Nov. 11 – 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).

Veterans Day ceremonies are taking place across the First Coast including the parade put on by Bert Hodge Post 45 VFW today. A reminder federal, state and local government offices are closed but will reopen Tuesday as will schools and banks. Today salutes U.S. veterans and was once known as Armistice Day. The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month was chosen because it marked the end of World War I.

Three people died in auto accidents in Putnam County over the weekend. A driver from Orlando was killed shortly before 8:30 p.m. Saturday on County Road 309 and Riverwood Village Road in Georgetown. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the driver of a 2019 Mitsubishi Mirage traveling south on CR 309 failed to make a left curve, ran off the roadway and became airborne across from Riverwood Village Road. The left front of the Mirage struck an oak tree before ending up on Riverwood Village property. The identity of the driver has not been released pending notification of next of kin. Around 10 p.m. on Saturday night a two-vehicle accident Coral Farms Road and Thornton Lane in Florahome left an area woman dead. FHP reports a 2013 Mercedes C Class driven by Joshua Williams, 30, hit the rear of a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe as the two cars traveled north on Coral Farms Road near Thornton Lane. The Mercedes collided with a tree on the left shoulder, the Hyundai, driven by Lois Sirvent, 74, of Florahome, struck a tree on the right shoulder, ending up facing west and blocking travel lanes on Coral Farm. Sirvent died at the scene. Williams was taken to UF Shands Gainesville with minor injuries. A third wreck around 4:30 a.m. Sunday left  Edward Jason Stout, 36, of Booker, dead. According to FHP, Stout was headed east on Reid Street/State Road 100. East of County Road 309C, Booker for unknown reasons went into the westbound lane, onto the grass and the front end of his 1997 Nissan pickup struck a tree.

Two St. Augustine residents escaped serious injury Sunday morning when their airplane crashed into the Intracoastal Waterway near the Northeast Florida Regional Airport in St. Augustine. Fortunately for them a couple of people were fishing nearby and rescued them , around 9:30 a.m. from the wing of the Mooney M20J, a single engine low wing aircraft. Pilot John Bailey told Florida Highway Patrol he experienced mechanical failures as he attempted to land. His passenger, Logan Boehime, had minor injuries and St. Johns Fire Rescue took them both to an area hospital.

A Flagler County man has been arrested on four counts of firing at an occupied house and nearly striking one resident after an argument over a $10 lawn mowing bill, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. Wyatt Jeffrey Cunningham, 62, was originally arrested in July because during an investigation into the incident he was discovered to have firearms, not allowed because he was a convicted felony. After Florida Department of Law Enforcement tested the guns they were found to match those fired into two houses and Cunningham was booked into the jail. He now faces up to 15 years on each of the charges if found guilty.

Learn a little history this week. Today Historic Melrose hosts Dr. Terry Marshall to talk about the history of the Bingham-Remmel House in Melrose and his experiences with the American Pickers television show when they came to pick among the antiques and collectibles. The Marshalls have restored the house, which was once the Hotel Santa Fe. The talk is at the Homemakers’ Club from 3 to 4:30 p.m. In St. Augustine Tuesday night Dr. Roger Smith tells the story of The 14th Colony: Florida and the American Revolution. St. Augustine Historical Society hosts the talk at 7 p.m. in the Flagler Room at Flagler College. On Saturday the Putnam County Historical Society hosts author James Williams who tells the story of the Bellamy Road and other early Putnam County roads. That’s at 11 a.m. at the Bronson-Mulholland House at 100 Madison Street.

This is Marcia Lane, your roving reporter.