WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT PUTNAM? Show off the natural beauty of Putnam County. E-mail your photo and brief description to positivelyputnamfl @palatkadailynews.com or call Mary Kaye Wells at 312-5210. All photos must have been taken in Putnam County. Include your name, where photo was taken. PPALATKAALATKA DDAILYAILY NEWS TUESDAY, AUGUST 3, 2021 PUTNAM COUNTY’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER $1 New board members added to education nonprofit BY NICK BLANK Palatka Daily News Group expects to fund pre-k tuition for 35 Putnam students [email protected] Lift Putnam their kids to school for the rest of the “We started to identify folks we Director Mike Lift Putnam, the designated edu- day. thought would be good for the pro- Perry addresses cation foundation for Putnam On Monday, the group’s members gram,” Perry said. “We looked for board members at County, is ready to get going after gathered at Azalea Brewing Co. dis- people from all walks of life and dif- Azalea Brewing welcoming 11 new board members cussed branding, raising funds and ferent skill sets to come and be a part Co. in Palatka Monday night. rebounding during and after the of what we’re doing.” during a meeting The organization intends to pay COVID-19 pandemic. Perry said the board had the Monday afternoon. the tuition of 35 pre-k students this Executive Director Mike Perry desire to give students the best edu- school year. Pre-k is free for all stu- called the organization a catalyst for cation they could get. He said pre-k NICK BLANK/ dents – but only for half the school change in the county. Perry said Lift is a critical time for children to Palatka Daily News day. Parents or guardians who want Putnam has lost several board mem- their children to attend public pre-k bers in the past 18 months due to a for the full day have to pay to send variety of factors. See BOARD, Page 5A Armed standoff ends after authorities stun, arrest suspect Palatka Daily News A Palatka man is accused of holding a woman hostage with a firearm before authorities subdued him early Saturday morning. Lancy Keenon, 43, was charged with three counts of aggravated assault, false imprisonment and resisting an officer with violence, according to a Palatka Police Department report. At about 1:30 a.m. Keenon Saturday, officers responded to a house near Husson Avenue and SARAH CAVACINI/Palatka Daily News See SUSPECT, Page 5A A South Putnam resident talks passionately about why he is not for biosolids being allowed in Lake Como during a town hall meeting Thursday. City staff considered Officials host town hall to address biosolids concerns BY SARAH CAVACINI would have a final say in the biosolids use per- Residents worried biosolids would be allowed to supervise inmates Palatka Daily News mit. on the property because the applicant requested [email protected] But information from the Florida Department a special-use permit from the county to apply BY NICK BLANK of Environmental Protection showed the appli- Class B biosolids. Residents worried that when it Palatka Daily News LAKE COMO – South Putnam residents cant submitted a domestic wastewater biosolids comes time for the county’s final decision, their [email protected] made it clear they do not want to get into a permit to the state. Applications must be sub- voice won’t matter. smelly situation by living near biosolids. mitted to the county and the state regarding bio- Lake Como resident Janet Sornberger, who Palatka officials are continuing to negotiate About 27 residents solidified their position solids use. also represents the Environmental Coalition of with the Department of Corrections about during a town hall meeting hosted by county Payne and Pickens hosted the meeting to Putnam County, said one of the biggest con- inmate crews mowing in the city. Commissioner Bill Pickens and State Rep. answer residents’ questions and clear up any cerns is how biosolids could harm the area’s At Thursday’s budget workshop, City Bobby Payne, R-Palatka. misconceptions about biosolids. water. Manager Don Holmes said the Department of Jenny Kidd, a staff assistant for the county’s “I am not for the spreading of any biosolids of “What power of authority do we have? And Corrections can offer inmate services at no cost Planning & Zoning Division, said Monday the any type on this property,” Pickens said. “So I are these meetings going to be over and over just if a city employee acts as a monitor. Holmes person applying for a special-use permit to want everyone to understand that’s where I like, ‘Hey, it’s fine. Trust me,’ or does our vote said he asked a few employees if they could establish a biosolids facility in Lake Como post- s t an d .” matter?” she asked Payne. supervise to no avail. poned “everything,” including seeking a county Conversations surrounding biosolids started The representative suggested people at the Holmes said one employee for five inmates is permit and a meeting with the Zoning Board of to swirl in March when the Board of County meeting should “arm themselves” with as much Adjustment. Commissioners voted 4-0 to allow a property at She said there is no date for the applicant to go 373 Old Highway 17 to be rezoned from rural See INMATES, Page 5A before the Zoning Board of Adjustment, which residential to agriculture 2. See CONCERNS, Page 5A Pick up your Positively Putnam FL Decal TODAY at the Palatka Daily News. Place it on the back window of your vehicle for a chance to WIN $50. 