Politically there may be a big difference between students’ safety and drug addicts. Ethically, there is none, and financially, addicts are being lethally short-changed.
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As in Flagler, Few Districts Embrace Arming “Marshals,” So Money May Shift to School Cops
In Flagler County, Superintendent Jim Tager and the school board said they would not support arming anyone who is not, in essence, as trained as school deputies must be to carry a weapon.
Vehicle Chase Ends in Arrest Off Palm Coast Parkway After Pick-Up Overturns
The driver of the pick-up fled on foot toward the Red Roof Inn but was apprehended by Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies within minutes.
Driver Plows Into 4 Bikers on U.S. 1 North of Matanzas Woods, 3 Are Hospitalized
Two men and a woman were hospitalized, one of them airlifted as a trauma patient, after a car plowed into them as they rode south on U.S. 1 Friday afternoon.
Shake-Up in Chambers: At Flagler Courthouse, 3 Judges Intervene Over Allegations of Deputies’ Sexual and Racial Improprieties
Two bailiffs have been disciplined and reassigned out of the courthouse, bailiffs have a new supervisor, and one judge’s administrative assistant lost her job as a judge’s assistant as a result of the alleged improprieties.
Weekend Briefing: Freedom’s Journal, The Nerd, Graham Swamp Endurance, Mozart and Friends, Youth Clinic
The Flagler Playhouse’s last weekend for “The Nerd,” a mountain-biking endurance event at Graham Swamp, NCAA youth sports clinic at Indian Trails Sports Complex, Recycled Percussion at the Auditorium.
Palm Coast Man Faces Attempted Armed Carjacking Charge After Rushing C.O.P. With Knife
Stephen Goldberg, 32, of Palm Coast’s E Section, allegedly brandished a knife and rushed a C.O.P. who was patrolling in her car near his house Thursday. He faces a slew of charges.
Behind Closed Doors, Palm Coast Council Was Willing To Risk Big Loss Against McDonald Until Judge and Adjuster Set It Straight
Battles between Palm Coast government–the council and Jim Landon, the manager–and Dennis McDonald, the perennial critic, got so personal in a previous lawsuit, records show, that the city was willing to risk taxpayer money until it was forced to accept a settlement.
Broad-Ranging Gun Control Proposal Could End Up on November Ballot as an Amendment
A proposed constitutional amendment would a minimum age of 21 on all firearm purchases, a 3-day waiting period and a comprehensive background check.
Thursday Briefing: Farm Swap and Music Jam, Enchanted Music of Ireland, Jake Tapper, Buxtehude
Andy Cooney brings his enchanted music to the Flagler Auditorium, and his Enchanted Music of Ireland, the Agricultural Museum’s Farm Swap, Jake Tapper on journalism.
White Supremacist Teacher Dayanna Volitich Mustn’t Be Returned to the Classroom
Try to imagine you’re a non-white student in Volitich’s social studies class. What do you do with this new information about your teacher’s “white superiority”?
The New Palm Coast Community Center: A Bounty of Spaces Welcoming Uses and Nature
The $8 million renovation more than triples the size of the old building to 18,000 square feet, with ample and handsome spaces inside and out, including a renovated public park.
Sheriff Credits “Fugitive Friday” Video For Re-Arrest of Palm Coast Man He’d Arrested In May
Sheriff Rick Staly last August pulled over James Christopher Raposa for speeding. He was later placed on probation on an impaired driving charge, but violated probation.
Wednesday Briefing: Night in 30s, Building Robots, Cancellations Aplenty, Olde Florida Title
Spring break takes its toll as various meetings are cancelled, one of the county’s oldest businesses marks a grand opening in Flagler Beach, a freezing night ahead, a Dietrich Buxtehude fugue.
Post-Hurricane Initiatives Fall Short of Measures to Prevent Fuel Crises In Next Storms
A strategic fuel-reserve task force and using rail-tank cars to bring fuel into evacuation areas to avoid a repeat of runs on gas stations were among initiatives that failed at this year’s legislative session.
Dennis McDonald To Sue Palm Coast for 3rd Time in 5 Years, 2nd Time Over Sidewalk Fall
Dennis McDonald, a four-time candidate for office who perennially sues Palm Coast and files complaints on elected officials, required a hip replacement after falling on a city sidewalk before Christmas.
