphate mines after the couple relocated to the Sunshine State in 1946 from Baldwin, Miss.

Initially, the Ricks’ worked in the strawberry fields and a fruit packing plant near Plant City. The secret to the longevity of their marriage could be due to geography.

“I worked away from home a lot,” Allen, 100, said. 

But for Beatrice, their love sweetened one day at time.

“It means my whole life,” the 98-year-old said. 

Daughter-in-law Sandra Ricks and Boyd, the couple’s oldest child, married Sept. 25, 1980. The elder couple also shares daughter Gail, nine grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and numerous great-great-grandchildren. 

During the past three decades, Sandra has observed the couple’s relationship. The seniors moved to Nassau County in 1986. 

“They are always respectful of taking care of each other,” she said. 

Allen is a bit shy and Beatrice has vision and hearing problems, but that doesn’t stop the couple from showing affection. They usually communicate with their eyes and a touch of the hand. 

“They just seem to know what the other is thinking,” Sandra said. “They have a great innate sense of communication without using their voices. They have a sensory understanding of each other.” 

She has also enjoyed living close to her in-laws.

“They’ve been a big help to us,” Sandra said. “We’re so blessed they can stay in their home. They thrive whenever the two are together.” 

Allen and Beatrice continue to respond to each other warmly. Boyd said his parents always laughed a lot. Despite never achieving great wealth, the couple has been together through thick and thin.

“They always made the most of what they had and always lived within their means,” Sandra said. “Grandpa never had a credit card or a mortgage. He always worked and saved up for things. He never got anything he couldn’t afford until he could buy it.” 

The couple’s longevity and sound marriage has served as an example to extended family, according to Sandra.

“They never put themselves first,” she recalled. 

Allen maintains a sense of humor about his marital success. 

“Just keep quiet,” he said. 

His wife took a softer approach, attributing their happiness to, “Love, I suppose.” 

Already 36 years into his marriage with Sandra, Boyd looks to the future, saying, “I’ve got a legacy to follow – hadn’t I?” 

 

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Illness claims local Warrior

Kathie Colgrove

NCR Reporter

 

The western Nassau community mourns the loss of Baylee Sisson, 21, a U.S. Army serviceman and a 2013 West Nassau High School graduate. 

Sisson became ill in late January from a virus that caused his kidneys and liver to fail, according to grandmother Jeannette Sisson. 

“He got sick over the weekend, last weekend,” she told the Record Monday. “His mom told him he needed to go to a doctor. He had a headache and he went to the clinic.”

Sisson said that he was treated at a clinic where he was stationed, but he was later transported to a hospital off the base. For a short time he was well enough to communicate with family members via social media. 

“But he got worse,” she added. “His kidneys and liver weren’t right and he passed away.”

He died Feb. 2.

Sisson was stationed in Uijeongbu, South Korea. He lived outside of the military base, according to Jeannette Sisson. 

He leaves behind wife Brooke and many extended family members.

The couple married Dec. 26, 2015, according to Sisson’s Facebook page. 

WNHS Athletics posted a Facebook tribute to Sisson, writing, “We are deeply saddened to report the passing of former WNHS baseball player Baylee Sisson. He was serving in the U.S. Army in Korea.”

Warrior Baseball Coach Kyle Fleming fondly recalled Sisson’s team loyalty, positive attitude and bond with teammates. Sisson was also a member of the 2013 all-county baseball team. 

“Baylee was an absolutely wonderful human being,” Fleming wrote via email Monday. “He was always upbeat. He never complained or got upset. He always worked as hard as anyone we had. He hit a go-ahead homerun for us in the 2013 district championship that ended up being the deciding factor in the game. When he came around third, he had the biggest grin you ever saw. I will never forget it.”

Fleming continued, “His teammates adored him and almost all of them have contacted me expressing their sadness. This was a crushing loss for everyone who knew him or might have had the chance to know him. Baylee will always be a Warrior.” 

Sisson said a funeral service was held overseas for those he knew in the military. His remains will be transported back to western Nassau. A memorial service will be held at a later date. 

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Sheriff’s office promotes three to corporal

Three corrections officers are corporals after a recent promotion. Sheriff Bill Leeper held a promotion ceremony Feb. 3, recognizing Nicolas E. Thornton, who has been employed with the sheriff’s office for the past four years; Melissa K. Godbold, who has been employed for the past 15 years and Brian K. Higginbotham, who has been employed for the past five years. They serve within the Nassau County Jail/Detention Facility. Their families attended their promotion ceremony to witness them move up in rank. 

