William Westervelt and Jerry Falls, among the most frequent inmates at the Flagler jail, now faces charges of grand theft, burglary and dealing in stolen property, the latest of dozens of charges between them going back a few years.
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Behind Palm Coast’s Inspired Mic, A King With Nine Lives Defies Dreads, Death and Taboos
After a hiatus The Inspired Mic, Palm Coast’s most daring and unpredictable open mic event, returned to the New Europa under the direction of Michael Ray King, who organizes the monthly event with a light touch, himself inspired by a personal history of harrowing survival.
Flagler’s African American Mentor Program Honors Its Own Weeks After Earning Unsung Hero Award
The African American Mentoring Program is the creation of former school board member Jim Guines and John Winston, who 10 years ago saw a broad need in the county for mentors to guide young, black students who, for one reason or another, lacked direction.
Suicide, Now 2nd-Leading Cause of Death for Young Floridians, Seen as Public Health Threat
While suicide is increasing for nearly every age group, it’s now the second-leading cause of death for Floridians aged 25 to 34, according to the state Department of Health Vital Statistics, and the third-leading cause of death among youths aged 10 to 24.
Weekend Briefing: Arbor Day in Central Park, Bogosian at CRT, Prom Night, Drug Court Graduation
You can get a free hardwood tree in exchange for a food donation at Arbor Day, Pastor Charles Silano keynotes drug court graduation, last chance to see Bogosian’s Sex Drugs Rock & Roll.”
Volusia County Wants Out Of the Next Bear Hunt
The Volusia County Council on Thursday unanimously approved a “symbolic” resolution urging the commission to reinstate a prohibition on hunting Florida black bears.
On Eric Drive, No Recourse After a Dog Is Maimed in Hit-and-Run and Near-Miss for Owner
Angela diBella was walking her two dogs on April 28 in the E Section when an oblivious driver car struck her 10-year-old Shih Tsu, which had to be euthanized less than 90 minutes later. There are no penalties for drivers’ negligence in such cases.
Bogosian’s “Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll” at CRT: The Frightening Drift of American Life, Updated
Those who see the show at Palm Coast’s City Repertory Theatre will find themselves in very recognizably angry American territory even though the play was written in 1990.
Thursday Briefing: Bunnell Day of Prayer, Cycle de Mayo, Coastal Cloud, Mentors, Death Penalty
Today is “Cycle de Mayo” Ride Your Bike to Work Day, it’s Bunnell’s annual Day of Prayer, FEMA holds a workshop on new flood maps in the Hammock, the African American Mentor Program’s Young Men of Distinction end-of-year banquet takes place.
Three Candidates for Elections Supervisor Offer More Strengths Than Differences
The three candidates for elections supervisor–Kaiti Lenhart, Abra Seay and Kimble Medley–had their first chance to distinguish themselves before voters this evening in a 60-minute forum that featured more qualities between them than anything else, and no abrasiveness.
Florida Republicans Try to Come to Terms With The Donald, #NeverTrump Notwithstanding
Shortly after Trump’s victory Tuesday, Republican Party of Florida Chairman Blaise Ingoglia issued a statement calling on the party to get over a contentious primary that once included U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
A Lockdown in Putnam Ripples to Anger in Palm Coast and a Man’s Arrest in Shooting
Gregory J. Marr was arrested after shooting his gun in the canal off Chelsea Court in Palm Coast and allegedly pointing it at his wife, whom he’d been unable to reach after a murder at her health care facility triggered a lockdown.
Quarter-Size Hail Strafes Flagler in Morning Storm
Hail fell across Bunnell and parts of Palm Coast between 8:15 and 8:30 a.m., the weather service reports. Some resident reported hail the size of half dollars.
Flagler Auditorium Sees $500,000 Grant As 1st Step to $5 Million Capital Makeover
The Flagler Auditorium is in line to get five successive $500,000 grants that the auditorium board and the district would match, enabling the transformation of the 25-year-old facility, including a lobby three times bigger than its current size.
Wednesday Briefing: Election Supervisors Square Off, Code Enforcement Board Enforces, Cruz Out
The three candidates for election supervisor–incumbent Kaiti Lenhart and challengers Kimble Medley and Abra Seay–square off for the first time at a Republican Club forum, Ted Cruz says goodbye.
Flagler Schools Seeks to Be 1st in Florida To Use Concussion-Alert Football Helmets District-Wide
The helmets, which would cost $500 each, would alert coaches and trainers in real time of the severity of collisions players sustain to the head, enabling trainers to more readily take precautions against concussions.
Flagler County Quietly Scraps Plan for 3 New Emergency Communications Towers, For Now
After the Flagler County Commission voted down a planned 350-foot tower on John Anderson Highway, NexTower, which would have built three towers, pulled out of the deal entirely, returning the county’s planning for its emergency infrastructure’s backbone to close to near zero.
