April 26,2021 The Roving Reporter

This is Marcia Lane, your roving reporter.

Florida Highway Patrol is seeking a hit-and-run driver who struck at 71-year-old man shortly after 6 a.m. Sunday on State Road 16, east of Inman Road. According to FHP, a vehicle headed west on SR 16 left its travel lane, ran onto the right shoulder and struck the man, a Daytona Beach resident, who was critically injured. If you have information contact FHP at *FHP or 904-301-3700.

A motorcyclist was killed Friday morning in Putnam County after being struck by a SUV driven by a 51-year-old Interlachen man. Florida Highway Patrol reports the SUV was traveling south on County Road 315 in the Interlachen area and as it turned left onto Main Drive went into the path of the northbound motorcycle. The 58-year-old motorcyclist from Geneva was wearing a helmet, according to FHP.

Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is seeking a suspect in the shooting of a 17-year-old boy Saturday night. The victim was among several calling in the shooting that happened shortly before 11:30 p.m. outside a house on Roxland Lane. Authorities say the shooting not thought to be a random attack. The victim, who is expected to survive, was flown by Trauma One to Halifax Hospital. A search  by K9s and officers of the area reportedly turned up several items.

Putnam County commissioners Tuesday will be looking at a proposal to tear down what was a showplace in East Palatka on U.S. 17 South and replace it with an assisted living facility for those 55 and older. The project would include 18 units and 83 beds in patio style housing that  would be two-story. Neighbors have raised objections regarding traffic, property values and commercial development for the site some know as Kerrwood. Also of concern — the application was not fully completed and the county’s senior planning director denied the needed rezoning application earlier in April . At a county planning commission meeting in March, members were split on the rezoning requested by Michael O. Revels Sr. A public hearing is scheduled at 10 a.m. and the commission could require the application be properly filled out. 

Crescent City Commission is holding yet another special city commission meeting on Tuesday at 6 p.m. This one deals with one item only, an ordinance to rezone about 14.6 acres of property at the southern end of the Putnam County town from multi-family residential to an RV park Planned Unit Development. Some people are questioning the development and exactly what will be allowed to go in since PUD status eases some of the normal development requirements.

A St. Johns County husband who killed his wife after stalking her for weeks will be serving life in prison without the chance of parole after he accepted a deal for murder in the first degree and burglary of a dwelling with an assault/battery with a weapon. Both crimes carry life in prison sentences. Derrek Wayne Perkins also pled to aggravated stalking with a weapon, aggravated assault with a weapon and petit theft. On Oct. 13, 2020, Perkins was waiting for his estranged wife, Brandi Brooker Perkins, as she returned to a friend’s Hastings home where she was staying. He stabbed her multiple times before fleeing, only to be caught within the hour. She was the mother of two daughters, who were 9 and 14 at the time.

In Putnam County an Interlachen man was found guilty Friday of second degree murder, attempted first degree murder and three counts of aggravated assault in a 2018 case in Interlachen. John Merle Webb was found guilty of the murder of Carlos Hamilton inside his home and the attempted murder of Keith Guthrie. An argument over drugs escalated, according to evidence.

Florida Department of Health reported nine new coronavirus-related deaths including seven from Flagler County since April 22. In addition 37 new cases were reported in Flagler over the weekend bringing the total since counting began in March a year ago to 7,141. Putnam County reported one coronavirus-related death, bringing the total to 141. In addition 43 new cases were reported in Putnam for a total of 6,374. St. Johns reported one new coronavirus-related death for a total of 208. In addition, 103 new cases were reported over the weekend for a total of 22,237.