 

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State funds park upgrades

Residents will soon see upgrades to Oxford Street Park in Hilliard.

Town officials received $500,000 for park improvements from the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program. Florida Park Services Asst. Director Chuck Hatcher presented a check during the Hilliard Town Council meeting Feb. 2. 

Park renovations include refurbishing existing playground equipment and renovating the basketball court, swimming pool and parking lot. 

A new walking trail, splash pad, covered picnic facility and new security lights will be added for a total of $470,000, according to information from Hilliard Town Clerk Lisa Purvis. 

In other town news, businessman Bobby Franklin told the council of his pending plans to build a new building for C.W. Hilliard American Legion Post 401 members. The current site on U.S. 1 north is leased to members and the lease ends soon, according to Franklin. 

A 1-acre site near the Winn Dixie exit is proposed. The post already sells beer and wine. Franklin asked that the town council consider amending the town code to include the sale of liquor as well. Licensed area restaurants are only allowed to sell beer and wine as long as food sales comprise 51 percent of total sales. 

“The veterans in this town need support from the community,” Franklin said. 

Council President John Beasley said that a veterans building would allow for the sale of beer, wine and liquor. 

The council will meet for a workshop at 6 p.m. Monday to discuss the town’s existing code for the sale of alcoholic beverages. The idea did draw some dissention from the council. Councilman Kenny Sims said he plans to attend the workshop, but he would not support the legalization of liquor sales to any businesses. 

In another agenda item, the council gave a unanimous consensus to approve on first reading Ordinance No. 2017-05, placing a one-year moratorium on the operation of medical marijuana treatment centers and medical marijuana dispensaries. 

Town officials have said that the moratorium could be lifted at any time, in the event that state lawmakers establish legislation before the moratorium ends. 

A public hearing will be held at town hall March 2 at 7 p.m. 

The council also unanimously approved the purchase of a new brush truck for the Hilliard Volunteer Fire Department. The 2017 Ford F-350 brush truck’s total cost with additional features is $37,383. An $11,900 skid unit was also approved for purchase. It will assist the new brush truck. The older brush truck has mechanical issues and is no longer viable, according to Station 4 volunteer Dallis Hunter. 

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Callahan Garden Club celebrates 76th year

UF/IFAS Nassau Master Gardener Dee Hester and Callahan Garden Club vice president Lynn Aiello, treasurer Bertie Tanner, president Donna Rau and secretary Lisa Emery join together to celebrate the Callahan club’s 76th birthday. Tanner also served as a master gardener for 20 years. 

 

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Students grab lunchtime grub

Cade Johns stands in a school lunch line to grab and grub. 

The Hilliard Middle-Senior High School sophomore tried the Cowboy Burger from the Grab & Grub food truck parked at the bus loop Feb. 1. 

“I think it’s pretty good. It’s better than that food,” said Johns, referring to regular cafeteria food.

The Cowboy Burger is a featured menu item that consists of an all-beef patty topped with cheese, crispy onion rings, jalapenos and barbecue sauce between baked buns. Red potato salad accompanies the burger. 

“It’s manly,” Johns said. “It’s a cowboy burger. It’s a little fancy.” 

The Nassau County Food and Nutrition Services Department’s first and only food truck rolled out Jan. 17. The food truck stops at all four high schools. 

On hand to prepare and serve meals were Truck Manager Audra Bower and Area Supervisor for Nassau County Schools Food Services Tom Chapp. Hilliard Food Service Manager Sherryl Sims and employee Mary Yake assisted with financial transactions. 

Director of Food and Nutrition Services Lauren Jones said the food truck fulfills a need for added mobility. 

“We were in need of a mobile feeding unit to help with our challenges during summer feeding and transporting food across the county,” she said. “We wanted to design something that not only could be used for summer feeding but also all school year long so that it did not just sit idle during times of the year. We went with a food truck design because it already has an appeal and is an increasing food service trend across the country.”

The food truck is equipped with a full-size oven, flat-top grill, steam table, warmer, cooler, freezer, sandwich prep unit with cooler, hand-washing sink, a three-compartment sink, outdoor LED lights and speakers. Reach-in coolers are on the truck’s outside for self-service items.

