This is Marcia Lane, your roving reporter.
Beautiful sunny weather today so that it makes it perfect for the first day of the 2022 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite Series on the St. Johns River. Some 94 anglers left off from the Palatka city docks this morning to fish. Colder than usual water temperatures and lack of eel grass are among concerns to the professional anglers. You can watch some of the live action out on the river today by going to the bassmasters.com site. You can see the weigh-in in person all four days of the tournament at 3:30 p.m. each day at the Palatka riverfront. Word is outdoor temperatures are expected to reach a high near 69 degrees.
A Florida state prisoner on the run for 62 days ended back in custody in Flagler County. Sheriff’s deputies took Brittni Pozza, 27, into custody Tuesday night at a Black Hawk Place residence. She escaped from Bradenton Bridge Female Community Release Center in Bradenton on Dec. 8, 2021. On May 10, 2021, a Flagler County judge had sentenced her to 18 months in state prison on charges including selling drugs within 1,000 feet of a school. Pozza, a native of Palm Coast, in the 30 months before being sentenced to state prison had been arrested on 18 charges in Flagler, according to the Sheriff’s records. Four of those charges were drug-related.
Palatka City Commission meets tonight at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Among items on the agenda reconsideration of a contract for dock and riverboat aka water taxi operation at the riverfront. At the last city meeting a motion regarding moving forward with Boathouse Marina on the project ended in a 2-2 vote. The issue has gone on for several years. Also, staff is looking for direction from the commission on opting for land for the Wilson Cove Cypress development to be designated a brownfield site, which would qualify it for environmental clean-up money.
Palatka Art League is opening its Artisan Gif Boutique Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Tilghman House 324 River St. in Palatka. A coffee bar and desserts will be available in addition to jewelry, home decor and gifts created by local artisans. On Saturday craft classes for kids and an art class for adults also will be offered. Check that out by calling 386-325-8750 or go the the Facebook site.
In Flagler County the proposed 1,200-home Eagle Lakes Development now has a new name Radiant. Changing the name hasn’t made residents happier about the development to go at the south end of Old King Road. At a Tuesday meeting of the Flagler County Planning Board other concerns including fire safety and fire infrastructure were among new concerns raised. The board ended up delaying approval.
On Jan. 30 Ruben Josey was flown to Shands at UF with severe injuries after being attacked by several dogs while outside a friend’s residence in Satsuma. On Monday afternoon, Josey, still hospitalized and having undergone several surgeries, got a chance to say thanks to some of those who helped save him. Dispatch Corporal Zach Horn, Detective Jehonathan Peters, Corporal Steve Taylor and Sgt. Justin Lewis visited him. Josey told them he had almost given up hope when he heard the sirens coming. Dispatchers also were praised for the job they’d done in coordinating agencies and keeping Josey calm while on the line. Officials haven’t been able to determine why the dogs attacked since they were familiar with Josey. A small dog was present and the dogs had earlier tried to chase that dog. The owner turned over his dogs to Putnam County Animal Control.
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