With Hurricane Florence’s effects causing possible erosion locally, Flagler County officials are on the alert for any breaches along the coast, where the year-long dune-rebuilding project is still ongoing.
UF Ranked 8th-Best Public University in Nation, 4 Other Florida Schools Crack Top 100
Florida universities continued their academic climb in the latest U.S. News & World Report annual college rankings, placing five schools in the country’s top 100 public universities for the first time.
Wednesday Briefing: Florida Beers Minifest at EuroVillage, Free Legal Clinic, Waste Pro’s Shea Drury
European Village features three Florida brewers in a mini beerfest, Waste Pro appoints a new manager in the Flagler-Palm Coast region, free legal clinics.
Stand Your Ground Vigilantes
Instead of allowing the police to perform their jobs, some gunslingers hiding behind stand-your-ground laws take the responsibility of pursuing criminals upon themselves.
Bunnell Signs Manager Alvin Jackson, Who Makes a Point of Not Holding Cities “Hostage” With Severance
Bunnell commissioners unanimously voted to hire Alvin Jackson as their next manager for $82,000 and a purposefully restrained severance package that contrasts with Palm Coast’s experience.
Keith Johansen, Accused of Murdering His Wife, May Not be Competent to Stand Trial
Keith Johansen is accused of murdering his wife, Brandi Cleneza, 25, at their F-Section home in April. Authorities have seized a notebook he kept that they say may be revealing.
Ron DeSantis Quits Congress to Focus on Governor’s Race Against Andrew Gillum
DeSantis had missed 4.2 percent of the roll call votes since January 2013, but the percentage has spiked to 53.8 percent since July.
Tuesday Briefing: 9/11 Ceremonies, Keith Johansen in Court, Stormwater Rates, Hammock Hansen
The Palm Coast council discusses stormwater rates, which are set to rise steeply, the Elks Lodge and other places host 9/11 ceremonies, a man accused of murdering his wife is in court for a pre-trial.
Palm Coast Council Would Rather Spare Dog Cooper’s Life. You Wouldn’t Know It
From Its Court Pleadings.
Palm Coast’s administration is is making its decision to kill Cooper the dog synonymous with the council’s preference. But it isn’t.
Pay Disparity: Many Flagler Government Employees Paid Less While Several “All Stars” Are Overpaid
A salary study found pay disparities between Flagler government and other governments, but also within Flagler government, where an “all stars” system is rewarding some employees far more than others.
Avoidable Sepsis Infections Send Thousands Of Nursing Home Seniors To Gruesome Deaths
No one tracks sepsis cases closely enough to know how often these severe infections turn fatal. But the toll — both human and financial — is enormous, an investigation finds.
Monday Briefing: Suicide Prevention Day, Women’s Self-Defense, Bunnell Manager, Mideast Primer
World Suicide Prevention Day takes place as Flagler stands as the county with the highest rate of suicides among Florida counties; Bunnell sets its tax rate, women’s self-defense class.
Getting a Section 8 Voucher Is Hard. Finding a Landlord Willing to Accept It Is Even Harder.
Most of the landlords whom researchers called said they didn’t take vouchers. Some of those who agreed to show their unit to a voucher holder stood the renter up.
For 2nd Time in 3 Weeks Man Pulls a Gun on Flagler Deputies, But No Arrest This Time
Flagler deputies were checking on a 33-year-old man who had been reported to be suicidal (possibly falsely). He came out of his house pointing a gun at the deputies.
Judge Orders Spanish-Language Sample Ballots in Flagler and 31 Other Counties
Making clear that only time restraints limited his decision, a federal judge ordered that sample ballots in Spanish be provided but stopped short of ordering actual Spanish-language ballots in Flagler and 31 other counties.
Déjà Vu All Over Again at Flagler Beach Golf Course as City Grants Yet Another Probation
Even though the city commission found a golf management company in default of its lease, the commission offered yet another conditional set of terms to make the nine-hole golf course work.
Weekend Briefing: First Friday, Intracoastal Cleanup, Gospel Show, KidCare Enrollment, Arts Festival, Senior Games
The annual Intracoastal Waterway cleanup on Saturday, the kick-off of the Palm Coast Senior Games, Palm Coast Arts Foundation’s two-day arts festival in Town Center, KidCare enrollment, “California Suite,” and a lot more.
