Jan. 22 – 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).

Putnam County honored top teachers and support personnel for 2020 at a gala Tuesday. Kelli Killebrew McGahey of James A. Long Elementary School was named teacher of the year. Kim Mack was chosen support related person of the year and school related support person is Luis Rivera.

A Palm Coast woman is out on bond after biting a deputy who was attempting to put her in handcuffs. Deputies were called to a domestic disturbance on Brookside Lane after reports Cherie Saunders, 38, had slapped a male resident. During the investigation, Saunders reported became extremely argumentative and during a struggle bit a deputy on his right calf and refused to let go. The deputy began to feel ill and lost conscience temporarily. He was taken to the  hospital as was Saunders because of her level of intoxication. She was later booked into the jail on felony charges and then released after posting a $5,000 bond.

The San Sebastian Inland Harbor project at St. Augustine’s King Street entrance is being revived. An application is going before the Planning and Zoning Board on February 4 for an amendment to a planned unit development. The project would include a 167-unit hotel, 100-plus unit multi-family residential unit, 68-slip  marina, retail/commercial space and two parking garages. The property is at U.S. 1 and King Street. Property owner is SA Marina Holdings LLC which is tied in with the group that renovated the San Marco Inn into a Doubletree. The plans would increase traffic and residences in the area.

In a surprise move Tuesday St. Johns County commissioners in a 5-0 vote chose  Hunter Conrad as the new county administrator. Conrad stepped down as elected clerk of curt and comptroller to serve as interim county administrator after commissioners fired then-administrator Michael Wanchick in November.  Salary and benefit negotiations now begin. Currently Conrad is making $195,000.

A man who reportedly told St. Johns County detectives he was a sexual predator/offender was arrested by the Sheriff’s office after reportedly following a mother and her 2-year-old daughter around a Fruit Cove grocery store last week. The Sheriff’s Office posted a photo of the man who was identified as David Wayne Schroeder, 63. During an interview he said the woman looked “good” and he followed her. He allegedly told deputies he had a sex problem and needed help. He also told deputies he had been following a “pretty girl” around the day he was detained.

Caleb Rimpel, an eighth grader at Christ the King Lutheran School, is Flagler County’s 2020 spelling beach champ. He won on the word “extinguish”. His eighth round win came after other competitors fell to words such as “duopoly”, “marsupial” and “scoundrel”.

St. Johns River Water Management District conducted a prescribed burn of 220 acres at Putnam County’s Dunns Creek Conservation Area Tuesday. The burn is for fuel reduction and wildfire mitigation in wooded areas.

Putnam County Sheriff’s Office is warning people of a continuing scam where people get phone calls from a man who says he’s a deputy and seeks money from them to avoid arrest. People are told they failed to show up for court and can pay a fine rather than serve time. Two women recently were swindled, one of $1,800, the other of $2,800. The caller told victims the Clerk of Courts’ payment system was down and to use gift cards. They were told to put them in drop boxes at mail stores. Other complaints have been received and sheriff’s deputies are investigating.

Although it was recently cleaned, the PROJECT P.L.A.Y area at Putnam County’s John Theobold Compound is being torn down.  Putnam County’s recreation department says they’ll take down the old playground equipment, which originally was built by community members and replace it with a new playground and splash pad. Completion is expected by May 1. The new park, which has a wheel-chair accessible area, will cost more than $348,000. Rotary Club of Palatka is putting up $100,000. The county will pay the remainder.

This is Marcia Lane, your roving reporter.