VIDYA HERBS WAS FOUNDED IN BANGALORE, INDIA, 24 YEARS AGO AS A MANUFACTURER OF HERBAL EXTRACTS AND OTHER PRODUCTS. IT’S GROWN TO 800 EMPLOYEES THERE, ALSO BECOMING ONE OF INDIA’S LEADING COFFEE EXPORTERS. IT OPENED A PAIR OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ARMS IN FRANCE IN 2015 AND 2019. AND YESTERDAY IT LAUNCHED ITS FIRST AMERICAN MANUFACTURING PLANT–IN BUNNELL.
THE COMPANY HAS NINE EMPLOYEES LOCALLY AS OF TODAY, AMONG THEM HELGA VAN ECKERT, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF VIDYA HERBS USA’S FLORIDA BUSINESS OPERATIONS, WHERE SHE INTENDS TO SEE AN EXPANSION EXPECTED TO REACH 100 LOCAL EMPLOYEES IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, AND POSSIBLY MORE AFTER THAT.
VAN ECKERT HAD BEEN INTRODUCED TO VIDYA HERBS IN 2019 THROUGH DESIGNS FOR HEALTH, A COMPANY WHOSE PALM COAST EXPANSION VAN ECKERT HAD SHEPHERDED IN 2015. VIDYA HERBS WAS INTERESTED IN EXPANDING OVERSEAS. TALKS BEGAN ABOUT BRINGING THE COMPANY TO FLORIDA, INCLUDING A KEY DINNER WITH BUNNELL MAYOR CATHERINE ROBINSON AND CITY MANAGER ALVIN JACKSON.
IN 2020 THE COMPANY BOUGHT THE 20,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING ON U.S. 1 AND OTIS HUNTER ROAD FOR $2.65 MILLION
THE COVID PANDEMIC TEMPORARILY DERAILED THE SCHEDULE. THE BUILDING SAT EMPTY.
THE COMPANY WORKED OUT AN ECONOMIC-DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE PLAN WITH BUNNELL GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS AWARDING A $276,000 PROPERTY TAX REBATE STRETCHED OVER SEVEN YEARS, PENDING VIDYA HERBS MEETING BENCHMARKS: THEY ARE REQUIRED TO ADD 25 JOBS A YEAR OVER FOUR YEARS, AND HAVE AVERAGE WAGES OF $42,000. THE COMPANY’S FOUNDER, KODIMULE SHYAM PRASAD–AN INVENTOR AND HOLDER OF DOZENS OF PATENTS FOR THE TREATMENT OF NUMEROUS CONDITIONS–WITH HERBAL EXTRACTS USED IN NUMEROUS PRODUCTS.
VIDYA HERBS DESCRIBES SAW PALMETTO EXTRACT AS “A PATENTED, CLINICALLY STUDIED URINARY HEALTH INGREDIENT” ALSO USED TO TREAT PROSTATE DISORDERS. THE COMPANY IS ALSO KNOWN FOR ITS TURMERIC EXTRACTS, PLANT-BASED VITAMINS AND DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS
PRASAD SAID THE BUNNELL FACILITY IS LOOKING TO GET INTO FREEZE-DRYING FRUIT AND VEGETABLES AND MANUFACTURING PROBIOTICS: THE 100-EMPLOYEE THRESHOLD IS NOT THE LIMIT. TO THAT END, PLANS ARE AFOOT TO BUILD A SECOND, 20,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING ON THE SAME PROPERTY, AND LOOK FOR A THIRD BUILDING, EITHER IN FLAGLER OR VOLUSIA COUNTY,
A 60-YEAR-OLD PALM COAST MAN WAS FOUND UNRESPONSIVE AT THE WHEEL OF HIS CAR IN TOWN CENTER, AFTER IT CRASHED INTO BRUSH ON LANDING BOULEVARD FRIDAY EVENING. JEFFREY GIANCASPRO WAS PRONOUNCED DECEASED SHORTLY AFTERWARD
A PASSER-BY NOTICED THE CAR HAD VEERED OFF INTO BRUSH IN THE PARKING LOT
THE PALM COAST FIRE DEPARTMENT AND FLAGLER COUNTY FIRE RESCUE 92 RESPONDED AND PROVIDED AID BEFORE TRANSPORTING HIM TO A NEARBY HOSPITAL. THE CRASH WAS REPORTED TO AUTHORITIES AT 5:30 P.M. HE WAS PRONOUNCED AT 6 P.M. THE FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL RESPONDED AND IS CONTINUING THE INVESTIGATION.
IT IS THE SECOND TIME IN A WEEK THAT AUTHORITIES HAVE RESPONDED TO WHAT APPEARS TO BE CRASHES INDUCED BY MEDICAL EPISODES IN TOWN CENTER. LAST FRIDAY, A 57-YEAR-OLD RESIDENT OF CRESCENT CITY WAS FOUND UNRESPONSIVE AT THE WHEEL OF HIS CAR IN THE TARGET SHOPPING CENTER AFTER VEERING INTO BRUSH THERE. HE WAS PRONOUNCED DECEASED AT THE HOSPITAL SHORTLY AFTERWARD.
ANDREW CRAVEN MINTZ, THE 34-YEAR-OLD PALM COAST MAN AT THE CENTER OF A THREE VEHICLE CRASH THAT NARROWLY MISSED SEVERAL LOCAL OFFICIALS AND A CHILD NEAR THE PIER IN APRIL, TURNED HIMSELF IN AT THE FLAGLER COUNTY JAIL, SIX WEEKS AFTER HE WAS CHARGED.