Supreme Court Excoriates Ex-Flagler Judge DuPont, Citing Manufactured Facts, Disrespect and Blatant Disregard for Rules
The decision amounts to a brutal condemnation of Scott DuPont’s behavior by the state’s highest court and a signal to other prospective judges that zero tolerance applies with regards to violations of the Code of Judicial Conduct.
Crashed Hydrant in Bunnell Cuts Off Water Citywide, Shutting Down Courthouse
A car crash against a hydrant caused the water pressure to fall and shut down service citywide in Bunnell in late morning. It was not expected to be restored until 5 p.m.
Sheriff Investigating Death of Samantha Brewer, 30, in R-Section as Overdose Claims Another Life
Samantha Brewer had called a friend over from the C-Section. He was in the bathroom 4 minutes, when he returned, Brewer was unresponsive from an overdose.
Justices Weigh Loading Charter Schools, Term Limits and Civics on One Amendment
Justices are only supposed to determine whether the ballot title and summary would provide an accurate description of the proposed constitutional amendment to voters.
Thursday Briefing: County Taxes, Canvassing Board, Flagler Beach Golf Course (Again), Massacre Commission
The Flagler Beach City Commission again tries to decide what to do with its troubled golf course, Flagler government sets next year’s taxes, an NRA-designed gun-safe program.
Racist and Bullying Behavior Leads to Firing, Retirement and Transfer of 3 Veteran Flagler Sheriff’s Deputies
Following internal investigations, Deputy Jon Freshcorn, Sgt. John Bray and Cmdr. Brian Pasquariello were all subject to discipline following a breakdown in professional conduct at the courthouse.
68-Year-Old Man Jokes About Tossing Grenade at Walmart Employees, Faces 2nd Degree Felony
William Rudd, a resident of Peppercorn Lane in Palm Coast, faces a second-degree felony after joking he could toss a grenade at a group of Walmart employees.
Should Supervisors of Election Provide Spanish-Language Ballots? Judge Hears Arguments.
A federal judge today hears arguments in a lawsuit seeking to require 32 Florida counties, including Flagler, to provide Spanish-language ballots and other materials to Puerto Ricans who are eligible to vote in the state.
Wednesday Briefing: Free Family and Civil Law Clinic, Youth Orchestra Open House, FPC Fire Academy
FPC’s Fire Academy takes a training trip, the Youth Orchestra holds its Open House, an NRA gunsafe program is presented to Kindergarteners and first graders, Kaiti Lenhart at Flagler GOP club.
3 Hospitalized in Latest Crash at Notorious Old Dixie-US 1 Intersection at White Eagle Lounge
Two women and a man were hospitalized late Tuesday afternoon after the latest crash at the intersection of U.S. 1 and Old Dixie Highway, by the White Eagle Lounge.
Council Approves Rezoning for Apartments on Old Kings Road That Drew Strident Opposition From Woodlands
The 74-unit apartment complex would be for people 55 and older and affordably priced, but Woodlands residents say it will burden their neighborhood with traffic and other potential nuisances.
Flagler Commissioner Donald O’Brien Named to Florida Association of Counties’ Board of Directors
O’Brien has forged an independent path on the commission, focusing on strict financial oversight. The statewide Florida Association of Counties advocates and lobbies on behalf of Florida’s 67 counties.
The $109,000 Heart Attack Bill Is Down To $332. What About Other Surprise Bills?
The hospital that overcharged a teacher cut the bill not before the huge charge sparked a national conversation over what should be done to combat surprise medical bills afflicting a growing number of Americans.
Flagler Youth Orchestra, Accompanist to Generation of Students, Marks 14th Year With Open House Wednesday
Many thousands of students have enrolled in the free Flagler Youth Orchestra’s strings program through the years, with some 400 enrolling each fall. Its open house is next week.
Tuesday Briefing: Palm Coast Apartments Near Woodlands, School Taxes, State of Education, Chess
The Palm Coast council considers approving apartment zoning near the Woodlands, the Flagler County School Board presents the State of Education, Chess on the Porch at the Humidor at European Village.
When McCain’s Odes to Honor and Civility Ring False
The “straight talk” people praise McCain for is actually what most of them can’t stand about politicians: They say noble words but cast ignoble votes.
For Palm Coast’s Boldest Stage in New Season, “Rocky Horror,” Satanic Puppet, and a Shrew
Palm Coast-based City Rep, always willing to do a Capt. Kirk and boldly go where few community theaters have gone before, will offer six productions in the coming season.