Florida’s Death Penalty Alive and Willed as Guzman Is Sentenced to Die For 3rd Time in Daytona
A jury in Daytona Beach today voted 11-1 to recommend death for James “Chico” Guzman in the hacking to death of David Colvin, 48, at a motel on Ridgewood Avenue on Aug. 10, 1991.
Road Clears for Charlie Crist’s Election to Congress as Opponent Drops Out for Another Race
Eric Lynn, a former Pentagon official who was battling Crist in the Democratic primary in the newly redrawn Congressional District 13, issued a statement saying he will run for a legislative seat being vacated by state Rep. Dwight Dudley, D-St. Petersburg.
Tuesday Briefing: School Board Talks Football Helmets, Palm Coast Priorities, Talent Show Auditions
The school board is considering football helmets that alert coaches of repeated head crashes, the Palm Coast City Council will adopt yet another set of priorities, it’s talent show audition time, and congratulations to Leicester City for its historic win.
Speculation of Donald Trump-Rick Scott Ticket Increases As Governor Tours Nation
Trump encouraged the rumors when he praised three governors as possible contenders–Rick Scott, Chris Christie and John Kasich. Scott has kept up a rigorous travel schedule to raise his national profile.
Flagler Firefighter Among Targets of Car Thieves and Burglars in Palm Coast’s R and P’s
Palm Coast’s R and P Sections were the target of four car thefts and almost a dozen burglaries between Sunday and Monday, including two vehicles at the address of a Flagler County Fire Rescue lieutenant.
County Floats Consolidation of Fire Services And Finally Agree to Meet With Palm Coast
At a long-awaited workshop this afternoon Flagler County responded to Palm Coast’s pressing for a new way to deliver ambulance services, but by countering with a proposal the city is not likely to approve in any way.
Its Elections Equipment “Old Enough to Vote,” County Approves $545,000 For New Machines
The new voting machines will not be in use before the 2018 municipal elections, however, as the supervisor of elections office will need time to train its workers and conduct some voter education first.
Monday Briefing: EMS Ping-Pong, Flagler Edition, New Vote-Counting Machines, Peace Run, The Somme in Poems
The County Commission responds to Palm Coast’s EMS obsession with a proposal of its own, the peace run comes to Palm Coast City Hall, the supervisor of elections gets to buy new vote-counting machines, the Somme in poetry, from the air.
Jacksonville Symphony Plays to Palm Coast Arts Foundation Overture, 12 Years in Making
The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra played to close to 1,200 people Sunday evening at the Palm Coast Arts Foundation’s new home in Town Center, an audience as rich in stories as the music.
Probationer Arrested After Attempted Burglary in Palm Coast’s B-Section, Fleeing From Cops
Maurice Godwin, 35, was allegedly burglarizing a house at 1 Bird Haven Place in Palm Coast when the homeowner surprised him and Godwin fled, eventually speeding away from cops until his car crashed in west Flagler.
Trump’s Dangerous America First Campaign
Trump holds his own supporters in the greatest contempt as he stokes and manipulates their rage, rooted in frustration with stagnant wages and fear of the unknown. Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric has helped to take fears to the next level.
A New Way to Keep an Eye on Who Represents You in Congress
The project adds pages for each elected official, where you can find their latest votes, legislation they support and statistics about their voting. As we move forward we want to add much more data to help you understand how your elected officials represent you, the incentives that drive them and the issues they care about.
Flagler’s Emergency Operations Center at 10 Years: A Few Fires, 5 Managers, Zero Hurricanes
The Emergency Operations Center was part of a $90 million public building spree at the height of the housing boom, just before it all crashed. The center has yet to know its first hurricane emergency, though it’s helped the county through several fire and major storm emergencies.
Citing Disrespect, Flagler Beach Emphatically Tells A1A Group To Stick Its Signs Elsewhere
The city commission, following up on overwhelming public opposition to the signs, voted 5-0 to refuse all Scenic A1A signs in the city after the scenic group neither involved the city nor respected its wishes to limit the signs to four.
Attorney Representing Linda Bolante in Cases Against Sheriff Manfre Responds
The attorney for Linda Bolante, Sheriff Manfre’s former finance director and the source of the ethics claims against him, responds to allegations against her Manfre made on the radio last week.
No, Pat Mooney, Immigrants Aren’t Cattle
Republican candidate Pat Mooney, running for the congressional seat that includes Flagler, managed to compare all Syrians to terrorists, all tourists and immigrants to cattle, and called for foreigners to be “chipped” and tracked the moment they enter the country.
Weekend Briefing: Sex, Drugs, Rock n Roll at CRT, Jax Pops and PCAF, Domestic Violence 5K, Ben & Jerry’s Comes to St. Augustine
Local stages will be rich with plays and musicals this weekend–“Sex Drugs, Rock n Roll” at City Rep, “Into the Woods” at the Playhouse, “Spelling Bee” at Matanzas, and of course the Palm Coast Arts Foundation’s annual Picnics and Pops Concert with the Jacksonville Symphony on Sunday.
