Jan. 23 – 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).

Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a crash this morning that left one person dead in Putnam County. The accident happened shortly after 6 a.m. at U.S. 17 North and Comfort Road to the north of Palatka. A garbage truck was involved. Traffic was rerouted by the Georgia-Pacific plant as authorities worked the scene.

Palatka City Commission holds two meetings today.

The first is a joint workshop with the Palatka Housing Authority at 4 p.m. at City Hall. PHA is looking at some major changes to operation as the federal government seeks to reduce its public housing stock. Private-public partnerships are being considered. According to a letter from PHA, the organization is looking at demolishing 422 units and rebuilding those as well as building 62 new units. At the joint workshop one and five year plans will be reviewed. All of that must be in compliance with the city’s comprehensive plan and goals. A second public hearing is this Friday at 12:30 p.m. at the James A. Long Community Center.

Garbage pickup is on the agenda for the regular Palatka City Commission meeting at 6 p.m. A city-generated request to continue once-a-week garbage pickup until May 1 was continued from a previous meeting. People who turned out at the earlier meeting protested losing twice-a-week pickup and having to pay more money.

In Flagler Beach tonight the commission there will be reviewing the city’s revised Beach Management Plan. Also on the agenda is sunsetting the Beach Management Plan Ad Hoc Committee.

A Florida Highway Patrol trooper killed in the line of duty in 1974 will be honored Friday as a section of Interstate 95 between mile markers 332 and 327 are named in his honor. Trooper Wilburn A. Kelly on March 23, 1974, was completing his investigation at the scene of an auto accident when he was struck from behind by a passing car and killed. The naming ceremony is 1 p.m. Friday at the FHP station at 875 State Road 16 in St. Augustine.

Each year students in Florida are given a list of Sunshine State Reader books. Those who read all the books and are able to pass tests showing their knowledge about contents get the Reader designation. Middleton-Burney Elementary School in Crescent City took to Facebook to salute their reader Da’yana Gomez.

The Town of Interlachen last week honored Jason Matchett for his service to the community. Matchett is a firefighter who spends lots of his spare time helping in the community including providing meals, needed services and information plus doing his part to help bring the community together.

Take the time to stop by the Palatka Municipal Airport Saturday as they host the 10th annual Classic Fly-In and Car Show from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A couple of World War II planes will be on display and during ceremonies at noon D-Day will be remembered in part with a parachute jump featuring parachutists who took part in World War II re-enactment ceremonies last year in France. While entry to the event is free, donations can be made to help pay for lunch.

• This is Marcia Lane, your roving reporter.