Serving Satsuma ● Pomona Park ● Lake Como ● Crescent City ● Seville ● Pierson ● Welaka ● Fruitland ● Georgetown ● East Palatka ● Palatka ● Interlachen since 1898 Putnam County Happy Thanksgiving! Thursday, November 28 November 27, 2013 • Volume 69, No. 28 (2 sections) Crescent City, Florida 50¢ (Includes 7% FL Sales Tax) Thanksgiving Dinner The Putnam Family Fitness Center will be provid- Homeless for the Holidays ing a free Thanksgiving Dinner to an invited list of Travis Roberts homeless people Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, No- Staff Writer vember 28. The staff will be serving, but if you would like to donate a dish for eight to 10 people, please call the PFFC at 386-649-8784. Have you ever met someone whose life was so screwed up Christmas Parade you would swear they The Palatka Christmas Parade is Friday, No- are lying about all vember 29, at 7 p.m., on St. Johns Avenue in the things that have historic downtown Palatka. The lights on the happened to them? I streets will be lit, and so will the floats! The mean come on, there theme this year is “Christmas Stories,” and is is no way everything sponsored by Downtown Palatka, Inc. and the that person has said City of Palatka. Come downtown early and stop has ever happened. I by the Welcome Center for the “Microcosm: was going to do an ar- Affordable Fine Art” Show and Sale, that has ticle on a few home- been extended through the end of the year. less people in Putnam Also, stop by the 18th Annual Holiday House at County, and had it all the Tilghman House, which will be open until cleared with Mike at 5 p.m. For more information on any of these the Putnam County events, visit www.palatkadowntown.com, or Courier Journal. call the Welcome Center at 386-328-0909. Well, that was until I met this one young man who has such an Furball Express Garage Sale unbelievable story, that Photo by Travis Roberts Furball Express is in need of a new vehicle even after I checked it The collapsed house in which S.J. is living. for transporting animals. To date $9,300 has out, I still didn’t believe end of this story, he ry from the time I got was staying. been raised. A garage sale will be held Satur- it, until I actually met could possibly die from involved with his life. After a few days of day, November 30, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at him. the elements and con- About six months hitting the streets in 247 South Summit Street in Crescent City, to Never in my life have ditions he is living in. ago, I met a man Palatka, I was given help raise the remaining $6,700 needed. There I met someone who Over the next few who was homeless in a lead to his where- will be Christmas gifts and decorations, china, has it so bad, yet he weeks, I am going to Palatka. He wasn’t the abouts and off I went home décor, tools, electronics, and so much still has a good outlook take you into his life young man I am fea- to find him. I was told more available for sale. Help them save the an- on life, even with rats and try my best to let turing, but this is how he was living in the imals. Animal food donations will be accepted crawling across him you see and feel what I got involved with S.J. woods behind an auto during the sale as well. If you are interested in as he sleeps in an old this young man has to I own a boat salvaging parts building in East volunteering, please call 386-467-8511. house that has been endure each and every company and since I Palatka. Sure enough, I collapsed to the ground day of his life. Some of retired, I only salvage finally found this man, for probably 30 years the things I’m going to one or two boats a year. living in a cardboard Small Business Saturday or more. let everyone see, with The FWC called me one tent back in a swamp Support small, independently owned businesses When I write an ar- pictures and words, afternoon stating there area. this Saturday, November 30. Small Business Satur- ticle for the newspa- will probably make you was a boat that sank After talking to him day is always the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Visit per, I’m only allowed so mad at points, break in Palatka, and asked for an hour or so, he the eclectic mix of clothing, gift and vintage shops in many words because your heart at others, if I was interested in signed over the title. Historic Downtown Palatka for those one-of-a-kind there is only so much and, by the end, make salvaging it. They also Two days later, this gifts. For more information or a list of merchants, room in the paper. you realize no matter told me the man who man pedaled his three- visit www.palatkadowntown.com, or call the Wel- They have agreed to let come Center at 386-328-0909. how bad you think life owned it was homeless wheel bicycle across me write this in a se- is, you should be grate- and wanted to give it Highway 17 in Palatka, ries over the next few ful for what little you to me. and was killed by a Local Detective weeks. It will give you think you have. After I found out it truck. a look at the life of a I have come to real- was a boat I had want- I hope one day to tell homeless man trying to ize, in the blink of an ed to buy years ago, I his story as well, but Receives High Honors get back to civilization, eye, anyone of us could decided to take on the even when the odds are be just like this young project, but there was See Homeless on stacked against him so man. So, now I would one problem. No one much, I’m afraid by the like to give you his sto- knew where this man page B3 New Meaning to Change of Address Photo Special to the Courier Journal Sheriff Jeff Hardy congratulates Detective Dwayne Foreman. Special to the Palatka Police Depart- Courier Journal ment, Santa Fe College Police Department and Wednesday, November the Putnam Correctional 13, Detective Dwayne Institution. He is cur- Foreman of the Putnam rently assigned to the County Sheriff’s Office Property Crimes Section was named the Florida of the Criminal Investiga- tions Division. Law Enforcement Proper- Photo by Mike Jones ty Recovery Unit Detective Sheriff Jeff Hardy said, of the year at an awards “For Detective Foreman The historic Miller house as it travels up Summit Street toward its new location. ceremony in Orlando. to be recognized as the Mike Jones tion of North Summit we felt preserving the “No matter what we Property Crimes Detective Among other accolades, Staff Writer Street and CR 308. old Miller home was decide to do with the Detective Foreman was of the year for the entire State of Florida is a tre- The home’s owners very important.” home, we are going to acknowledged for per- This past Sunday are Dr. Beth and Herb Moving historic leave a space at the sonally recovering more mendous honor. Dwayne morning, Summit has worked diligently to Gopman. The Gop- homes is nothing new home’s entrance to than $200,000 of stolen Street was lined with mans have been resi- to the Gopmans. Herb, honor the Miller heri- property this year. De- solve crimes and return stolen property to the cit- people who came out dents of Crescent City a structural engineer, tage,” said Beth, “Any- tective Foreman has been to watch the moving of a law enforcement officer izens of Putnam County. for three years, but has moved several one who has old photos This award is a direct one of Crescent City’s have frequented this such homes in their or articles can contact since 1992 and has been landmark historic employed by the Putnam reflection of his tireless area for over 20. previous hometown of us to help with the dis- County Sheriff’s Office for work ethic and outstand- homes. The old Mill- “We believe it is im- Miami Beach. play.” the past 12 years after ing dedication to the per- er house was moved portant to help try and The Gopmans have You can contact the formance of his duty.” previous stints with the from its original loca- preserve the heritage of plans to fully renovate Gopmans at 386-698- tion, at the corner of the community’s his- the home into some 4102 with any ques- Cypress Avenue and toric homes,” said Beth, sort of commercial tions about or to donate South Summit Street, “and since the Miller’s property, but are still items to the historic to its new location next are such a strong part undecided on exactly display being placed in to Triton Realty, just of the town’s heritage, what the home will be. the home. north of the intersec- facebook.com/putnamcountycourierjournal -Check Out Our All New- Man Arrested for Domestic Battery Interlachen - Mon- ment left the residence, ed by rescue personnel e -Edition @ day, November 18, 57 Smith went inside the to the Putnam Commu- year-old Dean Marcus home and confront- nity Medical Center to cjnewsfl.com Smith was arrested ed his eight-year-old be treated for his inju- Putnam County and charged with do- grandson, who was ly- ries.