First Coast News
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- It's the last day of school for students in Duval County. But at one school, it was rocky start even before the first bell rang. Jacksonville Sheriff's Officers, fire fighters and detectives with the State Fire Marshal's Office were at Mandarin High School early Friday morning investigating cases of vandalism and arson.
Authorities say someone broke into a classroom and spray painted graffiti on the walls, chalkboard and some desks. Detective James Little with the State Fire Marshal's Office says some of the graffiti included profanity.
The vandal or vandals caused more damage at the high school. Little says they set 100 boxes with brand new desks on fire. The principal of the school, Larry Roziers, says the fire destroyed 80 of the desks. He says he's disappointed this happened, especially on the last day of school. He feels it's been a great year at Mandarin High. Many parents and students feel the vandalism and the fire should not have happened.
Right now, authorities do not have anyone in custody. Little does not know who committed the crimes, but he believes the acts were juvenile.
Even though vandals hit only one classroom, authorities had to block off eight. They were near the crime scene. The principal had to move some students to other classrooms.
Despite how the morning started, Roziers says the education process will not stop. The first bell rang as usual and school went on. High School students in Duval County get out of school for the Summer, at 11:15 this morning.
Graffiti removal program yet to begin
By BRYAN
CHAMBERS - The Herald-Dispatch
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Jeff Gentner/The Herald-Dispatch Various works of graffiti cover the outside wall of a vacant building along the 1300 block of 8th Avenue Wednesday in Huntington. Officials hope to have a volunteer-based graffiti removal program up and running by summer’s end. |
HUNTINGTON -- Nearly three months after Huntington City Council allocated $10,000 to remove graffiti from buildings in Huntington, the program has yet to begin.
But city officials and volunteer organizations that pledged their support to eradicate the eyesores say they are hopeful the program will begin by summer’s end.
Several areas of the city have been hit hard with graffiti in the past few months, mainly alleys in the downtown area. It even exists on city-owned property such as the Hal Greer Boulevard viaduct and on the back of the municipal annex building next to City Hall.
Support for a volunteer cleanup program surged in January after City Council adopted a controversial ordinance that requires property owners to clean graffiti from their buildings within 30 days of a notice by the city or face fines of $500 and/or 30 days in jail. Business owners have criticized the ordinance because they say it penalizes the victim and does nothing to prevent graffiti from occurring.
Two obstacles are preventing the city from starting the cleanup program, said Bill Perdue, the city’s safety and benefits coordinator. Perdue said he has tested several cleaning chemicals, but has yet to find a substance that completely removes graffiti from brick or metal.
The city of Charleston, which has operated a volunteer-based graffiti program for nearly a year now, uses a chemical that dissolves paint. After the paint is hosed off with a power washer, another chemical that prevents paint from permanently adhering to a wall is applied so if graffiti is put up again it will come off with soap and water.
John Charnock, director of Charleston Parks and Recreation, said the chemicals work well and only cost between $5,000 and $10,000 for the first seven months of the program.
Another setback for Huntington’s program has been that volunteer groups that came forward earlier never contacted the city, Perdue said.
The Inter-Fraternity Council at Marshall University voted to make the graffiti program its community service project for the spring semester. The Huntington Work Release Center also committed to the clean-up effort.
Both groups say there was a breakdown in communication with the city, but are still willing to help.
"The Inter-Fraternity Council is very interested in doing it, but because school is out, we wouldn’t be able to participate until September, said David Kluemper, Kappa Alpha fraternity and IFC member.
Renae Stubblefield, administrator of the work-release center, said her volunteers could only clean graffiti from city-owned property or buildings owned by nonprofit organizations. Work-release guidelines prevent the center from performing community service for businesses, Stubblefield said.
The city will have to rely on the work of volunteers if the program is going to succeed, Felinton said.
"I couldn’t imagine the cost of hiring a graffiti cleaning crew," Felinton said. "We just want to serve in the role of assisting and coordinating the removal."