Wednesday Briefing: Captain's at Bing's Landing, Flagler County Fair, Alonzo Bush Appeal

Doug O'Connor, left, was among the three members of the Beverly Bech Town Commission who were sworn-in at the commission's monthly meeting Monday. But O'Connor is the first new commissioner in a decade. He joined, from left, James Howard, Jeffrey Schuitema, Debra Wingo, and Ernie Sund. Mayor Steve Emmett was absent because of a family emergency. (c FlaglerLive) — Doug O’Connor, left, was among the three members of the Beverly Bech Town Commission who were sworn-in at the commission’s monthly meeting Monday. But O’Connor is the first commissioner elected in a competitive election in a decade. He joined, from left, James Howard, Jeffrey Schuitema, Debra Wingo, and Ernie Sund. Mayor Steve Emmett was absent because of a family emergency. (c FlaglerLive)

Today: Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 70s. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph. Tonight: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s. East winds 5 to 10 mph.
Today’s document from the National Archives and the Astronomy Picture of the Day.
Today’s tides: at the beaches, at the Intracoastal Waterway.
Drought Index: 253
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day: fantod.
The Live Community Calendar
Today’s jail bookings.

Today’s Briefing: Quick Links

First Light
In Flagler and Palm Coast
Flagler Jail Bookings and Last 24 Hours of Incident Reports
Flagler Beach A1A Construction Updates
US 1-Old Dixie Highway Roundabout Construction Updates
Announcements
In State Government
In Coming Days in Flagler, Palm Coast and Beyond
Fact-Checking the Knaves
Palm Coast Construction and Development
Cultural Coda

“What makes us men and women? A little chromosome, a spurt of chemical here and there, an idea, a hope, a holy terror.”

–From Sallie Tisdale’s “Talk Dirty to Me: An Intimate Philosophy of Sex” (1994).
Previously:

In Flagler and Palm Coast:

Note: all government meetings noticed below are free and open to the public unless otherwise indicated. Many can be heard or seen live through each agency’s website.

The Sheriff’s daily incident reports and jail bookings are posted here.

The Flagler County Commission holds a workshop at 8 a.m. at the Government Services Building, Bunnell, on issues related to the county’s lease with Captain’s BBQ at Bing’s Landing. The restaurant, operating in the county park, is seeking to expand, but the plan has drawn opposition and a legal challenge. A special meeting is scheduled immediately after the workshop, where commissioners may take action on matters discussed at the workshop.

The Palm Coast Code Enforcement Board meets at 10 a.m. at City Hall in Town Center.

Wednesday-Sunday: Flagler County Fair and Youth Show and Rockin Rib Fest: Flagler County Fairgrounds (150 Sawgrass Road Bunnell), gates open at 5 p.m. Amusement rides, food, games, petting zoo, pony rides, entertainment, livestock shows and sale, 4H and FFA youth exhibits, canning, quilting, sewing, baking exhibits. Rockin Rib Fest begins with Southern Chaos on stage at 6 p.m. on April 5. See the poster here.

Alumni Recital, Melissa Kindy, clarinet, Jeremy Vigil, piano. Stetson University alumna Dr. Melissa Kindy, clarinet (’12) and Jeremy Vigil, piano (’14) return to the Lee Chapel stage, joined by fellow alumnus Stephan Fillare, violin (’12). The recital features a diverse range of nineteenth- and twentieth-century works by composers Widor, Husa, Martinů and Khachaturian. 7:30 p.m. Lee Chapel in Elizabeth Hall, 421 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand. All concerts are free and open to the public. Call 386/822-8950.

St. Johns death penalty case: The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments in three cases, including an appeal by a Death Row inmate convicted in the 2011 murder of his estranged wife in St. Johns County. Attorneys for inmate Sean Alonzo Bush, now 50, are asking the Supreme Court to overturn his conviction in the murder of Nicole Bush, who was shot in the head in her home. (9 a.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)

Blood Donations: The Big Red Bus will be at the following locations this week (schedule your donation by going to the website and entering a Palm Coast zip code, then locating one of the venues below):

Tuesday: Epic Theaters, 1185 Central Avenue, Palm Coast, 1 to 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Sabal Palms Assisted Living, 2125 Palm Harbor Parkway, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Friday: Epic Theaters, 1185 Central Avenue, Palm Coast, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Friday: Flagler Beach’s First Fridays, 105 South 2nd Street, 5:30 to 9 p.m.
Saturday: Walmart, 174 Cypress Point Parkway, Palm Coast, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday: Palm Coast United Methodist Church, 5200 Belle Terre Parkway, Palm Coast, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Jail Bookings and Last 24 Hours' Incidents in Flagler, Palm Coast, Flagler Beach, Bunnell


Jail Bookings, June 19-22 Sheriff's night shift incident reports, June 21 Sheriff's day shift incident reports, June 21 Flagler Beach's night shift incident reports, June 21 Flagler Beach's day shift incident reports, June 21 Bunnell police's night shift incident reports, June 21 Bunnell police's day shift incident reports, June 21
Previous and archived reports

Sources: Flagler County Sheriff's Office, Flagler Beach Police Department, Bunnell Police Department. This is Flagler County's only comprehensive, one-stop compilation of all local law enforcement's daily day and night shift commanders' reports.

Flagler Beach Is Open For Business: A1A Construction Update:

FlaglerLive is providing weekly updates to year-long construction on and near State Road A1A in Flagler Beach as the Florida Department of Transportation rebuilds a 1.5-mile segment from South 9th Street to South 22nd Street, and builds a sea wall at the north end of town. These updates are provided through DOT or local officials. If you have any relevant information or images, you’re welcome to email them to the editor here.

