This is Marcia Lane, your roving reporter.
Palatka’s current mayor — Terrell Hill — has ended months of speculation after filing his intent to run for re-election. Putnam Supervisor of Elections Charles Overturf III announced Hill’s filing Tuesday. Hill, an attorney, is in his second four-year term. Two others have already filed their intent to run for the job including Junior Roger Daniel and Jose Maldonado.
Elections in Flagler Beach, Bunnell and Welaka Tuesday saw some changes in the make up of commissions. However, Welaka retained council members Jessica Finch and Kathy Washington. On Friday the Canvassing Board will meet to certify results. In Bunnell Bob Barnes and TIna-Marie Schultz retained their seats beating out political newcomer and former Florida Highway Patrol trooper Pete Young. In Flagler Beach longtime commissioner Jane Mealy retained her seat although newcomer James Sherman beat out commissioner Rick Belhumeur.
A heavy but quick rain storm Tuesday evening dumped three-quarters of an inch of rain in Palatka and East Palatka. It blew through in St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra disrupting some of the Military Appreciation ceremonies at The Players Championship event. More rain expected tonight and continuing through the week with temperatures dropping to the low 30s on Saturday.
Practice rounds continue at The Players at TPC in Ponte Vedra today with tournament play beginning Thursday. Tonight is the annual Hall of Fame ceremonies with Tiger Wood among those being inducted. PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan during a press conference Tuesday probably caused some heartburn for St. Johns County. Monahan said PGA was committed to the World Golf Hall of Fame through 2023 but added “We’re looking at all of our options as we go forward.” For 25 years the Hall of Fame has been at TPC but the contract is running out. Monahan said “the way that people consume Hall of Fames has changed, and we just want to make certain that any decision that we make about the next 25 years maximizes our ability to showcase…”
Gas prices are at $4.199 this morning. Some stations reported being out of regular after a weekend that saw many heading to the pumps to fill up when prices were still under $4. At Hi-Way Mart in Palatka, Tony says they’re back to normal amounts along with other stations in the tai-county area.
In St. Johns County, another new K-8 school is in the works. School board members Tuesday gave the go-ahead for K-8 school NN to go in northwest St. Johns. The school, using the basic plans already in place at several other schools, will be in the Shearwater development between County Road 210 and State Road 16. The school, expected to be ready for the 2023-24 school year, is to relieve overcrowding at Freedom Crossing Academy, Timberlin Creek Elementary School and Switzerland Point Middle School. Some residents are raising concerns about the growth and the ability of the two-lane roads in the area to handle the increasing traffic.
Palatka City Commission will be honoring several Palatka Police officers with life saving awards at their Thursday meeting at 6 p.m. Officers Matthew Hinton, Eric Pleiman, Anthony Solis and Tommy Robinson plus Deputy Kegan Butts will be saluted at the meeting.
And a way to go to St. Augustine Altrusa Club. They delivered books to Head Start families at their weekly Monday Funday. Said one member: It’s so much fun to watch kids get excited when they pick out books to take home.
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