Sunny 0% chance of rain PREVIEW: PUTNAM REPRESENTED IN STATE PLAYOFFS, 7A 61 | 44 For details, see 2A www.mypdn.com PALATKA DAILY NEWS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2016 $1 City commission to discuss 100 block — again WHAT DO YOU THINK? Riverfront Development Group manager expected to address commissioners for third time since Jan. 14 What do you think about the 100 block, Riverfront Development Group Manager ly scheduled meeting. It’s the third time in three meetings BY SCOTT J. BRYAN The discussion was added to the agenda Diamond requested an audience with city Corky Diamond and the Palatka Daily News contract dispute with the city Wednesday morning. While the agenda commissioners. On Jan. 14, he asked for of Palatka? Email Letters to The Corky Diamond show might have an item approved by City Clerk Betsy Driggers his agenda item to be tabled. On Jan. 28, the Editor to publicforum@ encore performance tonight. referred to a motion by City Commissioner Diamond gave a sprawling presentation palatkadailynews.com. The embattled 100 block development James Norwood in the Jan. 28 meeting to and pleaded with city commissioners to Letter writers must include full name, manager and his Riverfront Development seek more information, City Manager daytime phone number and address. Group’s purchase contract will be discussed Terry Suggs said Diamond requested to be There is a 350-word limit. during Palatka City Commission’s regular- added to the agenda. See 100 BLOCK, Page 5A Diamond Are schools complying with class WATCH PARTY size rules? Middleton-Burney was 1.32 students over mandated 18-student cap in October BY ASIA AIKINS Palatka Daily News State Department of Education offi- cials will determine this week if area schools are in compliance with state class size standards. Middleton-Burney Elementary School in Crescent City was found out of compliance with state class size standards during an October survey, as the average pre-kindergarten through third-grade class size was 1.32 students over the 18-student cap. “A lot of times, for instance, you’ll have 16 in a class and then you’ll get a family of triplets later in the year. Then, you have 19,” said Helen Muir, district assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. “When that happens, several classes are over by just one or two children.” The district school board responded to the problem last week, approving a class size reduction compliance plan CHRIS DEVITTO/Palatka Daily News as outlined by state statutes. The plan Shirley Griffin, Jim Griffin, Joe Svingala, Joyce Svingala, Lynda Lindswiler, Pat Bergquist and Pomona Park Mayor John Bergquist Jr. are includes weekly enrollment counts in celebrating the 13th year of the Pomona Park Neighborhood Watch program. classes throughout the district begin- ning at the start of the 2016-2017 the Neighborhood Watch program Pomona Park Community Center. school year. BY ALLISON WATERS-MERRITT Pomona Park Palatka Daily News after she and her husband retired Putnam County Sheriff’s Office “This monitoring and adjustment from Orlando and saw crime ram- Detective Jared Guy, who works as plan will be utilized continuously to Neighborhood POMONA PARK pant in the area. a community liaison, said Pomona assure compliance across individual or 13 years, members of “There were people selling drugs Park has the longest continuously classes and within each school for the Watch program the Pomona Park in the middle of town,” Griffin said. run watch in the county. 2016-2017 school year,” the plan said. Neighborhood Watch Since then, the group has grown “(The group) is very active and The district’s pre-kindergarten celebrates 13th F have walked and driven to 45 regular members during the work in their community a lot,” through third-grade class size aver- their beat, keeping an alert eye on winter months, and the monthly age, without considering E.H. Miller the community to deter crime. meetings are held the second School, was 16.81 students in October. anniversary Shirley Griffin said she started Thursday of the month at the See WATCH, Page 5A The district’s average for fourth- through eighth-grade classes was 17.43 students in October, without considering E.H. Miller. The state See SCHOOLS, Page 5A Annual homeless survey goes on despite ‘cold and rainy’ conditions WHAT DO YOU THINK? and wet, it makes it difficult to find places as possible in Putnam WHAT DO BY ALLISON WATERS-MERRITT Palatka Daily News (homeless people).” County. What do you think about class sizes YOU THINK? The Point In Time survey was “We go as far south as Crescent at Putnam County School District Bad weather dampened results conducted under the umbrella of City, to the Ocala National Forest, schools? Do you think What do you think Putnam County officials and volunteers during Putnam the Alachua County Coalition for East Palatka, Hastings, Bostwick the state should can do to reduce the amount of County’s third annual Point In