After Awarding $15,000 Raise to Assistant, Palm Coast’s Landon Is “Offended” at Claim He’d Award Big Raises On His Way Out
Palm Coast Council member Heidi Shipley and Jim Landon, the city manager, got in a brief sniping duel over the raise Landon awarded a loyal second without informing the council.
Tuesday Briefing: Marion Hammer’s NRA, Palm Coast “Progress Report,” Free Army Field Band Concert
Marion Hammer’s NRA power in Florida, the Palm Coast Council hears from its administration on the city’s “progress” so far this year, a free concert at the Flagler Auditorium.
Palm Coast’s Bob Coffman Drops Out of Democratic Race for Congress, Citing Money
That leaves Nancy Soderberg, Stephen Sevigny and John Upchurch in the race on the Democratic side, with Soderberg so far the clear front-runner among Democrats, and John Ward among Republicans.
From Guns To Opioids To Education, A Legislative Session That Got A Few Things Done
The session became dominated in February by the aftermath of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Broward County.
Flagler Unemployment Ticks Up by 0.6%, Mirroring Increases in Surrounding Counties
Flagler, St. Johns, Duval and Volusia all saw unemployment figures increase by 0.5 to 06 percent in January, with Flagler’s increase also due to a larger labor force.
Lawmakers Pass $88.7 Billion Budget But With Few of Flagler’s or Local Cities’ Priorities
Palm Coast and the county did not get any extra appropriations, nor did Flagler’s county court system get extra help for Judge Melissa Moore-Stens.
Monday Briefing: Unemployment Report, Spring Break, Travel Policy, FPC Snow, Mencken on Poetry
Looks like a lot of Flagler County is taking the week off, not just schools, as spring break takes precedence over most duties all the way up to criminal court.
Nobody Knows How Many Kids Get
Caught With Guns in School. Here’s Why.
Lax reporting by schools, lax oversight by state and federal authorities make it nearly impossible to say just how many students get caught taking firearms into public schools each year.
Daytona State College Partners With UCF On Best Practices In Inclusive Classroom Grant
Daytona State’s College of Education has teamed with the University of Central Florida to develop new strategies for teaching and learning in an inclusive classroom setting, where students with and without disabilities learn together.
Bunnell Police Find Weapon Used in School Incident, a BB Gun, and Locate 2nd Boy
The gun allegedly brandished during a school-related incident was a BB gun, and the second boy located in relation with the incident may not be facing charges.
6 Years After Murdering Dana Mulhall, Paul Miller, 70, Claims Lawyer Failed Him By Not Invoking Stand Your Ground
Flagler Beach’s Paul Miller shot and killed his neighbor Dana Mulhall as Mulhall in a dispute over Miller’s barking dogs. Miller is contesting his life sentence and was back in court in Flagler today.
Brazenly Misrepresenting Council, Palm Coast’s Landon Names Assistant and Awards $15,000 Raise Council Did Not Approve
For Palm Coast Manager Jim Landon, the Beau Falgout appointment for $110,000 a year is the latest in a long list of instances where Landon’s version misrepresents the facts.
NRA Files Challenge Moments After Gov. Scott Signs School-Safety and Gun-Control Bill
The new law raises the permissible age to buy rifles from 18 to 21 and imposes a three-day waiting period for the purchase of rifles and other long guns, among other provisions.
Florida Increases Per-Student Funding By $101, Much Of It For Security and Mental Health
The annual school funding formula would include a new category for mental-health funding with $69 million and increase the school-coop pot by $97 million, to $162 million.
Bigotry-Laced Threats To Shoot Up Pet Smart Over Cats’ Insurance Lead to Woman’s Arrest
Keech, a 53-year-old resident of Palm Coast’s R Section, was upset that Pet Smart would not cancel the health plan for her two cats, which she claimed had died.
Weekend Briefing: Paul Miller in Court, Commissioner Eric Cooley, Lions’ Dining in Dark, Seafood Festival, Snowfest
Flagler Beach murderer Paul Miller, now 70, comes back to court, the Seafood Festival in Central Park, snow at FPC, the Lions’ Club’s Dining in the Dark fundraiser, symphonic hip hop.
Details Behind 6th Grader at Center of Bunnell School Incident Point To a “Gun,” a Troubled History and Family
The 6th grader at the center of the alleged gun incident by a Bunnell Elementary playground has had a history of suspensions and an unstable home life.
