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WEATHER ALERT

STARKE

Rain brings flooding to Starke

What is just a small podn looks like a big lake after all the rain in Starke Tuesday morning. The storms parked over Bradford county Tuesday morning with several rounds of heavy rain around Starke and Camp Blanding. Flooding hotspots picked up 2.5-3.5 inches of rain. Pictures from the rain in Starke show flooded pastures and water swelling beyond a pond into the surroundings on County Road 229. Bands of rain focused along a warm front pushing through North Central Florida, focusing the heaviest rain west of the St. Johns River.

Edward Waters College carries over 150 years of influence and history

Edward Waters College was founded in 1866 by members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church to educate freedmen. TV personality and now Edward Waters College professor Rahman Johnson is a notable EWC graduate. Less than 10 years later, it took on the name Edward Waters College with the support, once again, of the AME Church, named after the third bishop, Edward Waters. Eighty percent of the students at Edward Waters College are first-generation college students, so they’re establishing a new tradition. Even during a pandemic, Edward Waters College hit its highest enrollment in 15 years.

Weather Authority Alert: Strong to severe storms track East tonight

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As the Weather Authority Alert continues Saturday, the National Weather continues to watch to severe storms track east northeast across Northeast Florida. A Tornado Watch is in effect for Union, Putnam, St. Johns and Flagler counties until midnight. For the differences between a Tornado Watch and a Tornado Warning, see the graphic below. Difference between a Tornado Watch and Tornado WarningThe Weather Authority Alert, which runs from 4-9 p.m., was triggered by heavy, disruptive rain and the potential for isolated severe thunderstorms. Those south of the I-10 corridor have an increased chance to see a strong to severe thunderstorm.

Man accused of trying to lure children into his SUV in Starke

STARKE, Fla. – A man was arrested Tuesday after he tried to lure several children into his vehicle in Starke, police said. The Starke Police Department said Anthony Terry Jr., 40, was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon in the area of North Cherry Street and Jackson Street. According to the Police Department, numerous witnesses said they saw Terry try to entice several children, all under 13, into his gray SUV. Neighbors and parents confronted him at the scene and were able to keep him in the area until law enforcement arrived, according to the Police Department. Police said Terry is facing four counts of luring and enticing children under age 13, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, threats to kill law enforcement, disorderly intoxication, and loitering and prowling.

Top 10 Warmest New Year’s Eve days on record, warmth sticks around Friday

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Today was lovely and warm, topping out at 80° at the airport, making it one of the top 10 warmest days on New Year’s Eve. Expect mild temperatures at midnight, with mid 60s expected. For perspective, our typical afternoon high this time of the year is in the mid 60s, so we are certainly warmer than normal. Expect Friday to be warm and breezy with partly cloudy skies and afternoon highs around 80°. Monday kicks off a chilly and sunny few days, waking up in the low 40s and warming into the mid to low 60s.

Tornado damaged homes, injured 2 in Starke on Christmas Eve

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Thunderstorms that swept through Northeast Florida on Christmas Eve spawned a tornado in Starke that left two people injured, according to the National Weather Service Jacksonville. Crews surveyed the damage left in Bradford County in the wake of the strong storms and said it’s consistent with a tornado with maximum winds of 105 mph, classifying it an EF1. The NWS said the tornado developed just after 6 p.m. and left a damage path of about 4.13 miles. The tornado caused damage to trees, fences, and roofs on manufactured homes along its 4-mile path, NWS said. News4Jax saw damage along Highway 100 near Starke, where trees fell onto two homes and a car.

Man shot to death in Starke early Thursday morning

A man in his 20s shot in a vehicle parked at an apartment complex on South Water Street just after midnight Thursday died at the scene, according to the Starke Police Department. Officers said the man was shot once outside the Whispering Oaks Apartments. The Bradford County Sheriff’s Office criminal investigators and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement also responded to assist Starke police. The victim was not identified and there was no word about any suspect information.

Police: 18-year-old arrested after trying to run over Starke officer before car chase

Jamarion Smith, 18, tried to run over an officer and led police on a short chase Saturday night, according to Starke PD. STARKE, Fla. – An 18-year-old suspect led officers on a chase Saturday night, according to Starke Police. They say around 9:00 p.m., a Stark Police officer stopped Jamarion Smith for speeding at the intersection of Call Street and Water Street, but when the officer got out of their patrol car, they say Smith backed up toward the officer while speeding. Police say Smith then sped off, leading the officer on a high-speed chase for a few blocks before crashing on Oak Street and taking off on foot. While the K-9s were tracking, a nearby Starke police officer found Smith and arrested him.

3 jailed in disturbance outside Florida State Prison

Three people were arrested over the weekend after staging a noisy disturbance outside Florida State Prison in Starke, authorities said Sunday. By the time deputies arrived, they found the group had vandalized the facility’s property and refused to leave, the Sheriff’s Office said. Deputies said they zeroed in on three people they determined were “inciting the illegal behavior” and, after encountering some resistance, placed them under arrest. “Bradford County has no qualms with anyone wanting to peacefully protest,” Sheriff Gordon Smith said. “However, we will act quickly and decisively when the line is crossed into disorder and criminal behavior.”

3-year-old died of fentanyl overdose, parents charged

The results of the autopsy completed Thursday found the child died from an overdose of fentanyl -- a very powerful narcotic that has caused thousands of deaths throughout the country. King was arrested Friday by Starke offers and booked into the Bradford County Jail where she is being held on a $1 million bond. He was booked into the Alachua County Jail where he is also being held on a $1 million bond pending extradition to Bradford County. Medical experts say opioids, fentanyl, in particular, can pose an extreme danger of overdose, even in adults. “Even at the end of this, we pray for the family, we pray for that child, we pray for the extended family.

Clay County deputy who died of COVID-19 honored at Krawl’n for the Fallen event

STARKE, Fla. – A Clay County deputy who died in September from complications of COVID-19 was honored Saturday at the Krawl’n for the Fallen event in Starke. The event was overshadowed by tragedy Friday night when a skydiver died after his parachute didn’t deploy properly during a fun jump after practice. Despite the tragic death, the event carried on as law enforcement agencies and families of fallen officers gathered to honor those who have been lost. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office said it was honored that Sgt. He started with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in the 90s before joining the Clay County Sheriff’s Office in 1998.