April 30 – 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).

Crescent City voters go to the polls today for a special election to fill the Group 3 city commission seat left vacant by the death of Commissioner Marcus Hardy in January. Only voters who live in Precinct 3 are eligible to vote. Running for the seat are Christine Barber, Katie Berg, Jamaad Cesar and Robert L. Johnson Sr. Polls at the South Putnam Government Center on Summit Street are open until 7 p.m.

St. Johns County Sheriff’s deputies are seeking a third person in a home invasion robbery in St. Augustine where the victim was struck multiple times with a hammer. Investigators say Jade Buck, 21, agreed to meet a man who was paying her $60 for sex at his home. Once she got the money Buck and the man got into a fight, She signaled two accomplices including her boyfriend Francisco Valdez, 30, into the home. Investigators say Valdez planned the robbery and was the one who struck the man numerous times in the head with a hammer. Buck and Valdez removed the man’s clothing and took his cellphone and wallet. Buck and Valdez have been arrested. The accomplice is still sought.

Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Monday arrested a former camp counselor accused of molesting a child between May 2011 and August 2012 at a Boys and Girls Club in Flagler County. Dante Mobley, 35, is charged with lewd and lascivious molestation of a child under the age of 12.

A yard trash burn that got out of control is being blamed for a fire that burned about 15 acres in St. Johns County, according to Florida Forestry Service. The fire started Sunday afternoon behind houses off County Road 207. It took about 24 hours to get the fire 95 percent contained. Crews continued to watch for hotspots Monday. Forest Service says the original pile burn was unauthorized and a notice of violation was given the homeowner.

St. Augustine Beach Commission will continue to take a wait-and-see attitude on a proposal to require residents and visitors to pay to park. At a public meeting Monday commissioners reviewed the proposal that’s been sparked in part by the county’s discussion over parking charges. One idea beach commissioners discussed is leasing land between Fourth and Fifth streets on A1A and turning it into a temporary parking lot with 102 spaces.

A man who was approaching women in downtown Palatka back in January is apparently back. The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office received a report on the man this time at the Palatka Mall. The man reportedly asked to use a woman’s cell phone.

And a salute to Sunrise Rotary of Palatka whose members were busy over the weekend cleaning out and around the large sign at Rotary Park. The sign is the first greeting to people coming into town on U.S. 17.

This is Marcia Lane, your roving reporter.