🌱 Bradford County deputies investigate Marine drill instructor’s death in Starke hotel

Morning Starke! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Bradford County deputies investigate Marine drill instructor’s death in Starke hotel
• Why another execution in Starke signals Florida’s rising death penalty use
• Execution carried out at Florida State Prison near Starke Tuesday evening

Today's riddle: What did the carpenter ant say when he walked into the bar? 🤔 (Answer below!)

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Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Not as warm, with a high of 84 and low of 60 degrees.
• Thursday: Mostly sunny and beautiful, temps: high: 84, low: 61.
• Friday: Mostly sunny and delightful, with a high of 88 and low of 65 degrees. 🌶 Hot!

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📰 News we're reading

• Parris Island drill instructor found deceased in Florida hotel (militarytimes.com) — A 24-year-old Marine drill instructor visiting for a recruiting-related event was found dead in a Starke hotel room on May 30, and Bradford County deputies are investigating. Authorities haven’t released further details, but the report outlines his service background and confirms he was in town for Marine Corps duties tied to Jacksonville recruiting.
   

• Florida Man Executed 30 Years After Confessed Killing Of 5-Month-Old Baby (tampafp.com) — An execution at Florida State Prison in Starke on Tuesday marked Florida’s eighth this year, as the state continues a sharp rise in use of the death penalty. Officials carried out the lethal injection of Andrew Richard Lukehart for a 1996 Jacksonville child killing after state and federal courts rejected last-minute appeals.
   

• Man who killed his girlfriend's baby and threw the body in a pond is executed in Florida (azfamily.com) — Residents should know that a man convicted of killing his girlfriend’s infant daughter was executed Tuesday evening at Florida State Prison near Starke, marking the state’s eighth execution this year. The article details how the execution was carried out, the crime’s background, and recent legal appeals, while also noting Florida’s rising use of the death penalty under Gov. Ron DeSantis.
   

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📸 Around Starke

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Starke

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★ Featured events ★

Friday June 19

• Summer Concert Series - Summer Rocks Concert — The... →
  Keystone Beach/Geneva Jungle, 565 S Lawrence Blvd, Keystone Heights
  6:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

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Other local events

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📣 Starke Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday June 4

• ArtSpace: Paint and Pencil Series
  Waldo Branch Library Waldo Branch - ARTspace
  4:00 pm

Friday June 5

• Zookeeping 101 with Santa Fe Zoo
  Waldo Branch Library Waldo Branch - Outside Area
  10:30 am
• Clay Brooker @ Daft Cow →
  Daft Cow Brewery, 13800 Tech City Cir Suite 100, Alachua
  6:30 pm

Sunday June 7

• Cliff Avril Family Foundation 13th Annual Family... →
  Paul C Armstrong Park, 2445 County Rd 220, Middleburg
  1:00 pm

Monday June 8

• ArtSpace: Fiber Fun Fellowship →
  Hawthorne Branch | Alachua County Library District, 6640 SE 221st St, Hawthorne
  1:00 pm

Wednesday June 10

• Paper Plane Tournament
  Waldo Branch Library Waldo Branch - Meeting Room
  10:30 am

Thursday June 11

• MakerSpace: Intro to 3D Printing
  Waldo Branch Library Waldo Branch - ARTspace
  10:30 am
• ArtSpace: Dino Discoveries in STEAM
  Waldo Branch Library Waldo Branch - ARTspace
  4:00 pm

Friday June 12

• ArtSpace: Drawing and Painting Series for Adults
  Waldo Branch Library Waldo Branch - ARTspace
  2:00 pm

Saturday June 13

• Storm Ready Story Time
  Waldo Branch Library Waldo Branch - Meeting Room
  11:00 am

Saturday June 20

• Jeremy Weinglass - The Color Connection Concert →
  Wehner's School of the Arts, 430 College Dr STE 108, Middleburg
  6:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Sam's Club posted a job opening for Stocking Team Associate in Starke. Apply here.
• Dunkin' posted a job opening for Shift Leader in Starke. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Starke here.

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🗞 Nearby News

Keystone Heights

• Keystone Heights RV Resort Adds Toptracer Golf Technology (woodallscm.com)
• Clay County District Schools announces new administrative appointments for the coming school year (actionnewsjax.com)

Lake Butler

• Two budget transfers totaling $1.7M on commission agenda tonight (bakercountypress.com)

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Ok Starke! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Is the bar tender here? (Thank you W. M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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