Melanie Botts, 36, of 20 Beth Lane in Palm Coast, had violated her probation and was allegedly holding a butcher knife to her neck, daring sheriff’s deputies to shoot her before one of them Tased her.
In Reversal, County Approves 50-Home Development That Will Change Complexion of Hammock’s Jungle Hut Road
The Flagler County Commission approved a zoning change that will enable a 50-home subdivision on a 12-acre parcel between Jungle Hut Road and Hammock Beach Parkway in the Hammock.
Tuesday Briefing: Trump in Orlando, Food Truck Tuesday, Community Health Update, Palm Coast’s FEMA Funds
Groups in support and opposition of Trump are busing out of Flagler for Orlando this afternoon, the Health Department’s Bob Snyder presents a community health update, Palm Coast talks FEMA funds.
Denying Voting Rights to Felons Should Be Beneath Us
Who gets to vote should be driven by citizenship, the spirit of the United States Constitution and all America stands for, not by blowhardism and dirty tricks, argues Nancy Smith.
‘Shared Savings’ By Shopping For Lower Health Care Costs? Ballyhooed Florida Plan a Bust
The idea of Florida’s ballyhooed shared-savings programs is to give policyholders an incentive to look for cheaper health services. Early results show no such benefits.
Determined Advocates Gather to Plan Reversal of Bunnell’s Vote Against Homeless Shelter
The Sheltering Tree board that runs Bunnell’s cold weather shelter held a brainstorming session with supporters to reverse a city boards decision that shut down the shelter after 11 years,
Ex-Councilman Jason DeLorenzo, a Voice for Homebuilders, Is Palm Coast’s New Development Chief
Jason DeLorenzo served as a Palm Coast City Council member for five years until the end of 2016 and was the government affairs director of the Flagler Homebuilders Association, two roles that will factor in his running of the city’s development department.
Monday Briefing: Homeless Shelter Meeting, $100 Million Beach Repair, Harriet Tubman $20 Bill, Andolina Sentencing
The Sheltering Tree Board meets with residents to map out an appeal strategy on keeping the cold-weather homeless shelter open, the county commission considers approving a $100 million, 50-year beach-renourishment plan for less than 3 miles of dunes in Flagler Beach.
Palm Coast’s George J. Serafino, 76, Dies In SR100 Crash Triggered by Medical Issue
George J. Serafino, a 76-year-old resident of Lakewalk Drive in Palm Coast, died Saturday (June 15), following a crash on State Road 100. The Florida Highway Patrol determined that the crash was caused by a medical episode.
Flagler About To Sign 50-Year, $100 Million Deal to Rebuild 2.6 Miles of Dunes in Flagler Beach. It Has Only a Fraction of the Money.
Flagler County is teaming with the federal government to split the $100 million cost of dune renourishment in Flagler Beach, but the deal is fraught with uncertainties, and Flagler can only pay its first phase.
‘Are You Kidding?’ Deeper Inspection Finds Captain’s BBQ Building Sound and Repairable for $60,000
In a dramatic turnaround, an inspection concluded that the Captain’s BBQ building at Bing’s doesn’t have to be replaced or destroyed and can be repaired for a small sum of money, changing a year’s worth of assumptions.
Weekend Briefing: STEM Camp Showcase, Frances Clemente’s National Flag Day, Publix Apron Culinary School, David Grossman
Wadsworth Elementary’s STEM Camp Showcase is on Friday, which is also National Flag Day, celebrated here with Frances Clemente, Movies in the Park, a trip to Publix’s culinary school, an uncomfortable David Grossman joke.
County Calms Bunnell’s Anger Over Sheriff’s Move to Palm Coast, Disarming Threats of Lawsuit
Sheriff Rick Staly’s and County Manager Jerry Cameron’s joint appearance before the Bunnell City Commission on Monday went a significant distance to disarm the city’s threats of a lawsuit and calm its anger over the sheriff’s move to Palm Coast.
Owners and Dealers of Anacondas Sue to Reverse Florida’s Broad Ban on Invasive Snake
Owners and dealers of anacondas have launched a legal challenge after the state largely banned the snakes amid a struggle to control damaging invasive species.
Facing Rape Charge, Larry Cavallaro Is Briefly Booked at Flagler Jail and Released on $100,000 Bond
Larry A. Cavallaro, the 72-year-old man facing a charge of drugging and raping a woman in Flagler Beach, was briefly extradited to Flagler before posting bail, on $100,000 bond end being released today.
Does Flagler Beach Have a Panhandling Problem? Not Exactly, But City Will Consider New Rules.
The Flagler Beach City Commission this evening will discuss adopting an ordinance against “aggressive” panhandling at the urging of City Commissioner Eric Cooley, a business owner in town.
