TRISHA MURPHY/Palatka Daily News  Palatka Junior-Senior High School 11th grade student Bella Thomas, 17, shows the “Lungs of the Ocean” sculpture she created that was one of 150 artworks nationwide selected to be exhibited last month in Virginia.

Artist’s work brings national attention to global concern

When Palatka youth Isabella “Bella” Thomas’ sculpture was selected to be exhibited at the National K-12 Ceramic Exhibition in Virginia, she knew she had to see it for herself.  Bella and her family traveled to Richmond, Virginia, on March 20 to see…
When Palatka youth Isabella “Bella” Thomas’ sculpture was selected to be exhibited at the National K-12 Ceramic Exhibition in Virginia, she knew she had to see it for herself.  Bella and her family traveled to Richmond, Virginia, on March 20 to see the exhibition of 150 sculptures submitted by…
A man convicted last month of sexually assaulting his a family member learned Friday he will be spending the rest of his life in prison. During a hearing Friday morning, Donald Willett Jr., 39, was handed nine consecutive life sentences plus 15 years, according to a press release from the 7th…
Palatka leaders conditionally approved permits for two gatherings at Hank Bryan Park similar to the one that occurred Sunday and could approve four more events when they meet again. The Palatka City Commission unanimously agreed Thursday night to allow Big Homie Urban Life Center officials to host…
A local conservancy added 54 acres of Satsuma land to its acquired land, happening just in time for the St. Johns River Bartram Frolic.  On March 5, a private landowner gifted a conservation easement to the Putnam Land Conservancy, which aims to preserve local lands for conservation in perpetuity…
One local thespian, who is new to the area, is excited about helping put the pieces together for a seamless and exciting show. VaRonica Spangler, 55, and her husband moved from Bradford County to Palatka in November and soon after joined the River City Players theater group. Her first show was in…
As we’re sure most of our readers know, the Daily News reported on a shooting that occurred Sunday evening in Palatka. According to Matt Newcomb, the assistant chief of the Palatka Police Department, two men received non-life-threatening wounds during the shooting, which occurred as a massive crowd…
Jazz legends Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington visited Palatka regularly. They stayed with the Beltons, right by the train station.  The Belton house is historically significant because it belonged to Palatka’s own Belton Syncopaters, a jazz band that toured the U.S…
NEW PORT RICHEY – The St. Johns River State baseball team ran into a red-hot Pasco-Hernando State College team and couldn’t do anything about the Bobcats. With the Sun-Lakes Conference title on the line, the Bobcats (32-20, 20-10), who have won 11 in a row, swept the Vikings, winning 3-2 in eight…
Not since 2019 has Putnam County had two softball teams play in the postseason in the same year. Not since 2013 has Peniel Baptist Academy missed the softball postseason. Not since 2009 has Palatka won a district softball championship. Not since 2007 have two county softball teams won a district…
Phase two of the Ron Whitehurst retirement plan will be executed as early as next week. By then, all the longtime institution at Interlachen Junior-Senior High School will be is athletic director and a defensive line coach for Erik Gibson’s Rams football team. But don’t shed any tears when his…
Once again, the St. Johns River State College softball team did not panic when it fell behind. “It’s crazy,” Vikings coach Joey Pound said. “It’s kinda scary how we can do that.” Down 4-0 in the fifth inning, the Vikings came back and Olivia Hansen’s RBI single to left field scored pinch-runner…

She’s 104 years young

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It’s hard to imagine a time when a gallon of milk was 60 cents, a 16-ounce loaf of bread sold for 12 cents and everyone could fill up their gas tank for 30 cents a gallon.

A cut above the competition

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One Palatka youth is a cut above the rest when it comes to his metal work art he entered in competition through his 4-H Club at this year’s Putnam County Fair.

PPD body camera footage from Hank Bryan Park

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Body camera footage from a Palatka Police Department officer shows law enforcement officers trying to shut down a block party Sunday at Hank Bryan Park in Palatka. Footage courtesy of the Palatka Police Department.