Council members discarded the idea of expanding the council to seven members and stuck to minor changes about elections in case of death or resignation, and the next charter-review process.
Bunnell Inmate With 8 Prior Charges For Assaulting Cops Gets 9th One
Samuel Higgins is awaiting trial on assault and burglary charges at the Flagler County jail. He threatened a correction’s deputy’s life and threw a liquid at him, an offense for which he’d previously served prison time.
Ban on Assault-Type Guns Fails in Raucous Hearing, Training and Arming Teachers Passes
The intense debate came during a Senate Rules Committee hearing on a broad package addressing school safety, guns and mental health, in response to this month’s massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland that left 17 people, including 14 students, dead.
Tuesday Briefing: Palm Coast Charter, Wickline Center’s Future, Get Out the Vote, Entrepreneur Night
The NAACP holds the season’s first Get Out the Vote campaign, Sheriff Staly is the Elks’ Citizen of the Year, Palm Coast talks charter, Flagler Beach talks Wickline, and Willie is in St. Augustine.
Bunnell’s Charles Cowart Jr. Arrested Again, For Allegedly Stealing 15 Flags in 3 Cities
Charles Cowart Jr. is accused of stealing enormous flags from Palm Coast Parkway and Indian Trails Sports Complex, among others. He’s been arrested many times for doing strange things.
For All of Sheriff Staly’s “Green Roof Inn” Tough Talk, the Green Also Stands For Hope and Renewal
Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly today unveiled the Stride Program at the county jail, an ongoing rehabilitation and preparatory program to help inmates reintegrate society and stay out of jail.
Flagler Beach Cuts Its Lifeguards in Half, Narrowing Coverage Area Closer to Pier
A $100,000 cut from the lifeguard budget accommodated the addition of a cop, a firefighter and a raise to the city manager, but will result in a smaller lifeguard coverage area.
As Calls For Broward Sheriff’s Removal Mount, Scott Orders Investigation of School Shooting Response
The directive came as House Speaker Richard Corcoran sent a letter co-signed by 73 Republican House members requesting that Scott suspend Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, a Democrat.
Monday Briefing: Banning Vaping in Bunnell, Old Kings EarlyAct, African-American Entrepreneurs, Orientalism
Bunnell wants to ban vaping in certain places, The African-American Entrepreneurs Club hosts a networking event to celebrate Black History Month, The McCartney Years.
Inside Atomwaffen As It Celebrates a Member for Allegedly Killing a Gay Jewish College Student
When Samuel Woodward was charged with killing 19-year-old Blaze Bernstein last month, Atomwaffen members cheered the death, concerned only that the group’s cover might have been blown.
Robert Barshied, Missing Two Days, Is Found Dead Near Bings Landing, an Apparent Suicide
Robert Barshied, 69, of Matanzas Shores, was found dead in a marsh after an extensive air, sea and foot search. He’d left a suicide note at his home.
Zambrano Orders Judge Scott DuPont to Clear Out of His Offices In Flagler and Putnam
Chief Judge Raul Zambrano’s order, delivered to DuPont by letter today, is as close to the firing of a judge short of a Supreme Court impeachment, and follows an investigation’s withering recommendation for removal.
Behind the Shooting On Seamanship Trail: Drugs, Underage Sex and Mom’s Warnings
Contents of Tristan George’s phone reveal incriminating texts and videos about underage sex and drugs, and warnings to the Palm Coast man from his mother about his behavior.
Epic Child Abuse Case Fails Stand Your Ground Defense in Debacle of Witnesses
An unusual stand-your-ground case unfolded in Flagler court this morning over an allegation that a 39-year-old man punched a 16-year-old girl at Epic Theater in palm Coast last October.
Lawmakers Craft Law Allowing Teachers To Carry Guns In Florida Schools
The controversial measure would allow trained teachers to bring guns to schools, a concept that has divided Republican politicians and faces opposition from Democrats and educators.
Weekend Briefing: Job Fair, Volunteer Services Gala, Flagship Showcase, Shakespeare In the Park, George Winston
Flagler Volunteer Services holds a fund-raising gala, The annual Flagler jobs fair at DSC, Shakespeare in the Park all weekend in Town Center, Leading ladies at FPC, George Winston performs at Stetson.
New Trouble For Gunshot Victim and Suspect: Rape Charge Involving a Minor
Tristan George, 19, was shot outside his Palm Coast house at 28 Seamanship Trail in November in a case still under investigation. He now faces a statutory rape charge.
