May 10 – 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).

An interim city manager and another search for a permanent city manager are on the calendar for the city of Palatka. Commissioners Thursday heard options for pursuing a replacement for their former city manager, who they fired last year. City Clerk Betsy Driggers has been acting city manager as well as handling her duties as clerk. Now commissioners have decided to hire an interim manager while the search begins again for a permanent manager. They’ll hire a consulting firm to conduct that search, which probably will take six months. Money for the consulting firm, expected to cost $15,000-$30,000 and for the interim manager’s salary will come from the unfilled city manager position.

Letter carriers will be picking up food from mailboxes this Saturday as the public and the U.S. Postal Service take part in the annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. People are asked to put out nonperishable food items that will then go to groups helping out those in need. Best deal, food collected stays in the community where it’s gathered.

A photo and comment posted on Snapchat led to the arrest of an Interlachen High School senior Thursday. Baylee Crowe, 18, went before a  judge this morning after being held in Putnam County jail overnight.  Crowe is accused of posting a gun threat among photos he put up. One of the photos shows him holding a machine gun with the message: “No school tomorrow?” The picture was taken at the Camp Blanding museum. Crowe, who has been in Junior ROTC for four years, reportedly planned to join the Marines after graduation. He was in trouble in January when an empty beer can was found in his backpack and he told school officials he drank it in class. The Sheriff’s office in a release urged parents and guardians to talk to their students “about the seriousness of making a threat to a school campus and the repercussions of making a threat.”

In Flagler County a mother and son are in jail on suspicion of trafficking in illegal narcotics. A raid on their Pine Circle Drive house Thursday included SWAT team members and led to the discovery of cocaine, Oxycodone, cannabis, THC oil and $4,800 in cash. Also found, a 9-mm handgun reported stolen from Miami. Cory Waring, 23, and his mother Mia Lindsay, 42, were arrested. Warring is being held without bond. His mother’s bond was set at $55,000. The investigation is continuing, says the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.

Allen Nease High School in St. Johns County is celebrating. Their NAVY Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps program has been named the most outstanding program in Area-12 for the seventh time in the past eight years. Area-12 includes 60 schools in Northeast Florida as well as the entire state of Georgia.

Romanza Festivale in St. Augustine wraps up this weekend. The free celebration of the arts includes performances tonight by the St. Augustine Youth Orchestra, a piano concert, the St. Augustine Concert Orchestra and a Mama Blue concert. Saturday First Coast Harp Ensemble, St. Augustine Community Chorus and Come to the Cabaret are scheduled.

In other happenings the Vilano Music Festival is Saturday in Vilano Beach and the 20th annual Riding into History Motorcycle Show is today and Saturday at World Golf Village.

Flagler County’s popular Movies in the Park is tonight at 8:30 p.m. at Central Park in Town Center in Palm Coast. The family-friendly outdoor movie is “Coco.” Three opportunities at theater over the weekend include  The Flagler Playhouse in Bunnell offering “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas”, “Hand to God” by the City Repertory Theater tonight through Sunday in City Market Place and the Flagler Palm Coast High School Thespians “Les Miserables the musical” at Flagler Auditorium tonight through Sunday.

In Putnam County, enjoy the Tangled Oaks Winery Mother’s Day celebration in Grandin Saturday and Sunday with wine tasting, 30 vendors, acoustic music including performers Lee Kelly and William Snyder and barbecue. In Palatka high school performers from around the county offer “Disney’s Newsies” musical production tonight through Sunday at the auditorium in C.L. Overturf Jr. 6th Grade Center. Tickets at Ralph’s House of Flowers.

This is Marcia Lane, your roving reporter.