Feb. 21 – 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).

Dedication of the first of the homes for veterans being constructed by Putnam Habitat for Humanity in Palatka will be Saturday at 9 a.m. Veteran Cecil Underwood Jr. will be moving into the homes. Jacksonville Jaguars-Home sponsorship is among those helping. Lots of local companies and volunteers have been involved in the construction including groups from Dunn’s Creeks Baptist Church and Georgia-Pacific. The house is at 22 Veterans Way.

One of St. Augustine’s houses dating back to the mid-1700s went for $2.1 million at an auction Thursday. The house at 52 St. George Street currently houses a jewelry store and upstairs living quarters. Now that it’s been bought by DLP Real Estate Capital it will apparently become a mixed-use project. Don Wenner, president and CEO of DLP, has company headquarters in Bethlehem, Pa., although he also lives in St. Augustine.

Putnam County deputies arrested an Interlachen High School student Wednesday, charging him with a first-degree felony of sexual assault on a 12-year-old girl. Roosevelt Richardson, 18, was arrested at the school after an investigation into criminal sexual  misconduct. According to reports, Richardson first contacted the girl calling her and asking for nude photos of herself. On Saturday he allegedly snuck into her bedroom and engaged in unlawful sexual contact. The next day an adult relative caught him in the girl’s bedroom and he fled out a window. Richardson reportedly admitted having sex with the girl. Bond was set at $50,000 and charges include using a communication device to entice a minor.

Palm Coast city planners say a development planned at the long-closed Matanzas Golf Course is in several parts not compatible with the Land Development Code. Developer Alex Ustilovsky has proposed a 300-home project and gotten push back from current area residents. Among their concerns smaller lots for the homes going in and the fact most current residents would either lose or have reduced their golf course views, both of which would lower resale value. The ruling by city planners isn’t binding and the developer could go before the planning board and then the Palm Coast City Council hoping to get them to override the planners.

At St. Augustine Beach City Commissioners and the Planning and Zoning Board will be meeting more often in an effort to improve communications. The chair and vice chair of the PZB recently resigned. Among concerns lack of attention by the city staff to recommendations by the board. Recent approval of expansion of Embassy Suites by the commission may have been a tipping point. In a letter from the chair and vice chair, they noted: “Quite simply, the staff presentations fail to convey the factors considered by our board and often communicate to you a position that runs in stark contradiction to our board’s vote.”

Lots to do this weekend.

In Putnam County, tonight is a chance to dance and sing karaoke at the Swamp Stomp, a One Book One Putnam event. DJ Buffalo Munn will be on hand for the free event that’s open to the public at 6 p.m. tonight at Beef O’Brady’s.

St. Monica’s Catholic Church holds their massive flea market today and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the hall behind the church at Fifth and Oak streets in Palatka. Lots of homemade food items will be for sale also.

St. James United Methodist Church holds their twice-a-month breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m. Saturday at the fellowship hall at 400 Reid Street.

On Sunday former St. Johns River State College baseball coach John Tindall will be handing out an endowed scholarship at his name at the ball field on the college’s Palatka campus. That’s at 12:30 followed by a game between the SJR Vikings and East Georgia State at 1 p.m. If you played for Tindall, it’s a great chance for a mini-reunion.

In St. Augustine the Florida Heritage Book Festival and Writers Conference continues today and Saturday at Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village. Workshops, receptions and writing critiques take place both days. Tonight it’s the Literary Legends reception and banquet honoring award-winning journalist and bestselling author Craig Pittman.

Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5p.m., enjoy the fifth annual Cat Show put on by the Ancient City Cat Club. More than 150 pedigreed and household cats and kittens are featured at the Solomon Calhoun Community Center.

On Sunday rock icon and singer/songwriter John Fogerty is at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre as part of his World Tour celebrating his 50th anniversary in the music business. Creedence Clearwater Revival first gained him fame.

At Princess Place Preserve in Flagler County on Saturday and Sunday it’s the Native American Festival and the sixth annual Princess Place Pow Wow at the Palm Coast site.

Flagler County Humane Society presents their first Mardi Gras Pet Parade and Celebration on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3p.m. The fundraiser is at Town Center’s Central Park in Palm Coast.

This is Marcia Lane, your roving reporter.