Mostly Sunny COMPLETE COVERAGE 5% rain chance PREP FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS! | Find out who, where and when PAGE 8A 65 43 SPORTS For details, see 2A PALATKA DAILY NEWS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2014 www.mypdn.com $1 Weekend Happenings HOLIDAY CHEER FOR SOLDIERS State DEP Glow Fun Run 5K completes 7:15 p.m. Friday, Putnam Community Medical Center, 611 Zeagler Drive, Palatka. series of Bring glow bands and glow body paint. $25 per person. Proceeds go to Putnam First Cancer Fund. Presented by water use Nurse On Call home health care. 19th Annual workshops BY ASIA AIKINS Holiday House Palatka Daily News Gala Night State Department of Environmental Protection 5-9 p.m. Friday, Tilghman officials wrapped up a series of House, 324 River St., public workshops regarding Palatka. Music, snacks and the expansion of reclaimed wine tasting. Christmas in water, stormwater and excess Putnam ornament on sale. surface water use on Thursday, but are still taking public comment until Dec. 5. Sleek In Concert Photos by CHRIS DEVITTO / Palatka Daily News Officials from DEP held the Connie Westberry, center, a teacher at James A. Long Elementary School in Palatka, works with students Mia Perry, last of five statewide public 7 p.m. doors open, 7:30 Daniell Bennett and Maranda Collins to fill packages that will be sent to soldiers serving overseas. workshops regarding Senate p.m. Saturday, Larimer Arts Bill 536 at St. Johns River Center, 216 Reid St., Water Management District Palatka. $7 at the door. headquarters in Palatka on J.A. Long kids put together packages of goodies Thursday afternoon. According to the bill’s lan- Dothea H. Smith guage, SB 536 states “DEP, in BY BRANDON D. OLIVER coordination with stakehold- Cancer Walk Palatka Daily News ers shall conduct a compre- hensive study and submit a 9 a.m. Saturday, beginning Soldiers overseas are going to be report on the expansion of use at Mt. Tabor First Baptist receiving boxes of food, hygiene of reclaimed water, stormwa- Church, 4909 St. Johns Ave., products and other gifts for ter and excess surface water Palatka. A 2-mile walk hosted Christmas, thanks to the efforts of a in this state.” by the St. Johns-Putnam- local elementary school class and its The bill was supported by Flagler chapter of Charmettes supporters. state Sen. Wilton Simpson, Inc. Proceeds to Relay for Life Connie Westberry’s ESE class at R-New Port Richey, as well as campaigns and national can- James A. Long Elementary School the Environmental cer research. Donations can has spent the school year sending Preservation and be made on the day of the care packages to service members Conservation Committee and walk at the registration table. through the Adopt a Hero program. Agriculture Committee and But the class has sought the passed unanimously during assistance of the rest of the school the 2014 legislative session. Creature Feature: as well as local businesses and indi- “Sen. Simpson had concerns viduals to send more boxes of gifts to about water usage,” said Tom Turkeys reach soldiers before Christmas. Beck, director of DEP Office of “What got me involved in it is I Water Policy. “He thinks 10-11 a.m. Saturday, wanted to get my kids to write and Florida needs to do a better Ravine Gardens State Park, understand that there are other James A. Long second-grader Devin Claridy works on a drawing that will be job using our water more 1600 Twigg St., Palatka. people out there fighting for their included in a care package sent to United States soldiers serving around the world. effectively.” Ranger Kristine will lead a freedom,” Westberry said. “The kids Beck led the discussion on program about wild turkeys (in my class) are writing every Thursday, summarizing the Children invited to make hand month, and we try to get the whole tions for the Christmas efforts, the Adopt a Hero program, two sol- job DEP and water stakehold- turkeys. Free with park school involved for Christmas.” there were considerably more boxes diers whose father is the school’s ers had before them. Since the admission.. Since 2010, Westberry’s classes to pack and send. PTO president and a few other sol- final report must be submitted have been writing and sending care “This year, we’ve already sent out diers through the USO. by Dec. 1, 2015, the work packages to members of the military 41 (boxes),” said Westberry, whose The class, with the help of the group has already reached out Museum Open House deployed overseas. class sent 10 boxes of goods through- school and local contributions, will for feedback. This year, she said, her class sent out 2010. “I’m sure we’ll send out continue to collect food and other The bill requires that the and Running of Trains letters and one box per month to a more next week because the school items including toothpaste, deodor- final report identify measures soldier, but when the school sent is still collecting.” ant, mouthwash and hand warmers, that would lead to the effi- 1-4 p.m. Saturday at home letters asking for non-perish- The goods the school is shipping cient use of reclaimed water; Palatka Union Depot. able food and hygiene product dona- are going to two soldiers through See SOLDIERS, Page 5A identify engineering, public See WORKSHOP, Page 5A INDEX Advice ............................. 