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Woman hit, killed while lying in parking lot in front of warehouse in Palatka

Woman hit, killed while lying in parking lot in front of warehouse in Palatka

PALATKA, Fla. – Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a deadly accident that occurred in the parking lot of Beck Wholesale Parts in Palatka. The crash report shows a man driving a van through the parking lot ran over a woman who was lying in the lot around 9:30 p.m. Thursday. Investigators wrote that they don’t know why the woman was there. There was no age or city listed for the woman who was killed. News4Jax requested the full crash report, which usually becomes available in several weeks.

Remains found in shallow grave identified as missing Putnam County mother

Remains found in shallow grave identified as missing Putnam County mother

PALATKA, Fla. – Human remains found over the weekend in a shallow grave outside Crescent City were identified as those of a missing 20-year-old Putnam County mother, authorities said Tuesday. Putnam County Sheriff’s Office Col. Joseph Wells announced at a news conference Tuesday afternoon that the medical examiner ruled Nyeisha Nelson’s death a homicide, but he did not say how she was killed. According to the Sheriff’s Office, Nelson, a self-employed hairdresser, was reported missing by her family on Wednesday after she had not been seen or heard from for several days. Nelson’s car was found Thursday abandoned in a wooded area off Old U.S. 17 not far from Crescent City. “But the exact motive is not known.”Wells said the investigation suggests that someone may have used Nelson’s car after she disappeared.

Palatka woman charged with second degree homicide

Palatka woman charged with second degree homicide

Draneisha Bellamy of Palatka was booked into the Putnam County Jail on one count of second-degree murder Sunday morning. PALATKA, Fla. – A weekend shooting at home in Palatka leaves one person and another in jail without bond. At around 1:43 Sunday morning, Draneisha Bellamy of Palatka was booked into the Putnam County Jail on one count of second-degree murder. According to Palatka police detectives, officers were called to a home on 11th Street North in reference to a disturbance and a shooting. When officers arrived at the home, they discovered a man in his 40′s who was later identified as Samuel Mayes, of Palatka.

Rodents and roaches: Mexican grill in Palatka temporarily shutdown by health inspectors

Rodents and roaches: Mexican grill in Palatka temporarily shutdown by health inspectors

Mariachiles Mexican Grill in PalatkaThe Mariachiles Mexican Grill in Palatka was shut down February 1 after the inspector recorded 18 violations during a routine inspection. The restaurant remained closed even after the inspector returned twice because more live roaches were found each time. When the inspector returned February 3, no violations were found and Mariachiles reopened with a perfect score. We thank our regulars who have stuck by us during these difficult times and the pandemic.”AdRestaurant Reports: Failing routine inspection | Failing follow-up inspection | Failing follow-up inspection | Perfect-score inspectionJBR Finest in JacksonvilleA watermelon stand at 5676 University Boulevard was given emergency shutdown orders February 5 after it was found to be operating without a license. AdRestaurant Reports: Failing inspectionAll restaurant reports are provided by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations.

5 giveaways in 4 days: Farm Share hands out food for families needing hand up

5 giveaways in 4 days: Farm Share hands out food for families needing hand up

PALATKA, Fla. – Farm Share will hold a handful of food distributions in Northeast Florida this week. Since March 2020, Farm Share said it has held thousands of food distribution statewide and distributed nearly 90 million meals related to its Covid-19 relief efforts. “It’s scary how consistent this has all been,” said Matthew Gallen, Facility Manager of Farm Share of Jacksonville. “We’ve waited for it to slow up and it’s just not happening.”At each food distribution, people receive fresh produce and non-perishables to get them through several days. The food distributions are drive-thru only to reduce contact amid the pandemic.

