Feb. 22 – Marcia Lane – roving reporter

.This news bulletin is brought to you in conjunction with NATKIM Radio. Listen to WPLK (800 AM), WIYD (1260 AM) and WPLK FM (98.3 FM).

Two people from Interlachen were taken to UF Health Shands in Gainesville Thursday evening after a family member allegedly stabbed them. Putnam County Sheriff’s Office said the attacker, Patrick Bailey, 70, was reportedly in an “altered mental state.” The three were family members. The husband and wife were taken to Shands because of the nature of their multiple injuries – stab wounds and trauma. The incident happened about 5:15 p.m. at a residence on Orchid Avenue in Interlachen. Bailey was arrested on two counts of aggravated battery using a deadly weapon.

Thursday afternoon two Putnam County schools were put on lockdown after an anonymous phone call saying a shooting was about to happen at James A. Long Elementary School.  Palatka Police and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office later determined a 13-year-old runaway from Volusia County was responsible for the call. Gregory Henry was found during the lockdown protocol at Jenkins Middle School. The Putnam County School District locked down both schools because James A. Long and Jenkins Middle are near each other. Allison Waters-Merritt, a spokeswoman with the Sheriff’s Office, said the youth was found to be a runaway who had attended Jenkins prior to the incident. He was wanted in Volusia on drug charges relating to marijuana. The 13-year-old was arrested for, booked into the jail and then turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice.

Decades of Putnam County children can thank Cheryl and Sweet Owens for introducing them to sports. Tonight the City of Palatka recognizes them with a plaque and a ceremony renaming a field in their honor. The ceremony is at 6:45 p.m. at the Azalea Bowl.

Palm Coast is pushing for a full arts center utilizing the existing Palm Coast Arts Foundation pavilion. State Sen. Travis Hutson has already sponsored a local funding initiative request for $3.1 million to get the project underway including a roof system on the 4,500 square foot building. Another $400,000 match is sought from the State Cultural Arts Endowment Fund. The open-air pavilion is being put to use this weekend as the City Repertory Theatre and the Arts Foundation offer up William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew today through Sunday.

Bullying is being blamed for a five-year-old trying to hurt himself while on a school bus in Flagler County Tuesday. A bus driver pulled over to call 9-1-1 to report the child was out of control, hitting “himself in the head with a seat belt and appeared to tie his jacket sleeves around his neck until his face started to turn purple.” The youth told deputies and his father he was “being bullied by an unknown group of other juveniles and was angered and acted out,” according to a report. He is seeing a counselor at Rymfire Elementary School weekly, according to his father.

Today through Sunday is the 34th annual Cathedral Parish Festival on the grounds of Mission Nombre de Dios off San Marco Avenue in St. Augustine. Expect traditional carnival rides, fireworks and wonderful food.  Ancient City Cat Club puts the spotlight on felines Saturday and Sunday at Solomon Calhoun Center.

 Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. it’s the Chowder Challenge for Children at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. Proceeds benefit the Shriners Children’s Hospital.

At Princess Place in Flagler County Saturday and Sunday enjoy the Native American Festival.

 In Palatka, Florida School of the Arts offers the musical Gypsy today through Sunday.

St. Monica’s Catholic Church holds their annual flea market today and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the church hall.

Sunday at Dunn’s Creek State Park find out about Cattle Cowboys and The Seminole during a celebration of the cattle history of Putnam County at the park’s Sisco Road entry in Pomona Park.

This is Marcia Lane, your Roving Reporter.