Palm Coast’s George Wood faces a stiff sentence following convictions for the 12th time on felonies, Sheriff Staly renames a jail wing in honor of Dr. Morris Carter, who’s been the jail’s doctor for four decades, G.K. Chesterton on public opinion.
Carousel
In 1st Forum of Season, School Board Candidates Discourse Rather Than Debate
Four of the five candidates running for Flagler County School Board have served 24 years between them and want to serve more. The fifth has never been in office.
Supreme Court Hears Latest Red Light Camera Case, But Justices Skeptical of Illegality
Several justices appeared skeptical as that the way a Florida city handles citations issued to motorists caught on camera is unlawful.
Dog Parks at Palm Coast’s Holland Park Closed Over Fears of Hookworm
A dog that recently used the parks was diagnosed with hookworm, which can affect pets and humans, prompting closure of the two dog parks and intervention by the health department.
Pianist George Winston, a Stetson Alumni, Returns For a Benefit Concert Feb. 25
The intimate evening of music with George Winston supports Stetson’s School of Music Scholarship Fund. Stetson dropped out of studying sociology at Stetson in the 1960s, but got an honorary doctorate in 2004.
Urging Opposition, Flagler Beach’s Jane Mealy Says Vacation-Rental Proposals Could Change City’s Look
In an open plea to residents circulated by letter, Flagler Beach Commission Chair Jane Mealy warns of vacation-rental proposals that could change the make-up of the city, eliminating distinctions between residential and commercial zones.
Wednesday Briefing: Meet School Board Candidates, Record Skywarn Class, Opioids and Hazing
The year’s first election forum features school board candidates at a Republican committee meeting, the Supreme Court hears a hazing case, legislators talk opioids.
Lawmakers Seek to Ban Campus “Free Speech Zones” and Make Universities Liable
Florida universities and colleges could be sued for up to $100,000 in damages if students or others “willfully” interfere with campus speakers or protestors.
What Trump Wants on Immigration Is Ethnic Cleansing
Trump’s offering a fig leaf of legal status for a relatively small slice of the undocumented population in return for a drastic cut of all immigration to the U.S.
Congregate Meals Program For Seniors at Wickline in Flagler Beach Hits Milestones
The need for congregate meals for seniors has grown in Flagler over the years, but federal and local funding has not, declining somewhat in the past 10 years.
County Agrees To Settling Dangerous Dog Case With Broader Implications on Authority
Flagler County Attorney Al Hadeed argues Circuit Judge Scott DuPont misconstrued and misapplied the law in a dangerous-dog decision the county is appealing to the Fifth District Court of Appeal.
Couple Park 6-Year-Old Autistic Child in Truck As They Watch Super Bowl at Bunnell Bar
Kristal and Robert Valenti were charged with felony child neglect after being accused of leaving their child in a truck outside Bunnell’s Beer House for hours so they could watch the Super Bowl.
Tuesday Briefing: Blood Moon Odyssey, Palm Coast Cell Tower, Hammock History, Knausgaard’s Autumn
The Palm Coast Council may approve the first lease for a new cell tower under new, looser wireless rules, Al Hadeed talks Hammock history at the Hammock Community Center, the story of a Blood Moon shot.
Lawmakers Level Withering Criticism Against State Agency Responsible For Medical Pot Rules
A legislative oversight committee delivered a public shaming to Florida pot czar Christian Bax on Monday, repeatedly chiding him others over poor rules and delays.
County Eliminates 15 Jobs, Outsourcing Janitorial Contract Commissioners Had Saved in 2015
Three years ago then-Flagler Commissioner Barbara Revels saved the jobs, arguing they were more important than outsourcing’s modest savings. This time, the commission voted 5-0 to outsource.
Woman, 42, Stops Her Car Off U.S. 1 and Ends Her Life With Gunshot as Helicopter Hovers
Maggie Olivera, 42, was found in her Toyota 4 Runner by the side of the road at Old Dixie Highway off U.S. 1 in Flagler after St. Johns County’s emergency helicopter had followed her from St. Johns.
