Mother of slain Metro PCS worker fights for safety in workplace

Submitted by Ken Amaro, Ken Amaro, Community Reporter

Tuesday, September 3rd, 2013, 5:28pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- What happened at the Main Street Metro PCS on July 20, 2013 has changed Darlene Farah's life forever.

"I go to the bathroom and lock myself in the bathroom and cry or either I go outside and cry," said Farah.

Farah's daughter, Shelby, was working in the retail shop when one of the suspects captured on security camera video, robbed the store then shot and killed her.

"For $103, my daughter lost her life. No cell phones were taken," said Farah, "$103 in ten seconds."

Farah, 46, said the brutal murder of her child has been overwhelming.

"My kids don't want to go back to the house," she said, "Shelby will always be in our hearts, but I have two other kids to focus on."

She said children are also concerned about her safety.

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Attorney calls Jacksonville 'Potholeville' and files suit

Submitted by Ken Amaro, Ken Amaro, Community Reporter

Monday, August 26th, 2013, 4:55pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Wilson Boulevard is heavily traveled. Its age is showing in some areas and now it is named in a lawsuit.

On March 4, 2013, Lori Lloyd was traveling west on Wilson. She was the passenger on a motorcycle.

"We were just driving along about 30 miles an hour," said Lloyd, "and he hit this dip and it was a big dip."

Lloyd said what happened next would change her life forever.

"It ejected me off the motorcycle and I landed in the center lane on my head and my shoulder," she said.

She's convinced if she wasn't wearing her helmet, she would be in a grave somewhere. Now, she's in court fighting the city over a road hazard that has left her injured.

"I'm in pain everyday," she said, "I wake up and I have work my hands to get my fingers moving. These two are not going to move anymore, both of my shoulders hurt."

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Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Thursday, July 25th, 2013, 7:16pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- It's not something you see everyday. Parking boots on cars waiting to be sold right in front of a dealership.

Anthony Williams lives nearby in Ortega Park. His morning walk takes him on a part of Blanding Boulevard that passes in front of a trio of dealerships.

"It's surprising," he said. "It was shocking to me walking this morning. I'm like 'OK...why the boots?'"

These boots weren't made for walking. First Coast News saw them on about 12 cars parked in front of a trio of dealerships Thursday morning along Blanding Bvld.

From a Mercedes to a Lexus... trucks and an SUV. Parking enforcement was standing close.

"I think as long as they're not vandalizing or making it look obscure," Anthony Williams said. "I think they should be allowed to park the vehicles on that property."

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Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Thursday, July 4th, 2013, 5:40am

Firework displays and events scheduled to celebrate the 4th of July holiday across the First Coast. Here's a list of the festivities:

Columbia County celebrates 4th of July

Clay County celebrates the 4th of July

Fernandina Beach celebrates 4th of July

Flagler County celebrates 4th of July

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Sickle Cell Disease patients are being called 'drug seekers'

Submitted by Ken Amaro, Ken Amaro, Community Reporter

Wednesday, July 3rd, 2013, 10:45pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Kiara Owens, 24, lives with pain 24 hours a day. She has Sickle Cell Disease.

"It is scary to realize that this illness one day is going to kill me," she said.

She also has to live with a stigma that affects when and how she gets her much needed medication.

"I have been labeled a drug seeker," said Owens.

Owens said given her unexpected bouts with excruciating pain, she has to go to an emergency room more than she wants to and then it becomes a problem.

"They won't give you the medicine because they fear you're addicted to narcotics," said Owens, "and you're just pretending to get that medicine."

The Florida State College at Jacksonville student said three years ago she went to an ER and was labeled a "Drug Seeker" and it has followed her since.

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Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Wednesday, July 3rd, 2013, 4:43pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The first of its kind private social networking site for neighborhoods only is starting to take off in Jacksonville.

It is called nextdoor.com, and it started last year in San Francisco.

Co-founder and CEO Nirav Tolia thought there should be an easier way for neighbors to connect.

He said, "Services like Facebook have shown us the value of connecting online with our friends and family. Why isn't there a service that helps us connect with people right out our front door?"

The idea behind nextdoor.com is that neighbors can first connect online, then face to face.

Some neighborhoods have planned parties. Others help each other find lost pets, share contact information and even find a babysitter or orthodontist.

"We know that when neighbors start talking, good things happen," Tolia said.

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Submitted by Ken Amaro, Ken Amaro, Community Reporter

Monday, July 1st, 2013, 5:22pm

HILLIARD, Fla. -- Joyce Dixon, is a caterer, a Dish network customer and now victim of a phony Dish network subcontractor scheme.

"This young man came out here, super nice fellow, and debundled our windstream package," said Dixon, "He did it all right here in the house we watched him."

The phony subcontractor, Anthony Gerhold, offered the Dixons an upgrade in Dish TV service if they paid in advance.

They paid $662.29 for a year's upgrade including any repairs and received an invoice showing they were paid until March 2014, but then they began getting bills from Dish Network.

"I'd call the 800 number on the card he gave me and he told me just to tear it up and throw it away," said Dixon, "He would take care of it."

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