“We wanted to be practical but also appeal to our high school student customer with something fresh and new,” Jones said. 

Another goal is to boost the number of meals distributed among high school students. 

“We chose to visit high school students regularly for several reasons,” Jones said. “The biggest reason is because they have the lowest participation in the school lunch program. Our elementary and middle schools serve between 59 and 67 percent of the students, whereas our high schools are between 42 and 57 percent.”

Menu items derive from local and state growers and business owners whenever possible. 

“The menu items are developed to be specialty,” Jones said. “You can’t go to a food truck and get something plain or normal. The menu will always include unique flavors, spices and food combinations. We wanted to feature local products as much as possible. We will rotate the menu at least monthly as it will only see the students once a week.” 

“Our first menu combination features a fresh all-beef patty raised and processed in Florida from Miami Beef. We also have a fresh garden salad offered every day that features locally grown romaine lettuce from Traders Hill Farm out of Hilliard and tomatoes from Immokalee and Palmetto. … All meals include an option of a fresh garden salad, fresh fruit, milk and/or 100 percent fruit juice.”

The food truck travels to Fernandina Beach High School on Mondays with two lunch periods served. It visits Yulee High School on Tuesdays for four lunch periods and visits Hilliard on Wednesdays for two lunch periods. West Nassau’s students grab grub from the food truck during two lunch periods each Thursday. On Fridays the food truck travels on a rotation, delivering food to the school that deemed it popular that week, according to Jones. 

The food truck will be in service during major events occurring at elementary and middle schools. It also visits the district building to accommodate staff and Adult Education students, according to Jones. 

Approximately 50 to 60 HMSHS students per lunch stop at the food truck.

Freshman Amaya Walker has already visited once before. 

“I like it,” she said. “I like the burger and the potato salad. It’s like what you would eat around town. I could eat it every day.”

Hannah Williams expressed her satisfaction with the extra menu choice. 

“It’s very different than the school lunch,” the sophomore said. “It tastes like when you go out to a restaurant.” 

Jones sees the menu preferences as a growing trend among high school students. 

“They want retail,” she said. “They want what they can purchase in retail food services. And we want to give them something different than the traditional cafeteria environment.” 

Future plans include adding breakfast menu items. 

“There is a ton of data on student eating habits and the reality is they have changed drastically at all age levels over the last 10 years,” Jones said. “Students are pickier – and more food and flavor savvy than ever before – even in the younger age groups. Many students eat out more than they eat at home, making it extremely challenging to accommodate their needs and wants within the federal school lunch and breakfast program due to our limited funds, strict nutrition standards and meal pattern guidelines.”

“All meals are $3.25 for students and include the main entrée, featured side item and the choice of fresh fruit, 100 percent fruit juice, milk, and a fresh garden salad, which are all included in the same price,” Jones said. 

The standard price for a cafeteria lunch is $2.75. The $3.25 food truck lunch includes a 50-cent up charge for the added cost of made-to-order meals.

“The really awesome thing is we are fully integrated with the cafeteria system and if students qualify for free or reduced price meals, they also can eat on the food truck for their regular free or reduced rate,” Jones said. “Our county has 51 percent of students who qualify for free and reduced priced meals – the highest it has ever been, so there are a lot of students who can benefit from this opportunity. Although we have so many students eligible for these benefits, we are only feeding approximately 67 percent of the free students and 64 percent of the reduced students across all four high schools in Nassau County. Our goal is to feed as many students as possible. After only two weeks of operation, our overall percentages are up slightly. We expect it to continue to grow in the coming weeks and months.”

Because the program is new, administrators have not had time to establish enough information to conduct a complete cost analysis. 

“We are still in the developing stage of the program and do not have definite costs to operate the truck on a regular basis,” Jones said. “It will largely depend on how many students participate and other events the truck will go to. We have been able to employ at least one additional person in the food service program and hope that the truck will increase participation and ultimately lead to more jobs as well. The overall costs include, food, labor, gas, diesel and maintenance costs, which will change over time.”

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Characters share name in library tale

Two different women with the same first name run library branches within the Nassau County Library System. 

Susan McKenney has served for nearly 17 years while Susan Stanley has been employed for six years, with three of those as a librarian. Both women reside in Yulee. 

McKenney previously worked at each branch within Nassau County after working for the UF/IFAS Nassau County Extension Office. She returned to the Bryceville branch in October, having served at the location in years past. 

