A Fernandina man, who is very much alive, was marked dead by the Social Security Administration last October.John Perry said he couldn’t access his bank account but didn’t realize it was the source of a deeper problem.“I own a detailing business and I had recently changed names, so I figured it would resolve itself over a few weeks,” Perry said. Perry said other problems began when he tried submitting rent payments the front office refused to accept them.“They told me they couldn’t accept my payments and that I needed to contact their lawyer,” he said.Perry said he was told by apartment management that it was believed he was committing identity theft. He realized why, after he was pulled over in February and a deputy told him that he wasn’t alive according to records.“At first I thought it was a joke and then he told me he didn’t want to deal with the paperwork, so he told me to leave,” he said.Perry said he was … [Read more...] about Social Security ‘clerical error’ says Fernandina man dead, but he’s very much alive
Fernandina
Dead humpback whale washes ashore on Fernandina Beach
A dead humpback whale that washed onto Fernandina Beach early Sunday is the latest in an alarming increase in fatalities for the federally endangered mammal. And as biologists autopsied the 31-foot-long juvenile whale on the beach Monday, they said this is the furthest south any dead humpback has been found after two years of increasing mortality rates for the creature along the East Coast. “It was a juvenile humpback, and they did a necropsy on the beach and took samples so they will hopefully find out the cause of its demise. It was a male,” Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokeswoman Karen Parker said. “NOAA [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] said this was the first humpback whale that has washed up this far south. They have had an unusual mortality event for humpbacks in the past few years, which is why they are paying attention to this one.” Humpback whales, or Megaptera novaeangliae, start out at about 15 feet long and … [Read more...] about Dead humpback whale washes ashore on Fernandina Beach
TU Girls Basketball Power Poll: Fleming Island, Fernandina Beach move up
The girls high school basketball Power Poll will run Friday’s through the end of the regular season. Records are through Thursday Jan. 25 games. Rank, team, record, classification, previous 1. Nease (19-3, Class 7A), 1 Quality wins: Bartram Trail (twice), Homestead, Wisc., Melbourne, Menendez, Middleburg (twice), Ponte Vedra, Rockledge, St. Augustine, Spruce Creek, West, Calif., Notable: The Panthers enjoyed their first week as the area’s top-ranked team with a pair of comfortable wins. Nease routed a very good Menendez team 43-9, and then beat a quality Bartram team 42-30 in the St. Johns River Athletic Conference tournament. It faces area No. 2 Fleming Island on Saturday (3:30 p.m.) for the conference crown. It will be a chance to atone for one of its three losses this season. Fleming beat Nease 64-62 in the second game of the year. 2. Fleming Island (21-3, Class 8A), 3 Quality wins: Bartram Trail, First Coast, Middleburg (twice), Nease, Oakleaf, Orange Park, … [Read more...] about TU Girls Basketball Power Poll: Fleming Island, Fernandina Beach move up
Many stories to tell about the old school in Fernandina Beach, built 90 years ago in segregated South
FERNANDINA BEACH | Every old building has many stories, and here’s just one of the thousands from the Peck School, though it’s likely the only one featuring an outspoken granny who arrived on the scene in a rocking chair set up in the back of a ramshackle pickup truck, “Beverly Hillbillies” style. The Peck School, a pretty two-story brick building, would never have existed if not for a now-largely forgotten campaign by the Jewish philanthropist Julius Rosenwald and the black educator Booker T. Washington. They were visionaries who helped build thousands of black schools across the segregated South. Those schools eventually educated one in three black students in the region. Two of those students, in Peck’s class of 1949, were Charles Albert, a country boy from Nassauville, and Ernie Tyson, the pretty valedictorian. Ernie asked Charles to the prom that year. It’s not as if she had many choices: He was one of just three boys in the graduating class, … [Read more...] about Many stories to tell about the old school in Fernandina Beach, built 90 years ago in segregated South
Sheriff’s Office: Fernandina Beach baby dies in bathtub left with toddler sister
A 14-month-old baby is dead after her 22-year-old mother found her submerged in a tub in their Fernandina Beach home Tuesday afternoon, according to the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Bill Leeper said the baby and her 3-year-old sister were in the bathtub at their home on Linda Hall Road when the mother left the room “for a few minutes.” When she came back, the younger girl was underwater. Emergency officials were called about 1:20 p.m., and deputies who responded gave the baby CPR until rescue personnel transported her to the hospital. The child was pronounced deceased about 2:20 p.m., and the case remains under investigation, Leeper said. “Unfortunately this tragedy was totally preventable and is a sad reminder that when your child is in or near the water, you need to keep your eyes on them at all times,” Leeper said. Deputies have responded to a few previous calls at this address, including neighbors fighting and gunshots heard in the … [Read more...] about Sheriff’s Office: Fernandina Beach baby dies in bathtub left with toddler sister
