June 18 – Roving reporter

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PALATKA CITY COMMISSION HOLDS A SPECIAL MEETING TOMORROW MORNING AT 9 A.M. THE PURPOSE IS TO VOTE ON A RESOLUTION BY MAYOR TERRELL HILL TO DECLARE JUNE 19, FRIDAY, AN OFFICIAL ANNUAL CITY HOLIDAY IN PALATKA IN COMMEMORATION OF JUNETEENTH. THE MEETING WAS ANNOUNCED LATE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. THE MAYOR EARLIER ANNOUNCED THE MEETING DURING A 12-MINUTE VIDEO ON FACEBOOK. JUNETEENTH WAS ORIGINALLY OBSERVED ON JUNE 19, 1865, IN TEXAS AFTER WORD OF THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION THAT ENDED SLAVERY WAS OFFICIALLY RECEIVED. IT’S NOT A NATIONAL HOLIDAY BUT IS CELEBRATED IN VARIOUS COMMUNITIES AROUND THE NATION. 

THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN PUTNAM COUNTY ANNOUNCED WEDNESDAY PUTNAM COUNTY RECORDED SEVEN (7) NEW COVID-19 CASES. THIS BRINGS OUR TOTAL TO 205 CONFIRMED CASES AND 6 VIRUS RELATED DEATHS. THE NEW CASES INCLUDE FIVE PALAKA MEN — AGES 7, 77, 22, 18 AND 19 — AND TWO PALATKA WOMEN — AGES 31 AND 34. 

IN FLAGLER COUNTY 214 CASES OF CORONAVIRUS WERE REPORTED AS OF WEDNESDAY WITH  ONE NEW CASE.

IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY THE TOTAL IS NOW AT 347 CASES WITH 15 NEW CASES AS OF WEDNESDAY’

FOR A PERIOD OF 21 DAYS BEGINNING TOMORROW THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE WILL BE ADJUSTING THE CHLORINE AND AMMONIA LEVELS. DURING THIS ADJUSTMENT PERIOD CITY UTILITY CUSTOMERS MAY NOTICE A SLIGHT CHANGE IN THE TASTE OF THEIR WATER, BUT THE QUALITY OF THE WATER IS NOT AFFECTED.

CHLORINE AND AMMONIA ARE USED IN THE WATER TREATMENT PROCESS TO MAINTAIN DISINFECTION OF THE WATER.  ADJUSTMENT OF THE CHLORINE AND AMMONIA LEVELS FOR PIPELINE MAINTENANCE PURPOSES IS A STANDARD OPERATING PRACTICE RECOMMENDED BY THE AMERICAN WATER WORKS ASSOCIATION.

 THE ST. AUGUSTINE MUSIC FESTIVAL WILL BE STREAMED ON LINE THIS WEEKEND AND NEXT, BEGINNING TONIGHT AT 7;30 P.M. THE  MUSIC FESTIVAL WAS FOUNDED IN 2007 BY VIOLIST JORGE PENA AND CELLIST JIN KIM-PENA TO PRODUCE, PERFORM AND PROMOTE WORLD-CLASS TRADITIONAL AND CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL MUSIC.  THE FESTIVAL – THE LARGEST FREE MUSIC FESTIVAL IN THE UNITED STATES – IS PRESENTED EACH YEAR DURING THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF JUNE IN THE STUNNING CATHEDRAL BASILICA.  PERFORMANCES WILL BE STREAMED ONLINE WITH SIX NIGHTS OF MUSIC ON THURSDAYS, FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS BEGINNING JUNE 18TH THROUGH JUNE 27TH AT 7:30 P.M. AND FEATURING PERFORMANCES BY INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN ARTISTS INCLUDING VIOLINIST NIGEL ARMSTRONG.

 ST. AUGUSTINE CITY COMMISSIONERS HAVE OKAYED A DEVELOPMENT AT THE NORTH END OF THE CITY. IT  WHICH WOULD CHANGE FROM 107 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL UNITS TO A POTENTIAL 336 MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL UNITS.

THE LOCATION IS BETWEEN THE NORTH CITY WINN DIXIE SHOPPING CENTER AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT OFFICES AND OFFICIALS SAY IT IS A GOOD AREA FOR MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL. LOCATION IS ACROSS FROM THE FEC RAILROAD TRACKS AND  THE 585-UNIT LANDING APARTMENTS.

IN FLAGLER COUNTY A BUNNELL MAN IS IN JAIL ON $76,500 BOND ON FIVE FELONY CHARGES AND THREE MISDEMEANORS AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY LED LAW ENFORCEMENT ON A CHASE ON U.S. 1 AND STATE ROAD 100. CAPERS J. MCCLENDON, 26, WAS RELEASED FROM PRISON LAST MONTH AFTER HE WAS SENTENCED ON  COCAINE, FLEEING AND BATTERY CHARGES AND WAS ON PROBATION. ON TUESDAY.  HE ALLEGEDLY ASKED A WOMAN FOR A RIDE, BRANDISHED A KNIFE AND THEN TOOK HER MINIVAN. SHE REPORTED THE THEFT AND LATER IN THE AFTERNOON A DEPUTY SPOTTED THE VEHICLE, GIVING CHASE. MCCLENDON SPED UP, DRIVING RECKLESSLY. THE DEPUTY BROKE OFF THE CHASE BECAUSE OF SAFETY CONCERNS, BUT AHEAD ANOTHER DEPUTY HAD PUT OUT STOP STICKS, WHICH SLOWED BUT DIDN’T DISABLE THE MINIVAN. ANOTHER CHASE ENSUED, WITH MCCLENDON EVENTUALLY ABANDONING THE VAN. HE WAS SPOTTED RUNNING OFF AND LATER CAUGHT. ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, MCCLENDON SAID “THE ALLEGED VICTIM REPORTED THE VEHICLE STOLEN BECAUSE SHE WAS UPSET ABOUT RUNNING OUT OF ‘DOPE’” AND THE REASON HE HIMSELF FLED, HE ALLEGED, WAS BECAUSE HE HAD TO RELIEVE HIMSELF AND DEFECATE, THOUGH HE USED FEWER SYLLABLES TO SAY SO. WHEN ASKED WHY HE DROVE SO ERRATICALLY, HE ASKED IF HE STRUCK ANYONE.”

THIS IS MARCIA LANE, YOUR ROVING REPORTER.