Serving Satsuma ● Pomona Park ● Lake Como ● Crescent City ● Seville ● Pierson ● Welaka ● Fruitland ● Georgetown ● East Palatka ● Palatka ● Interlachen ● Melrose ● San Mateo since 1898 Putnam County Putnam County’s Favorite Weekly Community Newspaper 50 FebruaryOctober 25, 28, 2017 2018 • •Vol. Vol. 73, 73, No. No. 24 42 (2 (3 sections) sections) Crescent Crescent City, City, FL FL (Includes (Includes 7% 7% FL FL Sales Sales Tax) Tax) Putnam County Historical Sites to Visit Events and Festivals Moving Guide And Much Spice it Up! Whats Going On? Visitors and More! 2018 Visitor’s Newcomers Guide The many uses Who are these two? TM & Newcomer’s 2018 and benefits of the And what are Guide mustard seed. they holding? Supplement to Florida the www.visitputnamfl.com FREE Page B1 Page A3 See Inside! Take One Florida Azalea Festival The Florida Azalea Festival will be held on Sat- urday and Sunday, March 3 and 4. Come to down- Sheriff to Address School Security town Palatka to browse vendors, meet the Florida Sheriff DeLoach Responds to Governor’s Action Plan for School Safety Azalea Pageant winners, and peruse artwork. Fes- tival parade will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Special to the ernor Scott, the Florida Sher- iff to be placed in every single and reviewed by the Sheriff. Courier Journal iff’s Association and my fellow public school and a student This already takes place in Sheriffs when I say that noth- to deputy ratio of at least one Putnam County. The Sheriff’s Feed the Need Garage Sale ing is a bigger priority for the deputy to every one thousand Office and the Putnam County The Annual Feed the Need Garage Sale will be on The following is a Pub- Putnam County Sheriff’s Of- students. This will require School district work in unison Friday and Saturday, March 2 and 3 at Bramlitt’s lic Information Release on fice than the safety of our stu- the addition of approximately with each other when it comes Plumbing in Palatka. Friday hours are from 8 a.m. Friday, February 23 from dents and the sanctity of our 14 deputy sheriffs. The Gov- to school safety. As a matter of to 4 p.m. and Saturday hours are 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Putnam County Sheriff places of education. ernor’s plan also calls for en- fact, the District and Sheriff’s You still have time to donate your unwanted items H.D. “Gator” DeLoach, in I fully support the proposed hanced penalties for persons Office recently completed our before the sale at Bramlitt’s Monday through Fri- response to a release from actions outlined today by our making threats towards stu- most recent school safety re- Governor Scott last week re- Governor, which will bring dents and schools, mandatory view. day from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to 3 garding school violence. p.m. on Saturdays. additional enhancements to active shooter training, a DCF As I eluded to above, these It is with great sadness that school security. Of course Case Manger to be embedded sweeping changes will place we even need to have this dis- with any expansion of services in every Sheriff’s Office, spe- additional responsibility and Rodeheaver Bass Tourney cussion, but in light of the con- comes added costs, but no cially trained law enforcement fiscal demands upon the tinuing threat of violence faced amount of money is too much case management teams to Sheriff’s Office. This is about Rodeheaver Boys’ Ranch will be having their an- by our students and educators nual bass tournament on Saturday, March 4 at the when it comes to the safety of work closely with DCF, a new keeping guns out of the hands in our schools, it is time for ac- children. Our first priority is and dedicated “See Something of dangerous people, keeping Crystal Cove Marine in Palatka. For more informa- tion. In addition to the propos- securing our students. I will – Say Something” state-wide killers out of our schools and tion or to register go to www.rbr.org/events/rode- als made by Governor Scott, work with Governor Scott, hotline, a threat assessment protecting our children. I am heaver-boys-ranch-benefit-bass-tournament/. I am preparing to announce the Putnam County Board of team at every school to include prepared to do just that, at a monumental change in the County Commissioners and a deputy sheriff and improved ANY cost. As I mentioned at way the Putnam County Sher- my fellow Sheriffs at the ap- information sharing between the beginning of my remarks, Anything Azalea Art Show iff’s Office addresses the ongo- propriate time to work out the local law, state and federal law I am preparing to make a pub- Anything Azalea Art Show will be juried and ing threat to our institutions of financial aspects