For Triumphant Palm Coast Arts Foundation, A Symphonic Homecoming in the Key of Bold
It’ll be the end of a triumphal journey for the Palm Coast Arts Foundation when the Jacksonville Symphony performs its pops concert Sunday before a record crowd of 1,200 in Town Center.
Lawmakers Are Reducing Florida’s Public Schools To Factories of Failure and Inequity
Time to take a good look at whether the changes we’ve endured — mass privatization, real-dollar funding decreases, high-stakes testing, and loss of local school board authority — gets us closer to carrying out our constitutional duty to our children.
As Trial Is Set In 65-Year-Old’s Alleged Sex Assaults of Girl, 13, Some Evidence in Limbo
Robert Zetrouer, 65, faces three 2nd-degree felony counts in the sex assaults of the 13-year-old daughter of his then girlfriend in Palm Coast, but lawyers agreed to possibly exclude some testimony involving the girl’s brother in the early portion of the trial, set for July 18.
In a Blow to Business, Supreme Court Bans Workers Comp Limits on Attorney’s Fees
The ruling stemmed from a case in which an attorney was awarded the equivalent of $1.53 an hour in successfully pursuing a claim for benefits for a worker injured in Miami.
Poison Flush: Drug Take-Back Day in Palm Coast and Flagler Beach on Saturday, No Questions Asked
Residents can stop at four locations in Palm Coast and one in Flagler Beach to privately return expired or unwanted prescription, over-the-counter meds, vitamin or herbal remedies as well as veterinary medications.
Thursday Briefing: Community Cats Calling, Inspired Mic, Flagler Beach Sign Forest, Obama’s Lost Narrative
Community Cats of Palm Coast has a fundraiser hosted by SeaCasas in Flagler Beach, where the city commission will talk about dreaded street signs it doesn’t want, and how Obama lost his narrative drive.
Palm Coast Man Accused of Slamming 4 Year Old to Ground Is Committed to State Hospital
A judge today determined Christopher Williams, 22, incompetent to stand trial just yet, but his commitment to a psychiatric hospital may be temporary. The judge will reevaluate his condition at an undetermined date.
Sen. Travis Hutson Draws a Democratic Opponent in Palm Coast’s Curtis Ceballos
Curtis Ceballos, 54, launched two technology startups in the past two years and intends to focus on technology jobs and vocational education in his campaign. He unsuccessfully ran for county commission in 2006.
Jonathan Canales, Accused of Shooting His Wife in Mondex, Will Not Face Trial Just Yet
Committed to a psychiatric hospital a year ago, Canales, a PTSD-suffering Iraq veteran, was judged still incompetent for trial in alleged shooting of Tiffany Norman, but today’s hearing suggested that such a trial is now a matter of time.
Trump Wins Again in Florida as Court Votes For Him in Beachfront Hotel Dispute
The failed Trump International Hotel & Tower Fort Lauderdale is among other Trump-branded projects that tanked and prompted lawsuits from disgruntled investors who lost millions of dollars in deposits.
Wednesday Briefing: Competency Hearing for Man Accused of Slamming Child, Oliva Talks Economy, Indefensible Secrecy on 9/11 Report
Christopher Williams is accused of slamming a 4-year-old to the ground and causing horrendous injuries: his competency to stand trial is in question. Superintendent Jacob IOliva speaks to the economic opportunity council. The 9/11 report’s censored pages must be released.
Deputy David Malta, Class of ’87, Is Latest Long-Timer to Retire from Sheriff’s Office
David Malta, the latest in a long string of veterans who have left, retired or been forced out of the agency, started his career under Sheriff Bob McCarthy. His retirement was foreordained, however, because of a Florida Retirement System program he joined five years ago.
2-Year-Old Girl Pulled Unresponsive From F-Section Pool Sunday Has Died
The 2-year-old daughter of Mandee and Douglas Seitz who was pulled unresponsive from her swimming pool on Palm Coast’s Ft. Caroline Court Sunday evening died late Monday night, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said today.
Waldemar Rivera Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison Over Step-Daughter’s Rape
Waldemar Rivera, 37, was sentenced last month in a rape of his 13-year-old step-daughter in their P-Section home in Palm Coast. Judge Matthew Foxman expressed surprise at the contrasting demeanor of Rivera in court with that of the man being sentenced for the crime.
In Palm Coast’s Expensive Hunt for New Retailers, a Few Leads, But Only Low Wages
Last July Palm Coast government signed a $135,000, contract with marketing company to recruit retailers. Nine months later, a couple of low-wage retailers are possible, and a half dozen more are long-term possibilities, but nothing more firm than that.
Homeschooling: Not So Eccentric Anymore
The number of American K–12 children educated at home increased from 1.09 million in 2003 to 1.77 million in 2012. That means they make up 3.4 percent of the nation’s school population.