Palm Coast Man Faces Felony Animal Cruelty Charge After Yorkshire Terrier Is Brutalized
Brenden Geary of Winchester Place in Palm Coast is accused of brutalizing the 11-pound dog after the dog had allegedly relieved herself on the carpet.
Sheriff and Superintendent Pledge to Double School Deputies as They Outline New Normal Of Campus Security
School deputies will be increased to 13, with two at each high school and one in every elementary school, while a series of other security measures are implemented in a reflection of post-Parkland massacre norms.
Thursday Briefing: Eric Cooley Takes Office, Flagler Playhouse’s “Nerd,” Matanzas Stands With Parkland, Flood Risks
School and sheriff’s officials talk school security, Matanzas High School stands with Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High, “The Nerd” is back at the Flagler Playhouse.
Suspended Student Feared To Have a Weapon at Bunnell Elementary Fence Triggers Alert, and Arrest
A student who’d been suspended earlier in the day is facing arrest for assault was seen at a Bunnell Elementary fence with what looked like a weapon near dismissal time Wednesday afternoon, causing a lockdown.
“It Stinks,” Palm Coast Manager Says of WastePro’s Service as Mayor Speaks of Ending Contract
Mayor Milissa Holland is raising the possibility of finding a new garbage hauler for Palm Coast after losing patience with complaints about WastePro.
School Board Will Yet Again Try To Sell Corporate One Property Off Palm Coast Parkway
The school board will most likely have to sell the 7-acre property–now without a building–at a loss, after owning it since 2003 but for far more trouble than it was worth.
Wednesday Briefing: Canales in Court, County Commission Candidate Forum, Grand Living, Garcia-Marquez
Jonathan Canales, the veteran who shot his wife in the neck in the Monxed, is scheduled–again–to appear in court, a GOP forum for all county commission candidates, Grand Living replaces Coquina Construction in Flagler Beach.
House Edges Closer to Vote on Bill Mixing Guns With School Safety and New Limits
Those younger than 21 would be prohibited from buying rifles, others would have a 3-day waiting period. Coaches and others could be “deputized” as school marshals.
Pedestrian Struck By Vehicle on A1A at South 7th in Flagler Beach Is Air-Lifted
A man believed to be older than 55 was struck by a passing car on State Road A1A as he was crossing the street this evening around 7:15 p.m.
Another Exhausting But Short-Term Victory For Flagler Government as Vacation-Rental Deregulation Fails Again
Flagler County government had staunchly opposed lawmakers’ attempts to eliminate local regulation of short-term vacation rentals, regulations crafted in 2014 largely at Flagler’s behest.
Accused Drunk Driver Crashes Dodge Durango Through Fencing Along Rymfire Drive
Robert Sewell, 31, resident of Palm Coast’s R-Section, was on his way to Kangaroo at 1:25 Tuesday morning when he crashed through property fencing on Rymfire Drive.
Matanzas Student Frustrated in Math Jokes of “Shooting Up” the School, and Is Arrested
The arrest this morning of Raul Hernandez, 14, signals that school and sheriff’s officials will be taking a hard stand against any threats, however un-serious the intention.
Gregory Allen Henry, 12, Is Missing: Sheriff’s Deputies Seeking Public’s Help (Update: Found)
Gregory Allen Henry, a 12-year-old student at Wadsworth Elementary and a resident of Slator Court in Palm Coast who went missing Monday evening from a Seminole Woods park.
Tuesday Briefing: School Board Talks Security (Secretly), Palm Coast Photo Contest, Improv for Joy
The Flagler School Board meets in closed-door session to discuss campus security and in open to talk land sale, Palm Coast launches the year’s photo contest, a DC+SC prof talks on the joys of improv.
Senate Passes Safety Plan, Including Armed Teacher Program and $97 Million for More School Cops
Flagler County would be in line for a substantial increase in dollars allocated for school resource deputies, and would have the authority to implement a school marshal program.
For Sheriff and Flagler Schools, Clear Accord: No to Arming Teachers, Yes to More Deputies
At a joint news conference later this week, Sheriff Rick Staly and Superintendent Jim Tager will outline new security measures and initiatives and a plan for additional school deputies, but no weaponizing of teachers.
Hammock Beach “Dragging Their Feet” Over Dunes-Repair Agreement, Vexing County
The agreement with Hammock Beach is the last piece of a mosaic of agreements framing the reconstruction of protective dunes along the beach. But hammock Beach has yet to sign.