associated enforcement and other social lic announcement early next judged on Saturday and Sunday, March 3 and 4. learning. The coming changes with these plans. service agencies. week regarding an addition- The contest is open to those 18 and older, must be in Putnam County are already As it specifically pertains to Finally, the recommenda- al initiative that will begin in an original piece and include azaleas. Best in show under development and will the Sheriff’s Office, Governor tions of the Governor require Putnam County in the near be take place in short order. I Scott’s plan calls for an armed a school safety plan to be sub- future with the sole purpose of wins $100. Second and third place will also receive stand in solidarity with Gov- prizes. Entry fee is $10. Applications are available and fully trained Deputy Sher- mitted by the school district securing our schools. at Gem City Cottage in Palatka. Entries should be oils, pastels, acrylics, watercolor, pencil, photog- raphy, crafts, sewing, sculptures, mobiles, glass, 2018 Florida Azalea Festival Pageant Winners metal or wood. Sisters Closet On Friday and Saturday March 2 and 3 the Cres- cent City Woman’s Club, located at 604 North Sum- mit Street in Crescent City will be selling upscale as well as very affordable women’s and men’s cloth- ing and accessories. There will also be food avail- able for purchase. Great Hastings Mow Down On Saturday, March 10 at 10 a.m., the Great Hastings Mow Down will begin on North Main Street in Hastings. Racing events will include adult Zero Turn Drag Races, Lawn Tractor Race Course, Young Mowers Lawn Tractor Race Course for ages 13 to 17, Rat Tractor Race Course, and Mini-Mower Races for ages 4 to 8. This event is being hosted by the Rotary Club of Hastings and supported by the members of Hastings Team Up and is a fami- ly-friendly event. All racers, except for Mini-Mow- er participants, must be pre-registered with their $25 fee and completed form no later than Friday, March 2. Forms and funds must be turned in at the Hastings Library located at 6195 South Main Street, Hastings or received via email by request- ing the forms at [email protected]. Complete regulations are included with the regis- tration form. The event is free to spectators. Land- scapers, mower repair shops, and tractor sales businesses are urged to join in with an entry. All paid participants and vendors will get a compli- mentary event tee shirt. A vendor spot is $25. Photo special to the Courier Journal Winners of the 2018 Florida Azalea Festival Pageant. (Top row left to right) Baby Miss Savannah Bayse, Little Miss Gabrielle Offord, Junior Miss Destiny Long and Miss Cassidy Chambliss. (Bottom row left to right) Toddler Miss Tins- Lane and Road Closures ley Gullett, Tiny Miss Olivia Register and Petitie Miss Choyce Rayburn. The following is a list of road and lane closures that may impact traffic through Friday, March 2. U.S. 17 – West Oak Street to West Palmetto Street: Daytime lane closures Wednesday and Jones Named to Florida Chamber Board of Directors Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for road work. Special to the Chambers’ Board of Directors Courier Journal is an exciting opportunity,” said Dana Jones. “I am proud to be part of an organization that ac- On Monday, February 5 The tively fights to support job cre- Florida Chamber of Commerce ators, defeat special interests announced that Dana Jones, and improve the lives of Floridi- President of Putnam County ans through long-term econom- Chamber of Commerce, was ic solutions.” named to the Florida Chamber In addition to serving as Board of Directors. President of the Putnam Coun- “Dana is an advocate of free ty Chamber of Commerce, Dana enterprise and her commitment also assumes the role of Exec- to her community and experi- utive Director of the Develop- ence as a leader will help lead ment Authority and Tourist De- www.facebook.com/put- Florida to a new and sustain- velopment Council Coordinator. able economy,” said Mark Wil- During her tenure the Putnam son, President and CEO of the County Chamber of Commerce namcountycourierjournal Florida Chamber of Commerce. has attained 5-Star Accredita- The Florida Chamber Board tion status by the U.S. Cham- of Directors is comprised of ber, was twice selected as the business leaders representing #1 Chamber of Commerce in every region and industry in America for Chambers of simi- Florida, from small businesses lar size, and has been designat- to multi-national corporations, ed a “Certified Plus” Chamber Photo special to the Courier Journal all working to make Florida Dana Jones, President of Putnam County Chamber of Com- by the Florida Association of more competitive.