Local

Team Splash athletes met for their first practice Monday in Hilliard. More team members are always welcome. Submitted

Team Splash athletes met for their first practice Monday in Hilliard. More team members are always welcome. Submitted

Olympians meet in Hilliard

Amanda Bishop NCR Editor & Publisher Team Splash brings Special Olympics swimming to Hilliard. The Area 4 team has new coaches on deck and a dedicated team of community volunteers.  The team held its first practice at the Town of Hilliard’s pool Monday.
Abby Driggers baked the winning pie for the second year in a row for the Red, White and Boom Independence Day event Friday.

Abby Driggers baked the winning pie for the second year in a row for the Red, White and Boom Independence Day event Friday.

West Side celebrates Independence Day

Abby Driggers baked the winning pie for the second year in a row for the Red, White and Boom Independence Day event Friday. The event included a watermelon eating contest, children’s games, music and more at the Northeast Florida Fairgrounds. 
Youth Pastor Ethan Thompson holds Isaiah, who will be a year old Saturday.

Youth Pastor Ethan Thompson holds Isaiah, who will be a year old Saturday.

Anchor members celebrate at Red, White and Boom

The Anchor Church members interact with children, playing games and enjoying fellowship while attending the Red, White and Boom Fourth of July festival and fireworks at the Northeast Florida Fairgrounds Friday. Youth Pastor Ethan Thompson holds Isaiah, who will be a year old Saturday.
Redemptive Love Church invites everyone to its new location at 542233 U.S. 1, Callahan.

Redemptive Love Church invites everyone to its new location at 542233 U.S. 1, Callahan.

Redemptive Love in Callahan

Redemptive Love Church invites everyone to its new location at 542233 U.S. 1, Callahan. The church held its first service in its new home Sunday. Worship begins at 6:30 p.m. at the contemporary Christian church, which formerly met in a local home for the past year and a half.
Impact Your World Church Pastor Kalvin Thompson presents Celine Joinville and Hadleigh White with their scholarships.

Impact Your World Church Pastor Kalvin Thompson presents Celine Joinville and Hadleigh White with their scholarships.

Church awards scholars

For the Record As a student at Hilliard Middle-Senior High School, the Rev. Kalvin R. Thompson thought an athletic scholarship was his only path to college. Although he was a good basketball player, he wasn’t a great one, he said.  Then a friend told him, “‘You can go to college on your grades.
The gangway that collapsed during the Hometown Fourth of July Friday night event is pictured at top, full of spectators less than an hour before the collapse, pictured above. Photos by Ashley Chandler

The gangway that collapsed during the Hometown Fourth of July Friday night event is pictured at top, full of spectators less than an hour before the collapse, pictured above. Photos by Ashley Chandler

Gangway buckles as spectators congregate

Ashley Chandler News-Leader   Fireworks exploded overhead as onlookers formed hand motions to the song “YMCA” at the annual Fourth of July celebration at the Fernandina Harbor Marina.
Kids ages 5-14 participated in the camp presented by the Yulee Hornets baseball team Monday through Thursday at Yulee High School.

Kids ages 5-14 participated in the camp presented by the Yulee Hornets baseball team Monday through Thursday at Yulee High School.

Sluggers excel at Yulee camp

Colton Harwell works on batting fundamentals before scrimmaging Thursday at the Yulee Hornets Baseball Summer Camp. Kids ages 5-14 participated in the camp presented by the Yulee Hornets baseball team Monday through Thursday at Yulee High School.
Winn-Dixie offers a deli counter, fresh seafood and a bakery that an Aldi would not include. Photo by Anna Newhoff

Winn-Dixie offers a deli counter, fresh seafood and a bakery that an Aldi would not include. Photo by Anna Newhoff

Grocery brand staying for now

Anna Newhoff NCR Reporter   Callahan’s Winn-Dixie shoppers can keep their red carts and familiar aisles — at least until further notice. In March 2024, Southeastern Grocers Inc., parent company of Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket was officially bought by Aldi U.S.
Amtrak passengers carry their  belongings toward Jackson-ville Transportation Authority  buses in Boulogne Sunday aft- ernoon. Train 41 lost power, coming to a stop just inside Nassau County. It was headed to Miami from Chicago at the time. Nassau County Fire Rescue, the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office and other local agencies and departments assisted the Amtrak passengers.  Photo courtesy of the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office

Amtrak passengers carry their belongings toward Jackson-ville Transportation Authority buses in Boulogne Sunday aft- ernoon. Train 41 lost power, coming to a stop just inside Nassau County. It was headed to Miami from Chicago at the time. Nassau County Fire Rescue, the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office and other local agencies and departments assisted the Amtrak passengers. Photo courtesy of the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office

Unscheduled train stop

Anna Newhoff NCR Reporter   An Amtrak train came to a complete stop Sunday after the train lost power in Boulogne.  According to Amtrak Senior Public Relations Manager Beth Toll, at 10:30 a.m. Amtrak Train 41 was traveling from Chicago to Miami with 264 passengers on board.
Smoke from the Rowe Road Fire billows into the sky Friday evening in Hilliard. The fire grew to 128 acres and its cause is under investigation. Photo courtesy of Darryl and Tamara Cawley-Del Rio

Smoke from the Rowe Road Fire billows into the sky Friday evening in Hilliard. The fire grew to 128 acres and its cause is under investigation. Photo courtesy of Darryl and Tamara Cawley-Del Rio

Two fires spark in Hilliard

Anna Newhoff NCR Reporter   Two wildfires broke out in Hilliard over the weekend.  The first wildfire ignited Friday afternoon off Rowe Road, consuming approximately 128 acres of land.