INSIDE: DELINQUENT TAXES IN PUTNAM COUNTY PALATKA DAILY NEWS WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 2021 PUTNAM COUNTY’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER $1 3 Deadly Days in Putnam County Police department, sheriff’s office investigating 3 fatal shootings in as many days Putnam County Sheriff’s Office BY NICK BLANK deputies and Christian Sanchez, 23, was killed in a shooting outside a Palatka Daily News Keown Avenue home in Pomona Park at about 6:30 p.m. vehicles are at [email protected] the scene of a Monday. fatal shooting The agency said detectives are continuing to investi- Monday Putnam County and city of Palatka authorities are gate the area and are searching for information about evening in investigating three fatal shootings that occurred between suspicious activity at Willard F. Hazen Memorial Park Pomona Park. Sunday and Tuesday. prior to the shooting. Joseph Brinson, 41, died in a fatal shooting at about Information pertaining to suspects or the events lead- Submitted photo 12:30 a.m. Tuesday. Palatka Police Department Capt. ing up to the Pomona Park shooting was not released by Matt Newcomb said the shooting happened in the 800 block of North 11th Street. According to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, See DEADLY, Page 5A Remembering a Pioneer SARAH CAVACINI/Palatka Daily News South Putnam residents wear “Don’t Poop on Putnam” shirts to a Board of County Commissioners meeting Tuesday to advocate not dumping biosolids near residential property. Residents turn up nose as biosolids permit sought again BY SARAH CAVACINI Palatka Daily News [email protected] The Putnam County Board of Commissioners has not yet wiped away biosolid concerns but instead has placed the topic on the board’s June 8 workshop agenda. NICK BLANK/Palatka Daily News A group of South Putnam County residents attend- Brenda Strickland-Brown looks over several tributes to her mother, Mary Strickland, inset, a teacher who helped integrate the faculty at ed Tuesday morning’s board meeting, telling commis- Interlachen Elementary School in 1966. sioners they don’t want anyone to “poop on Putnam.” The conversation stemmed from an application submitted earlier this year to Planning and Development Services from a Lake Como property Daughter, community look back fondly on beloved educator owner who wants to dump Class B biosolids on his property. BY NICK BLANK The original application was withdrawn in March, Interlachen Elementary School. students from the school because of but Jim Troiano, the outgoing executive director of Palatka Daily News After the Putnam County School District Strickland’s presence. Putnam County [email protected] Planning and Development Services, said the owner began voluntary integration in 1966, it was Sheriff’s Office deputies later had to escort resubmitted a special use permit application Tuesday inevitable Black teachers would teach in previ- buses. afternoon to apply biosolids on 56 of 304 property An Interlachen educator who paved the ously-white schools. Strickland was chosen to One member of the group event accused acres. way for integration in the late 1960s was fond- teach at Interlachen Elementary for the 1966- Strickland of attacking her daughter. But residents near the property worry about the ly remembered by family, superintendents and 1967 school year. Strickland was arrested with the district post- potential smell, contaminated water and wildlife former students for her legacy. Former Superintendent Carey Ferrell, who ing bond and providing her legal defense. endangerment. Mary Strickland, who died April 28 at 97 ushered in the desegregation process, said After the court ruled in favor of Strickland, years old, began her teaching career at the seg- Strickland was regarded as one of the best regated Oak Grove Elementary School in teachers in West Putnam County. However, See PERMIT, Page 5A Johnson in 1956. She retired in 1988 at white parents started a campaign to remove See PIONEER, Page 6A 2 sections INDEX Classified/Legals .............................. 5B Obituaries ......................................... 3A Comics .............................................. 4B Opinions ........................................... 4A Lottery............................................... 2B Sports ............................................... 1B VOL. 133 • NO. 103 | PALATKA, FLA. “When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” — Henry Ford (1863 – 1947) was an American industrialist, busi- 2A QUICK HITS ness magnate and founder of the Ford Motor Company and chief WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 2021 developer of the assembly line technique of mass production. PALATKA DAILY NEWS Today in History www.palatkadailynews.com 1825 St. Johns Ave., Palatka FL 32177 MAIL: P.O. Box 777, Palatka, FL 32178 Today is Wednesday, May 26, the 146th day of 2021. There are 219 days USPS 418-500 left in the year. Periodicals postage paid at Palatka, FL, Palatka Daily News, est. 1885, is TODAY IN PUTNAM published daily Tuesday through Saturday. In 1939, state School POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Superintendent Colin English chose Palatka Daily News, P.O. Box 777, Putnam Superintendent Lew S. Palatka FL 32178 Barstow as one of four officers to rep- MAIN NUMBER ..... 