With ‘Macbeth’ and Measureless Content, Palm Coast Arts Foundation and City Rep Theatre Launch Shakespeare In the Park
It’s “Macbeth” time Thursday through Sunday as the Palm Coast Arts Foundation and City Repertory Theatre hope Shakespeare in the Park, in Town Center, becomes a local tradition.
Felony Counts Against Ex-Supervisor
Kim Weeks Back Up To 9 In Latest Twist
Six weeks before trial, the prosecution has re-filed against ex-Elections Supervisor Kim Weeks, bringing up the counts against her back to nine in a move to turn up the pressure and angle for a plea. Weeks is not biting.
Thursday Briefing: African-American Read-In, Shakespeare In the Park, Leading Ladies, Art League Gig
Two plays kick off, Belle Terre Elementary hosts its second African-American Readi-In, vacation rentals get two legislative hearings, Kim Weeks in court, the art league celebrates its 40th.
School Shooting Survivors Demand Change in Tallahassee, But NRA-Backed Bills Only “Paused”
Students turned into activists as they cried, pleaded and argued with lawmakers Wednesday in the state Capitol, but they made limited gains, if any, with pro-gun bills merely paused.
In a First, Palm Coast Drug Dealer Is Indicted on 1st Degree Murder in Overdose Death of Savannah Deangelis
Joseph Colon, 34, of Palm Coast, is accused of selling the heroin and fentanyl that killed Savannah Deangelis, 23, moments later at her Grand Haven home last October.
Anxious Morning of Gun Threats in Palm Coast Affecting 3 Schools, and a Demonstration by 200 Students at FPC
A gun threat at FPC’s i3 Academy proved unfounded, Buddy Taylor and Wadsworth went on lockdown as deputies resolved another gun threat in Palm Coast’s P-Section, and 200 students at FPC demonstrated against gun violence.
“I’d Like To Stare At Him In the Eyes Now”
Serial Masked Armed Robber Sentenced To 30 Years as Victim Rebukes Him
A Terranova Restaurant owner in court today told castigated Charles Rushing-Griffen for the way he’d stared at her while robbing her at gunpoint in December.
Wednesday Briefing: Elijah Miller, Veterans Show on WNZF, Citizenship Ceremony, Gordon Lightfoot
Flagler College celebrates its new president with a U.S. citizenship ceremony, a new show for veterans begins on WNZF, suicide prevention in Tallahassee, Gordon Lightfoot is at the Peabody.
Teacher Unions Protected But Public Funding of Private School Students Advances
The Florida Senate rejected a House proposal to dissolve teacher unions if membership falls below a certain point, but also approved a version of a school voucher program funding private school students.
Mold Found In 2 Rooms at Sheriff’s Operations Center After 4 Employees Complain of Rashes
The four employees were relocated and the concern prompted an environmental investigation of the old but renovated building and the closure of two rooms pending extensive clean-ups.
Matanzas High Students Developing Justice Academy For Aspiring Cops and Lawyers
Matanzas High’s law and justice academy, developed by students with help from the sheriff’s office and others, mirrors the popular fire academy at Flagler Palm Coast High School.
2 Palm Coast Women in Separate Incidents Face Charges of Felony Child Abuse By Strangling
Julie Bruce, 52, is accused of strangling an 8-year-old child, and Tina Seale, 40, is accused of strangling a 13 year old. Both women live in Palm Coast.
Tuesday Briefing: Hurricane Problem-Solvers, Matanzas Flagship, Revision Commission, Trump’s Russian-Style Propaganda
The Flagler School Board discusses a new flagship program for Matanzas High, last Constitution Revision Commission hearing within commuting distance, Bunnell Planning talks variance v. special exception.
Gun Control Could Become a Key Issue in Florida’s Elections
Major political donors on both sides plan to use support for “common-sense” legislation as a litmus test for candidates during the 2018 midterm elections.
Witness Describes Disturbing Near-Miss Immediately Before Friday’s Crash That Killed 2 on SR100
Patrick Spurgeon, a trucker, said the woman who slammed into a pick-up, triggering the fatal wreck Friday, had moments earlier passed him while a motorcyclist was passing from the other direction.
Flagler Sheriff and County Officials Worry That Prison Reforms Could Shift Inmates,
and Costs, to County
A spate of criminal-justice reform bills in the Florida Senate has Flagler’s sheriff and a county commissioner worried about what that could mean for the local jail population and budgets.
Claiming “Nothing Will Be Done” On Guns Lets NRA Off the Hook, Overstating Its Strength
NRA influence has limits, and there’s evidence it’s on the wane, but fatalism spares opponents of gun reform from even having to make their arguments for protecting the gun lobby.
