Sea turtle nesting season officially begins

Wednesday, May 1st, 2013, 7:34am

FLORIDA -- The start of May is also the official start of sea turtle nesting season.

The female members of the endangered species will make their way onto our sandy beaches to lay eggs. Last year, St. Johns County had a good year of around 650 loggerhead turtle nests.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is urging people to make sure all their equipment is off beaches at night so female turtles can lay their eggs. The FWC is also reminding people it is a felony to disturb any sea turtles, their nests or hatchlings. Also, turn off lights along the beach.

Just as a reminder it is a felony to disturb a female sea turtle that is nesting.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Community Sponsors

Atlantic Warriors Wing Chun Kung Fu

Atlantic Warriors is Florida's Self Defense & Martial Arts expert!

$10 off Kung Fu class!

Jacksonville Beach making fireworks donation plea

Submitted by Roger Weeder, Reporter

Monday, April 29th, 2013, 6:56pm

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. -- A plea for help in making July 4th fireworks a part of the future will hinge on how supportive the public is in helping pay the bill.

Last year, the annual fireworks display was cancelled primarily due to unruly crowds in July 2011.

This spring the Jacksonville Beach council decided to fund fireworks for this year at a cost of $25,000.

Donations from the public are being sought to help defray the cost and participation could determine if fireworks are the part of the landscape in the coming years.

On the Jacksonville Beach website a link is provided for people to make an online donation. Donations are also being accepted in person when paying utility bills.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Navy Volunteers credited with fast action after shots fired

Submitted by Kaitlyn Ross, Reporter

Monday, April 29th, 2013, 5:28am

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Volunteers from the Navy Dive Team at Mayport jumped into action after a shooting near a school.

"When I heard that happened, it shook my heart. Because as a parent you want to have bubble wrap around your kids all the time," said Bobby Gonzales.

Bobby Gonzales said his daughter Meilani was one of two dozen volunteers cleaning up the Justina Road Park when they heard gunshots.

"I was right next to the Navy guys, and immediately they told me to start running behind the school," said Meilani.

"It was a Navy Dive Team, volunteers, Principal Harris, they immediately went in to action. They made sure all the kids were safe, locked down in the school, every exit, they wouldn't let anyone come in to the school," said Gonzales.

Police immediately responded, and made sure the area was safe. Gonzales is proud of how quickly everyone responded.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Fernandina restaurant temporarily closed after roaches found in kitchen

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Wednesday, April 24th, 2013, 10:40pm

FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. -- A Fernandina Beach sushi restaurant was closed last week after inspectors found more than fresh fish in the kitchen.

Safety and sanitation inspectors with the state's Division of Hotels and Restaurants reportedly found more than 60 live roaches in the kitchen of the Bonito Grill and Sushi restaurant.

The restaurant is located on Fernandina's Historic Centre Street.

Inspectors mandated the restaurant close its doors as an emergency precaution.

The restaurant had 26 total violations, 10 of the violations were considered a high priority.

The restaurant reopened 24 hours later.

A follow-up inspection showed that the restaurant had corrected all serious violations.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Community Sponsors

Dean Marine Electronics

Watch video

The Best Brand Name Products

20% Off Labor!

Selva Marina Country Club plans for future

Submitted by Roger Weeder, Reporter

Wednesday, April 24th, 2013, 5:28pm

ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. -- The staff at Selva Marina Country Club knows all about tough times, but now believes the club has a plan that will lead the golf course out of the rough.

The club, which has faced debt and dwindling membership, is seeking to build a golf course community with 160 homes.

"The goal right now is we would close early next year, January or February, rebuild the club and by the fall (2014) be back in operation," said John Meserve, who is Selva's chief administrative officer.

The plan that's in the works calls for a developer to purchase club property that would provide the cash for a new club house and other amenities. Meserve said the sale is on target for later this year.

Lots with golf course views, according to Meserve, would start in the $200,000 range with some lots being more expensive.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Neighbors call vacant home 'an eyesore'

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013, 8:23pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- This story comes to us from Judy Brown. She called First Coast News during the talent phone bank on Monday.

She claims there's a house next door that has been vacant for years and she wants something to be done about it. First Coast News Consumer reporter David Williams is getting answers.

If you drive down Beach Boulevard to the Intracoastal Waterway, you will find a picturesque Jacksonville neighborhood with stately homes. Ericka Schneider has called it home for a couple years.

"It's a great neighborhood," Schneider said.

What isn't so great, she said, is a house at the entrance of Silver Palm Drive.

"There's a house that's been sitting empty ever since we moved in here," Schneider explained. "It's just an eyesore."

You can see what condition the outside of the home appears to be.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Four in custody following Jax Beach shooting

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Sunday, April 21st, 2013, 1:13pm

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. - A shooting in Jacksonville Beach Saturday night lands four in police custody.

The shooting took place in the 1500 block of 1st Street in Jacksonville Beach at 7:19 p.m. Saturday, according to the Jacksonville Beach Police Department.

After what appear to be two violent crimes in the past two weekends, people who live in Jacksonville Beach tell First Coast News they are concerned.

Brent Baugh lives in Jacksonville Beach. "Two violent crimes in such a short period of time is, I wish it didn't have to happen," he said.

Baugh said he has family visiting him from out-of-town.

"We saw the police searching through the grass with flashlights," Baugh said as he described what he saw Saturday nighit. "So, we knew that it was some sort of violent crime and they were looking for bulltet cassings."

View Comments | Post a Comment