Sunny TRUMP WINS NEVADA; NOW, SUPER TUESDAY LOOMS, 10A 0% chance of rain 64 | 39 For details, see 2A www.mypdn.com PALATKA DAILY NEWS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016 $1 City seeks golf course management/owner WHAT DO YOU THINK? Requests for proposal due March 30 for interested parties PALATKA GOLF What do you think the city of Palatka CLUB PROFIT should do with Palatka Golf Club? Should the city sell the course, hire firms and teams” for the operation of the city-owned, BY SCOTT J. BRYAN Fiscal year numbers don’t include loans outside firms to operate the Palatka Daily News money-hemorrhaging Palatka Golf Club and a res- 2015 -$139,004 course or run the course with taurant housed in the clubhouse. 2014 -$120,743 city employees? Email Letters Do you want to lease – or possibly own – a golf The request for proposal allows for respondents to 2013 -$116,680 to the Editor to publicforum@ course? propose a management contract, lease or purchase of 2012 -$243,732 palatkadailynews.com. Letter writers must If so, the city of Palatka has an opportunity for 2011 -$231,911 include full name, daytime phone number you. 2010 -$156,188 and address. There is a 350-word limit. Palatka is soliciting proposals from “responsible See COURSE, Page 5A 2009 +$57,778 City commissioners could move forward with lobbying fi rms City staff selects group with offices in Tallahassee, Washington, D.C. BY SCOTT J. BRYAN WHAT DO YOU Palatka Daily News THINK? A trio of city of Palatka offi- cials ranked four lobbying firms, Do you think the city of and Palatka city commissioners Palatka should use public tax will have the opportunity today dollars to hire a lobbying firm? to accept, reject or amend the Email Letters to list before city staff begins nego- the Editor to tiating a potential contract. publicforum@ Photos by CHRIS DEVITTO/Palatka Daily News According to city documents, palatkadailynews. Moseley Elementary teacher Apostoli Vasileiadis, right, and paraprofessional Dawn Busey, left, work with Callum Porch on three Tallahassee firms and one com. Letter writers Wednesday at the school. Jacksonville-based firm were must include full name, daytime ranked by City Manager Terry phone number and address. Suggs, Projects Manager There is a 350-word limit. Jonathan Griffith and City Clerk Betsy Driggers. was ranked fourth. The trio unanimously ranked T. Hill & Associates is oper- Beckler & Poliakoff as the top ated by former state Sen. Tony Educating with care lobbying firm, according to city Hill, who campaigned on behalf documents. Beckler & Poliakoff of Palatka Mayor Terrill Hill in has offices in Tallahassee and 2014. Washington, D.C., according to “Once the order has been documents the firm provided accepted, the resolution also Moseley Elementary receives state autism grant for additional training the city. authorizes the City Manager to Tallahassee-based Peeples & begin contract negotiations with Smith and Pittman Law Group the top-ranked firm,” the city Moseley were ranked second and third. BY ASIA AIKINS The fourth lobbying firm, T. Hill Palatka Daily News Elementary teacher Apostoli & Associates Consulting Co., See LOBBYING, Page 5A dimly lit classroom with Vasileiadis works playhouse entrances and a with Callum staff member for each stu- Porch dent is evidence Moseley Wednesday in A his classroom. Elementary School administrators have taken extra steps to accommo- Moseley received Tax Collector’s Offi ce to date the school’s most autistic stu- a Partnership for dents — but they’re not stopping Effective there. Programs for Moseley was one of 26 schools Students with take concealed weapons Autism grant statewide recently selected to through the state receive a Partnership for Effective Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. permits applications See CARE, Page 10A BY BRANDON D. OLIVER of Agriculture on March 1,” Palatka Daily News Myers said. “And they’re going to take two classes on March 1 In less than a month, the and March 2. county will begin taking appli- “And the Department of Jobs or corporate welfare? Florida House approves incentives cations for concealed Agriculture rolls into weapons permits and our office March 7. House calls for major overhaul of state’s business incentive program that is a top priority of Gov. Rick Scott could possibly issue They will be installing permit renewals, local equipment all day on officials said. the seventh. And on Associated Press But the bill was opposed by an unusual During Tuesday’s the eighth, we’ll be WHAT DO YOU THINK? coalition of Democrats and conservative Putnam County Board training one more What do you think about the state TALLAHASSEE — The state House is Republicans. The next two GOP legisla- of Commissioners time. And then on creating a large business incentive calling for a major overhaul of the state’s tors in line for House speaker voted meeting, Tax Collector Wednesday, the ninth, program to lure new business incentive program that is a top against the measure. Linda Myers said some Myers we’ll be open for busi- businesses to