Partly Cloudy Healthier schools through nutrition ‘Zombie Apocalypse’ law? 20% rain chance Students at three Putnam County elementary schools are eating healthy, so Florida residents forced to evacuate during state emergencies can take their much so that the federal government has recognized them with awards. unpermitted guns along, according to a law passed Thursday by the House. 88 | 67 See Page 2A See Page 5A For details, see 2A www.mypdn.com PALATKA DAILY NEWS FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015 $1 Weekend Happenings Riverfront restaurant concession draws protests BY ASIA AIKINS Blevins, the daughter of restaurant venture,” she said. “But we had the not in a binding contract with the city An Evening Palatka Daily News owner Corky Bell, said she and her intent to do something good for the for the golf course operation. father agreed to open a Corky Bell’s at city.” T.J. Smith, owner of Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, of Dance Palatka city commissioners heard the Palatka Golf Course in an effort to If the city opens a 150-seat restau- said former Mayor Vernon Myers told from local business owners Thursday do something good for the city. She rant on the river in competition with him the riverfront operation would be a 7:30 p.m. today and night who said they were misled by said the city came to her father to see both of the business’ locations, Blevins small concession stand. John Browning Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, the city in discussions about a river- if he was interested in opening the res- said she would have to focus on the said former city manager Michael Florida School of the Arts front restaurant. taurant at the golf course clubhouse, Corky Bell’s on the riverfront. Czymbor told him the same. R&R Main Stage, St. Johns River “I’ll never look at the word conces- but later opened the venture up for “You tell me, are you going to eat on Marine Services co-owner Jeff Rawls State College, 5001 St. Johns sions the same,” said Misty Blevins, bid. a golf course or on the river?” She said, as a respondent, projects manager Ave. $5. Details: 312-4300; general manager at Corky Bell’s in “We were the only interested party asked the commission. www.floarts.org. East Palatka. … because it wouldn’t be a high-profit Blevins added that Corky Bell’s is See PALATKA, Page 5A River City Players ‘Baggage’ RENOVATIONS BEGIN AT GOLF COURSE CLUBHOUSE Donor 7 p.m. today and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Scarlett-Hill Theater, Larimer Arts Center, 216 Reid St., Palatka. $15. (904) 377-5044. offers Kayaking 101 duplex to 10 a.m.-1 p.m. today, Lake Broward Recreation Area, North Broward Avenue, Pomona Park. $25 per homeless person. Kayak, paddle and PFD included in fee. Dress accordingly. www. kayaking101.eventbrite.com; 329-3721. coalition BY ASIA AIKINS Palatka Daily News Putnam County Putnam County Homeless Relay for Life Coalition members announced a “blessing” Thursday, as a 6 p.m.-9 a.m. today- local resident has volunteered Saturday, Putnam County to donate a building for a pos- Fairgrounds, 117 Yelvington sible transitional shelter in Road, East Palatka. 4 p.m. Palatka. survivor and caregiver Members Phil Wyatt, Shelia appreciation dinner; 6 p.m. McCoy, Valerie Brooks and opening ceremonies; 9 p.m. Interim Police Chief James luminaria program; 6 a.m., Griffith visited the possible fight-back program; 9 a.m. shelter recently, and said the closing ceremonies. owner was ready to hand over the keys immediately. “When James walked in, all Palatka Chalk he heard is ‘This is a done Explosion deal, let’s pray,’” Wyatt said. See DONOR, Page 5A 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 200-300 blocks of St. Johns Avenue, Palatka; amateur and profes- sional chalk artists display Above and right, workers begin gutting the kitchen at the their works underway along Palatka Municipal Golf Course on Thursday afternoon. the sidewalks. Theme: Deputies City officials recently received funding from the U.S. Visions of Well-being. Music, Department of Agriculture to renovate the kitchen and food, crafts and more. 328- other portions of the clubhouse. The work is expected to 8998, artsinputnam.org. be complete by this summer. At that time, the restaurant fi nd pot in is to be operated by Corky Bell’s. Interlachen INDEX grow house Advice ............................. 6A Briefing ........................... 2A Russ Castleberry, county BY PETE SKIBA Classified/Legals ...........11A Palatka Daily News Comics ............................ 6A Horoscope ...................... 6A attorney, says he’ll step down INTERLACHEN – Growing Lottery........................... 10A marijuana on Bessie Lane Obituaries ....................... 8A Castleberry said. “I’ve just landed a St. Augustine resi- Opinions ......................... 4A BY BRANDON D. OLIVER Palatka Daily News been doing this for about 35 dent in jail until he bonded Sports ............................. 