News

Teacher of the Week: Kathleen Saunders

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- This week First Coast News recognizes Kathleen Saunders from Duval Charter School at Arlington as our Teacher of the Week.

Mrs. Saunders is a 6th-8th grade science teacher and recently won the New American Hero Initiative.  It is an award given by the Clarion Council and the Florida Charter School Alliance for teachers who have made an investment in their students' lives.

"A lot of time, dedication and hard work go into being a good teacher. It is not just what you do the minute you walk in, it is what you are thinking about on your way in, on your way home. It is a lot of planning to really be effective in the classroom," said Mrs. Saunders.

She said she loves not only the subject matter she teaches, but also her students!

So congratulations Mrs. Saunders for being our Teacher of the Week!

JEA work to effect Friday morning commute

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- On Friday morning, JEA is closing portions of eastbound Arlington Expressway service road for resurfacing.

The road will be temporarily closed from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from 7850 Arlington Expressway Service Road to the intersection of Mill Creek Road.

Detour signs will be set-up to guide you around the construction.

 

Four Hero Next Door student scholarships remain

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- First Coast News is nearly done handing out its Hero Next Door student scholarships.

So, if you entered your child, they still have a chance to win. Even if you didn't, chances are you will be moved by the winners' stories.

17-year-old Mia Flowers of Jacksonville is the latest Hero Next Door scholarship winner.

Flowers maintains a weighted G.P.A. of 4.36 at Paxon School for Advanced Studies.

She volunteers for the mayor's holiday spectacular and at Shands Jacksonville.

Flowers is also very involved with Community Connections and serves as a mentor for Empowerment Resources, Inc.

Her goal is to attend the University of South Florida to major in pre-medicine.

One day she would like to treat illnesses that affect the elderly.

First Coast News surprised Flowers at her home Wednesday night, and she said she had no idea she was a winner.

Condition of Arlington grave site upsets family

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Eight years ago, a fallen firefighter was buried in Arlington Park Cemetery.

Now, his family members are upset by the condition of his grave site.

"We've come out here and cleaned this place on multiple occasions," said Matt Kramer.

Kramer's brother Klif, a firefighter who died in the line of duty, is buried in what's called the "Estate Garden".

"I want to come here and talk," said Kramer. "For me to do that in these kind of conditions is upsetting."

The grave sites looks like it was recently mowed, but there's hardly any grass in the area.

"There's more dirt than grass, a lot of it is dead," he said.

And it is not just the Kramer family's grave sites left unkempt according to Kramer. 

"This was a fallen solider killed in Iraq and outside of his headstone it all dead grass," said Kramer. 

Man arrested for hit-and-run, allowing 13-year-old to drive

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- An investigation revealed a 13-year-old child was behind the wheel during a hit-and-run near Arlington Middle School Monday. The man who allowed the young girl to drive was arrested on Tuesday. 

According to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, John Mackenrho Baptisme was arrested and faces several charges, including four counts of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in injury,  permitting an unauthorized minor under the age of 18 to drive and driving with a suspended license causing serious injury. 

Baptisme, 25, was in the passenger seat when the child was operating the white Infinity SUV Monday.

While driving, the child made a wide right turn onto Tracy Road from Lone Star Road when she became nervous, according to JSO. 

Hit-and-run near middle school injures four students

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A hit-and-run accident injured four children at Arlington Middle School Monday morning. 

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office media release said the suspect was an adult male driving a white SUV.

But, a JSO officer on scene later said a teenager said she was the one behind the wheel.

The officer said the 13-year-old turned herself in to the school and said she was driving the car to school with an adult male in the passenger seat.

The four students, 6th and 7th graders at Arlington Middle School, were hit by the car while walking to school. 

Police say it happened at 9:21 a.m. and a White SUV fled the scene after the incident.

Sibling sexual abuse hurts a Jacksonville father

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- It is still one of society's greatest taboo but because no wants to talk about it, doesn't stop sibling sexual abuse. According to the Pandora Project studies have shown that between 2% and 4% of people have been sexually victimized by a sibling.  

"What is a father to do?" asked Reggie Thomas.

Thomas, 36, is a divorced father who is worried about his two children now living with their mother.

"I did all the right things I call JSO I took my child to the hospital," he said. 

Earlier this year Thomas made an ugly discovery. Court records show his children's older half-brother, a 15 year old, was charged with sexually abusing his younger siblings. Thomas' two children are eight and nine years of age.

"My daughter said this was going on for three years straight," he said. 

The State Attorney's office prosecuted the teenager.