386-312-5200 resent the state of Florida at an educa- tors’ conference in Tennessee. Business hours are 8:30 a.m. to In 1939, Sen. Henry S. McKenzie 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. asked the Florida Legislature to make permanent improvements to the St. Call about classified or display ads, questions about circulation or any Johns River to prevent vessels from other newspaper business. Call getting stuck on bars and shoals and to with news tips at any time. Just fol- demand a deeper and wider channel. low the instructions after business In 1986, four entertainers from the hours or email: St. Johns River Community College [email protected] Florida School of the Arts recently [email protected] won their categories in the regional Submitted photo competition, “Showstoppers,” and CIRCULATION The General Federation of Women’s Club Woman’s Club of Palatka is holding its annual crape myrtle sale with seven were eligible to compete in the nation- varieties available this year. Pictured at a past year’s event with the plants in the background waiting for pickup are al competition. Please call 386-312-5200 to report Edna Rivers, left, and Dee Parker, right. The mature, 1-gallon plants are $5 each. The plant growers suggest placing In 1987, Palatka Daily News report- problems with the delivery of your three plants in one hole to have a bigger, faster showing of the plant. Purchases can be made online at www. ed Lake Broward Association was paper. Circulation office hours are 8:30 gfwcpalatka.com/azalea-city-marketplace. The last day to place an online order is June 16. Orders may be picked up studying that body of water to protect a.m. - 5 p.m. If you leave a message, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. June 18 at the clubhouse, 600 S. 13th St. in Palatka. There may be some extra crape myrtle plants it from pollution problems. The lake please give your name, mailing address available for purchase on the the pickup date, but there will be no guarantee of the quality or color if not ordered online. had become two lakes divided by a and phone number. Proceeds from the fundraiser will be used to help defray the cost of the new heating, ventilation and air conditioning sand bar. systems the club had to recently install. For details, call Parker at 937-3196. TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT IN HISTORY For home delivery subscription, On May 26, 1940, Operation including tax would like to be included in the listing Free drive thru food Dynamo, the evacuation of some 13 weeks ................................ $24.62 can email the specifics to tmurphy@ 338,000 Allied troops from Dunkirk, 26 weeks ................................ $49.25 Announcements giveaway is Friday 52 weeks ................................ $93.68 palatkadailynews.com or drop them by France, began during World War II. EZ-pay ....................................$84.00 the office, 1825 St. Johns Ave., between 9 St. Andrews Episcopal Church Digital only ..........................$7/month a.m.–4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Fourth Friday drive-thru free food ON THIS DATE PUTNAM COUNTY Events can also be mailed to Palatka Daily giveaway is 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Friday at the In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln Sanitation department’s News, Attn: Trisha Murphy, P.O. Box 777, church, 111 S. Francis St. The event is signed a measure creating the Montana CIRCULATION MANAGER Palatka, FL 32177. Mark envelopes: open to anyone in need and is the Territory. Stacy Grell .....................386-312-5243 holiday pickup schedule Summer Camp Listings. fourth Friday of every month. In 1938, the House Un-American Circulation Manager Putnam County Sanitation The listing can include 4H, club camps, Activities Committee was established [email protected] Department’s schedule for pickup the indoor and outdoor activities, vacation by Congress. week of Memorial Day is as follows: Bible school and more. Be sure to include State News In 1954, explosions rocked the air- OBITUARIES Household collection: Monday and the dates, times, ages the camp is geared craft carrier USS Bennington off Rhode Thursday pick up will be Tuesday and for, location and highlights of the day as Island, killing 103 sailors. (The initial Death notices and obituaries are Thursday. well as the cost. Deadline for listings is DAYTONA BEACH blast was blamed on leaking catapult published daily. We accept obituaries Tuesday and Friday pick up will be noon June 7. fluid ignited by the flames of a jet.) and photos from funeral homes. The Wednesday and Friday. Bystanders save man In 1972, President Richard M. Nixon deadline is 5 p.m. Obituaries can be There will be no yard trash pickup INTERLACHEN from drowning at beach and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev emailed to news@palatkadailynews. during the holiday week.