• Since last week when the first wave of bills for the new stormwater and solid waste fees started arriving in mailboxes, the volume at the City’s Call Center has increased dramatically, exceeding the system’s capacity at times. Additional personnel from the Public Information Department have been assigned to assist the effort and people from other City departments are also helping handle the volume. Most callers are asking what the fees are for and whether the bill they received is for a month or a year, which indicates they probably didn’t read the brochure included with each bill. Even Mayor Peyton got in on the act. He personally fielded several calls Tuesday, most from citizens complaining about the fees.
• Former two-term City Council member Gwen Yates isn’t getting back in to politics, but she is up for appointment to the City’s Public Service Grant Council.
• Since March 2006, the Main Library has hosted “Intermezzo Free Sunday Concerts.” The series featured some of the area’s classical musicians and music educators as well as free admission. It will come to an end June 1. According to the City’s spokesperson for the Public Library System, there will be no more Sunday concerts scheduled but the free music series will move to weekday evenings.
• The State Attorney’s Office prosecuted 27 murder trials last year with 25 convictions. So far this year 13 accused murderers have gone to trail and all have been convicted. There are more than 100 people incarcerated and awaiting trial for murder in the Fourth Judicial Circuit.
• Area moms will get a treat this weekend courtesy of Gold’s Gym. All three Jacksonville locations will allow mom to work out free Friday-Sunday. The Gold’s on St. Johns Bluff Road is also showing “Ocean’s 11,” “Ocean’s 12” and “Ocean’s 13” all weekend on its 12-foot high definition screen.
“There is not one kind of food for all men. You must and you will feed those faculties which you exercise. The laborer whose body is weary does not require the same food with the scholar whose brain is weary.”
– Henry David Thoreau, U.S. philosopher, author and naturalist