• Ch. 12/25 has been recognized with the Jacksonville market’s only regional Edward R. Murrow Award. Competing against television stations in Atlanta, Miami and Orlando, news anchor Donna Deegan and multimedia journalist Justin Patterson received the “Best News Series” honor for their three-part series “Remembering Maddie” about the disappearance and murder of Maddie Clifton. They are now competing for a national Edward R. Murrow Award, the recipients of which will be announced in June.
• Over the weekend, the City’s launched its foreclosure Web site called “Stay Home: Jacksonville Foreclosure Prevention.” To access the site — which is administered by the City’s Housing and Neighborhoods Department and is part of legislation sponsored by City Council member Kevin Hyde — go to coj.net and enter “foreclosure” as the keyword. The site was created to help those who are facing or may soon be dealing with losing their home.
• CSX Chairman and CEO Michael Ward is the guest speaker at the next Quarterly Cornerstone luncheon. It’s set for June 25 at the Hyatt.
• The Taxation, Revenue, Utilization and Expenditure Commission has passed a resolution commending JEA for looking into closing five of its satellite offices. According to the resolution signed by TRUE Commission Chair John Palombi, JEA has 90 remote payment locations around the city and the five satellite offices are within a half-mile of a payment center.
• Modis has received the U.S. Army’s Freedom Team Salute Commendation for its support and sacrifice as the employer of Sgt. Chad R. Powell, a business development manager with Modis since 2006. In June 2008, Powell was deployed for his third tour overseas, his second tour in Iraq and his first time mobilized with A Company’s 146th Signal Battalion in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Powell expects to return to Jacksonville in November.
• Devin Reed, the City’s Director of Procurement, responded in writing to recent allegations from local NAACP President Isaiah Rumlin that Turner Construction Company — the general contractor for the new County Courthouse — wasn’t hiring enough minority contractors for the project. Reed said Turner has “chosen a solicitation process that is permissible under the city’s Procurement Code.”
• Staff members from Outward Bound will sail through Jacksonville Saturday on one leg of their 2,500-mile sailing excursion beginning in Key Largo and ending in Spruce Head, Maine. While Outward Bound staff members are in Jacksonville they will offer short sailing excursions for the community from 1-5 p.m. at the Florida Yacht Club. A reception will take place from 5-6 p.m. to provide information on the new Outward Bound Jacksonville Center. The public is invited. Call Leah Barker at 354-5918 for details.
• The Meninak Club of Jacksonville welcomed two new members during its Monday meeting, both with common bonds — bail bonds, that is. Ann Teague of Ann Teague Bonding Agency and Ingrid Valentine, wife of late Meninak member David Valentine, and owner of David Valentine Bail Bonds were introduced.
• Speaking of Meninak, the number 90 was a popular one during the meeting as members helped celebrate longtime member Dick Suddath’s upcoming 90th birthday. The number also represents the amount of time both Meninak and The Suddath Companies, Suddath’s family business, have existed.
• Facebook, a popular online social networking site, has a new and recognizable member: Mayor John Peyton. His schedule of events, photos, videos and comments along with press releases will all be available via the Web site.