Sheriff’s Office: Fernandina Beach baby dies in bathtub
A 14-month-old baby is dead after her mother found her submerged in a tub in their Fernandina Beach home Tuesday afternoon, according to the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Bill Leeper said the baby and her 3-year-old sister were in the bathtub at a home on Linda Hall Road when the mother left the room “for a few minutes.” When she came back, the younger girl was underwater. Emergency officials were called about 1:20 p.m., and deputies who responded gave the baby CPR until Nassau County Rescue transported her to Baptist-Nassau Hospital. The child was pronounced deceased at 2:21 p.m., Leeper said. The Times-Union and Jacksonville.com will have more information on the investigation as it becomes available. … [Read more...] about Sheriff’s Office: Fernandina Beach baby dies in bathtub
TU Girls Basketball Power Poll: Top four hold steady; Fernandina Beach moves in
The girls high school basketball Power Poll will run Friday’s through the end of the regular season. Records are through Thursday Jan. 11 games. Rank, team, record, classification, previous 1. Sandalwood (12-1, Class 9A), 1 Quality wins: Nease, Flagler Palm Coast, Raines, Ribault (twice), Tampa Catholic. Notable: The Saints took their first loss of the season on Thursday night with a 61-51 setback to 10-4 Spruce Creek. That’s an important loss, too, with Sandalwood and Spruce Creek District 1-9A opponents. 2. Nease (15-3, Class 7A), 2 Quality wins: Bartram, Homestead, Wisc., Middleburg, Ponte Vedra, Rockledge, St. Augustine, West, Calif., Notable: The Panthers gave unbeaten Winter Haven everything it could handle last week in a 60-56 OT loss. That alone says everything you need to know about Nease — the Panthers are very, very good. I’d like to see Nease and No. 1 Sandalwood face off late in the season. 3. Fleming Island (15-3, Class 8A), 3 Quality wins: … [Read more...] about TU Girls Basketball Power Poll: Top four hold steady; Fernandina Beach moves in
Bookmarks: Signings, releases, storytimes
COFFEE TIME Local author De-Leon Peacock presents his book “Boys’ Estate Ga. 1946-1976: A Pictorial History of Georgia’s Town Just for Boys” at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at The Literary Guild of St. Simons Island’s Coffee with the Author at the Casino, 550 Beachview Drive, St. Simons. Free for members, $10 for guests. Reservations: litguildssi.org/events. EMAIL TIME Our email address has changed. Send all of your book announcements (signings, launches, appearances, sales, seminars, etc.) to [email protected] (don’t forget the 1) seven days before the Sunday of publication. STORYTIMES • “Kitten & Snake,” 11 a.m. Tuesday, Barnes & Noble St. Johns Town Center. • 11 a.m. Friday, Barnes & Noble St. Johns Town Center. • “I Am Harriet Tubman,” 11 a.m. Saturday, Barnes & Noble St. Johns Town Center, Barnes & Noble San Jose, 11112 San Jose Blvd., Barnes & Noble St. … [Read more...] about Bookmarks: Signings, releases, storytimes
Meet the 2017 All-First Coast Football Team
The Times-Union’s All-First Coast football team. The Times-Union’s 2017 All-First Coast football team was selected by sports writers Justin Barney and Clayton Freeman, with the input of area varsity coaches helping determine the team. FIRST TEAM QB Ivory Durham IV, Raines, Sr., Area offensive POY; led Vikings to state title; passed for 3,004 yards, 34 TDs, rushed for 9 TDs RB Aundre Carter, Clay, Sr., Lone area 2K back; had 2,348 rushing yards, 24 TDs on 256 carries (9.2 ypc) RB Brandon Marshall, Raines, Jr., Rushed for 1,709 yards on 180 carries, 22 TDs; added 230 yards, 2 TDs receiving RB Seth Paige, Baker County, Sr. Rushed for 1,836 yards, 22 TDs (840/10 of those in the playoffs) during Wildcats’ best season WR Karim Brown, St. Augustine, Sr., Had 1,385 yards, 17 TDs on 59 catches in breakout final season WR Chris Cummings, Bradford, Sr., Had 13 TDs on 40 catches (714 yards); versatile in secondary, too; added 22 tackles, 5 INT, 2 returned for TD WR Chris Sanders, … [Read more...] about Meet the 2017 All-First Coast Football Team
TaxSlayer Bowl is a rewarding homecoming for these 2 Louisville defensive linemen
FERNANDINA BEACH | Louisville defensive linemen De’Asian Richardson and Drew Bailey knew they had to get used to a different practice environment this week and fully prepare to slow down a tough Mississippi State offense. Being from Jacksonville meant the two seniors also had another responsibility. “Got to get a lot of tickets, man,” Bailey said. “Got to get a whole bunch of tickets.” The Cardinals’ appearance in Saturday’s TaxSlayer Bowl gives Richardson and Bailey the opportunity to cap their college careers in front of friends and family members, many of whom have never been able to see them play other than on TV. Richardson said he expected to need about 30 tickets; Bailey estimated his number was closer to 20. Each is making sure to savor the moment. “The people that didn’t get a chance to come way up to Louisville to see us,” Richardson said. “[We want to] make sure they are able to have a good time and enjoy the … [Read more...] about TaxSlayer Bowl is a rewarding homecoming for these 2 Louisville defensive linemen