Jan. 8 – 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).

Palatka Housing Authority is looking at a new twist in affordable housing that could mean a $15 million project that would tear down and replace some public housing and build new housing. On Tuesday the board and four of the Palatka City Commission heard from two firms that responded to a proposal request for firms to partner with the Authority for rehabbing or demolishing public housing units under a program known as Rental Assistance Demonstration or RDA. Housing and Urban Development is using the program as a way to generate funds to preserve pubic housing, converting units into Section 8 housing. Funding from Washington for public housing has been drying up in recent years. PHA is looking at rehabbing or replacing at least 200 units plus building 62 units. No decision was made following presentations by Boulevard Group and Smith & Henzy although the PHA board will meet Thursday.

A South Putnam County man was killed early Tuesday morning in an accident in southern St. Johns County. Florida Highway Patrol says Darren Grincewich, 34, of Satsuma, was driving a tow truck that struck a semi as it was pulling onto the highway between U.S. 1 and State Road 206 around 4:15 a.m. Grincewich died in the crash. The semi driver, Ener Suarez, 31, of Hialeah , was taken to Flagler Hospital with minor injuries. FHP is investigating whether or not the semi had its lights on when the tow truck struck it.

Current owners of the former Santa Maria Restaurant on Matanzas River in downtown St. Augustine have cleared a hurdle with the city’s Planning and Zoning Board. The board Tuesday approved a use by exception for off-site parking and a gangway and 180-foot floating dock for boat slips at the restaurant now owned by the White family, They also own O.C. White’s and The White Room. Concerns the dock would cause problems with boats at the Municipal Marina next door have come up several times.

A man sentenced to death for the murder of Glyn and Vivian Fowler in 2002 in Palm Coast is once again in Flagler County court for his third penalty phase hearing. David Snelgrove has twice been sentenced to die for the elderly couple’s death. His third hearing comes after rulings in the state and U.S. Supreme Court declared the system that previously sentenced him was unconstitutional. The U.S. Supreme Court now says a recommendation for death has to be unanimous, something that didn’t happen in either of Snelgrove’s previous trials.

A former Flagler County man has learned it doesn’t pay to taunt the Flagler Sheriff’s Office. Steven Victor Young, 33, in August was featured in an episode of Fugitive Friday Bingo. He had several active warrants. Young responded online with a GIF video of Homer Simpson in the kitchen and Where’s Waldo standing in the background. The comment read: “Waldo, Where Are You?” The Sheriff’s Office encouraged Young to do the right thing and turn himself in. When he didn’t, FCSO reached out to law enforcement in Washington, D.C. where they thought he might be hiding. On Tuesday U.S. marshals arrested Young at his mother’s house in Washington. He’ll be extradited back to face charges in Flagler.

Crescent City has a new city manager. John Holman of St. Mary’s, Ga., was offered the job Tuesday by city commissioners. Negotiations begin this week.

Scratching paid off for Interlachen resident John Madry. The 46-year-old west Putnam resident claimed his $1 million top prized form the $1,000,000 HOLIDAY LUCK Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. He took his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $760,000. His ticket was purchased at Fast Track Foods on State Road 20 in Interlachen.

This is Marcia Lane, your roving reporter.