Jacksonville Area Florida Department of Transportation Lane Closings

Submitted by Rachel Leitao, First Coast News Staff

Friday, October 29th, 2010, 11:33am

October 30 through November 5

I-10/I-95 interchange reconstruction project

Lanes and ramps will be closed nightly at various locations within the project limits from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. from Monday, November 1 through Friday, November 5. Detour signs will be posted. All work on this project should be finished by late 2010.

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Creating Visibility on Halloween is the Key to Child Safety

Submitted by Rachel Leitao, First Coast News Staff

Friday, October 29th, 2010, 10:49am

Creating Visibility on Halloween is the Key to Child Safety; Life+Gear Offers Tips to Increase Visibility

Dark streets, distracted motorists and lots of children walking around make Halloween one of the most dangerous pedestrian walking days of the year. Below are both facts and tips to help your viewers (and their children) have a safe Halloween.

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Family Searches for Missing Man

Submitted by Rachel Leitao, First Coast News Staff

Wednesday, October 27th, 2010, 11:33am

On Tuesday, October 26, 2010 at 11:00 a.m., Charles “Chuck” Soukup was last seen at 2400 Yankee Clipper Drive. The victim was last seen renting a silver Jeep Liberty. The silver Jeep Liberty has since been recovered in Jacksonville. At this time, due to the ongoing investigation the location of the vehicle being recovered is not being released.

The victim does have a medical condition that he requires medication for.

The victim was last seen wearing a brown sport coat, maroon flannel shirt, tan slacks.

Anyone with any information about the whereabouts of this victim or who has seen the listed vehicle is asked to contact the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office at 904-630-0500 or email us at JSOCrimeTips@jaxsheriff.org. To remain anonymous and receive a possible reward, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS or email them at rewards@fccrimestoppers.com.

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Smartphone App TrickorTracker Removes Parents' Worries-Kids Can More Safely Enjoy Halloween

Submitted by Rachel Leitao, First Coast News Staff

Wednesday, October 27th, 2010, 10:36am

Iconosys unveils a new Smartphone app that enables responsible parents to know the exact whereabouts of their trick-or-treating kids without requiring them to follow alongside in the family car (risking the lives of others that may stray into their paths, as they are distracted by the task of diligently watching their children from the car window).

Iconosys, Inc., has created TrickorTrackerso that parents can safely monitor their kids via their Smartphone, while their children are out and about gathering treats. TrickorTracker is free of charge for Halloween (it does expire afterwards), or can be purchased for $9.99 thereafter for full lifetime coverage of family members.

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FHP Launches Halloween Drunken Driving Crackdown

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010, 5:41pm

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The Florida Highway Patrol is trying to make Halloween less scary.

State troopers are cracking down on drunken driving and offering safety tips to parents of young ghouls and goblins. The Highway Patrol is participating in a national drunken driving campaign that began Monday and will continue through Oct. 31. It's called "Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest."

The FHP web site offers Halloween safety tips for parents. They include using light colored costumes and putting reflective tape on costumes and goody bags so they'll be more visible to motorists.

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Chimney Lakes Teacher Selected for Foundation for Excellence in Education Excel Award

Submitted by Rachel Leitao, First Coast News Staff

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010, 5:15pm

Judith Phipps, a teacher at Chimney Lakes Elementary, is one of 76 Florida educators to receive the Foundation for Excellence in Education 2010 Excel Award, and the only educator selected from Duval County.

The Excel Award rewards teachers whose students made the most progress in reading or math from one year to the next for the last three consecutive years. Students of these exceptional educators learned at least 1.5 times, or 50 percent, more than the average student based on the results of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT).

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How Young is Too Young to Wear Thong Underwear?

Submitted by Kate Barnette, Wife, Mom, Photographer, Blogger

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010, 4:52pm

I was recently in a major department store shopping for clothes for a little girl. When passing by the underwear section, I couldn't help but notice there were thong underwear for sale. I honestly stopped walking and took a second look to make sure my eyes weren't deceiving me. I was kind of shocked to see thong underwear being sold in the girls department for girls wearing sizes 7-14.

Am I alone in thinking that girls between 7 and 14 years old probably shouldn't be wearing thong? I just think that's too young for thong underwear. I know that some women wear thong for comfort or to hide underwear lines under their clothing. I also know some women wear them strictly for sex appeal. Either way, what age do you think is appropriate for a woman and/or a girl to start wearing thong underwear?