OLDEST W E EKLY LEADsER FRIDAY JANUARY25 2008/24PAGEs 2 SECTIONS Local Weather PAGE 2A 52J39 61/43 Coach shuffle at Milliard PAG CE 12A Different Desserts of Amelia PAGE 1B American Profile FEATURE MAGAZINE EXTRA EXTRA Local soldier hurt in Iraq bomb blast MICHAEL PARNELL News-Leader A 20-year-old U.S. soldier from Fernandina Beach is in Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washing- ton, D.C., recovering from serious injuries suffered in a bomb blast in Iraq that has gotten national media attention. U.S. Army Cpl. Taylor Harter, son of restaurateur Lisa Harter, has a broken foot, broken ankle, broken nose, sprained leg, broken teeth, back injuries and suffered lacerations and a concussion in the attack Saturday, his mother said. But he's alive. "I'feel like one of the luckiest moms his gunner was rinot so lucky," Lisa Harter said Wednes- day. The gunner was killed and three of the crew, including Harter, injured when their armored vehi- cle rolled over a homemade'bomb buried beneath a road in Arab Jabour, southeast of Baghdad, according to a New York Times report Tuesday. The Pentagon confirmed it was the first combat death involving an MRAP, a new Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected armored vehi- cle deployed in Iraq and intended to reduce casualties from'roadside bombs. Pentagon Press Secretary 'Geoff Morrell said it is still not clear whether the gunner died as a result of the explosion or vehicle rollover, the Associated Press reported Wednesday. The gunner sits atop, the vehicle, while the rest of the crew. i.in ,an inter al corn- partmeht. "That attack has not... caused anyone to question the vehicle's lifesaving capacity' To the contrary, the attack reaffirms their surviv- ability," Morrell was quoted by the AR I feel like one of the luckiest moms - his gunner was not so lucky.' LISA CARTER PHOTOS BY HEATHERA. PERRY/NEWS-LEADER U.S. Army Cpl. Taylor Harter, 20, top, suffered serious injuries Saturday when a bomb exploded under his vehicle. Gas station owner Ray Mullis is proud of, but worried about his grandson. Lisa Harter proudly displays a Blue Star Flag at La Bodega restaurant on Third Street to honor her son's service. Lisa Harter's verdict is in: "I guess that tank worked," she said. Her son called from a Baghdad hospital Saturday evening. Harter said, 'To hear his voice and to know you have all your limbs and everything's there...." Taylor Harter was flown to Germany for medical treatment .and then to Walter Reed on Tuesday. - Lisa Harter was grateful to be traveling Thursday to Washington to see her son. "I can't wait to see him," she said the day before. "He's a hero. He's back here." Harter will receive a Purple Heart and perhaps other medals. But the focus now is on recovery from his injuries. -,, "It's been quite overwhelming," Lisa Harter said of the communi- ty response. "I know he's on every pr yer list on this island." IRAQ Continued on 3A City says no to new holiday ANGELA DAUGHTRY News-Leader Fernandina Beach Commis- sioners voted Tuesday to deny city employees an additional paid holi- day for Presidents' Day. The ordinance to recognize the Feb. 11 holiday would have affect- ed only exempt or salaried workers employed by the city. Commissioners' reasons for vot- ing 4-1 against the code amend- ment included uncertain local eco- nomic conditions and a possible widespread recession. They also suggested that city employees have enough holidays. Vice Mayor Joe Gerrity said he would not support the new holi- day because city employees already enjoy a generous holiday schedule. "The last thing we need to do is give out extra days off like they're candy'," he said. "We need to address what we're doing in 2008 and not what we've done in the past. '"Where I come from, salaried people work until the job is done," he added. City Manager Michael Czymbor said after the meeting that many communities mirror the fact that Presidents' Day is recog- nized as a federal and state holi- day. He noted that the bargaining unit of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, which includes streets, utility and admin- istrative employees, asked for the extra holiday. According to the city of Fernandina" Beach website (www.fbfl.us), city employees get 11 paid holidays, including-the day after Thanksgiving arnd Christmas Eve day. They also receive "paid time off," which is a combination of vacation and sick time that is accrued each pay period. adaughtry@jbnewsleadercom 50 YEARS AGO Fernandina Beach High School Principal Oakley Hightower mailed a notice to parents telling them too many family dogs were following students to school. January 23, 1958 25 YFARS A public hearing was scheduled for a proposed county beach driving access fee of $25 per season or $2 per day from May through September. January 26, 1983 10 YEtRS AGO The school board sched- uled a public hearing to adopt a student pledge of conduct to be recited each day. January 28, 1998 INDEX CLASSIFIEDS ........................ 