2 sections INDEX Classified/Legals .............................. 4B Obituaries ......................................... 3A Comics .............................................. 3B Opinions ........................................... 4A Lottery............................................... 2B Sports ............................................... 1B VOL. 133 • NO. 151 | PALATKA, FLA. “The key is not the will to win. Everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important.” — Bob Knight is an America former basketball coach. In 1984, he coached the USA men’s Olympic team to a gold medal, becoming one of the only three basketball coaches to win an 2A NCAA title, NIT title and an Olympic gold medal. TUESDAY, AUGUST 3, 2021QUICK HITS 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 Tuesday, Aug. 3, the 215th day of 2021. There are 150 days left in USPS 418-500 the year. Periodicals postage paid at Palatka, FL, Palatka Daily News, est. 1885, is TODAY IN PUTNAM published daily Tuesday through Saturday. In 1818, Bernardo Segui, a St. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Augustine merchant who became Palatka Daily News, P.O. Box 777, mayor in 1829 and county clerk in Palatka FL 32178 1830, was awarded a Spanish grant, MAIN NUMBER ..... 386-312-5200 1,200 acres on west side of the St. Johns, with the Palatka Tract. Segui Business hours are 8:30 a.m. to sold the land to George Fleming in 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 1819 for $1,200. In 1891, after being dedicated on Call about classified or display ads, Submitted photo July 5 by Bishop W.W. Duncan, the questions about circulation or any Students in the Heart & Soul Youth Fine Arts Club in Palatka spend time preparing their lines with Kamil Handsboro, a other newspaper business. Call Grovesdale Methodist Church had with news tips at any time. Just fol- ninth grade student, for the group’s upcoming production, the encore of “The Wiz” scheduled for 6 p.m. Dec. 18 at the been completed now. low the instructions after business C.L. Overturf Jr. District Center Jim Pignato Auditorium. Pictured clockwise from left are Justice Sapp, Katerriah In 1905, after Mayor Usina told the hours or email: Session, Caitlin Thomas, Handsborogh, Amani Hamilton, Cherish Williams, Skyler Jenkins, Dynasti Bowles, Caliah superintendent of the Southern [email protected] Thomas, La’Niah Ortiz, Chloe Smith and Semiaya Sapp. The group is under the direction of La’Farrah Davis. For Express Co. that the “torn up condi- [email protected] details on the group, email [email protected] or visit www.eventbrite.com/e/162606363009. tion” of Palatka’s streets had been caused by the “dilapidated delivery CIRCULATION wagon of the Express company,” the Applications are available on the district’s website at put- company said it would “send a brand Please call 386-312-5200 to report namschools.org. new wagon and horse to Palatka” by problems with the delivery of your Felony Arrests The program is a federally-funded grant that provides for next winter. paper. Circulation office hours are 8:30 academic, enrichment and intervention support to students In 1909, the Putnam County com- a.m. - 5 p.m. If you leave a message, during non-school hours. missioners accepted the contract of the please give your name, mailing address July 30 The district has nine afterschool program sites for stu- Converse Bridge Co. of Chattanooga, and phone number. dents in the following grades: Tenn., for the proposed bridge across Carrie Lynn Kirk, 43, San Mateo – aggravated assault with Moseley Elementary School (K-5) the St. Johns River. The contract price weapon. Kelley Smith Elementary School (K-5) was $43,000. For home delivery subscription, Browning-Pearce Elementary School (K-6) In 1932, members of the Putnam including tax Jenkins Elementary School (K-5) County Poultry Association told 13 weeks ................................ $24.62 July 31 Ochwilla Elementary School (K-5) 26 weeks ................................ $49.25 Rotary members that the estimated 52 weeks ................................ $93.68 Lancy Luther Keenon, 43, Palatka – three counts aggra- Mellon Learning Center (K-12) number of laying hens in the county EZ-pay ....................................$84.00 vated assault; kidnapping-false imprisonment; resisting offi- Crescent City Jr.-Sr.