• Mayor John Peyton and Dean Larry Arrington UF/IFAS Extension jointly announced the appointment of Richard (Rick) E. Godke as the new county agricultural agent/agriculture department director. As the agent/director, Godke will be responsible for planning, developing, implementing, teaching and evaluating educational programs in general agriculture and natural resources and assisting with the 4-H/Youth Development Program. He will also oversee the Duval County Extension program and staff.
• The Jacksonville Port Authority has been awarded a $720,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, money made available in the fourth and most recent round of federal port security grants. Jaxport will use the money for new security cameras as part of an enhanced surveillance program at Port Authority terminals. Jaxport now has received a total of $6.5 million in Homeland Security grants, including the most recent grant combined with about $5.8 million from the program’s first three award periods.
• The 2004 Kiss A Pig for Literacy candidates have been announced. They are Martha Barrett, chair of the Duval County School Board; Scooter Cavins, co-owner of Mossfire Grill; Frances Gupton, executive director of the Brewer Early Learning Center; The Very Reverend Edward Harrison, dean of St. John’s Episcopal Church; John Hirabayashi, president of Educational Community Credit Union; Jon May, executive director of Pine Castle, Inc. ; Dr. Mobeen Rathore; Rich Ray, Florida Times-Union; Charles Smires, Florida Community College at Jacksonville; and Chief Tara Wildes, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. All votes cost $1 and the candidate with the most votes will kiss a real pig on Nov. 4 at the Landing.
• Hundreds of dogs and their owners are expected to take part in the Humane Society’s Beaches Dog Run & Walk Sept. 25 in front of the Red Cross Lifeguard Tower in Jacksonville Beach. The event includes two separate 5Ks, one heat with dogs and the other without. Registration for all participants begins at 7 a.m. The 5K with dogs will begin at 8 a.m., the heat without dogs will begin at 9 a.m. All proceeds benefit the homeless and abandoned animals at the Humane Society. For registration information and forms, call 731-1900.