Monday Briefing: Heat Again, Constitution Revision Commission Hearing, Commission Triple-Header
This afternoon may be your only chance to address the Constitutional Revision Commission in person, in a 5-hour Jacksonville hearing, the Flagler County Commission has three meetings, more dune walkovers open up in Flagler Beach.
2 Dead, 4 Injured, 3 Seriously in 3-Vehicle Crash on SR 100, West of CR 305
A three-vehicle crash on State Road 100 west of Bunnell Friday evening resulted in the death of Ralph Pellicer, 43, of Bunnell and of Jobe Podach, 35, of Holly Hill.
T-Mobile and Hair Cuttery On Palm Coast Parkway Targeted By Smash-And-Grab Burglars
Both stores on Palm Coast Parkway were burglarized early Thursday morning after burglars smashed glass doors with bricks and ransacked interiors.
Deal Could End Wrangling Over Trauma Centers Around Florida
The Legislature has wrangled with whether to continue with current regulations or to allow a more competitive environment that would increase the number of trauma facilities.
Qualifications Commission Recommends Judge DuPont Removed, Calling Him “Reckless,” Untruthful and “Heavy Handed”
Judge Scott DuPont serves on Flagler’s and Putnam’s civil benches, and was facing a series of accusations that he’d acted wrongfully and recklessly as a judge and a candidate.
Weekend Briefing: Afro-American Heritage, Race the Runways, Dance Party, Nouvelle Trio, Sweetwater Birds
Flagler Beach Rotary’s runway run at the airport, the Annual Black Heritage Day Festival, birding at Sweetwater, Willie Nelson postpones to Feb 27, and a lot more.
Flagler Airport Chief Roy Sieger Calls Fuel Tax Cut Proposed By Renner Committee “Ridiculous,” and Loses
Airport Director Sieger spoke before Paul Renner’s Ways and Means Committee, but Renner, the Palm Coast Republican, voted with the committee to approve the tax cut.
Florida Was Eyeing Fast-Tracking Concealed Weapon Licenses Without Background Checks
A proposal that would allow some concealed-weapons license applications to be approved when background checks have not been completed was put on hold Thursday because of the deadly high-school shooting in Broward County.
Palm Coast Man Arrested on Charges of Bathing Toddler in Boiling Water and Beating Him
Deviaun A. Toler, 26, of 32 Westfield Lane in Palm Coast, was arrested this morning after an investigation alleges he bathed a child in boiling water and beat him with a switch and a belt.
Fugitive Who Taunted Sheriff on Facebook Is Arrested; Deputy Injured in Violent Struggle
Leslie Pitter faces a first-degree felony after dislocating a deputy’s shoulder in an encounter that included his being tased, and fugitive Francisco Valdez was caught and jailed after taunting the sheriff’s Fugitive Frriday Bingo.
Thursday Briefing: Farm Swap at Ag Museum, Stayin’ Alive at Auditorium, FHF Auxiliary, Galileo
It is Galileo’s birthday, disco fever at the Flagler Auditorium, a new weekly gig at the Florida Agriculture Museum, the African Diaspora, an evening of chamber music.
Florida Democrats Speak of Margaret Good’s Victory as a Sign of a Coming “Blue Wave”
Margaret Good’s victory on Tuesday, winning a Florida House seat in Sarasota County, represents the 36th time a Republican seat has flipped Democratic since the 2016 election.
In a Flagler First, 16 Couples Marry, 5 Renew Vows in Mass Ceremony on Courthouse Steps
A couple together 60 years were among those renewing vows in a ceremony led by Clerk of Court Tom Bexley and coinciding with Valentine’s Day.
Facing Deportation, an Undocumented Immigrant Held at Flagler Jail Changes His Plea at Last Minute
The case of Palm Coast resident Filipino Francisco Justo underscores how the potential for deportation increases rather than decreases burdens on the judicial and penal systems.
Wednesday Briefing: Mass Marriage On Courthouse Steps, Linda Cole’s Valentine, Lincoln on Foreigners
Clerk of Court Tom Bexley presides over a mass wedding on the courthouse steps, the Public Safety Coordinating Council meets, Linda Cole performs at the library, Lincoln speaks to and of foreigners.
The Sheltering Tree, Flagler’s Homeless Shelter, Holds Fundraiser March 4
The “Have a Heart for the Homeless” dinner and dance will raise money for the shelter assisting new, near, or chronically homeless, and the all-volunteer effort needs your help.