Chief Judge Has Discouraging News For Flagler’s Hope of Landing 2nd County Judge
Despite certifying Flagler for an additional county court judge in 2016 and recognizing a still-increasing workload last year the Supreme Court has ruled against certifying an additional judge this year.
Monday Briefing: Repaving Colbert Lane and Bunnell, Strategic Planning, Operation Pedro Pan, CareerSource Grant
Road paving in Bunnell this week, Flagler gets ready to repave Colbert, the county settles a long-running dangerous-dog case, CareerSource Flagler Volusia receives training grant for hurricane evacuees.
Betting On That Super Bowl: States Moving To Legalize Sports Gambling Ahead of Court
The Supreme Court is expected to rule on a case that may open the way for states to authorize sports betting. Bills have been filed in 20 states in anticipation of the ruling.
At Coastal Cloud in the Hammock, a Culture More Cutting Edge Than Cutthroat Breeds Startling Success at 5-Year Mark
Palm Coast’s Coastal Cloud marked its 5-year anniversary with startling successes, including 40 percent annual growth, 140 employees and near-parity between men and women in the ranks.
Bills Opening Way For Guns in Churches Near Schools Chambered For Floor Votes
Under current law, people with concealed-weapons licenses can carry guns at churches but not if schools are on the property.
Daytona State College Awarded 7th Grant To Benefit Students of Mexican Descent
Since 2011, Daytona State has received more than $90,000 in related grant awards, including matching cash and in-kind services.
Belle Terre Elementary’s African American Read-In on Feb. 22 Seeking Volunteers
The goal is to make literacy a significant and exciting part of African American History Month. The school is seeking many volunteers to read to all classes from kindergarten through 6th grade.
Economy Adds 200,000 Jobs in 88th Straight Month of Expansion
Wages increased solidly for the second month, improving by 9 cents an hour after an 11-cent increase in December, but still barely ahead of inflation.
Weekend Briefing: Polar Plunge, A1A Clean-Up, DSC Financial Aid, Youth Orchestra, IKEA
An incredibly busy weekend in the area with First Friday in Flagler Beach, the Youth Orchestra in concert, shows at the Flagler Auditorium and Flagler Playhouse, Polar Plunge, and too much more.
Federal Judge Declares Florida’s Arbitrary and Governor-Controlled Method of Restoring Felons’ Voting Rights Unconstitutional
In a stinging blow to Gov. Rick Scott, a federal judge ruled that the governor’s near-exclusive authority to restore, and more often deny, voting rights to ex-felon is unconstitutional.
Jealousy and Phones Trigger Violent Domestic Confrontations, 1 Gunshot and 3 Arrests
Two men and a woman were jailed on felony charges stemming from separate, violent confrontations with their girlfriends or spouse after claims of infidelity.
Grant Will Fund Vocational Help For More Than a Dozen Students at FPC and Matanzas
A legislatively chartered organization granted FPC and Matanzas $22,000 for the vocational program through the Flagler Education Foundation.
Four Local Governments Vying For Residents To Enroll In Their “Academies”
Local governments’ citizenship academies have been relatively popular, especially among potential political candidates or people who want to see the plumbing of government firsthand.
Unnecessary Medical Care Is More Common Than You Think
A study finds that in a single year more than 600,000 patients underwent treatment they didn’t need, at an estimated cost of $282 million. “Do no harm” should include the cost of care, too, the report author says.
Thursday Briefing: Black History, Conklin at Democratic Forum, Caribbean Day, “Road Not Taken”
Black History Month launches today, Malcolm speaks of being a human being first, Colleen Conklin speaks to Palm Coast Democrats, Max Boot speaks of the Road Not Taken.
Mary McLeod Bethune’s Statue Halfway To Replacing Confederate Smith at Capitol
The Florida Senate voted 37-0 on Wednesday to pass a measure (SB 472) to have Bethune’s statue replace Confederate Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith at the National Statuary Hall in Washington.
Palm Coast Planning To Reduce All Whiteview Parkway to 2 Lanes For Footpath and Safety
86 injuries from 60 crashes in three years and the lack of a bike and footpath led Palm Coast to plan for reducing a stretch of Whiteview from four to two lanes.