9A years.” out on $3,512, stated a Sudoku ........................... 5A County Attorney Russ The county hopes to hire a Putnam County Sheriff’s Castleberry, who has served new attorney during or before Office report. The Voice of the area for more than two September. Castleberry said Richard John Iwanicki, 43, Putnam County decades, has announced his that after his successor is was arrested Monday and plans to retire, putting the hired, he would assume the charged with cultivation of since 1885 county in the early stages of a part-time position of deputy File photo marijuana, possession of more search for his replacement. county attorney for six months Putnam County Attorney Russ Castleberry monitors a discussion than 20 grams of the weed and VOL. 127 • NO. 72 Having had numerous con- to ease the transition from one during a recent Putnam County Commission meeting. possession of drug parapher- PALATKA, FLA. versations about his possible county attorney to the next. Castleberry has announced his eventual retirement. nalia, the report stated. retirement with County The transition won’t neces- “Investigators were able to Administer Rick Leary, sarily be training, he said, but determine that Iwanicki Public Notices Castleberry said he thinks now it would involve making the “If our time frames work of what litigation we’re resides in St. Augustine and on Page 11A is the time to commence the new attorney aware of the job out, it’ll probably be next involved in at this point, and only used the Interlachen By mail, 1 section search for his replacement. duties he or she would have to March until I retire,” just telling them what I deal rental home as a location to “Rick and I have been talk- carry out as well as the big Castleberry said, noting that with on a day-to-day basis.” house the illegal marijuana ing about it for the last four, issues in which the county the timeline is flexible. “I have five or six months,” may be involved. to get (the new person) aware See ATTORNEY, Page 5A See ARREST, Page 5A Tim Smith, Putnam County Clerk of Courts Saturday, April 18, 2015 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. OPERATION Putnam County Courthouse www.putnam-fl/coc PAY OUTSTANDING FINES & FEES IN FULL GREEN LIGHT AVOID 40% COLLECTION SURCHARGE 041015a1.indd 1 4/9/15 9:16 PM 2A PALATKA DAILY NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015 Steve Hortin, far left, deputy director for special nutrition programs of the United States Department of Agriculture, presented a gold award to Ochwilla Elementary School, pictured at left, and silver Putnam AM awards to Interlachen, below left, and Melrose, below right, elementary schools for meeting the challenges of the Healthier US School program. He gave the national recognition awards Announcements State News at the Putnam County School Board meeting 3:30 p.m. PALATKA ORLANdO Tuesday. Hortin said 6,000 schools nationwide out of more Indoor yard sale Orlando firm settles Photos by CHRIS DEVITTO / Palatka Daily News Patty Piper, food services manager, Joe Theobold, principal and Keith Biggs, than 100,000, or about 6 at Palatka VFW false claims charge physical education teacher, accepted the award for Ochwilla. percent, were certified. An Orlando construction contrac- The Ladies Auxiliary Veterans of tor has agreed to pay the federal Foreign Wars Post 3349 will have its government $250,000 to settle a annual indoor yard sale from 8 a.m. false claims charge. to 3 p.m., Friday and Saturday at Air Ideal Inc. reached the deal 3201 Reid St., corner of Palm Avenue Wednesday with federal prosecu- and State Road 100. tors. Outdoor spaces are available for The company must also pay five $5 each to vendors. Proceeds from percent of its revenues to the gov- the sale are used to purchase school ernment over the next five years as supplies for Putnam County stu- part of the deal. dents in grades 1-12. Prosecutors say company officials To reserve a space, call Mary Lou made false statements to the Small at 325-6190. Business Administration in order to obtain certification that it was located in a historically disadvan- Summer Concert Series taged area. Saturday downtown Certified contractors get priority when it comes to government con- Patty Eiland, food services manager and Beth Nelson, Tammy Price, food services manager, and Mike Tomlinson, Arts Council of Greater Palatka tracts. principal, accepted the award for IES. assistant principal, accepted the award for Melrose. Spring and Summer Concert Series Prosecutors say the construction presents The Dewey Via Band, 4-6 company had no workers in an p.m., Saturday on the 300 block of underutilized zone, even though it St. Johns Avenue. Free and open to claimed to have its offices in one. the public. Seating is limited; bring The company received contracts Putnam schools recognized for promoting chairs.