Thursday Briefing: Beach Renourishment in Flagler Beach, Panhandling, Altmire at Volusia’s Tiger Bay, Sonia Rubinsky
The Flagler Beach commission gets an update on the status of planned beach nourishment projects that entail a $100 million expense over 50 years, and relies on few certainties.
Shake-Up at Palm Coast City Hall: 3 Directors and 2 Managers Resign, Yielding to New Manager Morton’s Headwind
Human Resources Director Wendy Cullen, Parks and Recreation Director Alex Boyer, IT Director Chuck Burkhart and managers Renee Shevlin and Cindi Lane all resigned between Thursday and today. Morton named new appointments, some interim, some permanent.
Backers and Foes of Bunnell’s Condemned Homeless Shelter Duel Ahead of Appeal
The Bunnell City Commission got a preview of the two sharply divided sides that will appear before it again soon in defense of and in opposition to the preservation of the cold-weather shelter for the homeless at First United Methodist Church on Pine Street.
DeSantis Signs Death Warrant of Homophobic Serial Killer Gary Bowles
Gary Bowles murdered six people in 1994. He is serving life sentences in the murders of John Roberts in Daytona Beach and Albert Morris in Nassau County, and is being killed for the murder of Walter Hinton in Jacksonville.
Wednesday Briefing: Narcan Stock, Flagler Beach Land Development, Florida Association of Counties, Grand Living
County paramedics get a 300-dose delivery of opioid-overdose-reversing Narcan, the Florida Association of Counties meets, Grand Living opens a new location.
Pete Buttigieg, Ahead of Miami Debate, Says No to Heavy-Handed Immigration Enforcement
Pete Buttigieg says he would set aside politics and work with Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to fund “good” environmental projects, while expressing his opposition to Florida’s “heavy-handed” approach to federal immigration enforcement and expansion of school voucher-type programs.
Marion Gavins Jr. Pleads Not Guilty in Killing of Curtis Gray, Raising Prospect of Stand Your Ground
Marion Gavins Jr. has not denied shooting Curtis Gray in front of several witnesses the night of April 13, but has intimated it was self-defense as he feared Gray was reaching for a gun. Gray was unarmed.
Captain’s BBQ Sues Flagler County, Alleging ‘Politically Motivated’ Breach of Contract
The owners of Captain’s BBQ at Bing’s Landing filed a four-count lawsuit against Flagler County government, alleging breach of contract and seeking damages in excess of $15,000.
Good News: Straight People Don’t Need a Pride Parade
Organizers of the “straight pride parade” in Boston this summer have ties to numerous far-right groups. Here are conditions that would make such a parade easier to embrace.
Tuesday Briefing: Tedarius Abrams, Florida Park Drive’s Airs, Education Law’s Constitutionality
Bethune-Cookman University Senior Tedarius Abrams is the choice for Chevrolet and the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s Discover the Unexpected Program, the Palm Coast council talks air sensors around Florida Park Drive.
The Crisis Formerly Known as Climate Change: Wrong Re-Branding
The Guardian announced it was re-branding climate change, encouraging its writers and contributors to use more urgent terms like “climate crisis.” Here’s why this is very wrong.
Plotting to Win Biggest Battleground State in 2020, Florida Democrats Can’t Get Around GOP-Controlled Legislature
The Florida Democratic Party’s biggest event of the year wrapped up this weekend with a debate over Election Day voter registration, but any such changes would require GOP approval. That’s unlikely.
City Launches Civic Engagement Platform Called ‘Palm Coast Connect’ to Better Serve and Track Residents’ Issues
Palm Coast’s new citizen-engagement platform is hoping to better understand what’s driving the 10,400 calls a month to the city’s customer service lines, and to more efficiently remedy the complaints.
Coming Off Daring Banner Year, Flagler Playhouse Readies for a 41st Season of ‘Arsenic,’ Abba, Guys and Dolls
Founded in 1978, the Flagler Playhouse had one of its best ever seasons artistically and financially, and is preparing to stage five plays and musicals in the season opening in September with “Mama Mia!”
Why Some CEOs Are Figuring Out That ‘Medicare For All’ Is Good For Business
As health costs continue to grow, straining employer budgets and slowing wage growth, CEOs and others in the business community are beginning to take the Medicare for All option more seriously.
Monday Briefing: Roundabouts, Chief Judge Zambrano, Hurricane Irma Assistance, Bunnell v. Homeless
Raul Zambrano is named Chief Judge for a second term, the Bunnell City Commission may talk about its homeless complex, the transportation department and Commissioner Joe Mullins talk roundabouts.
Attorney General Moody To Supreme Court on Death Row Inmates: Let ‘Em Die
Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office is urging the Florida Supreme Court to reverse course on decisions that allowed dozens of convicted murderers to have their death sentences reconsidered.
