JEA.com crippled by cyber attack

Submitted by Ken Amaro, Ken Amaro, Community Reporter

Tuesday, February 19th, 2013, 8:18pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Unable to pay their bills online Tuesday morning, JEA customers were standing in line at its payment centers.

"I tried two days ago and was not successful in getting anything done online," said Lacrecia Anderson.

Anderson normally pays her bill online and was in the dark as to why the website was not working.

"My payment was due I was kind of scared that my lights were going to cut off," she said.

To avoid an interruption in her service, she made it to the payment center as quickly as possible, and she was not alone.

"Coming into the branch and standing in line is an inconvenience," said Anderson, "when I am used to doing it online or paying it over the phone."

On Sunday, JEA's cyber network was hit by a 'denial of service' attack.

"Soon as it started we were notified and we've been working on it since," said JEA's Gerri Boyce.

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Woman sues JEA over easement issue

Submitted by Ken Amaro, Ken Amaro, Community Reporter

Friday, February 15th, 2013, 7:55pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Eva Bowen is suing the JEA again, this time in federal court. Bowen said she wants to enjoy her property and live in peace.

On January 26, 2010 Bowen purchased an acre and a half on Black Hammock Island. She said when she realized JEA's utility pole was on her property, she wanted to know why. There was no recorded easement.

"JEA did not have a valid easement," said Bowen.

She also claims that the JEA was billing her for the service to another pole, which is also on her property. It has a security light and she said the pole is not hers.

"When the bill was $8.45, I said please stop charging me for the electricity, it is not my pole it is not my electricity," said Bowen.

Bowen said she's been fighting the JEA since she discovered there's no recorded easement.

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First Coast HS mourns the death of assistant football coach

Submitted by Chad Cushnir, First Coast News sports photojournalist

Monday, February 11th, 2013, 4:16pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Mark Tillman, a long-time assistant football coach at First Coast High School passed away on January 31st. He had just celebrated his 52nd birthday on January 23rd, but years of liver problems finally caught up to him.

Before his time at First Coast High School where he made an impact on thousands of lives, Tillman spent eight years in the Marines.

On Sunday, February 10th, the Buccaneers community gathered on the FCHS football field for a candle light service to remember the man who cared so deeply about the young men and women who passed through the hallways of this North Jacksonville school.

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Landmark Legend: Carroll's Meat Shoppe

Submitted by Phil Amato, Community Blogger

Monday, February 11th, 2013, 9:47am

JACKSONVILLE - We all shop a particular store for a variety of reasons like price, quality, service or a combination of all three. One man on the Northside of Jacksonville has been serving his customers for almost a half century. A store that you don't see all that often anymore, a landmark legend that has been feeding neighbors for generations.

On the corner of Tallulah and Pearl sits Carroll's Meat Shoppe, slicing beef and serving Panama Park customers on the Northside for 47 years. "Can I help you find something?" Herman "Smitty" Shuman asks a customer. Smitty started the business in 1966. It's now the oldest meat shop in town.

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Arrest made in fatal road rage shooting

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Friday, February 8th, 2013, 5:40pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has made an arrest in the fatal road rage shooting that happened Wednesday night in the 4300 block of Dunn Avenue.

Isreal Kevin Williams, 41, was arrested and charged Thursday evening with murder and shooting deadly missiles into an occupied vehicle. Tom Schadowsky, 41, was found dead in a pickup truck pulling a tractor-trailer of a single gunshot wound.

According to a JSO report, witnesses saw a man driving an orange Chevy Avalanche with Florida A&M tags get into an altercation with Schadowsky in the parking lot of the Gate gas station at 4234 Dunn Avenue. The man in the Avalanche was then seen backing into a spot, waiting for Schadowsky to leave.

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Budweiser Clydesdales to make Jacksonville stop

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Friday, February 8th, 2013, 4:58pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The world famous, eight-horse Clydesdale hitch will appear at the Anheuser-Busch Jacksonville Brewery Tour Center on Feb. 16 and 17.

The horses will be available on both days from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. One hour prior to their appearance, guests can see the hitch set-up and demonstration, according to a release from Anheuser-Busch.

Guests will have the opportunity to take pictures and pose with the horses. Visitors 21 years or older will be able to sample fresh Budweiser, directly from the wagon.

After taking pictures with the Budweiser Clydesdales, people may take complimentary tour of the brewery, which includes stops at the lager cellars, tasting room and high-speed packaging lines.

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Massive storm snarls traffic at JIA

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Friday, February 8th, 2013, 4:42pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A major winter storm in the Northeast tied up air traffic Friday at Jacksonville International Airport.

Nearly 20 flights to the Northeast were cancelled as a result of the bad weather.

Passengers also faced a wait time at the airport of roughly 30 minutes.

Eric Taylor of New York City was stranded at the airport early Friday morning. He was trying to leave Florida after coming to Jacksonville for a training.

"It's not knowing that's the frustrating part. So, just everything's up in the air," he said while trying to book another flight.

Taylor also remained in close contact with his friends and family on Friday.

He said they were comparing the winter storm to Hurricane Sandy, which previously devastated the Northeast.

"The preparations are very similar. People lining up for gas, groceries," Taylor said.

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