Partly Cloudy Scott encourages early voting Fears of Ebola ease in Dallas 10% rain chance Gov. Rick Scott said early voting would be crucial to victory Health monitors are breathing a sigh of relief as most of those exposed to an Ebola in his bid for re-election. patient have cleared the disease’s incubation period without signs of infection. 85 | 59 See Page 2A See Page 5A For details, see 2A www.mypdn.com PALATKA DAILY NEWS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014 $1 CITY COMMISSION GROUP 4 EMPTY SHELVES AT HEART OF PUTNAM Palatka Food pantry looking for boost in donations through holiday season BY ASIA AIKINS candidates Palatka Daily News eart of Putnam food pantry volun- teers are asking for donations this month, after a break in food drives Hhas left staple items depleted just speak up before the holiday season begins. According to pantry manager Sandra Bayless, Heart of Putnam food pantry is running low on staple items like peanut but- on issues ter, cereal, soup, macaroni and cheese, canned beans, spaghetti, pasta sauce, rice Palatka Daily News and canned meat. The Daily News provided candi- “It seems we’re always low on peanut but- dates for the Palatka City ter, canned beans and canned meat,” Bayless Commission and mayoralty with 10 said. “We are very busy this time of year.” questions on a variety of topics relat- In preparation for Thanksgiving, Bayless ed to municipal government. said, pantry volunteers are also encouraging Candidates were invited to respond, donations of traditional Thanksgiving meal with a 100-word limit for each ques- ingredients. tion. “This year, we are going to focus on pro- Today’s Q-and-A features candi- viding all of the fixings for all of our clients dates Rufus Borom and incumbent instead of the full meals with the turkey,” Phil Leary, who are running for the she said. Group 4 seat on the city commission: In the past, Bayless said, families would 1. How could all Palatka resi- have to sign up to receive Thanksgiving dents benefit from the develop- meal donations, since there are a limited ment on the riverfront? number of turkey dinners with all of the fix- Phil Leary (incumbent): ings. The pantry would still accept turkey Through enhanced recreational donations, but it will primarily focus on col- opportunities, greater access to the lecting all of the side items that complete a river, economic development and Thanksgiving dinner. tourism dollars that will come into Those items include stuffing, mashed the city and as a catalyst for down- potatoes, gravy, candied yams, green beans, town and neighborhood revitaliza- cranberry sauce, and pie mix and shells. tion. “We’re hoping that people will be able to Rufus Borom: All of the residents get together as a family and have dinner,” could benefit by being included in the Bayless said. “We give away everything that planning stages of the river front is given to us.” development. Bayless said she has volunteered at the CHRIS DEVITTO / Palatka Daily News 2. The Palatka Police pantry since 2007 and has been the manager Heart of Putnam Food Pantry Manager Sandra Bayless unloads a food donation from Georgia- Department argues that red light for the last two years. She said the commu- Pacific with pantry worker Sandra Fowler on Monday morning. cameras have encouraged safe nity has always showed its support through driving at some of the city’s most donations. The pantry is a 501c3 organiza- dangerous intersections. If you tion, so all food and cash contributions are Palatka, is open Monday, Tuesday and ■ St. Vincent de Paul Society hosts a per- were opposed to the cameras, tax deductable. Friday from 9 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. For more ishable food drop from 10 a.m. to noon, or how would you work to improve “We appreciate the continued support,” information, call 972-0875. until gone on the first Fridays of the month safety for pedestrians and driv- she said. “We have a generous community.” The following Putnam County locations ers at these intersections? If you The Heart of Putnam, 820 Reid St. in also collect and distribute food: See FOOD, Page 5A were in favor of the cameras, how would you address concerns about short yellow lights causing rear-end accidents at these inter- sections? Leary: Several national studies show that red light cameras reduce fatal crashes by as much as 24 per- cent. However, the red light tickets Palatka Bluegrass Festival moves shows to November are too expensive and a majority of the money from the tickets goes to the BY BRANDON D. OLIVER Norman Adams of Adams November was to attract more state. The city’s contract with ATS Palatka Daily News Bluegrass LLC decided after of the snowbirds since there