Homeless and Hungry with the and Hawthorne,” McCoy said. “We mandate maximum class homeless people in the area? Time homeless survey Jan. 27. goal of obtaining a physical count of have a team of six volunteers to sizes? Email Letters to Email Letters to the Editor to “(The weather) was cold and homeless people in Putnam County cover all that ground.” the Editor to publicforum@palatkadailynews. rainy, so (the homeless) were hun- during the time the survey is con- Volunteers counted 21 homeless [email protected]. com. Letter writers must include kered down,” Palatka Christian ducted. Letter writers must include full name, full name, daytime phone number and Service Center Executive Director McCoy said a small team of vol- daytime phone number and address. address. There is a 350-word limit. Sheila McCoy said. “When it’s cold unteers tried to access as many See HOMELESS, Page 5A There is a 350-word limit. By mail, 2 sections VOL. 128 • NO. 29 The Voice of Classified/Legals .......... 10A Obituaries ....................... 3A INDEX PALATKA, FLA. Putnam County Comics ............................ 6A Opinions ......................... 4A Advice ............................. 6A Horoscope ...................... 6A Sports ............................. 7A since 1885 Briefing ........................... 2A Lottery............................. 8A Sudoku ..........................11A Public Notices on Page 11A 021116a1.indd 1 2/10/16 8:32 PM “We had better live as we think, otherwise we shall end up by thinking as we have lived.” — Paul Bourget morning briefing French author 2ATHURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2016 (1852-1935) 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 Thursday, Feb. 11, the 42nd day of 2016. There are 324 USPS 418-500 days left in the year. Periodicals postage paid at Palatka, FL, Palatka Daily News, est. 1885, TODAY IN PUTNAM is published daily Tuesday through In 1861, Florida was admitted to Saturday by the Palatka Daily News, Inc., the Confederacy but remained an POSTMASTER: Send address changes to independent nation until April 22. Palatka Daily News, P.O. Box 777, Florida was important to the Palatka FL 32178 Confederacy, mainly as a source of MAIN NUMBER ..... 312-5200 supplies, much of which were trans- ported via the St. Johns and Business hours are 8 a.m. to Ocklawaha Rivers. 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT IN HISTORY Call about classified or display ads, questions about circulation or any On Feb. 11, 1812, Massachusetts other newspaper business. Call Gov. Elbridge Gerry signed a redis- with news tips at any time. Just fol- tricting law favoring his Democratic- low the instructions after business Republican Party — giving rise to hours. the term “gerrymandering.” Advertising fax ....................312-5209 Newsroom fax ....................312-5226 ON THIS DATE In 660 B.C., tradition holds that CIRCULATION Japan was founded as Jimmu ascended the throne as the country’s Please call 386-312-5200 by first emperor. 10 a.m. to report problems with the In 1858, a French girl, Bernadette delivery of your paper. Circulation office Soubirous, reported the first of 18 hours are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. If you leave a visions of a lady dressed in white in message, please give your name, 911 a grotto near Lourdes. The Catholic address and phone number. TRISHA MURPHY/Palatka Daily News Church later accepted that the Local artist Luke Taft will give a live demonstration of a charcoal portrait, similar to the one he is displaying, during the visions were of the Virgin Mary. For home delivery subscription, annual Black History Month Show & Reception 2-6 p.m. Saturday at Ravine Gardens State Park in Palatka. Admission In 1862, the Civil War Battle of including tax is $5. For related story and more photos, see today’s Applause. Fort Donelson began in Tennessee. 13 weeks ................................ $24.62 Union forces led by Brig. Gen. 26 weeks ................................ $49.25 Ulysses S. Grant captured the fort 52 weeks ................................ $93.68 five days later. e-edition .............................. $7/month INTERLACHEN In 1937, a six-week-old sit-down Duration of subscription subject to Feb. 9 strike against General Motors rate increase. Announcements Perishable food drop Wyte Riley Lucas, 19, Palatka: ended, with the company agreeing to set for Friday aggravated assault with a deadly recognize the United Automobile Paul Conner ..................386-312-5246 weapon. Workers Union. Circulation Director PALATKA There will be a perishable food drop Todd Wayne Martin, 26, Palatka: In 1963, American author and [email protected] 9–11 a.m., or until food is gone, Friday possession of methamphetamine. poet Sylvia Plath was found dead in Free tax preparation at St. Vincent de Paul Society, 111 N. Rebecca Peterson Nelson, 32, her London flat, a suicide. She was OBITUARIES available Saturday Francis St.