Aug. 26 – 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).

State legislators are in Palatka today to take part in a seminar on the St. Johns River and other North Florida waterways. Rep. Bobby Payne of Palatka and Rep. Paul Renner of Palm Coast are hosting the event that includes a number of state representatives and state Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Noah Valenstein. Among issues being discussed at the St. Johns River Center are algae blooms, fertilizer runoff, human waste and water quality.

One motorcyclist died Sunday evening in Palm Coast after crashing with a pick-up truck, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Travis E. Stewart, 56, of Palm Coast was killed in the crash at Ponce DeLeon Drive and Belle Terre Parkway in Palm Coast. The 56-year-old woman riding with him was critically injured. Several other serious wrecks occurred on Palm Coast roads Sunday including one involving another motorcyclist who was in critical condition after a crash on Seminole Woods Parkway and U.S. 1.

A 14-year-old Flagler Palm Coast High School student was arrested on a felony charge of making written threats to kill. The exchange on Instagram was reported by the mother of the 13-year-old who was allegedly threatened by another boy. The incident Thursday had the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office urging parents to “become more involved in what their children are doing online.”                                                                          

St. Johns County Fire Rescue reports a jet ski crash Saturday afternoon two miles north of St. Augustine Inlet left three people injured with one life-flighted to Orange Park Medical Center in critical condition. That man was found unconscious in the water but was rescued by Good Samaritans in a pontoon boat who performed CPR while they carried him to Fire Rescue personnel on shore. One other patient had non-life threatening injuries and a third was treated and released. The accident is under investigation by the St. Johns Sheriff’s Office and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

An ATV accident in Flagler Estates Saturday sent one individual to Orange Park Medical Center in serious conditions. St. Johns County Fire Rescue responded to the accident that was on the Flagler County side of the neighborhood. Fire-Rescue personnel had to hike into the woods on a trail commonly used for trail riding by ATVs. The patient was flown to Orange Park in serious condition.

Good news for the GFWC Woman’s Club of Palatka – work began on the roof of their clubhouse today. The club has held a series of fund-raisers since discovering the roof needed replacing. The Raise the Roof events are continuing. On Sept. 14 there’s a Low Country Boil with The Rio Grande  Band.

Wednesday in St. Augustine a public workshop about proposed changes to cope with increased traffic, noise and tourists downtown will be held at City Hall from 3 to 5 p.m. Among proposals by the city will be a new deadline for serving alcohol and a proposed extension period that will mean more permits. The city says it wants to provide more police, night lighting, more frequent trash pickups and improved streets and sidewalks as well as hubs for ride sharing.

This is Marcia Lane, your roving reporter.