June 27 – 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).

One of three people wanted in the burglary of a St. Augustine gun store Monday has been arrested in Volusia County. Ronald Lee Salley Jr., 23, of Orlando, was arrested Monday afternoon running from a stolen BMW that matched the one seen near the Top Gun Supply store on State Road 16. That’s where earlier in the day three burglars stole 34 guns after smashing the  door and breaking in. Also found near where Salley was arrested was a gun stolen from the St. Augustine store. He hasn’t talked with detectives but is being held in Volusia on a variety of charges.

If you pay your taxes using the quarterly system, remember to get to the tax collector’s office by Friday, June 30. Putnam County Tax Collector Linda Myers says this is the first installment of the year and if you don’t pay you lose out on the quarterly payment opportunity.

Flagler County health officials are offering free HIV screenings for county residents today at the department’s facility in Bunnell. In 2017, the last year data is available 20 new cases were reported and that was the highest jump in 20 years. That was up from nine recorded the year before.

Florida Highway Patrol says toxicology results from a St. Johns County wreck in February that left a father of two dead show the driver of the other car was “under the influence of both alcohol and controlled substances” when the wreck occurred. Grace Ann King, 54, has been charged with DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide, DUI property damage and driving without headlights in the Feb. 4 crash on U.S. 1. She was in another wreck in May in Jacksonville where she was charged with DUI.

Palatka City Commission won’t be meeting tonight and only one regular city commission meeting is scheduled in July and August. However, commissioners will begin work on the city’s budget July 18 when they plan to set the tentative millage rate.

Plans are gearing up for the Fourth of July. Crescent City kicks off events on June 29 with an early Fourth of July gift – the seventh annual Red, White and BOOM fireworks show over Crescent Lake. Flagler County will be offering a different spin on the 29th with Patriot Night Watch at the Florida Agricultural Museum in Palm Coast. You can learn from British loyalists and American patriots as they interact on a lantern-light walking tour of Hewitt’s Revolutionary War Sawmill Archaeological Park. After all, Florida was a British colony during the Revolutionary War.

St. Augustine Mayor Tracy Upchurch has nominated Tom and Jean Rahner for one of the city’s two highest awards, the Order of La Florida. For decades the couple have helped create theater in the Nation’s Oldest City. Tom Rahner founded Flagler College’s theater department and served as chair for 31 years. He also instrumental in the development of Cross and Sword, the state play about the founding of St. Augustine that used to run each summer at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. Jean Rahner is co-founder and retired artistic director of the Limelight Theatre. She also founded A Classic Theatre.

This is Marcia Lane, your roving reporter