Authorities: 3 rob convenience stores, steal clerk’s Jeep in ‘crime spree’

Authorities: 3 rob convenience stores, steal clerk’s Jeep in ‘crime spree’

PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. – Three teenagers are facing charges in what the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office described as a “crime spree” involving two convenience store thefts and a stolen Jeep Gladiator. According to the Sheriff’s office, the teens on Wednesday crashed a stolen Ford Explorer into an Interlachen convenience store where they stolen vape pens, cigarettes and $300 in lottery tickets. Once they got the cash, asked for the keys to his vehicle, which was a 2020 Jeep Gladiator,” Rose said. According to the Sheriff’s Office, deputies found the stolen Jeep in Hawthorne after they tracked it using its radio’s GPS system. The 18-year-old was taken to the Putnam County Jail, while the two minors were released to a juvenile detention center.

Palatka hires Menendez athletic director as its new football coach

Palatka hires Menendez athletic director as its new football coach

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In what has been a slow offseason for high school football coaching movement, Palatka made the first hire of the new year on Wednesday. Turner heads to Putnam County from his athletic director role at Menendez, although he has a football background. Turner coached Menendez for five seasons from 2013-17, going 31-24 and reaching the state playoffs three times. Turner coached for three seasons in North Carolina prior to his arrival at Menendez and went 14-19. Turner will replace Willie Fells, a Palatka alum who went 6-24 in his three seasons there.

Putnam County school district unveils plan that would close schools, build new ones

Putnam County school district unveils plan that would close schools, build new ones

PALATKA, Fla. – The Putnam County School District last week proposed an aggressive plan to “revitalize” school facilities in the county. 10-year plan to close five schools and build nine new schools in Putnam County. “It is a challenge for our school district with a lack of financial resources to compete with our neighboring school districts,” Surrency said during a presentation. In the first year of the proposed plan, the district would close George C. Miller Middle School, Robert H. Jenkins Jr. Middle School, Mellon Elementary School, Eleanor H. Miller School and Melrose Elementary School and move students to other schools in the district. I’ll tell you the one Putnam County School board plan they oppose at 5 and 6.

1 dead, 1 injured in head-on crash near Palatka, FHP says

1 dead, 1 injured in head-on crash near Palatka, FHP says

PALATKA, Fla. – A man was killed and another man was injured in a head-on crash Wednesday morning near Palatka, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The crash happened shortly after 4 a.m. on State Road 100 near Carraway Church Road. According to the Highway Patrol, a pickup truck was traveling west on S.R. The Highway Patrol said the tractor-trailer overturned, blocking both lanes of S.R. According to FHP, the driver of the tractor-trailer, a 59-year-old Alachua man, suffered minor injuries.

2 men killed in head-on crash in Putnam County

2 men killed in head-on crash in Putnam County

PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. – A 66-year-old man from Green Cove Springs and a 36-year-old man from Palatka died in a head-on crash on State Road 20 in Putnam County. The crash report from Florida Highway Patrol shows the crash happened on State Road 20 at Whispering Pines Trail Sunday night. FHP said two men died in a head-on crash 10:30 Sunday night on State Road 20 at Whispering Pines Trail in Putnam County. pic.twitter.com/PwUB5hEYz3 — Emily Boyer (@Wjxt4EmilyBoyer) December 7, 2020Troopers determined the 66-year-old was driving in the wrong direction when he crashed head-on into the oncoming car. Neither driver took evasive action to avoid the hit, according to the crash report.

2 men dead in pair of shootings in Palatka

2 men dead in pair of shootings in Palatka

PALATKA, Fla. – Police are investigating after three people were shot, two of them fatally, in a pair of shootings reported a few miles apart over the weekend in Palatka, authorities said Monday. About 10:30 p.m. Sunday, a man was found shot dead inside a white Chevrolet Malibu on North 24th Street, where it had been parked for several hours, according to the Palatka Police Department. The police department confirmed that shooting is being investigated as a homicide, and detectives are looking into whether it might be linked to a separate shooting reported a couple of miles away. In that case, a man -- who was identified by relatives as 26-year-old Jontae Merritt, of Hastings -- was shot to death at a home on Belmont Drive in the Rolling Hills neighborhood. Detectives are trying to figure out how the three people involved in the Belmont Drive shooting knew each other.