MINTZ WAS BOOKED ON TWO CHARGES AND RELEASED ON $100,000 BOND.
HE WAS DRIVING A TWO-DOOR HONDA THE MORNING OF SATURDAY, APRIL 1, JUST AS THE FLAGLER BEACH “ALL STARS” WERE ABOUT TO BEGIN THEIR MONTHLY BEACH CLEAN-UP AT THE PIER. THE CLEAN-UP WAS LED BY FLAGLER BEACH MAYOR SUZIE JOHNSTON, COMMISSIONER ERIC COOLEY AND FORMER MAYOR LINDA PROVENCHER, ALL OF WHOM WERE AT THE INTERSECTION OF STATE ROAD 100 AND STATE ROAD A1A, ON THE SIDEWALK, WHEN THE CRASH TOOK PLACE A FEW FEET FROM THEM.
MINTZ WAS SPOTTED BY TWO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ON A1A SHORTLY BEFORE, SPEEDING DOWN THE HIGHWAY RECKLESSLY, PASSING CARS ON SOLID-YELLOW LINES AND NARROWLY AVOIDING HEAD-ON CRASHES, ACCORDING TO HIS ARREST REPORT. HE WAS FIRST SPOTTED BY A SHERIFF’S DEPUTY IN THE HAMMOCK. THAT DEPUTY TRIED TO FOLLOW MINTZ BUT QUICKLY LOST SIGHT OF HIM, ADVISING OF THE SITUATION ON THE RADIO.
MINTZ WAS AGAIN SPOTTED BY A FLAGLER BEACH POLICE OFFICER ON PATROL IN THE CITY, WHO TURNED ON THE PATROL CAR’S EMERGENCY LIGHTS AT NORTH 18TH STREET, WHERE THE OFFICER REPORTED SEEING THE HONDA GOING 90 IN A 45. THE OFFICER FOLLOWED MINTZ FOR 30 SECONDS WITH LIGHTS ON, BEFORE DEACTIVATING THE PURSUIT IN ACCORDANCE WITH AGENCY POLICY. SHORTLY AFTERWARD, MINTZ, PASSING A STOPPED CAR AT THE SR100 INTERSECTION, CRASHED HEAD-ON WITH A VEHICLE THAT WAS IN THE OPPOSITE LANE OF TRAVEL. HE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED AND TAKEN TO HALIFAX HOSPITAL IN DAYTONA BEACH.
THE FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL FILED A RECKLESS DRIVING CITATION, THEN DROPPED IT: ON APRIL 14, THE STATE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE FILED BOTH THE SECOND DEGREE FELONY CHARGE OF FLEEING AND ELUDING POLICE AND A CHARGE OF RECKLESS DRIVING WITH DAMAGE TO PERSON OR PROPERTY, A FIRST DEGREE MISDEMEANOR. IF MINTZ IS FOUND GUILTY, HE FACES UP TO 15 YEARS IN PRISON ON THE FELONY CHARGE, UP TO A YEAR IN JAIL ON THE MISDEMEANOR CHARGE.
EVEN WITH A GUILTY FINDING, HE IS UNLIKELY TO BE SENTENCED ANYWHERE NEAR 15 YEARS IN PRISON, ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE IS NEITHER AN ALLEGATION OF DRUNK DRIVING NOR WAS THERE A SERIOUS INJURY, OTHER THAN HIS OWN. THE PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS TO THREE VEHICLES AND A DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SIGN THAT HAD RECENTLY BEEN INSTALLED.
WE’RE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE GRAND OPENING OF THE PALATKA ATTIC WILL BE HELD ON JUNE 10.. THE FOLKS AT HAVEN HOSPICE SAID THE CAN’T WAIT TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO THEIR STORE JUAT DOWN FROM MCDONALDS IN PALATKA!
THE FLORIDA SCHOOL OF THE ARTS IS HOSTING ITS ANNUAL SUMMER WORKSHOPS, WHERE PARTICIPANTS CAN SING. MOVE. CREATE. LEAD BY FLOARTS FACULTY AND GUEST ARTISTS, THE WEEK-LONG PROGRAMS ALLOW STUDENTS TO EXPERIENCE “MASTER CLASSES” IN THE ARTISTIC FIELD OF THEIR CHOICE – MUSICAL THEATRE, DANCE OR COSTUME CRAFTS. CLASSES ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND HELD AT FLOARTS, LOCATED ON THE ST. JOHNS RIVER STATE COLLEGE PALATKA CAMPUS.
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THE PALATKA POLICE DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO ASSIST IN VICTIMS SERVICES. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMING A VOLUNTEER, PLEASE CONTACT MRS. CATHERINE BLEVINS AT 386-329-0115.
THE SERVICES FOR JOEL HULL WILL BE THURSDAY, MAY 18, AT ST. JAMES UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN PALATKA IN THE SANCTUARY. VISITATION WILL BE AT 10AM AND THE FUNERAL WILL BE AT 11AM.
THE LONGTIME PUTNAM SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR DIED SUNDAY JOHNSON OVERTURF FUNERAL HOME IS I CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS.
BILL FUTCH IN SAN MATEO REMINDS
IT’S TIME FOR THIRD THURSDAY DINNER AT SAN MATEO PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH!!
THIS MONTH IS FISH WITH CHEESE GRITS, COLE SLAW AND HUSHPUPPIES!! WE’LL HAVE BANANA PUDDING AND CHOCOLATE ECLAIR!! DINE IN OR TAKE OUT!!
NATKIM Radio 