MyNassauSun's blog

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for central Nassau County until 12:45 p.m.

At 12:08 p.m. National Weather Service doppler radar indicated a line of severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds in excess of 60 mph.

The storms extended from Jacksonville International Airport to nine miles south of Ratliff. The storms were moving southeast at 28 mph. 

At 11:30 a.m. National Weather Service doppler radar indicated a line of severe thunderstorms capable of producing hail and destructive winds in excess of 70 mph.

These storms were located 16 miles southwest of Hilliard and moving east at 22 mph.

A robber who ditched his getaway car after a Nassau County bank heist Saturday also abandoned the loot, leaving it inside the vehicle, authorities said.

No one was harmed when a masked man armed with a handgun jumped the counter at Southeastern Bank on Florida A1A in Yulee and demanded money. The man took off in a late 1990s Jeep Cherokee with an undetermined amount of money, according to the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies soon found the Jeep abandoned - with the money inside - behind a nearby liquor store.

All the money was recovered.

“I guess I’d say it was pretty tainted,” said Nassau County Sheriff Tommy Seagraves. “He couldn’t spend it, I’ll tell you that.”

By MATT COLEMAN,
The Times-Union

AMERICAN BEACH - The walls of the Evans Rendezvous Club pulsed with live performances from Ray Charles, Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington in its heyday in the 1940s and 1950s.

About that same time, a lively business owner named Martha Hippard was throwing house parties and dances - and some say high-stakes card games - at her secluded home a few miles away.

But when segregation was abolished, development in the predominantly African-American beach community tailed off.

Two adult gaming parlors were shut down Wednesday in Nassau County following an eight-month investigation.

Fifteen gambling machines, hundreds of debit cards and cash, together valued at $250,000, were seized from Cabana Gold in Callahan and Treasure Bay in Fernandina Beach, Sheriff Tommy Seagraves said.

Cabana Gold owner Carl Gibson and his brother Russell Gibson, who owns Treasure Bay, have not been charged with crimes.

The National Weather Service has upgraded the severe thunderstorm watch set to expire at 5 p.m.

A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for southern Nassau County until 2 p.m.

According to the National Weather Service, the doppler radar indicated a line of severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds in excess of 60 mph. These storms were spotted at 1:14 p.m. along a line extending from Callahan.

The previously issued severe thunderstorm watch for northeastern Florida and southeastern Georgia remains in effect until 5 p.m. 

Effective today, the criminal, civil and recording fees collected by the Nassau County Clerk of the Circuit Court's office will increase.

The additional revenue will go to the state, however, not the Nassau Clerk's office.

Criminal Department Fee Updates

Service Current Fee Updated Fee
Certify a copy $1.50 $2.00
Verify a document to be certified from other than clerk $3.00 $3.50
Hardship Fee $6.00 $7.00
Exemplified copies $6.00 $7.00
Searches $1.50 $2.00
Sealing & Expunging $37.50 $42.00
Receiving/Distributing Restitution payments $3.00 $3.50
Appeal to DCA $50.00 $100.00
County Court - Traffic
Certificate of Compliance form $6.00 $7.00
Dismissals & DL/Registration/Insurance expired w/proof it was valid prior to citation $7.50 $10.00
Proof of compliance - Tag/DL/Registration $57.10 $61.25
Proof of compliance - Insurance $42.35 $55.90
Child Restraint Violation $123.50 $141.00
Moving violations other than speeding $123.50 $141.00
Non-moving violations $76.50 $91.00
Fail to stop for school bus/railroad $163.50 $181.00
Seat belt violation $76.50 $91.00
Red Light violation $188.50 $206.00
Open container - driver $123.50 $141.00
Open container - passenger $76.50 $91.00
ATV violation - non-moving $71.50 $86.00
ATV violation - moving $123.50 $141.00
Pedestrian/Bicycle violation $48.50 $49.50
Boating violation - non-moving $61.00 $73.00
Boating violation - moving $65.00 $90.00
Faulty equipment $54.00 $75.00
Dropping load $246.50 $261.00
Handicap parking $143.50 $158.00
Unlawful Speed
6-9 miles over $88.50 $106.00
10-14 miles over $163.50 $181.00
15-19 miles over $188.50 $206.00
20-29 miles over $213.50 $231.00
30+ miles over $313.50 $331.00
Unlawful Speed in a school or construction zone
6-9 miles over $113.50 $131.00
10-14 miles over $263.50 $281.00
15-19 miles over $313.50 $331.00
20-29 miles over $363.50 $381.00
30+ miles over $563.50 $581.00

By FRANCINE KING

The Times-Union

It appears the WTA Tour tennis tournament that has been played at Amelia Island Plantation since 1980 will remain in the Jacksonville area for its 30th anniversary.

But it might have a new home.

Residents of Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach received a notice Thursday that the Sawgrass Board of Governors has approved in principle a proposal from Octagon Enterprises to have Sawgrass play host to the event, which was previously known as the Bausch & Lomb Championships.

Octagon, the company that manages the women's professional tennis tour event, acknowledged Friday that it is trying to close a deal to bring the event to Sawgrass, but it still has to iron out a contract with a new local sponsor.

Bausch & Lomb ended its 22-year title sponsorship after the conclusion of the 2008 tournament, which was won by Russian star Maria Sharapova.

"Our intent clearly is to keep this event in the Jacksonville area and make it financially viable," tournament director John Arrix said. "We're exploring keeping it at Amelia Island, as well as going to Sawgrass. We're really hustling to find a new title sponsor and additional sponsors."

Jason Mudd, CEO of AXIA, the public relations firm hired by Octagon to help identify new sponsors, said three companies have expressed significant interest in the title sponsorship, and one has signed a letter of intent.

Arrix said if everything continues on course, he expects to make an announcement about the new sponsor in the next few weeks.

The notice to Sawgrass residents, a copy of which was obtained by the Times-Union, indicated that the agreement to move the tournament would be a three-year deal. But it acknowledged that the details of the contract had not been negotiated.

"For 29 years, we've appreciated the support of the Jacksonville area community at the Bausch & Lomb Championships," said Phil de Picciotto, president of Octagon. "With the restructuring of the women's tennis tour, we're doing everything possible to maintain our presence in the market with a new event."

The Nassau County School District this morning released the school start times for the 2008-09 school year.

A Callahan man was in critical condition yesterday after he was hit riding his bicycle on Florida A1A in Callahan, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

John C. Williams, 49, was riding east near Stratton Road shortly after 11 a.m. when he was hit by a westbound car driven by Courtney Whitaker, 20, of Callahan. Whitaker told investigators a car in front of her braked suddenly causing her to change lanes to avoid a collision.

Williams was taken to Shands Jacksonville.

The National Weather Service has issued an urban and small stream flood advisory for southern Nassau County until 6:30 p.m.

This alert follows a severe thunderstorm warning for the area that first expired at 4:15 p.m., but was extended three times to expire at 6:15 p.m.

At 5:06 p.m., the storm had dumped 1- to 3-inches of rain in the past hour near the Jacksonville International Airport. An additional 1- to 2-inches of rain is possible in the area. Minor flooding is likely in low and poor drainage areas, according to the National Weather Service.

The severe thunderstorm is capable of producing hail and damaging winds in excess of 60 mph. At the time the storm was located near Jacksonville International Airport and moving south at 17 mph.