Nancy Soderberg, Frontrunner: Democrat So Far Has No Competition in Congressional District
Democratic congressional candidate Nancy Soderberg raised $544,000 before Jan. 1, by far more than any Democrat has managed to raise for a race in a district that includes all of Flagler County.
War Of The Birds on Palm Coast’s Collingwood Lane Ends In Victory For Purple Martins
Neighbors on Collingwood Lane have been suing and battling each other for four years over two dozen bird houses. A judge has ruled in favor of the birds.
Bill Targeting Florida “Sanctuary Cities,” An Election-Year Wedge, Stalls In Senate
Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, tabled his proposed sanctuary-city ban after facing bipartisan opposition to the measure aimed at requiring local governments to comply with federal immigration laws.
Wednesday Briefing: Whiteview Parkway Narrowing, Skywarn Class, False Fat Facts
The Palm Coast city administration holds a public information session on the proposed re-engineering of Whiteview Parkway, Skywarn classes at the county, why so much of what you’ve been told about far is wrong.
County Approves Special Tax and Contract To Build Seawall for Painters Hill Homes
Each of the affected property owners is looking at an additional tax bill of roughly $100,000 spread over the next 15 years to pay for the seawall.
1st Round in New Session’s Vacation Rental Saga Goes Against Flagler Government
A Senate committee approved a bill that would nearly eliminate local government regulation of vacation rentals and enable a single licensee to have hundreds of rentals across the state.
Paul Dykes Sentenced To Life In Prison Without Parole 2 Times Over For Child Rape
A jury had found Dykes guilty on 24 counts, including raping a 1-year-old, in December, making the life sentences mandatory, and leaving little room for the judge or lawyers to maneuver.
Tuesday Briefing: Special Commission Meeting, Vacation Rentals, Paul Dykes Sentencing
The Palm Coast City Council discusses the first lease approval for a new cell tower under a fast-track arrangement, first Entrepreneur Night of 2018 at Moonrise Brewery, the county commission fast-tracks a project for an emergency berm on Painters’ Hill.
Jon Netts Will Run Again For Palm Coast Council. So Will Heidi Shipley–For Same Seat
Former Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts will challenge Council member Heidi Shipley for her seat, now that she has changed her mind and opted to run again.
Bunnell Claims It Charged Man With 2nd Degree Murder in Death of Emanuel. Sheriff and State Attorney Know Nothing About It.
The Bunnell city administration issued an announcement about the charge, but the State Attorney’s Office says the investigation is continuing, and the Sheriff’s Office says Thomas’s status has not changed.
For Kim Weeks, Nothing Left To Try Against 5 Remaining Felony Counts But a Trial
A circuit judge has denied ex-Flagler Elections Supervisor Kim Weeks’s motion to throw out the search warrant that led to evidence of allegedly illegally recorded conversations.
Treating Domestic Violence As A Medical Problem
Victims of domestic violence don’t typically volunteer the reason for their injuries, and doctors don’t always ask about abuse in the home. That failure of communication means the patients may miss out on the help they need.
Monday Briefing: Family Life Center Fundraiser, Cool Week Ahead, DeSantis Launches Campaign
The Family Life Center, Flagler County’s shelter for abused women, holds its annual golf fund-raiser, a week of bombing at the Ocala range, a rainy Monday yielding to a cooler, pleasanter week.
To Keep America Great, Legalize All Undocumented Immigrants
We have a choice: Keep our economy vibrant and enviable or demolish it by expelling and demonizing undocumented immigrants, as short-sighted nations have done in the false name of “purity” over the years.
Gala Raises $70,600 For Newly-Created Flagler Sheriff’s Employee Trust Fund
Donations will support the well-being of sheriff’s employees and provide immediate financial assistance in emergencies not necessarily covered by insurance.
Judge Lets Smokable Pot Case Go Forward, Rejecting State’s Motion to Dismiss
The suit challenges a state law, passed during a special legislative session last year, that bans medical-pot patients from smoking marijuana.
Kathleen Davis Is Flagler County Association of Realtors 2017 Affiliate of the Year
Kathleen Davis, of Grand Living’s affiliate Southern Title, has been named Flagler County Association of Realtors (FCAR) 2017 Business Affiliate of the Year.