Church and A/C company disagree over repair bill

Submitted by Ken Amaro, Ken Amaro, Community Reporter

Wednesday, January 23rd, 2013, 8:04pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.-- Larry Varnom owns a small heating and air company, a company he said he started in 1966.

"I've been fortunate over the years," said Varnom," I have lost very little money since I have been in business."

Varnom said last May he serviced the air conditioning system at Greater Israel United church and has yet to be paid for his service.

"One time they told me the check was in the mail," said Varnom," from the Northside to the Westside doesn't take three or four months."

Varnom, frustrated, filed a claim of lien against the church for $1,018.

"I can't go around passing out thousand dollar bills, I'd like to have my money," he said.

Dr. Eugene White is the pastor of the church.

"The church said that they would pay him, but they would pay him payments on it," said White.

Dr. White said the lien comes as surprise.

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One arrested after four-hour standoff with SWAT team

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Wednesday, January 16th, 2013, 11:08pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- One man was arrested after a four-hour standoff Wednesday evening with a SWAT team at a home on the Northside.

Police were conducting a stakeout at 4:30 p.m. to apprehend a suspect wanted on aggravated battery charges, according to Andre Ayoub with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

Detectives saw the suspect enter a house in 900 block of Kenmore Street near Norwood Avenue.

The SWAT team surrounded the house, and tried to communicate with the man, Ayoub said. He did not respond.

Around 8:30 p.m. police had the suspect in custody.

Ayoub did not explain how he was apprehended.

JSO said there was no immediate danger to residents in the area, but neighboring houses were evacuated as a precaution.

The suspect's name was not released. No further information was available.

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Painter says he's not to blame for ugly paint job

Submitted by Ken Amaro, Ken Amaro, Community Reporter

Friday, January 11th, 2013, 7:15pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- When Pat Reeves hired a painter to give the interior of her home a new look, what she wanted was peace of mind, what she has is a bad paint job and a headache.

"At the time I was please with the job," said Reeves,"it did not start coming up until a couple weeks afterwards."

Her home was painted last Summer by Elmer Raisch. He did the painting but Reeves supplied the paint. He has since repainted her bedroom, but there are still problems.

"He got mad because I wouldn't pay him again," said Reeves. "I was not going to pay for the paint I felt it was his responsibility."

Reeves continues to discover imperfections, some areas are smooth and others have texture. At the root of the problem, the painter applied a latex paint to an oil based painted wall.

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Resident-driven community redevelopement plan unveiled

Submitted by Mike Lyons, First Coast News Reporter/Multi-Media Journalist

Friday, January 11th, 2013, 12:56am

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A community redevelopment plan has been unveiled for the Historic Eastside/Springfield and Northwest Jacksonville neighborhoods that has the residents fingerprints all over it.

A packed house heard the plan at Everbank Field Thursday evening for the kickoff of Building EPIC Communties.

The Local Initiatives Support Corporation, known as LISC, with the help of Operation Hope, and the Northwest Jacksonville Community Development Corporation, has spent the last year doing one-on-one interviews with neighborhood residents and group meetings to determine what residents want to see in their communities.

Each community has come up with a quality of life plan for their area.

The goal is for better neighborhoods and housing, more businesses and jobs, good schools, grocery stores and safe streets.

LISC will invest $20 million into these areas to bring improvements and bring more private investment.

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Pedestrian critical after hit by car on Lem Turner

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Thursday, January 10th, 2013, 12:55am

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A male pedestrian is in critical condition at Shands after he was hit by a car Wednesday evening.

Det. Edwards with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said the pedestrian was jaywalking across Lem Turner Road. The driver of a blue SUV turning onto the road did not see the man. He swerved to avoid the pedestrian, but clipped him with the side mirror of his car.

Another car then critically hit the pedestrian. The incident happened around 9 p.m between Ida Street and Lila Avenue on Lem Turner.

JSO said there are no charges pending against either driver.

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Zoo offering $5 discount for recycling E-waste

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Wednesday, January 9th, 2013, 2:38pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Zoo is offering $5 off admission for each visitor who brings a recyclable electronic item January 12 and 13.

The discount will be in the form of a $5 coupon and the discount is applied to the general admission price, according to a news release from the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.

Electronic items able to be recycle include anything that plugs in or runs on electricity, except old non-flat screen TVs the release said.

MORE: City announces mobile household hazardous waste collection schedule

The Zoo will accept old cell phones, flat screen TVs, digital cameras, VCR's, DVD players, laptops, computers, CD players and more.

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Goat farmers lose 4 goats to 2 pitbulls

Submitted by Ken Amaro, Ken Amaro, Community Reporter

Thursday, January 3rd, 2013, 9:51pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Carl Shifflett knew there was a problem at his Northside home. What he and his wife Stephanie discovered left them devastated.

"One laying down here," said Stephanie. "We went to tend to her and I could see one of the larger goats torn up terribly."

The Shiffletts are goat farmers. Two weeks ago, the tribe was attacked violently.

"We have never had an attack," said Carl. "This is the first."

The Shiffletts live in a semi-rural area. They say two pitbulls attacked their goats, killing four of them.

"They just killed them for the sport of it, " said Stephanie.

"For the taste of blood," Carl said.

The Shiffletts' neighbor was able to capture a picture of one of the dogs, but they don't know who owns them.

"It was the worst thing," said Stephanie Shifflett. "The only thing that could have been worse if it was one of these children that visits our neighbors."

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