• JEA has been almost as busy keeping rumors under control as restoring power to Duval County. Ron Whittington, a spokesperson for the utility, told the mayor’s staff that JEA was not, as rumored, providing free generators to rich people in Avondale. He said the generators spotted outside of several stately homes in the area were providing power to pump stations. One rumor that is apparently true is that former JEA CEO Walt Bussells’ house lost power. “So much for getting special treatment!” Whittington said.
• One of the City’s steel suppliers told the mayor’s policy chief, Steve Diebenow, that prices for steel and aluminum went up 8 percent and 6 percent respectively. Mark McCormick, senior vice president at H & M Steel, told Diebenow that the Jacksonville firm could no longer absorb the climbing cost of raw materials and had to raise prices. Diebenow cited rising steel prices as one key reason the Duval County Courthouse budget has ballooned to $268 million.
• If you need to correspond with Judge Pauline Drayton-Harris, she now goes by Judge Pauline M. Drayton.
• Many downtown businesses are still recovering from Hurricane Jeanne. Several law firms and the London Bridge Pub are having lingering problems with their phone service.
• The Jaguars are getting national attention. Sports Illustrated has two stories featuring the team this week and the lead football writer from USA Today is staying at the Hilton through Sunday.
• Reminder from the Supervisor of Elections Office: Monday is the last day to register to vote in the Nov. 2 general election. The elections office will be open Saturday and Sunday for those who would like to register to vote.
• Three local chefs have been inducted into The International Who’s Who of Chefs. Matthew Medure of Matthew’s in San Marco, Adam Markowitz of The Wine Cellar, and David Lockwood of the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club are among almost 3,000 of the best chefs from 70 countries selected.
• An account representative for Clearwire said the company’s wireless Internet service will soon be extended to the beaches. Though some areas near the beach are already in the service area, all of the beaches won’t be up and running until the end of October.
• Rotary District Governor Ken Baker is the speaker at Monday’s Rotary Club of Jacksonville meeting. It begins at noon at the Omni.