The Putnam Pulse, LLC

02/28/2024

An Action News Jax investigation has found a local mayor running for state legislature has a past littered with accusations of harassment and stalking.

02/24/2024

Welaka town mayor Jamie Watts caught up in a sexting scandal

SAY IT AINT SO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12/01/2020

The number three man at the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office has been reprimanded for interfering in an August investigation involving his son. Maj. Johnny Greenwood had no prior disciplinary actions on his record and said he was “making sure (his) son was treated right” at the time of the Aug. 30 incident. Sheriff Gator DeLoach required a three-day suspension at the end of September for the major’s “interference.”

For more, see Tuesday's edition of the Palatka Daily News or visit palatkadailynews.com

11/27/2020

Obstruction of Justice comes to mind but not here in Putnam County.

Internal investigators found Major Johnny Greenwood was in violation of a fireable offense, but Sheriff Gator DeLoach gave him a three-day suspension.

10/09/2020

The St Augustine Record has now joined this media outlet in asking questions.

Joan Anthony's campaign is accusing her opponent, Dan Hilbert, of dirty politics after ad about her tax fraud conviction

10/06/2020

Elections Have CON-sequences Follow-Up

As part of the Pulses commitment to providing competent evidence of issues brought to its attention the article included is the only other Press run Story of Mrs. Anthony's Prosecution in Federal Court . It appears that there wasn't much written about this in the Public Sphere at the time. but then Mrs. Anthony
wasn't seeking election to the Judiciary at the time.

09/18/2020

Elections Have CON-sequences

The voters of Volusia, St. Johns, Flagler and Putnam Counties have an important choice in 46 days.
This writer has written quite a few articles over the last several years about candidates and elected officials, Mostly providing a contrasting point of view of the records of incumbents and candidates for elected office
This year is quite different in that information has come to light about a local race that is a compelling choice of who the citizens of the 7th Judicial Circuit want to sit in judgment over their Criminal, Civil, or Family law cases.
Earlier this week information was provided to The Putnam Pulse by concerned individuals that a candidate for Judge named Joan M Anthony had been suspended by the Florida Bar for Filing False Tax returns in the year 2000 and sought reinstatement to the practice of law in late 2002 . The qualifications to run for Judge are simple the candidate must be in good standing with the Bar for a period of 5 years, Mrs. Anthony appears to meet that qualification, However further information has come to light that Ms. Anthony was indicted by the United States Federal Court for the Middle District of Florida for two counts of declaring under penalty of perjury (Making or Subscribing a false income tax return) on April 08, 1999. Mrs. Anthony entered a Guilty Plea to one count on June 16,1999. She was sentenced to 2 years of special conditions Federal probation, 180 days home detention, 50 hours community service, and required to pay all income taxes, interest and penalties.
Some readers may be asking, How much of her income did she not declare, the total amount was $125,622.64 with penalties and Interest.
On September 17, 2020 The Putnam Pulse requested comment from both the Anthony and Hilbert campaign's at the time of publishing there has been no response.
This writer believes Mrs. Anthony should be answering questions publicly so the constituency she is hoping to elect her Judge can fully appreciate who they are voting for.

09/15/2020

The Putnam Pulse was provided a screenshot from a 2002 Florida Bar newsletter that purports to show that Joan Anthony who seeks to be a 7th Circuit Judge was reinstated after serving a 3 year suspension for the filing of false tax returns. The Putnam Pulse is attempting to further identify if there is a corresponding criminal case in either a Florida state court or a Federal Court.

11/12/2019

Sit Up – Pay Attention – Call your Councilman

Remember that election cycle when local politicians at campaign debates berated that [damnable] Florida Inspector General as on a “witch hunt”? Those in power didn’t like it then and don’t like it now. It appears “they” are creating lip service ordinance(s) that actually takes away what little voice citizens enjoy now. (The reward for complaining is the “right” to complain to our Councilmen, something we can do without this “policy”)

Remember how the results encouraged the Administrator Rick Leary to give up control and retire. County Attorney Castleberry did the same under pressure from then hyperactive Commissioner Larry Harvey. The budgets reigned in as citizens rejoiced!
Do you Remember that feeling of fresh air!! How could ‘change’ be so temporary?

