Dec.10 – 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).

Needed: 5,000 jars of jelly. The Putnam County Feed the Need Backpack program is seeking the jelly to go with peanut butter donated by Jif for the program that gives kids in need food for over the weekends. With Christmas vacation coming up that means some kids won’t have the daily meal they can get when schools are in session. The local volunteer program already had a large donation from Jif and the company has just sent more peanut butter. Now Denise Bramlett is seeking jelly to go with the peanut butter and give kids the staples to make sandwiches. You can reach Denise at Bramlett Plumbing on State Road 19 in Palatka or you can bring jars by WPLK/WIYD.

St. Johns County has a new county manager at least temporarily. The county commission Monday at a special meeting voted to have Hunter Conrad take over. He’s St. Johns County clerk of court and comptroller and says he’ll be running again in 2020. That means the commission will have to get moving on hiring a permanent replacement after firing county manager Michael Wanchick earlier this year.

You never know what’s below the surface in the St. Johns River. Channel 4 reports when a St. Johns county fisherman showed a diver a sonar image of a possible aircraft below the surface three years ago speculation was it might be a drug runner plane. Subsequent investigation by Thomas Keisler of Underwater Criminal Investigators revealed it was a F4F Wildcat from World War II. His team has since dived at the site several times. Among dozens of artifacts recovered the navigational plotter board with the pilot’s handwriting. Four fingerprints were found as well, all preserved by the marine growth covering them. Keisler says the investigation is continuing and two potential pilots have been identified.

Holiday entertainment is plentiful. Tonight in Flagler County the Flagler Palm Coast High School Band and Chorus hold their holiday concert at 7 p.m. in Flagler Auditorium in Palm Coast. Also tonight in Flagler “Swing in the Holidays” show of holiday hits at the Palm Coast Community Center. The 7 p.m. show features Natalie Cordone and Shawn Kilgore performing a jazzy blend of wit, pop and vocal standards. In Palatka on Wednesday singer Bill Breuer accompanied by pianist Jeannie Brown will perform Christmas music during a free half hour concert at 12:15 p.m. in the St. James United Methodist Church sanctuary at 400 Reid Street. You’ll want to get tickets for upcoming home tours in Melrose and Crescent City. The Crescent City Woman’s Club tour of homes on Saturday features 11 buildings plus a light lunch for their 26th annual event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Historic Melrose Inc. offers a Christmas Home Tour Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Six homes are featured and various churches and history events are scheduled.

St. Augustine is moving forward with rules and regulations to govern the growing number of short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods. City commissioners in a 4-0 vote Monday approved first reading of an ordinance putting regulations on short-term rentals. A public hearing and second vote are set for January.

It’s b-a-a-a-ck. Once again the Emanuel Smith family offers their 100,000 Christmas Lights Show at Bostwick. From 6 to 9 p.m. nightly the free lights and music show has become a tradition in Putnam County. New displays include The Crown of Jesus and the song “Here He Comes.” The display is at 113 Tilliets Lane. Get on U.S. 17 North, turn onto West Rive Road, drive about 8 miles and turn left onto West Harbor Road.

This is Marcia Lane, your roving reporter.