will expire in 2015 and, unless the last year’s fall show to make would probably more fines are substantially reduced ($25) In keeping with tradition, the change. Northerners in the South in and the funds go to the city for traffic the Rodeheaver Boys Ranch And Adams said that while November than in October. safety programs, I will oppose renew- will be the site of a bluegrass this may be the first time the Even with the show being ing the contract and vote to have the festival this fall. fall festival is in November, it slightly more than two weeks cameras removed. Enforcing speed But organizers are shaking wouldn’t be the last time. away, Adams said he is limits on major roadways and subse- up the tradition this year by “Our ticket sales have been already seeing what a differ- quent intersections would be benefi- moving the seventh annual up so far,” he said. “It’ll be in ence a few weeks can make. cial in enhancing safety at all inter- Fall Palatka Bluegrass November again next year. Adams Bluegrass doesn’t sections in the city. Festival from October to Nov. We’re going to stick with the keep count of its ticket sales, Borom: I oppose red light cameras 6-8. November date for a while and but Adams said he has noticed because they violate citizens’ due pro- The bi-annual bluegrass see how that goes.” a change this year from years cess of law. Infractions shift the burden festivals are normally at the Part of the reason he said past. File photo from law enforcement to the vehicle boys ranch in February and he wanted to have the fall por- Rhonda Vincent performs at the Fall Palatka Bluegrass October, but promoter tion of his festival in See FESTIVAL, Page 5A Festival in 2013. See QUESTIONS, Page 8A INDEX Advice ............................. 6A Briefing ........................... 2A Medal of Honor winner’s cane comes home Classified/Legals .......... 12A Comics ............................ 6A Pfc Ronald Jenkins’ Marine last Marine in their unit to return to the United Horoscope ...................... 6A States after a 13-month tour, in which he was Lottery........................... 10A buddy delivers cane after 45 years wounded three times. Obituaries ....................... 7A He said he vowed to his Marine buddies and him- Opinions ......................... 4A self to get the cane to the Jenkins family. Sports ............................. 9A “I made a promise, and now I’ve kept it,” he said Sudoku ......................... 13A BY PAUL HENKEMEYER Palatka Daily News Correspondent Sunday. “Even if it did take 45 years.” Smith and his wife, Robin, brought the well-worn, The Voice of INTERLACHEN – Melvyn Smith says the cane teakwood stick here unannounced this weekend and Putnam County was always at his side as he drove his tractor-trail- presented it to Jenkins’ oldest sister, Ruby Smith of er across the highways and byways of America over Interlachen, at a hastily arranged ceremony at the since 1885 nearly half a century. Jenkins Memorial adjacent to the Fleet Reserve “It was with me on every run,” he said. “But Association Branch 183 clubhouse at noon Sunday. VOL. 126 • NO. 205 more and more over the past four or five years, I “She would really have loved it,” Ruby said, about PALATKA, FLA. kept thinking, ‘It has to go home.’” their mother, Willa Mae, who died five years ago. And come home it did, this weekend, to “Because the tiki head on the top is like one he Interlachen and the family of the man who carved it carved for her when he was in the fifth or sixth Public Notices with his K-Bar fighting knife: Marine Pfc. Robert grade.” on Page 12A Henry Jenkins Jr., who was posthumously decorat- Ruby said she had a hard time believing the By mail, 1 section ed with the Medal of Honor for diving on a North Smiths were here, just as it was when she was told Submitted photo Vietnamese hand grenade to spare the life of a fel- Robert had been killed. Ruby Smith holds a cane her brother, Robert Jenkins, low Marine in 1969. hand-carved in Vietnam. It was presented to her Smith, 64, inherited the cane because he was the See CANE, Page 5A Sunday by Jenkins’ Marine buddy, Melvyn Smith. 102114a1.indd 1 10/20/14 8:47 PM 2a PALATKA DAILY NEWS • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014 OctOber StudentS Of the MOnth Putnam AM Local Palatka: vehicle theft. Putnam County Oct. 19 Thomas James Arico, 25, Ocala: U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown flee/elude police; aggravated assault to visit Palatka on Friday with a deadly weapon. Putnam residents are invited to join Congresswoman Corrine Brown (D-Jacksonville) for coffee and con- versation at 9 a.m. Friday at the State Price-Martin Community Center, Reid and 11th streets, in Palatka.