Cold Noses, The Times-Union s weekly pet column, features dogs and cats available for adoption at area government-run animal shelters.
Many shelters remain closed because of the coronavirus pandemic, but some are allowing adoptions and fosters by appointment. Contact individual shelters for more information.
• Clay County Animal Services is taking appointments at 3984 W. Florida 16, Green Cove Springs. Call (904) 269-6342 or email clayadoptions@claycountygov.com. To view available animals, go to claycountygov.com/community/animal-services or facebook.com/ClayCtyAnimals. Through Saturday, adoptions are free for dogs and cats that are at least six months old.
Dana is a 6-year-old female bulldog (ID No. A038616). She is energetic and in the shelter play yard is the life of the party and enjoys playing with other dogs. She loves walks, runs, fetching balls and jumping in the dog pool.
Former students want dilapidated, historic school building restored
Palatka’s former Central Academy on the National Registry of Historic Places
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Picture provided to News4Jax. (Copyright 2021 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.)
PALATKA, Fla. – If you check out Visit Florida’s website, you’ll notice it states Palatka as being home to the sunshine state’s first accredited school for Black students. If you dig further, you’ll see the old Central Academy is filled with fascinating Putnam County history.
According to the Palatka Housing Authority, which now oversees the building, the current Central Academy School building was built in 1936, replacing the original building that was destroyed by fire. Then in 1971, the school was closed following desegregation. Then in 1998, the authority says it was added to the National Registry of Historic Places. The Putnam County school district also confirmed to News4jax it used the building as a maintenance
To the community’s dismay, it looks like it’s nearing the end of its days.
The Putnam County School Board in February approved a revitalization plan with a 3-2 vote that will eventually downsize the district from 18 to 10 schools, closing some along the way.
Those closures include Jenkins, which was built in 1955. The rest of the plan calls for building or rebuilding facilities across the district over a 10-year span.
Despite pleas from the community at the school board meeting to save Jenkins, or to at least slow down the plan, the district chose to advance with the proposal, leaving many with ties to the school devastated.