“Of all the people to leave Bryceville people to, she’s wonderful,” Stanley said of her replacement. 

“I love Bryceville,” McKenney said. “I love the people. There’s a lot of really nice people that were here when I was here before. It’s terrific.” 

Stanley also enjoyed the camaraderie with Bryceville residents but is equally happy to be the branch librarian at Hilliard. She replaces Rosemary Szczygiel, who transferred to the Yulee Branch. 

“I love it,” Stanley said. “I miss the people of Bryceville, but there are wonderful people here too. I’m just doubly blessed. I get to meet more.” 

McKenney’s career allows her to cultivate a love for reading.

“There’s nothing about books I don’t like,” McKenney said. “I’ve been an avid reader ever since I learned how to read. Theoretically, there’s nothing you can’t do if you can read. If you can read the instructions, you can do it.” 

A certified library assistant 3 through the American Library Association, McKenney enjoys making suggestions for books and other publications. 

“I love to do reader advisories and tell people what to read, especially fiction,” she said. “That’s my most favorite thing to do.” 

McKenney is also a purist when it comes to selecting reading materials, opting for traditional books instead of e-books.

“I still read the book,” she said. “I love the way they feel in your hands. When I read, I like to hear it in my own mind. I feel like when I hear someone else’s voice or their inflection, it changes the story for me.” 

More importantly, it’s what McKenney can accomplish for visitors who browse up to 7,599 inventory items, including children and adult DVDs, CDs, newspapers, periodicals, juvenile and young adult books, fiction, nonfiction and large print materials. She is also responsible for coordinating inner-library loans and loans from libraries in other states. 

“The requests come to me and I try to find a library that will loan them out to me and I process them and send them to the patron,” McKenney said. “We also loan books to out-of-county libraries and I process those as well.” 

Volunteer Jessica Morton assists with shelving book returns, clearing book drops and retrieving mail. She has volunteered at the branch for six years.

“I get to see all the new stuff,” she said, adding that she likes, “Checking out the books and DVDs.” 

Heather Griffin is Library Assistant 2 at Hilliard. She helps to ensure that programs and services run smoothly. 

“Heather is wonderful,” Stanley said. “She’s very knowledgeable and loves books. We both feel the same in that we both feel that we both want to help and both want to serve the community.” 

Online access is also available at both branches. 

“You can do just about anything on the computer,” McKenney said. 

Visitors may create job resumes, file tax returns, conduct job searches and government research, email, print pay stubs and access the Internet. 

“We have some seniors so it’s nice for them to not have to drive so far to get to a library,” McKenney said. 

The branch also offers an electronic cloud library consisting of e-books that may be stored electronically. 

 “We’re able to get a better selection,” she said. “If you need help downloading to your electronic device, we’re able to help you with that.” 

The available online search engines assist with research, which may not always be easy to find, according to McKinney.

“Anything you need to know can be found at the library and we know how to find it,” she said. 

Stanley offers various activities and programs at the Hilliard branch. 

She hosts the Brown Bag Book Club on the second Thursday of each month. Book enthusiasts meet to discuss a selected genre. In January the group covered mysteries. February features romance novels while March highlights “The Keeper,” a second in a series of three dystopian novels from David Baldacci. Dystopia is defined as “a society characterized by human misery, as squalor, oppression, disease and overcrowding,” according to dictionary.com.

“Lunch & Learn” is held on the third Thursday of each month. Stanley invites residents to come out and hear professional organizer June Carter outline tips on “The 34-Minute Time Management Process” today at noon.

“Bring your brown bag lunch and learn something,” Stanley said. “I’m trying to provide a wide range of topics. Not just how to declutter but how to put things that are important to you and put them first and learning how to say yes and no to what you’re asked to do.” 

Traders Hill Farm visits for a “Lunch & Learn” March 16. A book sale will be held noon to 7 p.m. March 2, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 3 and 9 a.m. to noon March 4 at the Hilliard branch. 

Also at the branch, an African-American Read-In is scheduled for Feb. 23 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The West Nassau Mass Choir will also perform. 

Citizens may bring a poem or reading selection or join in to listen to others read a two to three minute piece written by an African-American. Folksinger/songwriter and musician “Mrs. Kate” Carpenter performs songs from her new CD “I Think I Can” April 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hilliard Branch Library. The public is invited to attend. 

