Putnam’s only Locally Owned, Independent, Community Newspaper • Established in 1898. 2020 Only Serving Satsuma ● Pomona Park ● Lake Como ● Crescent City ● Seville ● Pierson ● Welaka ● Fruitland ● Georgetown ● East Palatka ● Palatka ● Interlachen ● Melrose ● San Mateo 50 ¢ January 1, 2020 • Vol. 78, No. 41 (2 sections) Crescent City, FL Firefighters Receive Rubbing Elbows Scout Report Hoods Palatka native who’s Scouts camp Local firefighters receive specialty worked with Tim at St. John’s hoods. Tebow and others. Landing. Page B3 Page B1 Page A4 Genealogy for Beginners The Spark Genealogy Workshop for absolute beginners will be held on Mon., Jan. 13 at 5 Heroes Rescue Horses p.m. at the Palatka Library at 601 College Rd., Horses rescued from over turned trailer near Putnam/ St. Johns County line. Palatka. Learn some of the absolute basics about how to get started on your genealogy journey with the Putnam County Archives. No technical jargon, judgment or pressure just a fun and friendly learning atmosphere! Life is Art gallery exhibit The Arts Council of Greater Palatka is pleased to invite you to their next Gallery Exhibit “Life is Art” by Judi Cain. Join them on Fri., Jan. 10 at the Larimer Arts Center Located at 216 Reid St., Palatka from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The show is free and open to the public with light refreshments available. For more information email to [email protected] or call 386- 328-8998. Woman’s Club Bingo The GFWC Woman’s Club of Welaka invites the public to Bingo Night on Fri., Jan. 24 starting at 5 p.m. at their club house located at 644 C.R. 309 in Welaka. Doors open at 5 p.m., food will be served at 5:30 p,m, and bin- go starts at 6 p.m. Must be 18 years old. There is a $20 donation with all prizes paid in gift certificates. For more information call Ruth at 386-336-2846. Tickets available at the door. All proceeds go to GFWC Woman’s Club of Welaka charities. Fiber Arts Book Club All fiber fanatics are invited to the Palatka Li- brary for Fiber Arts Book Club on Wed., Jan. 8 from 2 to 6 p.m. at 601 College Rd, Palatka. If your interested in crocheting, sewing, quilting, knitting, spinning, tat, weaving or felt work this book club is for you. For more information call 386-329-0126 or visit www.funinputnam. com. Crescent City Connection In place of a regular January meeting, The Crescent City Connection asks businesses Last week Putnam County Emergency Services and residents to attend the Public Reception came together in the early morning hours of for City Commission Candidates from 6 to Fri., Dec. 27 to rescue two horses trapped in an 8:30 p.m. at city hall on Mon., Jan. 6. Check overturned horse trailer on W. Cracker Swamp fliers and social media for more updates on Rd. near the Putnam and St. Johns county line. the Crescent City Connection. Personnel from East Palatka Station Six, Putnam County Fire/Rescue EMS 71 and RES 84, the Putnam Sheriffs Office, Florida High- Learn about Living History way Patrol, Johnson’s Towing, regional large Bring history to life with the Putnam County animal veterinary services and the St. John’s Library System. Living History is the art of County Special Operations Response Team all keeping history alive and accessible to the joined the effort. public by reenacting. If you are interested or At last report one of the horses passed from its want to learn more join them on Wed., Jan. 8 injuries while the other is in stable condition from 2 to 6 p.m. at 601 College Rd., Palatka. and expected to recover. For more information email to mischa.johns@ (Photos courtesy Putnam Emergency Management) putnam-fl.com or call 386-329-0441. Putnam County Drugs Don’t Pay and Gator Don’t Play Special to the Courier Journal In the early morning hour of Mon., Dec. 23, The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office Nar- cotics, Vice Unit and SWAT Team served a search warrant at 103 Colonial Cir. in Palatka. The search warrant followed months of un- dercover investigation by narcotics detec- The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics, Vice Unit and SWAT Team tives. Additionally, the with Sheriff “Gator” DeLoach holding a sign that says “Gator Don’t Play investigation revealed That” after the raid on a know drug residence in Palatka. that this residence has (Photo special to the Courier Journal) long been a plague on 63-year-old Geary of drug parapherna- sevenpriors and Mc- Subscribe Today the neighborhood as a Douglas was arrest- lia, 37-year-old Joseph Mahon, with 15 priors Only $24 a Year! Only $24 a location where drugs Call 386-698-1644 were sold and subjects ed for possession of a McMahon was arrest- are all still being held with extensive crimi- controlled substance ed for possession of as of the time of pub- nal histories gatherto and drug parapherna- drug paraphernalia lication. use illegal drugs. lia, 41-year-old Jayson and contempt of court Inside Douglas was arrested and 34-year-old James YOUR ADDRESS HERE! YOUR For home delivery via the USPS. Church...................A5 Detectives located Editors Note: The heroin, methamphet- on three counts of pos- Burke for possession of preceding was a Pub- Community............B3 amine, controlled nar- session of a controlled a controlled substance lic Information Release from the Putnam Coun- cotic painkillers, and substance, 31-year-old and drug parapherna- Crossword.............B4 Amanda Ward was ar- lia. ty Sheriff’s Office. The multiple items of drug Putnam County Couri- paraphernalia and rested on three counts Geary Douglas, who Faces & Places.....B1 of possession of a con- has five prior arrests, er Journal reminds our counterfeit money. readers these are al- trolled substance and and Childs, with four Opinion..................A2 The investigation is leged crimes and indi- continuing and no ad- two counts of violation priors were both re- viduals named in this Public Notices.......B4-5 ditional information is of probation, 37-year- leased later that day. release are innocent available at this time. old Justin Childs was Jayson Douglas, with until proven guilty in a Way Back When....A4 arrested on possession 11 priors, Ward, with court of law. A2 Courier Journal • Jan. 1, 2020 OPINION The wheelchair Where Government Watch Daris Howard City of Crescent City Did that City Commission Meeting January 9, 6 p.m. City Hall, 3 North Summit Street. Meets 2nd Thurs of the Jack had loved cars since he was young. Now that he was retired, he month. 386-698-2525 - www.CrescentCity-FL.com especially loved the cars from his youth, vintage or antique cars, they were Town Council of Welaka now called. Town Council Meeting, January 14, 6:00 p.m. The biggest and best antique car rally was coming up, and the minute the Zoning Board Meeting, Tuesday, January 14, 5:30 p.m. tickets became available, Jack purchased one. He could hardly wait for the Town Hall, Fourth Ave. Meets 2nd Tues of the month. big day. His ticket was going to be his Christmas present to himself. But just 386-467-9800. www.Welaka-FL.gov before the car show, he slipped and fell, putting him in a wheelchair. Town Council of Pomona Park Jack was not about to let that stop him. He had a son who lived in the town Town Council Meeting, January 14, 6 p.m. where the rally was being held. Jack was sure his son would be willing to “Know the ropes” Town Hall Council Chambers, 1775 US Hwy 17 S. take him to the show. He called to find out. [email protected] 386-649-4902 “David, if I can get down to your place, could you get me to the car rally?” It seems obvious Jack asked. www.PomonaPark.com that this expres- “Sure, Dad,” David replied. “I’d love to go to it with you, but I have to work Putnam County Board of County Commissioners sion derives from January 7, 9 a.m. Regular Meeting that day.” “That’s okay,” Jack replied. “If you can just get me there, I can spend the the need to sail- Meets second and fourth Tuesday in the Commission ors to know how to chambers, 2509 Crill Ave, Suite 100, Palatka. day, and then you can pick me up after work.” They worked out all the details. Jack would take the bus down to the town tie knots to secure 386-329-0205. rigging on sailing www.putnam-fl.com/bocc/ where David lived, arriving the night before the rally. Jack would stay at Putnam County School Board David’s house, and David would take him to the car rally on his way to work. boats. It may well January 7, at 6 p.m. Regular Meeting Jack checked with the bus line, and they were willing to help him on and have a nautical or- Meets the first and third Tuesday in the School Board off. They would also fold up his wheelchair and put it into the luggage igin - sailors cer- Meeting Room, 200 Reid Street, Palatka. 386-329- storage area. He was able to get a ride to the bus from a friend and was soon tainly did have to 0545. www.putnamschools.org settled in for the four-hour trip. David was waiting at the bus stop when learn which rope Jack arrived. David’s wife had a nice meal for them, then Jack retired early.