• The popular Guns ‘n Hoses boxing match between the police and firefighters has big football names coming including former Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker and ESPN pro football analyst Joe Theismann. Organizer Robbie Freitas of the police department says the date conflicts with the River Run but that doesn’t bother him. “Different crowds,” he said. “What would kill us is to be on the same night as the Monster Truck Show.”
• We sure got it quickly from the mayor’s office Wednesday about Tuesday’s City Note about Mayor John Peyton being the first mayor to have a child while in office. During former Mayor John Delaney’s first term, his wife Gena gave birth to son Jimmy. Apologies to all.
• No, that won’t be an early Gate River Run downtown on Saturday. It’s the Jacksonville Marine Corps half-marathon and Freedom 5K. Both races will start at the Veteran’s Wall outside Alltel Stadium and end at Metropolitan Park. Also, there’s a high school division this year.
• Said Council President Kevin Hyde of Mayor John Peyton’s newly-minted fatherhood status: “He may have had very little sleep last (Tuesday) night, but as the father of two teenage girls, I don’t know who has it worse right now.”
• Speaking of Peyton, he has been invited to join the University Club’s board as an honorary member.
• Hurricane Katrina has helped generate some additional interest in the Jacksonville convention market. Now that the New Orleans market has been rendered void, one event previously scheduled there has already been confirmed here. Learning Disabilities Association of America is coming to the Hyatt Regency from February 26 - March 1.
• The Jacksonville & the Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau had their big annual meeting and lunch at the Omni Wednesday. For more, see page 3.
• Indy car racing legend Johnny Rutherford will be the honoree of the March 10-12 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. Rutherford won 27 indy car races, including three Indianapolis 500s.
• There are many home-schooled kids in Duval County and all of them are eligible to play sports at their neighborhood schools. However, the parents of home-schooled kids may have to start paying for that privilege. Part of Peyton’s budget called for a fee of $15 per school year and another $5 per additional child. However, City Council raised that fee last week to $45 per nine weeks (there are four in a school year) and $15 per nine weeks for each additional child. However, Peyton has convinced Council to postpone this fee until next school year.