The library is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursdays, noon to 8 p.m. 

The Hilliard Branch Library is located at 15821 C.R. 108. Call 904-530-6500. Choose option 4 to learn more. 

The Bryceville Branch Library is located at 7280 Motes Rd. Hours of operation are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursdays, noon to 8 p.m. Call 904-530-6551 or 844-200-7245 to learn more about the branch. 

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Teens die in accident

Two Jacksonville teens died in an accident on U.S. 17 Wednesday night.

Kay Stanley Deraway IV, 16, was driving a 2002 Nissan Sentra with Travis Lighthall, 15, as his passenger.

They were southbound on U.S. 17 near Harts Road when, for unknown reasons, the Sentra veered onto the right shoulder. Deraway tried to correct the vehicle and crossed the roadway.

Stuart Henry Savedoff, 76, of Fernandina Beach was driving a 2012 Kia Soul northbound and was unable to avoid striking the Sentra’s passenger side with the front of his Soul.

Deraway and Lighthall died at the scene while Savedoff was taken to UF Health Jacksonville with serious injuries. All three were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.

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Mishap injures teen

A Bryceville father makes a financial plea to help cover his son’s medical expenses. 

Paul Megois created a GoFundMe account after son Dalton, 17, accidentally shot off part of his thumb and index finger Feb. 13.  

Dalton’s parents and grandparents were home at the time of the accident, according to Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper. 

The remaining three fingers were mangled by the accident. He and a friend were shooting at targets in the backyard of the teen’s residence just after 6 p.m. at 1504 County Road 119. According to Megois, Dalton was an experienced marksman, having shot guns since he was 5 years old. 

Dalton was shooting at targets with a World War II Mosin-Nagant bolt-action rifle when he attempted to add a bayonet to the gun’s barrel. However, the bayonet did not slide on as smoothly as he had planned, according to his dad. 

Dalton held his hand over the open barrel, attempting to adjust the bayonet shortly before the gun fired. 

“He knew the gun was chambered but those guns have a de-cocking mechanism and he disengaged the mechanism, and the firing pin still went off,” Megois said.

Dalton was initially transported to UF Health Jacksonville. 

Because a hand specialist was not on duty at the time of his arrival, the teen was transported to Blake Medical Hospital in Bradenton where he is recovering, though Megois said he should be released this week. 

“His spirits are really low,” Megois said. “He will have to undergo multiple surgeries in hopes of saving his fingers.” 

Dalton is a junior at West Nassau High School with plans to study nursing in college while working as a certified nursing assistant. He has already completed some coursework.  

His dad and mom Nicky are trying to keep their son’s spirits high. 

Although Dalton uses caution when he handles firearms, accidents can still happen, his dad said.

“Complacency happens with the most careful gun owners,” Megois said. 

Donations toward Dalton’s medial expenses may be sent via https://www.gofundme.com/daltons-digits.

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Green, Saunders define AD history

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Johnnie Green and Wanda Saunders were firsts in their field in Nassau County. 

Each was named athletic directors. Green coached and taught at West Nassau High School from 1995 to 2009. 

Saunders has coached at Hilliard Middle-Senior High School since 2001. She has worked as an intensive reading paraprofessional since 2000. Saunders plans to teach soon after earning a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University in 2016. During her coaching tenure, she has guided girls in volleyball, track, softball and basketball. She became the first African-American named as athletic director in 2007. She oversaw middle school athletics while Scott Brock oversaw high school athletics. 

Saunders expressed appreciation for then-principal Dr. Brent Tilley.

“Dr. Brent Tilley had faith in me that I was more than qualified for the job even though I was a paraprofessional,” she said. “And for that I will always be grateful.” 

She is married to Myron Saunders, the boys head basketball coach at HMSHS. The couple has two daughters, Brianti, 21, and Reah, 4. 

Saunders gave up the post for medical reasons.

“Reah is the reason why I stopped being the athletic director, because we had a complicated pregnancy,” Saunders recalled. “She’s my miracle baby. That was just a choice that I made.” 

She added later, “I never had any backlash about being a black AD I had more backlash about being a paraprofessional, but Dr. Tilley stood his ground. I think I not only opened doors for African-American women, I opened doors for paraprofessionals that we are just as important in the school system. I think this is a prime example that titles are just titles and it’s the work that paves the way.” 

