This is Marcia Lane, your roving reporter.
U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack was in sync with her constituents Monday night during a Telephone Town Hall call that included questions about inflation, the death of a National Guardsman at the Southwest border, voter fraud prevention and federal spending. Cammack, who represents the Third Congressional District, has held the town halls by phone before and they’ve proven popular giving residents a chance to talk one-on-one with the congresswoman. For some of the issues involving individuals, Cammack promised to call them personally after the nearly hour-long meeting ended. On broader issues she was blunt including calling for less bureaucracy and federal intervention while declaring inflation the biggest issue facing our country. Polls conducted during the call showed 37 percent of listeners thought inflation was the biggest issue facing the country and 31 percent considered ranked the border as No. 1.
Putnam County will be losing Cammack under the new redistricting plan proposed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and approved by the Florida Legislature last week during a special session. The redrawing puts Putnam in District 6, currently served by Rep. Michael Waltz, a Republican like Cammack. The state is seeking to have a challenge to redistricting filed before the session dismissed.
Florida Highway Patrol reports two more deaths in motor accidents in Flagler County. A single-motorcycle crash on Interstate 95 claimed the life of an 84-year-old motorcyclist Monday shortly after 1 p.m. He lost control of his three-wheel Harley Davidson Tri-Glide on 95 immediately south of the State Road 100 intersection in Palm Coast. He was headed north in the left lane when he hit the guardrail in the center median and was thrown from the cycle. His was the third fatality in Flagler County since Friday and the accident is still under investigation. On Sunday morning a 59-year-old New Jersey woman died and two Florida residents were in critical condition after a head-on crash on State Road 11 in Flagler County. According to FHP, the crash happened about 10:50 a.m. when an eastbound sedan driven by a 47-year-old Deltona man crossed into the westbound lane, striking a SUV driven by a 41-year-old Jupiter woman. She had minor injuries but the 59-year-old Bedminster, N.J., woman in the SUV died. Another passenger, a 79-year-old woman from Groveland, is in critical condition. The driver of the sedan is also in critical condition. His 19-year-old passenger had minor injuries, according to FHP.
In St. Johns County, county commissioners this morning hold a workshop to talk about growth and infrastructure. Those are two issues drawing an increasing amount of concern from area residents who between 2010 and 2020 saw the population increase by 40 percent. St. Johns is now the 10th fastest growing county in the United States. As elections near, several candidates have stepped up with anti-growth platforms.
A program on autism acceptance is set for tonight at the Price-Martin Center on North 11th Street in Palatka. “Putting The Pieces Together” will engage experts and parents including how to find the right resources that can make a difference. Zeta Mu Zeta Chapter, Palatka is partnering with the City of Palatka to put on the program from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Rodeheaver Boys Ranch in Putnam County held its annual barbecue and meeting Sunday, celebrating the ranch that helps provide a home environment for at-risk and home-insecure boys. Putnam County businessman and booster Danny Martinez helped make it an extra special year with a $300,000 donation to the Rodeheaver Foundation in honor of his late wife, Catherine “Katie” Martinez. He is president of Rodeheaver Foundation and past president of Rodeheaver Boys Ranch where the couple had been active supporters.
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