July 30, 2019

This is Marcia Lane, your roving reporter.

A Hawthorne man sought in the murder of one man and the attempted murder of another turned himself in to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office Monday night. Rayquan Frison, 18, is in the Putnam County jail after going to the sheriff’s office Monday night. That move came after Putnam detectives, who identified Frison as a person of interest early on, went to the residence of the Hawthorne man’s parents and told them if they came into contact with him it would be good idea if he turned himself in. Frison allegedly shot Lanoris Gilmore, 28, of Ocala, at the Thistle Lane home of his brother, Darius Gilmore, 20. Deputies were called to the residence around 1:30 a.m. Saturday morning. Lanoris Gilmore was taken to Putnam Community Medical Center where he died. Darius Gilmore was taken to a Gainesville with gunshot wounds in both records and underwent surgery. He’s in satisfactory condition, according to Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Alison Waters-Merritt. She said his presence was not released in early reports because he was undergoing surgery and the office wanted to keep him protected from any retribution. The brothers and Frison reportedly knew each other.

A St. Johns County judge denied an appeal contesting his ruling turning down building of a water park/splash park at St. Augustine Beach. Embassy Suites wanted to put in a park at their beachfront hotel. It was to be 27 feet high, but because it was going on elevated land it would have been 40 feet high. Beach residents had protested the park, noting the hotel was already higher than the 35 foot allowed standard because it is built on that elevated land. Key Beach North LLC filed a suit against St. Augustine Beach City Commission. Judge R. Lee Smith ruled in favor of the Commission and last week denied the appeal by the company.

Flagler County administrator Jerry Cameron and county officials hold a round-table discussion with U.S. Rep. Mike Waltz today in Bunnell. Congress is on vacation and congressmen and women are hearing from constituents around the nation.

The man accused of leaving the scene after allegedly hitting and killing two bicyclists on Race Track Road in St. Johns County pled not guilt Monday afternoon. Henry Haigler, 37, is charged with two counts of felony hit-and-run on June 15 after he allegedly struck two women on bicycles. A witness reported the driver got out of his vehicle, then got back in and drove off. Haigler turned himself in a couple of days later after not being home when deputies arrived to serve a warrant. Investigators say he was linked to the crash based on DNA evidence as well as front end damage to his Hyundai Azera. The fog lamp from his vehicle reportedly was found at the scene. Haigler is out on a $50,000 bond.

In Putnam County a countywide school supply drive is on as school nears.  Beck car dealerships in Putnam along with the Palatka Daily News are working in partnership for School Supplies for Teachers. Supplies needed also will be going to help out students and include everything from tissues to notebook paper to #2 pencils. You can drop off items at any Beck dealership, the Daily News or WPLK/WIYD. Too busy to shop? Monetary donations can to the Palatka Daily News.

A guy apparently really proud of his vape pen ended up in St. Johns County jail after he pulled a gun on two people who weren’t willing to take a hit on his vape. A vape or vaporizing pen is used for e-cigarettes. Kyle McGill Walker, 19, of St. Augustine, is in jail on $5,000 bond after confronting first a woman and then a man wanting them to try the vape. When they wouldn’t take a drag, he allegedly pulled a gun. Deputies later found Walker who was identified by the woman. She also recognized the .45 caliber handgun he had pulled