Are we now facing “Same old stuff different Administrator?”
Looks like it is so …
Probably to get auditors off their tail for not establishing the recommended ombudsman, of Audit finding #10, “the staff” has created “Board Policy 01.001 Citizen Concern and issue Resolution” for the Board of County Commissioner signature.

Apparently this was created without any input to either citizens or Councilmen and it shows. It is scheduled for the BOCC meeting tomorrow, November 12th.
YELL & SCREAM WAIT A DAD GUM MINUTE! Citizens need their say!

In this policy citizen gripes are called “Concerns” defined as “matters of interest or importance and/or possible dissatisfaction”. Citizens SHALL “contact the most applicable department related to their concern first” – directing that “if the citizen makes contact with a County Commissioner regarding a concern, the County Commissioner shall direct the citizen to the proper department to report the concern.”

[ I thought County Commissioners are elected representatives of the people? ]

Employees “should review the concern and provide a response … immediately”.

After the worker bee says she/he understands but can’t do anything, these “concerns” are elevated to Department Heads who “respond immediately” but only after investigating the concern then “communicate findings …”.

Thereafter citizens having “unresolved concern(s) of importance” “escalate” their concerns to the Deputy County Administrator where it becomes “a “formal issue” – requiring a signed “Citizens Issue Resolution Form” complaint and is counted.

The Administrator has thirty business days (month and a half) for a “formal review” then to “respond”. Only then may a citizen talk to her/his County Commissioner for the little good that will be. But wait………….

“Step 4. Board of County Commissioners Engagement”
“If the citizen is not satisfied ……. The citizen may appear before the Board of County Commissioners at a County Commission meeting and present the issue during public comment.” (Emphasis mine)

What the heck? I can ‘public comment’ now knowing the Carl Flagg notice no questions will be answered, nothing decided, while all parties remain civil.

Exercise your right to petition your government … tell that Administrator you want an Inspector General, or at least an independent Ombudsman, at the side of the citizens. Someone to keep an eye on whoever is trying to put citizens in a box to stew a month and a half or more only to finalize that “process” with the middle finger international salute of distain. Call your Councilman. Tell him to pay for an independent Inspector General, a person our employees can call to short stop the stupid and criminal actions of the very few without fear of retribution! Ask your Councilman how many personnel investigations are underway now. Ask your Councilman why the lawyer, the computer staff, and others are fleeing. Tell them you want voters to be able to talk to them not take a number and get in line.

CALL and e-mail NOW:
County Council:
Phone: District One (386) 329-0209 [email protected]
District Two (386) 329-0210 [email protected]
District Three (386) 329-0206 [email protected]
District Four (386) 329-0213 [email protected]
District Five … (386) 329-0214 [email protected]

That Auditor General finding:

Finding 10: The BCC had not established an effective mechanism
for addressing citizen concerns.
Excerpt:
During the period December 2015 through September 2016, we received approximately 200 communications from individuals relating to allegations or asking questions about BCC practices.
Recommendation: We recommend that the BCC document consideration of various mechanisms to better promote open communication between the BCC and the general public.
One such mechanism could be the establishment of an independent ombudsman position that reports directly to the BCC and assists in providing timely, consistent, and impartial responses to citizen concerns.

10/31/2019

The editor of the pulse received a letter about the recent discussions of the school board reference the RFP for Insurance for School District employees.

And RFP was put out to bid in which 2 companies responded Aetna and United Health Care those bids were opened and the rates were discussed and the Insurance committee made recommendations

A Emergency Board meeting was called and Superintendent Surrency and School board rejected both bids, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YD5cAjahOek and a representative of Bates, Hewitt, and Floyd at this meeting claimed Blue Cross didn’t have enough information so they chose not to respond to the RFP.

Now, After hearing the bid proposals of their competitors, Superintendent Surrency has posted another RFP opening the door for Blue Cross and Blue Shield to respond.

Another reader contacted the pulse and provided a photograph of a Cease and desist letter sent on behalf of the teachers union claiming a violation of the collective bargaining agreement with the district.

Stay tuned to the Pulse

09/12/2019

Reno fells has been arrested for a second time for soliciting a pr******te and resisting arrest w/o violence

08/01/2019

Holiday tour of homes that includes historical houses, churches and businesses in Crescent City Florida is coming in December!!! This event is hosted by the GFWC Crescent City Woman's Club.