March 26 – 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).

Expect a change in the weather today and a nor’easter blowing in this evening. 80 percent chance of rain tonight. The rain is needed but Flagler and St. Johns county beaches are still recovering from last week’s nor’easter. At Vilano Beach’s Porpoise Point area an estimated $20,000 damage was done to the roadway last week. Dunes also took a battering.

Palm Coast City Council today is talking improvements to parks, hearing an update on the 10-year capital improvement plan and looking at an economic incentive package for a marine mail order superstore. Improvements are being looked at for Holland Park and Ralph Carter Park. The incentive package is for CP Performance, a California company looking at expanding its Palm Coast operation including constructing a 20,000-30,000 square foot building at Hargrove Grade Industrial Park.

Putnam County Archives is taking their new digital program on the road today and tomorrow. Archivist Mischa Johns will offer a scanning and preservation workshop today from 2-4 p.m. at the Crescent City Library and Wednesday from 2-4 p.m. at the Melrose Library. The archives under the Putnam County Library System is digitalizing their collection and seeking to copy documents, letters, yearbooks and pictures from residents.

Friday is the deadline to pay city and county taxes if you’re on the quarterly payment system.  The program is for individuals and businesses and means instead of one lump sum, the payment is broken up into four installments. If you want to take part, deadline to sign up for next year is April 30.

Putnam County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s health to find a missing Interlachen girl.  Briona Richardson has been missing since Feb. 20. She was seen at Interlachen High School the next day, talked to deputies and seemed to be unharmed. But she didn’t return home and hasn’t returned to school. She’s known to frequent Clay County and Green Cove Springs. Call the Putnam Sheriff’s Office or NE Florida Crimestoppers.

Putnam County Fair is underway. Civic luncheon is today, Senior luncheon is Wednesday. Gates open at 5 p.m. for the public and the rides. Lots of organizations have up booths including Keep Putnam Beautiful. On May 19 the countywide clean-up will be held. About 75 percent of the captains needed have signed up. Still needed individuals or organizations to oversee the clean-up in San Mateo, Satsuma, Pomona Park, Georgetown and Melrose.

Growth in St. Johns County has put demands on the school district and now the Sheriff’s Office is feeling the effects. The county has grown almost 30 percent since 2010. The Sheriff’s Office has 324 deputies and could use 40 more, say officials. They’re not in the budget plans. Last year 16 deputies were hired but all were put on school security duty, part of the Legislature’s requirements after the Parkland school shooting.

Drivers on I-95 in Flagler County Friday are probably still talking about the unexpected pedestrian crossing six lanes with a dog in her arms. Thing was she was not wearing anything. Some people described her as sauntering toward a car pulled up on the side of the road. She climbed into the car and the couple with the dog took off. Someone captured it on video.

This is Marcia Lane, your roving reporter.