Showers Likely Social Security ends program One year later... 80% rain chance Thousands of people’s tax returns will no longer be seized by Social Security Today marks the one-year anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing, but because the agency has halted one of its programs to collect on debts. authorities still have unanswered questions surrounding the attack. 83 | 50 See Page 7A See Page 12A For details, see 2A www.mypdn.com PALATKA DAILY NEWS TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014 $1 Pomona LANDFILL NEIGHBORS New Park wants design for slower speed on U.S. 17 water taxi BY ASIA AIKINS Palatka Daily News terminal Pomona Park Town Council members discussed speed lim- its on U.S. 17 recently, draft- ing a resolution requesting proposed the state Department of Transportation to reduce the BY ASIA AIKINS suggested speed limit near the Palatka Daily News Dollar General on the north end of town. A new design for the future The town recently request- water taxi terminal and con- ed DOT study a possible cession building was reviewed reduction in speed limit inside during Thursday’s bi-monthly the town limits on U.S. 17. Community Redevelopment Workers were seen at both the Agency board meeting at City north and south town limits Hall. taking surveys during the last City Special Projects couple of months. Manager and Grant “DOT did a traffic study, Administrator Jonathan based on how fast drivers are BRANDON D. OLIVER / Palatka Daily News Griffith said city staff mem- going,” Town Clerk Cindy Marty and Wayne Wilkinson’s property is separated from the Putnam County Landfill by a narrow road. bers recently sat down with Hair said. “Residents were McCrary Architects and dis- concerned about traffic zoom- cussed a new design. ing through town.” “We didn’t think we were Currently, the speed limit Wilkinsons have personal interest in landfi ll’s future heading in the right direc- changes five times while trav- tion,” he said. “(The building) eling on U.S. 17 through didn’t have much prominence, Pomona Park. BY BRANDON D. OLIVER Road, from the Putnam County clothes, stuffed animals and even and its only relation to the dis- The DOT survey resulted in Palatka Daily News Central Landfill, is a dirt road. discarded feminine products, they trict or its surroundings was three suggested speed zones They said that they have been said. the brick material.” within the town limits. DOT People on both sides of the issue inconvenienced enough already with Some of the items are carried over The original design was a officials suggested the speed continue to voice their opinion about the county landfill, so bringing in to their property by the wind, the flat-roof, brick structure limit be 50 miles per hour privatizing the local landfill, and waste from numerous counties couple said, but creatures such as planned for the riverfront at north of Feagle Avenue, which the selection committee is close to would only exacerbate the issue. buzzards, eagles and coyotes bring the edge of downtown and the is currently 45 miles per hour. making a formal recommendation “With the way it is now, they do over other items. South Historic District. The Through the town’s main regarding which company should not follow the rule of law where it If so much trash is making it over new design is a simple, indus- intersections, the speed limit purchase the landfill. says at the end of the day, they to their property with only waste trial-style building and would would remain 40 miles per But for husband and wife Wayne should cover the trash,” Marty from the county, the problem would hour and be raised to 50 miles and Marty Wilkinson, as well as Wilkinson said. “They partially only grow if the 340-acre landfill See BUILDING, Page 5A per hour south of East Main their family members who are also cover it some days.” was privatized and garbage from Street. their neighbors, privatizing the Since landfill operators don’t other counties was brought into the “The council drafted a res- landfill would hit extremely close properly cover the garbage collected landfill, they said. olution basically expressing to home, both literally and figura- on the property, the Wilkinsons rou- “We have a family cemetery right their displeasure in the sug- tively. tinely find on their grounds and in down there,” Wayne Wilkinson said, gested new speed limit on The only thing separating the their trees items including plastic the north side of town,” Hair Wilkinsons’ property, 130 Cow Bay grocery bags, clothes and under- See LANDFILL, Page 5A Hatchery said. The resolution states that the town council has “no objection to the proposed to open changes to the speed limit on U.S. 17, south of Main Street (but) finds that the proposed changes (north of Feagle to junior Avenue) are not compatible March for Babies beats with the nature and charac- ter of traffic and the sur- rounding property.” last year’s fundraising anglers The Dollar General, Cow Catcher Saloon and Morgan Park line the east side of U.S. BY PETE SKIBA BY ASIA AIKINS 17 north of Feagle Avenue. Palatka Daily News Palatka Daily News Council members were con- cerned with the amount of Wearing purple “Go Baby Go” or other team WELAKA – Growing up in pedestrian traffic and stop- T-shirts, participants in the March for Babies an area known as the “bass and-go traffic in that area, 5-mile walk Saturday passed last year’s $120,000 PETE SKIBA / Palatka Daily News capital of the world,” young Hair said. fundraiser before the walk even started. Runners line up to start the Law Enforcement Torch Run Saturday at Ravine anglers dream of one day “This could be a record fundraiser this year for Gardens State Park in support of the Special Olympics. Special Olympian hooking big fish in the See POMONA, Page 5A Putnam County,” said Kasey Bielecki, Putnam’s Christopher Lamar Bass holds the torch high before the run begins. mighty St. Johns River. On March of Dimes community director. She added that Saturday, local children will a final count would not be available for a few days. have an opportunity to get The walk supports funding for programs that some experience at the annu- INDEX help more women have full-term pregnancies and Torch run boosts Special Olympics al Kid’s Fishing Rodeo at the Welaka National Fish Advice ............................. 6A See MARCH, Page 5A Hatchery. Briefing ........................... 2A BY PETE SKIBA port of special athletes, Florida “A lot of these kids don’t Classified/Legals .......... 10A Palatka Daily News Highway Patrol Trooper have an opportunity to be on Comics ............................ 6A Lawrence Litzell showed up with the river right now,” said Horoscope ...................... 6A It is back in Palatka. It is back about 20 of his family and friends. hatchery manager Allan Lottery............................. 9A Walkers in and it is a revitalization to sup- All wore orange superhero- Brown. “The rodeo is a great Obituaries ....................... 7A Saturday’s port Special Olympians on their style capes with their Law introduction to fishing.” Opinions ......................... 4A March for way to the summer USA Games Enforcement Torch Run The two ponds at the fish Sports ............................. 8A Babies in New Jersey. T-Shirts. hatchery are stocked with Sudoku ..........................11A went past The Law Enforcement Torch Litzell recovered from a gun- bass, bream and catfish, posters Run for Special Olympics Florida shot to the face by men he pur- Brown said. Both will be open honoring got off to a good start at Ravine sued at the end of December near to children ages 5-15. The Voice of about 15 Putnam County Putnam Gardens State Park about 10 a.m. the riverfront in Palatka. In its 19th year, Brown County Saturday. “We are running as a family,” said the rodeo has grown to since 1885 babies “We haven’t done this for about said Suzanne Beck. “We are accommodate up to 400 chil- who didn’t two years,” said Putnam County showing our appreciation because dren at one time. On aver- VOL. 126 • NO. 75 make it Sheriff’s Deputy Jared Guy. “I to us, he is like a superhero. I age, the event draws about PALATKA, FLA. home from think for the first time it went off think we have 19 capes.” 275 children from Putnam the really good.” Another group, sporting pink County and the surrounding hospital. The Torch Run attracted super- shirts this time, and although it areas. Public Notices heroes, with capes yet, other is a team, the members had a lit- “We have a lot of kids catch- on Page 10A teams, one in pink, and a strong tle trouble picking a team name. ing big fish, some catching PETE SKIBA / By mail, 1 section Palatka Daily number of Special Olympians. “There are about eight or nine their first fish,” he said. News Showing it is difficult to keep a good man down, especially in sup- See TORCH, Page 5A See HATCHERY, Page 5A 041514a1.indd 1 4/14/14 8:42 PM 2a PALATKA DAILY NEWS • TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014 Last Lenten ConCert series Karen Marshall, soprano soloist, pictured, accompanied by Jeannie Brown on the piano, will be the featured performer at First utnam Presbyterian Church of Palatka on P AM Wednesday from 12:15-12:45 p.m. at the church at 123 S. Second St., Palatka. Marshall is a classically trained, lyric soprano and has appeared as a concert soloist while license suspended, habitual across the United States as well as England. offender.