Thursday Briefing: Animal Cruelty Investigations, Rickey Wheeler Appreciation, Wickline Center Uses

The Flagler County Sheriff's Employees of the Quarter: — The Flagler County Sheriff’s Employees of the Quarter: From left: Family Kia Vice President Carl Davis, Kerri Henderson, Shannon Martin-Sabatini, and Sheriff Rick Staly. Not pictured: Linda Tannuzzi. Martin-Sabatini coordinated and directed the Lip Sync Challenge video for social media, garnering 5,000 likes on Facebook and over 80,000 views in the first three days. As coordinator for the Sheriffs P.A.L. organization, Henderson has worked tirelessly for the youth of Flagler County. y. She helped organize and run the National Night Out event and was instrumental in making it a success. Kerri also runs the McGruff Club with our youth. She teaches 45 children about safety as well as going to elementary schools with the SRDs and talking about Stranger Danger to kindergarteners. Tannuzzi, an accounting specialist, has shown great initiative in making our new director’s transition, and the year-end process, as seamless as possible. The sheriff presented the awards last week. see a full release here.

Today:Partly cloudy with slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning, then mostly cloudy with chance of showers and slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 80s. South winds 5 mph shifting to the east in the afternoon. Chance of rain 50 percent. Tonight: Mostly cloudy with chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then partly cloudy with slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Lows in the mid 60s. East winds 5 mph shifting to the southwest after midnight. Chance of rain 30 percent. Details here.
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: 269
The OED’s Word of the Day: legget, n..
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
Announcements
In State Government
In Coming Days in Flagler, Palm Coast and Beyond
Fact-Checking the Knaves
Palm Coast Construction and Development
Local Road and Interstate Construction
Cultural Coda

“In the nineteenth century, should we have sympathised with Pope Pius IX when he refused to have anything to do with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on the ground that it is heretical to believe that man has any duties to the lower animals? I am afraid Europe, however intelligent, has always been rather horrid, except in the brief period between 1848 and 1914. Now, unfortunately, Europeans are reverting to type.”

–From Bertrand Russell’s “In Praise of Idleness” (1935).

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.

Thursday and Friday: The ASPCA, in partnership with the Flagler Humane Society and every local police agency and the sheriff’s office host two days of training for animal cruelty investigators at the Emergency Operations Center, 1769 E. Moody Blvd, Bldg. 3 (behind the Government Services Building), Bunnell, starting at 8 a.m. each day. There is no cost. The two-day training will cover Florida animal cruelty laws, animal fighting, and the link between animal cruelty and other crimes, among other topics to enhance local law enforcement’s response capabilities to animal cruelty cases. ASPCA past research has found that nearly half of law enforcement officers encounter animal cruelty at least several times a year, nearly a quarter on a monthly basis. Almost half said that more training is needed on how to investigate animal cruelty cases.

Rickey Wheeler Appreciation: Rickey Wheeler was found alive on September 25 following an extensive five-day search for the missing juvenile. Rickey and his parents join Sheriff Rick Staly in recognizing the men and women who worked tirelessly to find him. Over 100 volunteers along with Sheriff’s Office personnel have been invited to the Rickey Wheeler Volunteer Appreciation Ceremony at the Emergency Operations Center, 1769 E. Moody Blvd, Bldg. 3 (behind the Government Services Building), Bunnell, starting at 9 a.m.

The Flagler County Canvassing Board meets at 5 p.m. at the Supervisor of Elections Office, Government Services Building, 1769 E. Moody Boulevard, Building 2, Suite 101. The agenda: Canvass of Provisional Ballots, Unofficial Results.

The Flagler Beach City Commission meets at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. Commissioners will give staff direction regarding a draft joint agreement with the county on the uses of the Moody-Wickline Senior Services Center. See the full agenda and background materials here.

Indivisible Flagler, in conjunction with groups around the country, holds a rally/protest at 5:00 p.m. at 31 Lupi Court toward Palm Coast Parkway in response to the firing of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the removal of Rod Rosenstein from overseeing the Russia investigation.

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):

Friday: 7-Eleven on Old Dixie Highway, 3795 Roscommon Dr., Ormond Beach, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday: Trinity Presbyterian Church, 156 Florida Park Drive, Palm Coast, 9:30 a.m. to noon.

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.

Announcements:

Audition Call: Flagler Playhouse’s “A… My Name is Alice”: Audition dates/time: Monday, December 3 and Tuesday, December 4 @ 6:30 pm at Flagler Playhouse. Looking for 5 talented females to play multiple roles in the musical, “A… My Name is Alice”. Voice types needed: 2 sopranos, 3 altos. Ages: 18 and up. Please prepare a song in the Pop genre for the audition. You will also be asked to read prepared selections as part of the audition process. If you are unable to make the scheduled audition dates, please email Michele at moneil50@gmail.com for an alternate date. Performance dates : January 25 through February 10, 2019. Please park in the rear lot and enter through the cast door.