Florida? priority of Gov. Rick Scott. Opponents say the legislation amounts of her staff would soon ness.” Email Letters to the Editor The House voted 79-39 for a bill that to “corporate welfare” and will do nothing undergo training and Myers said the agri- to publicforum@ calls for creation of a large incentive fund to help existing businesses in the state. her office would receive equip- culture department in 2014 palatkadailynews.com. Scott could use to lure new businesses to Rep. Jim Boyd, the Bradenton ment to process applications for began a pilot program, where Letter writers must include full name, the state. Scott wants $250 million for the Republican sponsoring the measure, new and renewed permits. daytime phone number and address. fund, although legislators are still negoti- argued the bill would help communities “We send four folks to There is a 350-word limit. ating over the amount. by creating jobs. Tallahassee to the Department See PERMITS, Page 5A By mail, 2 sections VOL. 128 • NO. 39 The Voice of Classified/Legals ............ 9A Obituaries ....................... 3A INDEX PALATKA, FLA. Putnam County Comics ............................ 8A Opinions ......................... 4A Advice ............................. 8A Horoscope ...................... 8A Sports ............................. 6A since 1885 Briefing ........................... 2A Lottery............................. 7A Sudoku ........................... 9A Public Notices on Page 9A 022516a1.indd 1 2/24/16 7:46 PM “Hero-worship is strongest where there is least regard for human freedom.” — Herbert Spencer British philosopher morning briefing (1820-1903) 2ATHURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016 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. 25, the 56th day of 2016. There are 310 days USPS 418-500 left in the year. Periodicals postage paid at Palatka, FL, Palatka Daily News, est. 1885, TODAY IN PUTNAM is published daily Tuesday through In 1869, George W. Pratt, a cir- Saturday by the Palatka Daily News, Inc., cuit-riding Methodist preacher and POSTMASTER: Send address changes to journalist, founded the Eastern Palatka Daily News, P.O. Box 777, Herald, in Palatka. He was famous Palatka FL 32178 for writing outrageous stories about MAIN NUMBER ..... 312-5200 alligators and kept one tied outside his newspaper, where visitors had to Business hours are 8 a.m. to pass. He became widely known as 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. “Alligator” Pratt. His weekly paper later became the Times Herald, Call about classified or display ads, questions about circulation or any which was operated for many years other newspaper business. Call by the pioneer McKenzie family in with news tips at any time. Just fol- Palatka and was finally purchased low the instructions after business by the Palatka Daily News in 1957 hours. and closed. Advertising fax ....................312-5209 Newsroom fax ....................312-5226 TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT IN HISTORY On Feb. 25, 1986, President CIRCULATION Ferdinand Marcos fled the Philippines after 20 years of rule in Please call 386-312-5200 by the wake of a tainted election. 10 a.m. to report problems with the CHRIS DEVITTO / Palatka Daily News Corazon Aquino assumed the presi- delivery of your paper. Circulation office Florida School of the Arts students, from left, Willie Beaton II as Gomez, Caitlin Sweeney as Wednesday and Bella dency. Carlsen as Morticia, rehearse a scene from their upcoming performance of “The Addams Family.” The play runs today hours are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. If you leave a through Sunday on the FloArts main stage on the St. Johns River State College Palatka campus. Tickets are $5. message, please give your name, 911 ON THIS DATE address and phone number. In 1836, inventor Samuel Colt patented his revolver. For home delivery subscription, [email protected]. expect more information from autop- In 1905, the Upton Sinclair novel including tax Announcements sies. “The Jungle” was first published in 13 weeks ................................ $24.62 Authorities say the girl’s mother is serial form by the Appeal to Reason 26 weeks ................................ $49.25 in Thailand. newspaper. 52 weeks ................................ $93.68 Felony Arrests In 1913, the 16th Amendment to e-edition .............................. $7/month PALATKA TALLAHASSEE the U.S. Constitution, giving Duration of subscription subject to Congress the power to levy and col- rate increase. Pop Warner offers House approves pension lect income taxes, was declared in early special changes for state workers effect by Secretary of State Paul Conner ..................386-312-5246 Feb. 22 Philander Chase Knox. Circulation Director Palatka Pop Warner is offering Edward Lee Fuqua, 34, East Public employees will be steered In 1940, a National Hockey [email protected] early bird specials for football signup Palatka: three counts larceny. away from Florida’s pension plan under League game was televised for the 10 a.m.–1 p.m.