Is Journalism Making A Comeback At The News Leader?

Todd Frantz, the newly appointed publisher of Fernandina Beach’s News Leader, brought his journalism experience with him.

From what I’ve observed Frantz has swiftly exercised his influence on the paper’s “Opinion” pages. It appears that he has cleaned house, booting the frenzied far-left columnists who considered those who opposed their views racist boobs and fanatics clinging to their guns and religion, as Barack Obama indelicately phrased it.

The leftist screechers have been replaced with a couple of gifted writers including Caleb Bryan, a U.S. history, government and macroeconomics teacher at West Nassau High School. Based on his columns I’ve read his students are fortunate to have him. His material isn’t political or biased but fascinating looks at Nassau County and America, written in a style that leaves readers wanting more.

Retired Marine Corps veteran and Former City Commissioner Len Kreger, who I’ve rarely agreed with, has also recently populated the editorial space with well-researched and informative opinion pieces that I find difficult to disagree with.

The new columns and the staff-written “Our Opinion” editorials all appear well researched and balanced. I may not agree with many of the authors, but the opinions no longer are filled with radicalized fury, dishonesty, abuse, and a venomous attitude toward anyone disagreeing with their sentiments, political or otherwise.

News pages appear to be free of opinion and based on the old-time formula for news stories of who, what, when, where, why and how.

The letters to the editor section still needs closer supervision. The first sentence in the paper’s “Letters to the Editor” policy says: “The word limit for a letter to the editor is 600 words.” Many long-winded contributors prattle unedited far beyond that ceiling, challenging even word salad champion Kamala Harris.

With Frantz at the helm maybe Editor Tracy Dishman can begin editing for a change. She particularly needs to apply her red pen to the paper’s Narcissistic “Curious Columnist” Jennifer Silverman’s “Look at Me! Look At Me” word jumbles.

So far the new look is a refreshing change that should appeal to the majority of the community.

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Meanwhile Over In Crazyville: The new approach at the News Leader is an extreme contrast to the pathetic online blind Fernandina Observer and its wannabe reporter and Black Lives Matter activist and former City Commissioner Mike Lednovich.

Apparently, there are no limits to how low the patronizing Lednovich and the sight-impaired Observer will stoop to provide cover for the liberal and malicious Fernandina Beach city government.

A recent example is a Lednovich-bylined article about city resident Mike Spino, who vocally demonstrated why he is that neighbor who you don’t want to live next door to, or even close to, particularly if you don’t harbor the same political leanings he does.

Spino, resigned as Community Redevelopment Advisory Board chair Wednesday, March 5 after it was revealed at a City Commission meeting that he blithely rode his bike through Old Town profanely swearing at residents shouting, “F Trump” and “F you!” and making obscene gestures to women residents displaying Trump campaign signs in their yards. One, was a young woman with a toddler, who broke out in tears after he pedaled by a second time during his obscene assault.

Based on Lednovich’s version of the incident Observer readers would think Spino mildly annoyed residents by noisily singing hymns.

Spino quit the board before he could be publicly booted, following comments by residents at a City Commission meeting describing his abhorrent behavior in detail.

The incident also prompted Spino to resign in September 2024, from the Historic District Council, where he had served as a member since 2018. Why didn’t the City Commission take action then?

Lednovich, who has never seen a far-left radical cause he didn’t support, attempted to justify Spino’s behavior writing: “According to the residents, Spino, an avid cyclist who is often seen navigating Fernandina’s picturesque streets, confronted them harshly upon noticing the signs. The residents detailed the encounter in emails to city commissioners of how Spino made disparaging remarks about their political views, creating an uncomfortable and tense encounter that lingered in the minds of those involved.” Talk about a false narrative. You’d think Spino merely cycled by and gently said: “I don’t like your sign.”

Lednovich never mentioned the obscene hand gestures or the vile obscenities the scatological cyclist shouted at the ladies, or the Trump signs. Instead, he gushed lavish praise on Spino writing: “Spino had an untarnished record serving on various city boards starting in 2012 with the Arts Council. He followed that with the Board of Adjustment and then the Historic District Council (HDC) in 2018.” Maybe Lednovich is planning on hitting Spino up for a loan.

The cherry on top of Lednovich’s embarrassingly gushing accolades for the publicly shamed Spino was reaching out to and quoting his old pal and current Jacksonville resident and former Fernandina City Commissioner Chip Ross:  “He exemplifies a high standard of commitment and service to our community. During the seven years I served as a City Commissioner, Mike’s genuine passion was creating a positive impact on the island. He made good things happen,” babbled the curmudgeonly former commissioner about Spino in Lednovich’s article.

The people of Old Towne weren’t recipients of any of those “good things”, just the opposite. And readers of the Observer were recipients of another load of putrid garbage spewed by Lednovich.

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They/Them/Turtle: Amelia Island resident Rick Scott — not the FL Senator and not related to me — but a former Associated Press reporter and a colleague of mine in the early 1980s, alerted me to the following item that must defy the imagination of even the most demented far-left Democrat.