Carjacking Suspect Attempts to Mow Down 2 Flagler Deputies on I-95 in Eerie Near-Replay of 2003 Cop Fatality
Jesse Estep, 29, of Bunnell, is accused of attempting to strike two deputies with a stolen truck as they deployed stop sticks in the same area of I-95 where a Flagler deputy was killed doing the same thing against a car thief in 2003.
Four Arrested After Fleeing in Stolen Vehicle and Hiding in B-Section Woods
Three young men were arrested and sent to the Flagler County jail Friday, and a juvenile was also arrested, after the quartet allegedly fled in a stolen vehicle and hid in the woods before being caught.
Green New Deal Me In
The Green New Deal may have a hoaky name but at least it’s a beginning, an attempt to push back against a republic of insects and grass, inviting debate in the face of indefensible Republican inaction.
FPC’s IB Class of 2019 Soars as 45 Students Collect 176 Acceptances from 60 Colleges and Universities
Stanford, Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill, the University of Virginia, and of course UF and Florida State were among the 60 schools that accepted some of FPC’s IB students in one of the program’s most successful years.
Former Flagler Beach Gallery Owner Arrested on Charge of Drugging and Raping a Woman
Larry Cavallaro, 72, a Beverly Beach property owner and former owner of Castle Designs Gallery in Flagler Beach, was arrested on a charge of raping an incapacitated woman he is alleged to have drugged at his home.
Flagler Palm Coast High School Principal Bob Wallace Resigns After Just 10 Months
For FPC, Wallace’s departure means the school will have its sixth principal in 14 years by the time school resumes in August. The former Volusia County administrator had never quite fit in in Flagler.
Weekend Briefing: Donut With a Deputy, Urban Surf 4 Kids, Willie’s Weed, Portugal Flag
The unique Urban Surf for Kids Surf Camp kicks off in Flagler Beach, deputies mark National Donut Day with the public, First Friday in Flagler Beach, a flag-raising at Palm Coast City Hall.
Is State Law Restricting Local Governments’ Gun-Safety Ordinances Constitutional? Judge Hears Arguments.
Florida since 1987 has barred cities and counties from passing regulations that are stricter than state firearms laws. But in 2011, lawmakers went further by approving a series of penalties that local governments and officials can face if they violate the prohibition.
Allegations of Falsified Records and Bogus Inspections Lead to Resignation of Palm Coast’s Chief Building Inspector
Charlie Mini, Palm Coast’s Chief Building Inspector, resigned after an investigation concluded that he was falsifying records about inspections he did not perform and favored one pool contractor in particular.
Richard S. Hartung, 76, Dies in Apparent Suicide, County’s 3rd Self-Inflicted Death in 8 Days
Flagler County Sheriff’s detectives are investigating the death by apparent suicide of Richard S. Hartung, 76, in his condominium at 7 Avenue de la Mer in Palm Coast on May 30.
Florida TaxWatch Calls For Eliminating $133 million in Budget ‘Turkeys’; Flagler Is Spared
As of Wednesday afternoon, DeSantis had received 123 of the 174 bills approved by the Legislature during this year’s session. He’d signed 80 and vetoed two.
Thursday Briefing: Last Chance for Disaster-Prep Tax Holiday, D-Day’s 75th Anniversary, ‘At Paso Rojo’
The annual disaster-preparation tax “holiday” ends at midnight tonight, the nation and Europe mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Normandy, a Paul Bowles excerpt.
Lawmakers Promise Flagler Schools a $242 Per-Student Increase. That’s a Lie. District Faces a $1.5 Million Deficit.
A look behind the state’s allegation of a per-student funding increase for Flagler reveals the line-item fine print of deceptions, slippery definitions and unfunded mandates, resulting in a deficit, not an increase.
Talk of Divorce Preceded Shooting that Resulted in Apparent Man’s Suicide and Woman’s Injury
Maureen Lockwood said she’d told her husband Ralph that she wanted a divorce before he shot her then turned the gun on himself. He died. She survived. The investigation is continuing.
Ex-School Deputy Scot Peterson Arrested On Child Neglect Charge in School Shooting
Peterson, the longtime resource officer at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, refused to investigate when he heard gunshots on campus and retreated while students and faculty members were shot and killed.
Wednesday Briefing: ‘Behind the Walls,’ Beachwalk Development on A1A, Judge’s Reprimand
Flagler Republicans mark D-Day’s 75th anniversary, Broward Judge Dennis Daniel Bailey’s misbehavior at trial, Jaume Plensa’s ‘Behind the Walls,’ the A1A committee discusses a proposed development.
Bunnell Rudely Tells Church’s Cold-Weather Shelter for Homeless to Get Out Of Town
Bunnell’s zoning board voted to disallow the Sheltering Tree, the county’s only cold-weather shelter, from operating out of the United Methodist Church, potentially ending 11 years of service by the non-profit. The Sheltering Tree intends to appeal to the city commission.