April 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).

Palatka city commissioners will consider making their interim city manager the permanent city manager at Thursday’s meeting. Don Holmes, the city attorney, was appointed to temporarily fill the position after the commission by a 3-2 vote nearly two weeks ago fired city manager Bill Shanahan. A second meeting to discuss the firing and reasons behind it was held last week. Thursday’s meeting is at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Because of social distancing rules the meeting will be shown on the city website. At 4:30 p.m. a Community Redevelopment Agency meeting is scheduled, also on line, but a few seats will be available if reserved.

Flagler County is reopening its beaches on a limited basis beginning today. Strict rules apply including no sunbathing or sitting. You can swim, surf, walk, bike and fish. Although no items can be brought on the beach those fishing are allowed to have a small cooler or container for bait and tackle use. Flagler Beach’s six miles will be open from 7-10 a.m. Unincorporated areas including Beverly Beach and Marineland will open from -10 a.m. and 6-8 p.m. Matanzas Bridge is open for fishing. Continuing use of beaches will depend on if people obey rules, say officials.

High schools in St. Johns, Flagler and Putnam counties have made the list for top high schools that is compiled annually by U.S. News and World Report. Making the list from St. Johns were Pedro Menendez High, Creekside High, Bartram Trail High, Nease High, St. Johns Virtual School and St. Augustine High. In Flagler County both Flagler-Palm Coast High and Matanzas High were on the list. In Putnam Q.I. Roberts Jr.-Sr. High made the list. The annual study identified all high schools in the top 40 percent of the rankings.

Florida Department of Health coronavirus figures for Tuesday show increases in area counties. In Putnam, a 40-year-old Interlachen man is the 59th identified case. According to FDH, Putnam has tested 1,070 people and 1,012 results were negative. In St. Johns County, the number of cases is up to 194. In Flagler the number is at 78.

A Crescent City man faces two counts of battery after allegedly beating up a woman in the Palatka area. He ended up being hit with a hammer and stabbed with scissors. Putnam County deputies were called to a residence in the 2600 block of Silver Lake Drive Monday after a verbal argument escalated. The victim told deputies James Pascoe, 40, of Crescent City, hit her in the face several times. At one point she hit Pascoe in the head with a hammer but he kept striking her, she said. Another woman stabbed Pascoe with scissors several times, but he knocked her into a dresser. A witness told deputies he helped the victim escape by blocking Pascoe’s path so she could get out a bedroom window. Pascoe was gone by the time deputies arrived but a man matching his description and with similar injuries was reported at Putnam Community Medical Center. Deputies went there and after Pascoe was medically cleared he was arrested for battery, taken to the Putnam jail and later released on a $3,000 bond.

Anchor Faith Church in St. Johns County showed a helping hand to inmates in the St. Johns correctional facility. Tuesday they delivered 200 handmade reversible masks complete with a pocket for an extra filter, according to the sheriff’s office.

In Putnam County it’s a case of restaurants helping other restaurants and having a little fun via videos. CP Deli started it by uploading a video with a challenge to Niko’s Pizza. #WeRapBetterThanWeDance. Niko’s took the challenge passing it on to Angel’s Diner. Since then Corky Bell’s, Beef O’Brady’s, Mussselwhite’s and Bradley’s are among those taking part. They’re all trying to support each other, says one happy eater who has been following the challenge by the restaurant workers.

Don’t forget it’s Earth Day 2020. Go out and appreciate the earth we have.

This is Marcia Lane, your roving reporter.