August 1 – Roving reporter

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A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with funeral expenses for a newlywed from Iowa who died Tuesday while swimming near Crescent Beach. Seminary student Dalton Cottrell, 22, and his wife, Cheyenne, 22, were honeymooning in the area when they went swimming and were caught in a strong current. It was Dalton Cottrell’s first time in the ocean, according to his wife of three days. She said she tried to help him, but he pulled her under as they swam off shore. A surfer who realized they were in trouble swam out to help as did a lifeguard. CPR was performed. Cottrell died at Flagler Hospital. The Cottrells recently completed their junior year at Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary in Iowa. 

Palatka’s airport will be getting nearly $454,000 to install additional taxiway lighting and construct another runway at the facility off State Road 100. The Department of Transportation announced the grant part of $478 million in airport infrastructure grants given out around the country. Palatka was one of half-a-dozen airports in Florida to receive funding.

The suspect in the July 12 robbery of Ameris Bank on U.S. 1 South in St. Augustine was arrested Tuesday at a home in Flagler County. Gary Rahme, 59, reportedly told detectives he committed the robbery “because his family needed money.” Surveillance footage and a video showing the suspected robber filling his car at a gas station helped lead deputies to Rahme. Three air-powered guns were found at his house. One matched the description of the gun used in the robbery that reportedly netted almost $13,000.

A fire that destroyed a semi truck and the nine new cars it was hauling closed portions of southbound lanes on Interstate 95 at the Bunnell exit Wednesday. Clean up and emergency repairs to the asphalt caused traffic to be rerouted throughout the night but the lanes are reportedly open today. The driver for Proficient Auto Transport told Florida Highway Patrol he noticed smoke from the engine and was able to pull over and get out before the fire ignited around 4 a.m. 

Eloise Glisson, who was the face of the Putnam County Tag Office for years, has died at a retirement community in Jacksonville. Glisson, 91, was an avid golfer and a member of the Palatka Women’s Golf Association. She enjoyed bridge and the Florida Gators.

The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has reinstated Deputy Robert Finn after an arbitrator ruled in favor of Finn, who was terminated last year. Cause for  his firing was failing to immediately take action on a vehicle traveling the wrong way on the Interstate 95 0ff-ramp at Palm Coast Parkway. Shortly after the vehicle was involved in a deadly crash. The arbitrator ruled to reinstate Finn but did not reinstate his back pay or missed benefits.

As work continues on widening State Road 20 in Putnam and Alachua counties, a temporary road closure is in place on Martha Drive at 20 through Aug. 29. It’s tied in with the widening project from County Road 315 to Southwest 56th Avenue. Periodic traffic/lane shifts are required all along the roadway as work continues. P&S Paving Inc. won the contract for the $23 million roadway construction project expected to be finished by summer 2021.

This is Marcia Lane, your roving reporter.