Sunny 0% rain chance | Coupons worth $234 inside this issue! 73 52 For details, see 2A PALATKA DAILY NEWS SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 2014 www.mypdn.com $1 AZALEA FESTIVAL TAKES SHAPE Czymbor: City staff CHRIS DEVITTO / Palatka Daily News A Florida Highway Patrol Trooper on a rescue boat reopened holds the hand of a woman during a water rescue in the St. Johns River near Palatka’s Memorial Bridge on Friday evening. talks with Woman church rescued from Photos by CHRIS DEVITTO / Palatka Daily News But First Baptist Joe Jackson, a workman with Cowboy Attractions, pounds in stakes Friday evening for one of the slides that will be in place today for the Azalea Festival that runs today and Sunday. didn’t want to change river after original agreement bridge jump with planning board BY ASIA AIKINS Palatka Daily News BY PETE SKIBA Palatka Daily News Pastor Kirby Kennedy and City Manager Michael Czymbor confirmed A fishing day turned into a that there was a meeting held late rescue for Palatka residents last month to discuss a possible Friday. Above, workmen with Cowboy change to the city’s agreement with A woman poised on Attractions put up one of many tents First Baptist Church of Palatka. Memorial Bridge took a Friday evening that will be stationed “It did happen,” Kennedy said. “But plunge from about 45 feet along St. Johns Avenue. Right, we were not looking to pursue it.” above the St. Johns River Members of the Azalea region of the During the city commission meet- after 5:13 p.m. into the Antique Automobile Association set ing Thursday, 53-degree water below. up their tent Friday at Riverfront Commissioner “I saw her talking to a depu- Park. Allegra Kitchens ty on the bridge,” said Eric requested that Conroy. “She moved. The dep- Czymbor and select uty grabbed her shirt, but she staff members be kept going off the bridge.” reprimanded for Fishing on the banks at the “unethical” behavior riverfront, Tashala Geyer said after conducting a she saw the topless woman go meeting with First off the bridge. Baptist trustees in Czymbor “The officer grabbed the One Book One Putnam project January, without woman’s shirt,” Geyer said. the knowledge of the “He tried to stop her, but she planning board. jumped off the bridge.” “I don’t think she had the complete Geyer began running on the wraps up another successful year story, with the long series of meetings wooden walk alongside the we’ve held,” Czymbor said. “As I said bridge to get closer. BY BRANDON D. OLIVER appearances throughout the county, (in response to Kitchens’ request on Another fisherman, Palatka Daily News decided to enlist the help of some of his Thursday), if you have a problem, Roosevelt Lewis Jr., saw the former coworkers when it came to the come to me to discuss it.” plunge and tossed Geyer a Thursday saw the end of the season finale. For several months, Kennedy and rope as he ran. Geyer took the for the Putnam County Library But the men who were onstage with trustees from First Baptist have been rope and went over the walk’s System’s annual book reading initia- Lee were more than just his former working with city officials to reach a rail to a concrete ledge near tive. coworkers. They and their experiences compromise surrounding the church’s the river surface. To help bring to a close this year’s as game wardens were featured in purchase of the former TD Bank It was unclear whether the One Book One Putnam program, local Lee’s book. building at 511 St. Johns Ave. The woman swam or was carried author Bob Lee took to the stage at “These are old-school game war- building would be used to expand the Woman’s Club of Palatka. dens,” Lee said. “They didn’t do things church’s educational facility. See RESCUED, Page 5A Lee’s book, “Backcountry Lawman: like game wardens do now.” City staff members including True Stories from a Florida Game While Hank Starling, one of Lee’s CHRIS DEVITTO / Palatka Daily News Czymbor, Planning Director Thad Warden,” was the book of choice for the coworkers who was featured in his “Backcountry Lawman” author Bob Lee Crowe, Main Street manager Charles 2014 season. book, was regaling the crowd with speaks during the closing program Rudd and Special Projects manager INDEX Lee, who since One Book’s kickoff Thursday night at the Woman’s Club of event on Jan. 7 has been making See ONE BOOK, Page 5A Palatka. See PALATKA, Page 5A Advice ............................. 3B Briefing ........................... 2A Classified/Legals ............ 4B Comics ............................ 3B Horoscope ...................... 3B Lottery............................. 2B Suspect arrested in connection with January shooting in Palatka Obituaries ....................... 6A Opinions ......................... 