6A Briefing ........................... 2A South Putnam church plans big Classified/Legals .......... 10A Comics ............................ 6A Felon charged with carrying Horoscope ...................... 6A pre-Thanksgiving festival for Saturday Lottery............................. 9A Obituaries ..................... 12A handgun in pickup truck Opinions ......................... 4A BY PETE SKIBA The festival plans to have free turkey, Sports ............................. 8A ham and other holiday fare with all the on the floorboard.” Sudoku ........................... 5A Palatka Daily News BY PETE SKIBA dressing for people who attend. Plans Palatka Daily News Knowing Griffin was a felon, CRESCENT CITY – A city church also call for raffles of turkey, ham, gas deputies inter- The Voice of plans to banish the pre-holiday blues cards and other prizes in the An anonymous tip about an viewed him, Putnam County with a Pre-Thanksgiving Community Thanksgiving spirit. armed felon in a red Chevrolet arrested him Festival. Considering that children especially S-10 pickup brought Putnam and booked him since 1885 “The holidays are distressful for some love this time of year, the festival plans County Sheriff’s deputies to into Putnam people. They get depressed about what pony rides, clowns and other activities Alabama Avenue in Palatka at County Jail at VOL. 126 • NO. 223 they don’t have,” said Apostle Lillie for the children. about 3:15 p.m. Wednesday. about 4:15 p.m. PALATKA, FLA. Tuggerson of the Victory Worship A gospel DJ will provide music that Approaching Alabama Avenue the same day, Center. “We are not just about worship. fits into the festival themes to make a at Crill Avenue, deputies spotted according to jail God wants us to freely give our love and difference in the city and county. 66-year-old Michael Alan Griffin records. Griffin Public Notices help those in difficult economic times.” One of the people working on the Core making a U-turn. Following the on Page 10A Tuggerson invited everyone who Team putting the event together fore- “The vehicle was stopped at charge of posses- By mail, 1 section would like to take part in the Pre- saw the first Pre-Thanksgiving Festival 3310 Crill Ave.,” said Sheriff’s sion of a weapon Thanksgiving Festival to come to the as a growing event. Sgt. Hancel Woods. “A 22-caliber church at 1022 Huntington Road from revolver was found in plain sight See CHARGED, Page 5A noon to 3 p.m. Saturday. See FESTIVAL, Page 5A Destination Submit your artwork for the cover of Putnam Destination Putnam We need your Your complete guide to Putnam County & Chamber Membership Directory ??? for a chance to win $100. artwork... See page 3A for complete details. 111414a1.indd 1 11/13/14 8:10 PM 2A PALATKA DAILY NEWS • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2014 Soccer DrillS Putnam AM addiction and that smoking caused their illnesses or deaths. It’s taken Correction as given that the companies sold a defective and dangerous product and Veterans Day ceremony hid smoking risks. The Palatka Daily News errone- ously reported that the Veterans Day tallahassee Ceremony at the riverfront amphi- theater was hosted by the local Survey says state added American Legion. The ceremony was more jobs in October hosted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3349. A new employment survey shows that Florida continues to add jobs. Payroll provider ADP reported Local Wednesday that the state added 20,050 private sector jobs during PALATKA the month of October. ADP’s sur- vey is separate from the one that Moose motorcyclists to is conducted by government agen- cies. visit Palatka Health Care The survey showed that the growth was largely in service jobs. Moose On Bikes of the Palatka ADP’s survey showed that Florida PETE SKIBA / Palatka Daily News Moose Lodge will bring good will to trailed both California and Texas Nathan Walter of the Jacksonville Armada pro soccer team coached kids on ball balancing at the player-supervised the residents of Palatka Health Care in the number of private sector exercises held Saturday at the South Putnam Sports Complex. today. Motorcyclists from the lodge jobs created but that Florida’s will have their bikes present for resi- total was above other large states. dents to view and enjoy. There will The results could bode well for be photo opportunities for residents another drop in the state’s unem- to have their photo taken with club ployment rate.