Last Updated: April 1

Segment 2 (South 22nd Street to South 9th Street):

The contractor continues installing a new water main along the west side of S.R. A1A. The contractor is moving north through the project clearing the area and removing existing sidewalk in preparation for the pipe installation. In the coming week, the contractor also will begin taking up the existing roadway to begin installation of the French drains.

Pedestrians are asked to stay within the temporary pedestrian walkways for safety. Residents and visitors also are reminded that all of the dune walkovers are closed, and removing any signage or barricades to access a walkover is unsafe and unlawful.

Segment 3 (North 18th Street to Osprey Drive) Project Update:

The contractor has completed more than 200 of the approximately 1,800 piles that need to be drilled to create the secant wall.

Construction activities will continue during daylight hours Monday through Saturday. The contractor is requesting that spectators stay off the shoulders and out of the work zone for safety. Drivers need to obey the 25-mph speed limit and remember that parking is not allowed on the shoulder.

Recently, DOT received a few questions from residents that DOT wants to answer:

1. Why do some properties have the black silt fencing and others do not?

The silt fencing is an erosion control requirement to prevent dirt and debris from leaving our work area and being deposited into waterways or onto private property. In some areas, the property to the west of our work area slopes up away from the work area, so erosion control is not required.

2. Will the contractor repair areas on my side of the sidewalk that have been disturbed?

Residents and property owners can get a general idea of where the department’s right of way ends by looking at the placement of the power poles, as well as stakes that have been placed along the project. In some areas, the back edge of the new sidewalk will be slightly farther to the west. For the most part, the back of the new sidewalk will be very close to, or right at, the right of way line.

This project calls for all of the work to be performed within the Florida Department of Transportation right of way. If, however, the work disturbs or damages private property outside of the right of way, the contractor is responsible to make repairs once the work is finished.

Please note that all restoration of conditions within the department’s right of way, including landscaping, hardscaping and driveways, is dictated by the construction plans and existing permits.

3. When will the sidewalk be replaced?

The contractor has begun installing the new sidewalk to the south of 19th Street. As the new water main is installed, there are several types of testing that need to be performed on the new line, and the work needs to be accepted by the City of Flagler Beach before the new sidewalk can be placed. The water main installation is expected to continue for the next several months.

Caution! Flagler Beach police and and Sherriff’s deputies are actively monitoring speed and writing tickets. “I got a warning on north section of A1A before construction actually began so I keep to the 25 limit, but still getting tailgated by cars wanting to go faster,” a reader tells us.

See Also:

The proposed roundabout at the intersection of Old Dixie Highway and U.S. 1 is intended to drastically reduce the number of severe crashes at one of the county's most dangerous intersections. Two other such roundabouts are proposed for other dangerous intersections in Flagler. Click on the image for larger view. (DOT) — The proposed roundabout at the intersection of Old Dixie Highway and U.S. 1 is intended to drastically reduce the number of severe crashes at one of the county’s most dangerous intersections. Two other such roundabouts are proposed for other dangerous intersections in Flagler. Click on the image for larger view.
(DOT)

U.S. 1 and Old Dixie Highway Roundabout Construction Updates:

FlaglerLive is providing weekly updates to the planned 15-month, $4.1 million construction of a roundabout at U.S. 1 and Old Dixie Highway. The project started in late January and is scheduled for completion by spring 2020.

The Florida Department of Transportation will be closing Old Dixie Highway and C.R. 325 at U.S. 1 on Monday night, March 4, from about 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. The closure is needed to allow the contractor to make improvements to the crossover at the temporary intersection. U.S. 1 will remain open in both directions.

More details here.

See Also:

I-95 Construction, Repaving: Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m., single lane closures on NB I-95 from north of Palm Coast Parkway to the St. Johns County line. Monday – Friday, 9 p.m. – 7 a.m., double lane closures on NB I-95 from north of Palm Coast Parkway to the St. Johns County line.

See this week’s full Interstate Construction Report for Flagler, Volusia and St. Johns here.

Announcements/Press Releases:

Flagler County Art League’s 8th Annual Poetry Competition: All poets are invited to participate in the 2019 Flagler County Art League National Poetry Month Competition, to run concurrently with our April Art Show. The competition will have an open theme. There will be a $25 prize for the first -place poem, a $15 prize for second place, and a $10 prize for third place. Entry fee is $3 for one poem, $5 for two. Winners are announced and can read their entries during our show opening, April 13, 6-8 p.m. Register here. The judge is Benjamin K. Atkinson, PhD, prestigious poet active in Ancient City Poets of St. Augustine and other northeastern Florida venues.

In Florida and in State Government:

Note: Some proceedings below can be followed live on the Florida Channel. Most legislative proceedings can be followed through the Senate or House websites.

SENATE TAKES UP BUDGET: The Senate will hold a floor session and take up a proposed $90.3 billion budget for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. Approval of the proposal will help set the stage for Senate and House leaders to negotiate a final spending plan for the fiscal year that starts July 1. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

HOUSE TAKES UP BUDGET: The House will hold a floor session and consider an $89.9 billion budget proposal for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. The House spending plan is smaller than a $91.3 billion proposal offered by Gov. Ron DeSantis. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

—-Compiled by the News Service of Florida and FlaglerLive

In Coming Days in Palm Coast, Flagler and the Occasional Beyond:

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A Twitter List by PierreTristam

Keep Up with Donald Trump’s attacks on the press through the ACLU’s running tab here.

Keep Up with mass shootings in a running database here.

Palm Coast Construction and Development Progress Reports

Here’s a summary of the latest city developments as of March 22, 2019, with a link to the full week in review here.

Click to access week-in-review-march-22-2019-developments.pdf

Cultural Coda

Keith Jarrett Trio: Georgia On My Mind (Poland 1985)