The Rotary Club of Flagler County is looking for bands and musical groups to perform seasonal music at the Fantasy Lights in Central Park, Palm Coast. The free event featuring lighted displays around the lake, Santa’s Village, Train rides for the kids also has a nightly live performance of seasonal music at 7 p.m. each night for the month of December. The music is carried throughout the park and Rotary provides some sound equipment and lights. If your band is interested in performing please contact Carl Laundrie at claundrie@yahoo.com or call 386-283-8386.

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.

UNIVERSITY SYSTEM ISSUES ON TABLES: The state university system’s Board of Governors will meet after holding a series of committee meetings. Among other things, the board is scheduled to discuss a performance-based funding model for universities and a 2019-2020 legislative budget request. (Thursday, committees start at 8:30 a.m., with full board scheduled about 3:30 p.m., Florida Atlantic University, Student Union, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton.)

JUSTICES WEIGH ‘HIGH QUALITY’ SCHOOLS CASE: The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments in three cases, including a long-running legal fight about whether the state has properly carried out a 1998 constitutional amendment that requires it to provide a “uniform, efficient, safe, secure and high quality” system of public schools. The constitutional amendment, in part, said it is a “paramount duty of the state to make adequate provision for the education of all children residing within its borders.” The amendment fleshed that out by saying adequate provision will be made for a “uniform, efficient, safe, secure, and high quality system” of public schools. The group Citizens for Strong Schools and other plaintiffs filed a lawsuit in 2009, alleging the state had not properly carried out the amendment. A Leon County circuit judge ruled in favor of the state in 2016, and the 1st District Court of Appeal followed suit in December. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)

JUDGE TAKES UP SENATE DISCRIMINATION CASE: U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle will hear arguments on a request by the Florida Senate to shield it from a discrimination case filed by a legislative aide who alleges she was a victim of sexual harassment and retaliation. The Senate is seeking a preliminary injunction in the case involving aide Rachel Perrin Rogers, who filed a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in January. Lawyers for the Senate are seeking the injunction to block an administrative judge from requiring the Senate’s participation in the EEOC case. The Senate contends, in part, that it is protected by the legal doctrine of sovereign immunity. Perrin Rogers was at the center of a sexual-harassment investigation late last year that led to the resignation of powerful Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater. Perrin Rogers alleged that Latvala harassed her, triggering the Senate to appoint a special master to investigate the accusations. The special master, former appellate Judge Ronald Swanson, found probable cause to support Perrin Rogers’ allegations — though Latvala has steadfastly denied them. Perrin Rogers, an aide to Senate Majority Leader Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, subsequently filed the EEOC complaint against the Senate, alleging in part that she faced retaliation. (Thursday, 9 a.m., United States Courthouse, 111 North Adams St., Tallahassee.)

SUPREME COURT INTERVIEWS CONTINUE: The Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission will continue interviewing candidates for three seats that will open on the Supreme Court in January. Those seats are held by justices Barbara Pariente, R. Fred Lewis and Peggy Quince, who face a mandatory retirement age. The commission plans to hold interviews over four days. It is scheduled Thursday to interview Michael Andrews, Matthew Thatcher, Ross Bilbrey, Hunter Carroll, Angela Cowden, James Daniel, Bryan Gowdy, Jamie Grosshans, Laurel Lee, Robert Long, Mark Mahon, Scott Makar, Michael McDaniel, Timothy Osterhaus and Thomas Ramsberger. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Airport Executive Center, 2203 North Lois Ave., Tampa.)

COLLEGE PRESIDENTS MEET: The Council of Presidents of the Florida College System will meet in Orange County. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Wyndham Orlando International, 8001 International Dr., Orlando.)

SUPREME COURT RELEASES OPINIONS: The Florida Supreme Court is expected to release its regular weekly opinions. (Thursday, 11 a.m.)

CITRUS FORECAST ISSUED: The U.S. Department of Agriculture will release its monthly forecast for Florida’s 2018-2019 citrus growing season. (Thursday, noon.)

—-Compiled by the News Service of Florida and FlaglerLive

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

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Palm Coast Construction and Development Progress Reports

Here’s a summary of the latest city developments as of Nov. 2, 2018, with a link to the full week in review here.

Click to access week-in-review-developments-nov-2-2018.pdf

Road and Interstate Construction: