• Sheriff John Rutherford announced Lt. Mathew Nemeth will serve as executive director of the Police Athletic League, succeeding Lt. Derrick Mitchell, who has elected to return to patrol. Nemeth has been working for the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office since 1996 in several units, including patrol, sex crimes and burglary. He was promoted to lieutenant in 2008 and has headed the Burglary and Economic Crimes Unit for the past two years. He also serves in the Guardian ad Litem program, where he represents children’s interests and provides them a voice during court hearings.
• The Jacksonville Transportation Authority scheduled a public transportation forum July 26 at the Osborn Center. JTA updated its strategic plan into a draft consolidated plan and invites the community to discuss its vision for bus rapid transit, commuter rail, transit-oriented development and regional transportation mobility partnerships. The forum will be 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4-7 p.m., with presentations at 11:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. by JTA Executive Director and CEO Michael Blaylock.
• The Jacksonville Sharks are wrapping up the 2012 regular season with the final home game at 7 p.m. Saturday facing division rivals, the Orlando Predators, at the Arena.
• Tony Allegretti, director of Downtown Engagement for the JAX Chamber, is scheduled to speak to the chamber’s Downtown Council July 20 at The University Club. The breakfast meeting is 7:30-9 a.m. For information, visit www.mydowntownjax.com.
• Morris Publishing Group LLC on Thursday announced it is redeeming all of its public debt and refinancing its debt under more favorable terms with CB&T of Columbus, Ga. In a Securities and Exchange Commission filing, Morris said it is redeeming $57.2 million in outstanding notes on Aug. 10.
Augusta, Ga.-based Morris owns The Florida Times-Union, The St. Augustine Record and 10 other daily newspapers, as well as nondaily newspapers and other community publications.
• The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said Duval Street from Hogan Street to Clay Street will be closed from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. today for the Justice for Marissa Alexander Rally. The rally begins at Hemming Plaza and will proceed along Duval Street to the Duval County Courthouse at 501 W. Adams St. and return to Hemming Plaza.
• The Northeast Florida Association of Realtors said June’s single-family residential and condo sales showed positive movement. The 1,565 closed sales were the most for a single month so far this year. Also, pending sales rose, the number of days on the market fell and the median sales price rose 10.1 percent over the year to $149,000 while the average sales price was up 9.1 percent to $200,112. Inventory dropped almost 21 percent and supply fell to what is considered a balanced six months. Lender-mediated sales made up 36.3 percent of the June sales.
• Beaver Street Enterprise Center plans its ninth Anniversary and Awards Luncheon Celebration from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 9 at the center at 1225 W. Beaver St. Jackie Perry is executive director of the center. For more information, visit www.bsecenter.net.
• Jacksonville-based CSX Corp. reported that it is nearly halfway to meeting its pledge to hire about 1,000 veterans this year, joining other railroads and rail suppliers in support of the White House Joining Forces initiative. Joining Forces is a national partnership to support America’s military service members and their families. CSX’s announcement coincides with an industrywide commitment, led by the American Association of Railroads, to hire more than 5,000 veterans in 2012.
• FIS announced that Ellyn Raftery has been named chief marketing officer of the Jacksonville-based company, which provides banking and payments technology. She will lead the strategic planning and execution of the FIS Global Marketing and Corporate Communications programs. She joins FIS after having served as senior vice president of marketing for CA Technologies. Before that she was CMO of Unisys and vice president of Global Strategic Marketing at MarchFIRST Inc.
• The new, live show “MythBusters: Behind the Myths,” starring Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage, co-hosts of the Emmy-nominated Discovery series “MythBusters,” debuts at the Times-Union Center Moran Theater for two performances at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Oct. 14. Tickets are on sale at www.artistseriesjax.org or by calling 632-3373. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. Call 632-3228 or email [email protected].