2020: Year in Review

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Protests, murders, election dominated 2020 news cycle

  • Protesters gather outside the Putnam County Courthouse in August to advocate not moving the Confederate monument to another site.
    Protesters gather outside the Putnam County Courthouse in August to advocate not moving the Confederate monument to another site.
  • Miller Middle School’s principal shows a student to his class on the first day of school, which was postponed for two weeks in August because of COVID-19.
    Miller Middle School’s principal shows a student to his class on the first day of school, which was postponed for two weeks in August because of COVID-19.
  • Palatka Mayor Terrill Hill, center, sits between former City Manager Bill Shanahan, right, whom the Palatka City Commission voted, 3-2, to fire in the spring, and current City Manager Don Holmes, left, who was appointed to the position in April.
    Palatka Mayor Terrill Hill, center, sits between former City Manager Bill Shanahan, right, whom the Palatka City Commission voted, 3-2, to fire in the spring, and current City Manager Don Holmes, left, who was appointed to the position in April.
  • One of numerous aircraft sits at the annual Fly-In & Classic Car Show in January at the Palatka Municipal Airport. It was one of the last large events in 2020, and the 2021 edition has already been canceled.
    One of numerous aircraft sits at the annual Fly-In & Classic Car Show in January at the Palatka Municipal Airport. It was one of the last large events in 2020, and the 2021 edition has already been canceled.
  • Kat Cammack waves to motorists in East Palatka in the hours leading up to polls closing on Election Day. She would eventually win a seat in the U.S. House and will take over for her former boss, U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho.
    Kat Cammack waves to motorists in East Palatka in the hours leading up to polls closing on Election Day. She would eventually win a seat in the U.S. House and will take over for her former boss, U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho.
  • From left, Douglas Hays, Terry Turner and Joshua Mast, competitors in the race for the Board of County Commissioners District 3 seat, participate in an online political forum in October at St. Johns River State College in Palatka. Turner, the incumbent, would go on to win in the November general election.
    From left, Douglas Hays, Terry Turner and Joshua Mast, competitors in the race for the Board of County Commissioners District 3 seat, participate in an online political forum in October at St. Johns River State College in Palatka. Turner, the incumbent, would go on to win in the November general election.
  • Tayten Baker, 14, was found dead in his Melrose home in August.
    Tayten Baker, 14, was found dead in his Melrose home in August.
  • Robert Baker, 12, was found dead in his Melrose home in August.
    Robert Baker, 12, was found dead in his Melrose home in August.
  • Newly-elected Crescent City Mayor Michele Myers listens as residents weigh in on whether the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office should take over the city’s law enforcement on a full-time basis.
    Newly-elected Crescent City Mayor Michele Myers listens as residents weigh in on whether the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office should take over the city’s law enforcement on a full-time basis.
  • Willie Jones campaigns on 11th Street in November for a seat on the Palatka City Commission, which he would win in the general election.
    Willie Jones campaigns on 11th Street in November for a seat on the Palatka City Commission, which he would win in the general election.
This is the second in a three-part series reviewing 2020 and looking ahead to 2021.   A year like no other, 2020 brought high and many lows to Putnam County and the residents who reside here. The…

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