May 8 – 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).

Seven children had minor injuries following an accident this morning involving a bus and a vehicle, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. The accident was at Randolph Street and Huntington Road in the Crescent City area, said Allison Waters-Merritt, Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman. Details are sketchy but early reports indicate it was a private school bus, belonging to a Christian-based school, she said.

Traffic on U.S. 17 in the East Palatka-San Mateo area was backed up this morning after an accident at 17 and Yelvington Road by the Putnam County Fairgrounds. A car reportedly hit the rear of a boat, said witnesses.

A woman who planned to spend the night at St. Francis House, the homeless shelter in St. Augustine, ended up in the St. Johns County Jail after a background check showed she was wanted in Ohio. Jessica Glusic, 22, was wanted after being indicted on one count of illegal sexual conduct involving a minor who was under the age of 16 but older than 13. She apparently fled after being indicted. She’s in the jail awaiting extradition to Ohio.

Palatka City Commissioners will hold a special called meeting before their regular meeting Thursday night. The special meeting is to discuss and provide direction for the latest search for city manager. This will be the third search since the former city manager was fired last year and City Clerk Betsy Driggers became interim city manager. The regular meeting is at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Both are open to the public.

San Sebastian Winery is planning to add a market and restaurant to the King Street location. Owner Charles Cox apparently has grown tired of waiting for development of Sebastian Inland Harbor and will be going before the San Sebastian Inland Harbor PUD Architectural Review Committee to present his plans. The planned unit development status was granted in the early 2000s for the Sebastian development that was to include a hotel, condos and shopping area.

St. Augustine is talking about organic waste collection and seeking public input on the idea. Food waste would be diverted from the landfill into a composting program under the plan. The survey is on the city website and available through May 17.

St. Johns River State College officials hauled oversized checks around Palatka High School recently, presenting them to students who will be receiving scholarships to the college, which has campuses in Putnam, Clay and St. Johns counties. Among the recipients Zuma Brown whose Collier-Blocker scholarship will pay school and living expenses. Collier-Blocker was a former all-black college that merged years ago with St. Johns. Tristin Glover received the FV Oliver Scholarship for $3,300 and Andrew J. Burnette earned full tuition receiving the Academic Scholarship.

A rent hike means Flagler County Sheriff’s Palm Coast District office will be moving. Sheriff Rick Staly called a planned hike to $10,000 a month for two units “disgraceful.” The rent started out six years ago a $2,000 for one unit. Currently the office The office is at City Marketplace. It will be moved to old Sears building on Palm Coast Parkway after renovation is completed.

You can count on the Panthers winning at the girls softball regional competition tonight when the Eustis Panthers play the Palatka High School Panthers. You can hear it live on WIYD 1260 AM or 104.9 FM. Pregame begins at 6:40 p.m. and first pitch is 7 p.m.

This is Marcia Lane, your roving reporter.