News in Palatka
Palatka Daily News
Published September 14Fish Bites: 12-pound, 14-ounce bass gets Morgan win
One 12-pound, 14-ounce bass. One big win for Cody Morgan of Green Cove Springs. Major League Fishing’s Phoenix Bass Fishing League hauled its weigh-stage trailer into Palatka this past weekend to hold the final 2026 Gator Division tournament on the St. Johns River. Half the…
Palatka Daily News
Published September 12Today in History – Sept. 12
September 12 In 1886, Capt. R.H. Hodgkin of Welaka found a rare Spanish coin—dated 1721 and issued by Philip V—in his orange grove. In 1910, the St. John’s Catholic Church was formerly dedicated by St. Augustine’s Rev. Dr. M.P. Foley and Rev. Father P. Barry, pastor of St.…
Palatka Daily News
Published September 12Prep football: Special teams hurt Palatka in loss to Suwannee
LIVE OAK – There is a reason why they call special teams “special.” When you have them, they are special, and when you don’t well it’s not so special. Palatka Junior-Senior High School’s football team found out the hard way in a 20-6 loss to Suwannee High Friday night at Paul…
Palatka Daily News
Published September 11Official absent as city struggles with budget
After debating over numbers, being faced with harsh financial choices and nearly tabling talks until a week later, the Palatka City Commission eventually approved its tentative budget and tax rate for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. Voting 4-0, commissioners approved a tentative tax…
Palatka Daily News
Published September 11Palatka resident hopes to win big in songwriting contest
Local performer Billy Ennis, whose stage name is Sweet William, is one of six song contest finalists competing Sept. 12 for top honors at a contest in Georgia. Spectators at the Annual Suwannee Riverkeeper Song Contest in Lake Park are welcome, starting at 5 p.m. at 6070 4-H Club…
Palatka Daily News
Published September 11Column: There is a reason why it is called a ‘press box’
The more I think about a road trip to cover a high school football game now, the more the skin crawls off my body. Two weeks ago, I had to make the trek to Union County High School for Palatka’s first-ever meeting with the host Tigers at Pritchett Stadium. I had been there only a…
Palatka Daily News
Published September 11Column: Witnessing historic tragedy while in the classroom
by Brandon D. Oliver How could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? – Samwise Gamgee It was a run-of-the-mill Tuesday morning. I was three or four weeks into my senior year at Palatka High School, sitting in Mr. Davis’…
Palatka Daily News
Published September 11Busy weekend brings music, art and festivals across North Florida
Summer Night Lights helped keep Palatka’s riverfront busy through the hottest months of the year, but the popular evening market will not return this weekend. The official 2026 schedule ran on the first and third Fridays from June through August, with the season finale held Aug.…
Palatka Daily News
Published September 11Prep volleyball roundup: Panthers turn tables, defeat Yellow Jackets in 5 sets
The first time the teams played went five sets. St. Augustine won that one. This time around, the teams went five sets. This time, the results were different. Palatka Junior-Senior High School’s volleyball team pulled out a 25-16, 22-25, 25-13, 23-25, 15-12 triumph at home over…
Palatka Daily News
Published September 11Column: Witnessing historic tragedy while in the classroom
How could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? – Samwise Gamgee It was a run-of-the-mill Tuesday morning. I was three or four weeks into my senior year at Palatka High School, sitting in Mr. Davis’ first-period English…
Palatka Daily News
Published September 11College volleyball: Vikings back on track after topping Pioneers
There’s no place like home for the St. Johns River State College volleyball team as the Vikings improved to 5-0 at Tuten gymnasium with a 28-26, 25-10, 19-25, 25-21 win Wednesday over Indian River State College in Sun-Lakes Conference action. As usual, the Vikings received a team…
Palatka Daily News
Published September 11Football Friday: Week 4
PALATKA (1-2) AT LIVE OAK SUWANNEE (3-0) When, where: 7:30, Friday, at Paul Langford Stadium. (Radio: WIYD-AM/FM, 1260/104.9). Series: Palatka leads series, 10-3, but Suwannee won the last meeting, 47-0, in 2020. Last week’s results: Palatka lost to Clay, 35-0; Suwannee defeated…