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First Coast Connect

4/18/19: Conviction Integrity Unit; Palatka’s Revitalization; Derby Evening

HEATHER SCHATZ
/
WJCT
Melissa Ross (left) with Hank Coxe (middle) and Melissa Nelson (Right)

Two local men were recently freed after spending more than 40 years in prison for a murder that the evidence now shows they did not commit.

 

The release of Clifford Williams Jr. and Hubert Nathan Myers came about after an investigation by the Innocence Project and the local State Attorney's Office Conviction Integrity Unit. The unit is the first of its kind in Florida. Melissa Nelson, State Attorney for the Fourth Judicial Circuit; and Jacksonville criminal defense attorney Hank Coxe joined us for a closer look.

 

Palatka's Revitalization

Credit DanTD
The former Coca-Cola bottling plant near a historic section of Palatka, Florida. The plant is on the northwest corner of Oak Street and South Seventh Street. Across the street from this building is the Palatka South Historic District.

Small business owners are on the move in Palatka, a once-struggling town in Putnam County where a real revitalization effort is underway. Three of the women behind it: Realtor Roberta "Robbi" Correa; Andrea Conover, Owner, Azalea City Brewing Company; and Victoria McColm of Commonwealth Coworking were here in studio to share their vision of Palatka’s future.

Derby Evening Under the Oaks

For the first time in 13 years, Greenscape of Jacksonville has changed the time of year for its annual Root Ball to springtime. On May 4, it will be hosting a Kentucky Derby themed party - Derby Evening Under the Oaks - at Bowing Oaks Plantation for its largest fundraiser of the year. Anna Dooley of Greenscape of Jax, and Root Ball chair Robin Patton joined us with a preview of the Derby.

The Specktator

 

Credit HEATHER SCHATZ / WJCT
/
WJCT
Kerry Speckman (left), Anna Dooley (middle), Robin Patton (right)

Kerry Speckman, aka “The Specktator,” joined us to countdown her top five events on what will be a holiday weekend for many.

5. Easter Keg Hunt

4. Earth Day events

3. Mandarin Art Festival

2. Collective Con

1. School of Rock: The Musical

 

Photo used under Creative Commons license.

 

Heather Schatz can be reached at hschatz@wjct.org, 904-358-6334 or on Twitter at @heatherschatz.

 

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Heather is the senior producer of WJCT 89.9 FM talk shows including First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross, the Florida Roundup and What's Health Got to Do with It?