The Oregon mental health advisory board includes a member who identifies as terrapin species https://www.foxnews.com/politics/oregon-mental-health-advisory-panel-includes-member-identifies-turtle

“I’m not a huge fan of Fox News, but even a blind squirrel finds a few nuts. This is one. The News Wrecker couldn’t have done better,” said Mr. Scott in his note to me.

The article describes a member of the Eugene, Oregon board that advises on mental health policies in Oregon and identifies as a “turtle.” Apparently this is a person who celebrates Halloween year-round.

The Consumer Advisory Council (OCAC) works on informing and advising the director of Oregon’s Health Authority (OHA), and among its members is JD Holt, who goes by the name “JD Terrapin” on Facebook and whose pronouns are “they, them, and turtle.”

Actually that story would be considered too absurd for even the News Wrecker. But obviously nothing is too absurd for the completely confused and whacky Democrat party and its LGBTQ etc. crowd. When tourists from Oregon visit Amelia Island are residents along the beach required to turn off their exterior lights so the terrapin visitors won’t mistake them for the moon and wander into the traffic instead of the ocean?

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Good News For Republicans:  The winner of the Elmer Fudd look-alike contest – failed 2024 Democratic vice presidential candidate and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz – said he would “certainly consider” running for president in 2028.

“If I feel I can serve, I will. If I think I could offer something … I would certainly consider that,” the Minnesota governor told the New Yorker Radio Hour Sunday, March 2.

The goofy and bizarre Walz leading the ticket for the Democrats in 2028 would be a dream-come-true scenario for the GOP. Who could the Dems pick as Walz’s VP from their weak bench that could perform any worse than he did in 2024? This ticket could be a repeat of the McGovern-Eagleton-Shriver Democrat debacle in 1972 when the Democrats won only D.C. and Massachusetts.

The Washington Post reported on what it says are the Democrats top 10 picks to run in 2028. Here’s their selection: 1. Josh Shapiro 2. Gretchen Whitmer 3. Pete Buttigieg 4. Kamala Harris 5. John Fetterman 6. Ruben Gallego 7. Wes Moore 8. Raphael G. Warnock 9. Gavin Newsome 10. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez.

As even Democrats admit their party is lacking a clear leader who can run for president in 2028, the list of contenders offered by the Post prompted many negative responses.

After the paper relayed its top Democrats “who make the most sense for 2028,” not much seems to have changed with Democrats still flailing for identity while President Donald Trump successfully plows through America’s agenda.

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Have You Ever Wondered? When watching Democrats and their far-left extremists demonstrating in the streets:

• Have you thought “where are the attractive women?” There aren’t any. That’s why these gatherings don’t attract many men. They can’t find any attractive women. And if there are one or two hotties screaming slogans, pumping their fists, and waving signs, that’s a clear warning signal to guys that these are gals to avoid unless you want to be as miserable as they are.
• Why haven’t we heard anything from Joe Biden since he shuffled off to Delaware? Not a peep from the senile old geezer…nothing. I assume he’s happily sitting in his mansion watching reruns of Mayberry R.F.D. , sipping hot chocolate, and wishing Hunter would stop calling and asking for rent money.
• We’ve heard once briefly from Kamala Harris incoherently attempting to explain her craving for Doritos and how she orders them through Door Dash. Wow! It makes you realize how America dodged a fatal bullet there.
• If the Jewish students and faculty being attacked by America-hating Hamas-sponsored thugs on New York City college campuses and in the streets were black would Democrats condemn the attackers?
• How are the pro-Hamas demonstrators wearing masks and attacking Jews any different from hood-wearing Ku Klux Klan members who attacked blacks?
• Why do demonstrators call Syrian-born green card holder Mahmoud Khalil a “student” when he is a 31-year-old graduate whose only connection to Columbia is his paid housing? He doesn’t teach or attend classes so why does he live rent-free? How does he make a living here? Is he paid to organize the pro-Hamas attackers? If so, by whom?
• Do students, who pay almost $72,000 a year to attend Columbia, get refunds for the classes they were blocked from attending and the library and other facilities they were prevented from using?

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Common Sense Is Back: In 2019, Common Sense Fernandina Beach was launched by a combination of Democrats and Republicans because of the City of Fernandina Beach city government’s 24 percent tax increase and is active once again says founder Jack Knocke.

“It took several years and dedicated commission members to get to the ‘rollback rate’ which holds taxes flat year-over-year for homesteaders. Thanks to Commissioners Bradly Bean, Darron Ayscue and David Sturges for leading the first DOGE team locally,” said Knocke.

“When the government thinks that it is their money, they make decisions that don’t serve the people,” said Knocke, who applauds governor DeSantis’ recent proposal to end property taxes.

“When our schools take more of our money and waste it on overpriced and unused property, pornographic books, woke curriculum, hidden mental health curriculum and then celebrate that a third of the children can read at grade level, we have a problem.

“To get our tax money, they need a new team, a better plan, transparency, and accountability – oh – and proven results! We cannot just move the money to another bucket. We need to stop the flow and start over the right way.”

Knocke will publicly provide Common Sense meeting notices.