Likewise, Green did not experience any fallout when he was named as AD at WNHS in 1995, ascending from his former role as the boys basketball coach. He served as AD until 2009. Green replaced Troy Arnold, who was promoted to assistant  principal. 

In addition to teaching math, science, driver’s education and Physical Education at various points throughout his tenure, Green coached track, football, baseball and golf. 

“The community accepted me well as the first black AD,” Green said. “They congratulated me and wished me well. They supported me 100 percent. I had an awesome coaching staff as well.” 

Staff members were Hilda Alderman, Chris Hicken, Bobby Hart, Bill Barnes, Rose Way, Richard Pearce, Ted Combs, Audie Ash, Richie Knott, Nick Mirando, Jim Culpepper and Jackie Langford. 

But his new role was not without its demands.

“It was a challenge  – new territory,” Green said. “What I had going in my favor was coaching all those sports. It gave me an idea of how those sports operated. With that being said, I knew how to budget each sport, but the bulk of the revenue came from football.Basketball, baseball and volleyball would normally take care of itself as far as expenses. Also back then gender equality came in so that we could represent males and females. We brought in soccer, bowling, swimming and girls flag football.” 

Green has always been willing to serve others. He has been pastor at St. James Baptist Church since 2006. He is married to Evon Mason Green. The couple has a blended family of five adult children. They also have four grandchildren. 

“What a man does for himself will die with him,” Green said. “What he does for his community will live forever. That’s my philosophy. Sometimes you sacrifice self in order for your community to be better.”

Green expressed admiration for Saunders, saying she was deserving of the post. He also expressed gratitude for then-principal Dr. James Tylk who supported Green’s  promotion years ago. 

“I am very proud of Wanda’s accomplishment,” he said. “She is very persistent in doing the right things. The beauty of the thing is we’re both from Hilliard and that speaks volumes of us – and our community. I’d like to personally thank Dr. Tylk for giving me the opportunity to be the first black athletic director at West Nassau and believing in me.” 

For Saunders, coaching continues to be a passion.

“I feel like I have accomplished a lot and proven to my family and friends that the sky’s the limit, because you don’t know how Brianti was that I still got my degree and could still do that,” the 45-year-old said. “And now I’m raising a 4-year-old. “Reah is going to grow up to see some accolades – not only for her parents but for her older sister as well, so the Lord has truly blessed my family.”

 

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Authors visit young readers

“Goosebumps” author R.L. Stine visited Callahan Intermediate School Friday. Several authors visited area schools via the Amelia Island Book Festival. 

Although Stine’s job as a writer is to “give kids the creeps,” he wasn’t at all creepy. Instead, Stine gently answered children’s questions, engaged the crowd and shared anecdotes from his childhood, including how he began beating out stories at age 9 on an old typewriter he found in his home’s attic. 

The New York Times Best Selling Author was in western Nassau to speak about his latest books and projects. He and wife Jane Waldhorn extended their visit.  

“I’ve never been to Amelia Island before,” he told the Record. “It’s wonderful. We’re going to take a day to relax and return Monday.”

During the school presentation, Stine told how he began writing stories and joke books while growing up in Columbus, Ohio. One Halloween, he and younger brother Bill went trick-or-treating on their own for the first time. The boys wore sheets with cutout eyes to become ghosts. They carried “big shopping bags and silly string” to accommodate their candy and antics. 

As they walked through the neighborhood, their shopping bags bulging with candy, they passed Mrs. Dawson’s house, which stood dark. Later when they returned, a light shone at the woman’s house. 

“But it wasn’t a light, it was a big jack-o’-lantern,” Stine said. “It had big grin and it was lit.” 

When Stine knocked on the door, the jack-o’-lantern’s face changed from a smile to a scowl amid a red glow. Mrs. Dawson appeared in a long gray nightgown that fluttered in the wind, calling out, “Why did you wake me? Why did you wake me?”

He asked her about the jack-o’-lantern and how she made its face change. 

“Jack-o’-lantern? I don’t have a jack-o’-lantern,” she replied. 

After breakfast the next morning, Stine decided to visit Mrs. Dawson’s house and apologize. But movers were loading furniture onto a moving truck. Mrs. Dawson didn’t live there anymore – she had died two weeks earlier. 

“That’s my true ghost story,” Stine quipped. “Thank you very much. Do you think I made up part of that true ghost story?” 

