News

Woman rescues stranger from oncoming train

Submitted by Ken Amaro, Ken Amaro, Community Reporter

Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013, 12:11am

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The driver of a 1997 Nissan Altima and the engineer behind an oncoming Amtrak train crossed paths Tuesday in the Ortega area; it was an impending disaster.

"You could hear the Amtrak train," said Annette Brown, "I said 'Oh my God.'"

But to Brown, it was where faith met destiny.

"I was saying to her 'get out of the car,'" said Brown, "but she said 'but my car.'" "That's when I screamed 'get out of the car!'"

Brown, on her way to NAS Jacksonville, got stuck behind the Nissan which was stopped on the railroad tracks.

"There were so many citizens who went around this lady and did nothing to get her off of the train tracks," she said.

Brown said she went around as well but once on the other side stopped and help.

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Sibling sexual abuse hurts a Jacksonville father

Submitted by Ken Amaro, Ken Amaro, Community Reporter

Friday, May 10th, 2013, 8:05pm

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.

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Widow denied access to deceased husband's savings

Submitted by Ken Amaro, Ken Amaro, Community Reporter

Thursday, May 2nd, 2013, 7:27pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Married 53 years, it is hard for Julia Bolena to forget her husband and what he brought to their marriage.

Sixteen months ago, her husband died of cancer and Bolena said she has been trying to close a chapter with the bank ever since.

"I just know there's some way they can resolve it if they want," she said.

Her husband had two accounts, a checking and a small savings. The bank gave her access to the checking, but when it came to the savings, access denied.

"He failed to put that particular account in trust to me," said Bolena, "I am sure it was an oversight, being the other account was in trust to me. I'm sure he assumed they all went together."

Her name was on the checking, but not on the savings. It's only $273, but Bolena said it is money she can use.

"I'm on a very fixed income and that will pay a couple of light bills. It is not much money," she said.

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Murray Hill Ortega Police Blotter - May 2013

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Wednesday, May 1st, 2013, 11:27pm

No police reports at this time.

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PictureMe customers want refund or pictures

Submitted by Ken Amaro, Ken Amaro, Community Reporter

Thursday, April 25th, 2013, 8:08pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Clarissa Griffin wanted to celebrate six-month-old Suri and took her to PictureMe, a portrait studio inside many Walmart stores.

"I went to take her picture two days before Easter," she said, "I had never had her pictures taken."

Griffin said the studio sold her a package deal for $139.09.

"They took a total of 32 pictures. They did the Easter background and they did the Spring background," said Griffin.

It was March 29. Griffin was given copyright proofs on a disc and was told to pick up her pictures in two weeks. When she showed up the PictureMe studio was closed -- permanently.

"I thought they were closed for lunch," said Griffin.

It is not just Griffin who did not get her pictures. The On Your Side team has received emails from a number of viewers saying they did not get pictures from PictureMe.

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Lost USPS package baffles Jacksonville resident

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Wednesday, April 10th, 2013, 9:34pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Wynoma is wondering where her package is.

She tells First Coast News that she mailed it from the Murray Hill post office on March 26th but it never got to its destination.

First Coast News called the United States Postal Service's Murray Hill branch and were told Wynoma's package was supposed to arrive at Jacksonville's Northside on March 28th. First Coast News was told the package was scanned to go to their sorting facility. FCN called that facility and was told it hadn't gotten there yet. USPS spokesperson, Stephen Seewoester said.

"The Postal Service apologizes that the customer's package has not yet arrived."

Seewoester added "Our Consumer Affairs office will contact the customer for more information about the package and continue the search."

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Residents blame JEA power lines for fire

Submitted by Ken Amaro, Ken Amaro, Community Reporter

Thursday, March 28th, 2013, 7:29pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Earlier this year, a two-alarm fire spread from a field under JEA's high power lines near Crystal Springs to several homes nearby, causing damage.

Tina Parrish said her teenage son grabbed a garden hose and started spraying the fence.

"If he did not do that, it would have been worse," said Parrish, "Our deck and home would have been on fire."

The fire destroyed several fences adjacent to the power line system.

Phil Brown said his daughter Jennifer recently spent $3,000 for a vinyl fence and now it is a total loss.

"Their power line caused the spark," said Brown, "The spark caused the and fire and all this damage."

JEA said it is not negligent, and that does not bode well with Brown.

"I don't know if they're negligent," he said, "All I know is they had a fire and they should make it right."

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