6B ,COMMUNITY ....................... 8A CROSSWORD/SUDOKU.:.. 5B EDITORIAL .................................. 7A FISHING-------14A FISHING ...................................... 14A LEISU RE ......................................... 1B M OVIES .................................. 2B O BITUARIES .............................. 2A OUT AND ABOUT ................... IB R ELIGIO N .................................... 9A SCHOOLS .................................. 10A SPORTS .... .......... .............. 12A TELEVISION ............................... 3B NEWS-LEADER 154th year No. 8 Copyright. 2007 The News-Leader Fernandina Beach L Printed on i00%o recycled newsprint. 1 84264 i 0013 Mayport residents, shrimpers opposed to cruise terminal ALEXANDRA KUMMERNES Community Newspapers No cruise terminal for the his- toric Mayport Fishing Village - that was the overwhelming mes- sage Mayport residents and prop- erty owners delivered to officials at a town hall meeting Jan. 17. More than 100 people many wearing T-shirts with anti-cruise emblems attended the meeting called by Jacksonville City Councilor Ray Holt at the Marine Science Center to address con- cerns about a proposed cruise ship terminal on Ocean Boulevard. 'We are trying very early on to be extremely proactive and talk to the community before there's even a deal on the table," said Holt, who has been Mayport's representative for approximately six.months. Jacksonville Port Authority Executive Director Rick Ferrin, along with other Jaxport officials, attended the meeting to give more information about the proposal, lis- ten' to concerns and answer ques- tions. "We're here to dispel rumors and be as truthful and forthright with you as possible," Ferrin said. He explained the port is in the preliminary process of conducting a study, which has three main com- ponents. First, the port had to assess if there was enough property to build the terminal It also had to deter- MAYPORT Continued on 3A THE WINTER SEASON JOHN LLOYD/FORTHE NEWS-LEADER Beach walkers bundled up earlier this week to cope with frigid temperatures on Amelia Island. It warmed up briefly but more cold weather blew through with lows in the 30s and a high of only 52 forecast for today. The weekend should be slightly warmer. Forecast, 2A. I II I ~ II III i-i-I ii preserve Mayport's Rich <^mp industry and Boat #, COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS Shrimpers made their position known about prospects for a cruise terminal in Mayport at a public hearing last week. Schools to'opt out of teacher merit ay plan GLENDA S. JENKINS meeting its deadline and News-Leader short of all the necessary exams. The Nassau County School Board has The state's plan decided it will not participate in the Merit requires end of year or Award Program, the state's pay for per- end of course nationally formance plan. or locally developed Schools Superintendent John Ruis rec- exams, based on Sunshine ommended the district "opt out" of the Merit State Standards, for all Award Program, or MAP, for this school Ruis subjects and grade levels. year. The board voted unanimously Jan. 10 The results would account to approve his recommendation. for "no less than 60 per- The decision means that this year the cent" .of an educator's assessment. district's instructional staff will not receive The district does not have exams for all bonuses based on student performance. grades and did not receive the anticipated Performance pay is not required, Ruis assistance with test question construction said. "It is strictly voluntary. We don't have from the state Department of Education. to participate." The school district applied '"The biggest problem is with vocational because, "If we had an opportunity to reward and elective courses," Ruis said. some of our outstanding teachers we want- The district will continue the process to ed to do that." But the district was "under the gun" in SCHOOLS Continued on 3A F1 i l TT 1 '10/-TT9