DUI Manslaughter Charge for David Zlokas in Death of Gary St. Peter in A1A Crash;
Bar Named in Lawsuit
David Zlokas and Gary St. Peter had just left Uncaged Tasting Room, the bar in the Hammock, when they crashed and St. Peter was killed. Zlokas faces criminal and civil actions.
Dottye Benton, Owner of Dangerous Dog Cooper, Faces Felony Charge Following 3rd Bite
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office filed the charge that Palm Coast Animal Control asked for, citing owner Dottye Benton’s pattern of neglect and dissimulation.
Labor Day Briefing: Drug Court Steering Committee, OD Awareness Day, FPC v. New Smyrna, Gentile-Youd Loves McLaughlin
A candlelight vigil in observance of Overdose Awareness Day, the Drug Court Steering Committee meets, Flagler Palm Coast High meets New Smyrna Beach on the gridiron, and Labor Day quiet.
Obamacare Participants in Florida Will See Lowest Premium Increase In 8 Years
The rate increases are some of the lowest ever requested by Florida insurance companies since the federal health law passed in 2010.
Sheriff Asks For Semi-Permanent Solution Away From Comatose Building As Issue May Linger Up To a Year
In a workshop initially mean to to hear the latest analysis of previous air testing, Sheriff Staly asked county government to work out a semi-permanent solution to his staff’s evacuation from the troubled Operations Center.
Palm Coast Builds Path Where Michelle Taylor, 16, Was Killed; To Her Father, It’s “7 Years Too Late”
Michelle Taylor, 16, was walking along Lakeview Boulevard in 2017 when she killed by a car. Her father is angry at a city that had been ‘putting frickin’ umbrellas over monkey bars’ instead of building paths and putting up lights.
Thursday Briefing: Circuit Judge Interviews, Sheriff’s Building Workshop, Farm Swap and Music Jam
A report contradicting a previous report finding the Sheriff’s Operations Center “safe” is presented at a workshop, the Judicial Nominating Commission interviews a batch of judge candidates, Lewis Black turns 70.
Flagler Jail Sends ‘Inmate Work Crew’ Around Town, and Gets Paid GED Instructor
A black-and-white-striped Flagler County jail work crew will start duties around the community, and the jail is getting a GED instructor for nearly 30 hours a week.
Ron DeSantis Uses ‘Monkey’ Comment To Refer to Policies of Andrew Gillum, Who Is Black
DeSantis’ use of the word “monkey” in relation to the first black candidate ever nominated by a major party for governor in Florida drew a firestorm of criticism from Democrats.
Palm Coast Council and Manager Jim Landon Again Clash Sharply Over Methods and Goals
Palm Coast Council members repeatedly and sharply criticized Manager Jim Landon over a “disconnect” between their goals and his execution, the latest in a series of increasing clashes.
In Historic Upset, Democrat Andrew Gillum Beats Graham and Will Face DeSantis In Race for Governor
Andrew Gillum, Tallahassee’s mayor, has long been considered a rising star in the Florida Democratic Party but had trailed in the polls in a crowded primary.
Wednesday Briefing: Women’s Equality Day, Palm Coast Senior Games, Dog Racing Ban Considered
American Association of University Women, Flagler County Branch, celebrates Women’s Equality Day at the public library, Eric Cooley is in a pre-trial hearing.
Greg Hansen, Trevor Tucker, Joe Mullins Win, Janet McDonald , Fischer, Tipton and Branquinho in Runoffs
County Commissioner Greg Hansen and School Board member Trevor Tucker are headed to comfortable victories, and newcomer Joe Mullins is well ahead of Commissioner Nate McLaughlin.
Low, $500 Bond For Sex Offender’s Re-Arrest Raises Sheriff’s Eyebrows–and Unravels
Bleak Case Through Court Maze
Tavares Calloway was 21 when he was charged with the statutory rape of a 15-year-old girl. Probation violations landed him in prison for 3 years. He’s been rearrested again on a violation weeks after his release.
Bunnell Selects Self-Proclaimed Economic Development Guru Alvin Jackson as Manager
Alvin Jackson was the only candidate interviewed twice. His first interview turned off commissioners for being too flashy. His second was calmer, and he’d schmoozed commissioners behind the scenes.
Primary Election Day Briefing: Heat Index Up to 102, Go Out and Vote, School Advisory Council Meetings, 5K Challenge
Time to vote: whatever your affiliation or non-party affiliation, there’s a ballot for you, Palm Coast discusses budgeting and pavement, Couch to 5K Challenge.