Stine has written his share of horror stories for children and teens and now comic books, having resurrected “Man-Thing,” the Marvel comic book character created in 1971. Stine has given voice to the formerly mute swamp creature in a special five-issue Marvel comic series that will be released next month. 

Also, new “Goosebumps” offering “SlappyWorld Slappy Birthday to You,” about young Ian Barker and his ventriloquist dummy Slappy is available. 

These offerings just add to Stine’s largesse. He has written more than 300 books, with more than 350 million copies sold worldwide. 

Always open to creative ideas, Stine said book titles get in his head first, then the stories start from there. He notes that his favorite “Goosebumps” book is “The Haunted Mask.” The storyline originated from watching son Matt wrestle with a green Frankenstein monster mask that was stuck on his head and wouldn’t come loose. 

“I was a bad parent that day,” Stine joked.  

Instead of helping, he began taking down notes for a new book idea.

An idea came to fruition for Florida author Marlaena Shannon with “Bad Day for Baby Duck.” The book tells of the cruelty of nature and humans and the difficulty of survival. A disclaimer warns readers that the book is written for older audiences: “This story book is not for children.” The colorful illustrations, also by Shannon, outline a gruesome yet humorous story about a brood of ill-fated ducks. 

She has also  written and illustrated “Black and White Cat, White and Black Dog” and “Creatures Real and Imagined.” She is a President’s Book Awards winner according to her Facebook page. She visited West Nassau High School students to highlight “Bad Day for Baby Duck” in April Eason’s art class Friday afternoon. 

A fixture in western Nassau for many years, former WNHS teacher Bobby Hart asks the question, “Karaoke Singing Camels?” 

Through photos and stories, the book recounts his deployments to the Middle East in the early to late 2000s. The U.S. Army veteran visited the JROTC classroom Friday to reminisce about his exploits. 

Section: 

Marriage surpasses eight decades

Allen and Beatrice Ricks’ love story began more than 81 years ago when they met at an ice cream social. 

“It was nice,” Allen said of their first date, occurring in the summer of 1935. 

They married that same year on Christmas Day. The holiday provided the families a day off work, allowing the young couple to tie the knot. 

The couple’s whirlwind courtship revolved around simple outings. On Sunday nights Allen walked more than a mile to see his intended. 

“We went to dances and we went to church,” Beatrice recalled. 

Although he retired as a boilermaker, he also worked in phosphate mines after the couple relocated to the Sunshine State in 1946 from Baldwin, Miss.

Initially, the Ricks’ worked in the strawberry fields and a fruit packing plant near Plant City. The secret to the longevity of their marriage could be due to geography.

“I worked away from home a lot,” Allen, 100, said. 

But for Beatrice, their love sweetened one day at time.

“It means my whole life,” the 98-year-old said. 

Daughter-in-law Sandra Ricks and Boyd, the couple’s oldest child, married Sept. 25, 1980. The elder couple also shares daughter Gail, nine grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and numerous great-great-grandchildren. 

During the past three decades, Sandra has observed the couple’s relationship. The seniors moved to Nassau County in 1986. 

“They are always respectful of taking care of each other,” she said. 

Allen is a bit shy and Beatrice has vision and hearing problems, but that doesn’t stop the couple from showing affection. They usually communicate with their eyes and a touch of the hand. 

“They just seem to know what the other is thinking,” Sandra said. “They have a great innate sense of communication without using their voices. They have a sensory understanding of each other.” 

She has also enjoyed living close to her in-laws.

“They’ve been a big help to us,” Sandra said. “We’re so blessed they can stay in their home. They thrive whenever the two are together.” 

Allen and Beatrice continue to respond to each other warmly. Boyd said his parents always laughed a lot. Despite never achieving great wealth, the couple has been together through thick and thin.

“They always made the most of what they had and always lived within their means,” Sandra said. “Grandpa never had a credit card or a mortgage. He always worked and saved up for things. He never got anything he couldn’t afford until he could buy it.” 

The couple’s longevity and sound marriage has served as an example to extended family, according to Sandra.

“They never put themselves first,” she recalled. 

Allen maintains a sense of humor about his marital success. 

“Just keep quiet,” he said. 

His wife took a softer approach, attributing their happiness to, “Love, I suppose.” 

Already 36 years into his marriage with Sandra, Boyd looks to the future, saying, “I’ve got a legacy to follow – hadn’t I?” 

 

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