4A bond. One subject was shot during the in Jacksonville. fled the intersection in a white, two-door Sports ............................. 1B BY PETE SKIBA Palatka Daily News incident.” Griffith said, “McCullough is still mid-size vehicle. Sudoku ........................... 5B Police found 31-year- recovering from his McCullough remained free on $11,000 A Palatka man was apprehended in old Farrellton injuries.” bail on October and November 2012 drug The Voice of Crescent City in connection with a Jan. McCullough gut-shot Police continue to and contempt of court charges. Putnam County 21 shooting. at about 12:35 p.m. He search for 20-year-old Anyone with information on the shoot- Hiding in the South Putnam city, sat on an apartment Alex Evans in connec- ing or the whereabouts of Evans can call since 1885 23-year-old Jeritz Marcus Jones’ 5:20 porch next to an tion with McCullough’s Lt. Jason Shaw or Detective Reno Fells p.m. Wednesday arrest came as a com- unstaffed police sub- shooting, Griffith at 329-0115 or Central Dispatch at 329- VOL. 126 • NO. 44 bined law enforcement effort, said station at 1601 added. 0801. The Crime Tip Hotline is 329-0170. PALATKA, FLA. Assistant Palatka Police Chief James Washington St. as offi- McCullough report- The other law enforcement agencies Griffith. cers and emergency edly became involved involved in Jones’ arrest were the U.S. “Jones is a suspect in the shooting that personnel arrived. Jones in an argument with Evans Marshal’s Service, Putnam County Public Notices occurred near North 16th and Medical personnel one of the men on the Sheriff’s Office and the Crescent City on Page 4B Washington street on Jan. 21st,” Griffith took McCullough to street. Police Department. By mail, 3 sections said. “He is charged with aggravated bat- Putnam Community Medical Center and With many gunshots fired, at least one tery with a deadly weapon and has no then he was flown to UF Health Shands caught McCullough. The assailants then [email protected] shop our NEW STORE HOURS! outlet R center Monday - Saturday 9a.m. - 6p.m. months Se Habla 1000 St. Johns Avenue Downtown Palatka • 386-328-1412 Lori Johnston, special fi nancing available Monday - Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. • www.badcock.com owner 18 see store for complete details Español 030114a1.indd 1 2/28/14 8:31 PM 2a PALATKA DAILY NEWS • SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 2014 Putnam AM Students in the Spotlight ings had been cut from their stretch- Local ers, something only someone in a hurry would do. Palatka VIERa Azalea Bowling Tourney is Sunday Armed man fatally shot outside courthouse The fourth annual Azalea Festival Bowling Tournament is scheduled to Authorities say deputies in central begin at 2 p.m. Sunday at Putnam Florida have fatally shot an armed Lanes, 3832 Reid St. Those who man following a stand-off outside a haven’t pre-registered should plan to Brevard County courthouse. arrive between noon and 12:30 p.m. Sheriff Wayne Ivey says the man, Door prizes will be offered. who authorities weren’t immediately Registration is $20. Proceeds will naming, had made previous threats help support the Humane Society of to judges before showing up Friday Northeast Florida. morning at the Moore Justice Center in Viera. Florida Today reports that the courthouse was placed on lockdown, Trains running Sunday and the man spent several hours at Union Depot pacing outside the building as the ASIA AIKINS / Palatka Daily News county’s SWAT team surrounded the The Palatka City Commissioner honored February Students of the Month Thursday evening at City Hall. The following Open House/Museum open run- area. A Palm Bay police negotiator, students were recognized. Back row (from left): Ryan Bosely, Putnam EDGE High School; Haley Beldon, Jenkins ning of train layouts from 1-4 p.m. on who was at the courthouse for an Middle School; Mayor Vernon Myers; Arneishia Grant, Palatka High School; Zuma Brown, Putnam Academy of Arts & Sunday at the Palatka Union Depot ongoing trial, tried to negotiate with Sciences. Front row: Hannah Parrish, James A. Long Elementary School; Caleb Bryan, Mellon Elementary School; train station, 222 N. 11th St. the man. Hannah Gall, Moseley Elementary School; Jozie Reyes, Kelley Smith Elementary School; Lane Singleton, Browning- Details: Marvis Champion, 328- After three hours, SWAT moved in Pearce Elementary School; Delia Marshall, Children’s Reading Center Charter School; Taylor Murrow, C.L. Overturf, Jr. 0305. to subdue the man. Ivey says they Sixth Grade Center. Kee-Nila Mckinzie, E.H. Miller School and Laynie McKinnon, Peniel Baptist Academy were not in tried unsuccessfully to stun the man attendance. twice with a Taser before using BOStWICk lethal force. A bomb squad remained at the courthouse to examine a back- Library supporters pack or bag the man carried with to meet Tuesday him.