The Flagler County Commission gathers to take stock of its Hurricane Matthew-whacked budget situation, Bunnell set to appoint Ron Bolser fire chief, Josh Crews Writing Project at Princess Place.
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An Outbreak of Anti-Semitism in an Angry and Fearful America Since Trump’s Election
“Documenting Hate,” an attempt to document hate crimes and bigotry from a divided America, has recorded more than 330 reports of anti-Semitic incidents during a three-month span from early November to early February.
Biker Jeffery Coffman of Palm Coast, 59, Killed On U.S. 1’s Triple-A Curve South of Belle Terre
Jeffery Lynn Coffman, 59, of Clermont Court in Palm Coast, is the latest victim of a curving stretch of U.S. 1 that has claimed the lives of several people over the years.
Ron DeSantis’s First Principle: Do Harm
Obamacare repealer Rep. Ron DeSantis, whose congressional district includes Flagler, has a solution for cancer patients without insurance: the emergency room. A few corrections are in order.
Sheriff Settles Suit With Ex-Finance Director For $200,000, Causing Delays In Future Hires
Linda Bolante filed a whistle-blower suit against ex-Sheriff Jim Manfre in 2014 after she claimed to have been forced to resign over her raising questions about his ethical practices.
Lopsided House Votes To Abolish Enterprise Florida and Economic Development Limbs
The House also voted 80-35 to approve a separate measure (HB 9) that would overhaul the structure and contract-reporting requirements of Visit Florida.
“Insulted” By Chairman Tucker’s Grip On Information Flow, School Board’s Conklin Calls For Rethink Of Rules
Flagler School Board member Colleen Conklin wanted the board and staff to review a state report. Trevor Tucker objected, absent a majority of the board agreeing. That caused an unusual clash and rethink of etiquette on the board.
U.S. Economy Adds 235,000 Jobs,
Continuing Long Pace of Robust Growth
The unemployment rate fell to 4.7 percent, not quite the post-Great Recession low of 4.6 percent recorded last November, but close enough.
Weekend Briefing: Matanzas Band Plays On, Bike Week, Flagler Reads, Food Giveaway, Seafood Festival
The Matanzas High School Band takes the stage again after the loss of one of its own, the Blessing of the Fleet on Sunday, the Seafood Festival returns to Central Park, Ron DeSantis town halls.
Florida Senate Backs Unanimous Juries in Death Sentences
Thursday’s Senate vote — on the third day of the 2017 legislative session — would ostensibly fix the weaknesses identified by the majority of the Florida Supreme Court with the current law.
30-Year-Old Biker Travis Staub Critical In Head-On Collision With Car on Rymfire in Palm Coast
A 30-year-old man on a motorcycle was critically injured in a head-on collision with a car on Rymfire Drive in Palm Coast.
Revealing Look at How Flagler Beach Commission, in Closed-Door Meeting, Settled Wrongful Arrest Claim
Vassili Mironov had sued the Flagler Beach Police Department for $89,000 after his arrest at Finns for a fight he says he did not start. He got $6,000 in a settlement that revealed how divided city commissioners arrived at their 3-2 vote.
Lawmakers Back Secrecy for Murder Witnesses
Witnesses’ identifying information would remain secret for two years after the date of the incidents, except to prosecutors and police.
In Unusual Reversal of Roles, 2 Cyclists Hurt as They Rear-End Van on Colbert Lane
Two cyclists rear-ended a Town and Country van that had pulled over on Colbert Lane, near Lakeview Drive, to make a phone call. Both cyclists were taken to Floirida Hospital Flagler.
Thursday Briefing: Flagler Beach Swears-In Shupe and Carney, Tolerance, Islamic Prayer and Back Pain
The Flagler Beach City Commission swears-in its two winning incumbents, Marshall Shupe and Kim Carney, explaining the consequences of self-harm, amusing ourselves to death.
Salvo Art Project Close To Taking Over Maxwell House In Bunnell After 3-Month Hibernation
JJ GRaham’s and Petra Iston’s Salvo Art Project, forced out of Nature Scapes two months ago, is close to moving into the 5,000 square foot Maxwell House in Bunnell after getting approved for a loan to buy the $275,000 building.
Palm Coast Council Approves Mayor’s Weekly Radio Infomercial After All, and More
The Palm Coast City Council voted 4-1 Tuesday to go ahead with a weekly radio infomercial, for $10,000, hosted by Mayor Milissa Holland, as well as staff-produced podcasts.
Palm Coast Deputy Fire Chief Jerry Forte Earns Chief Fire Officer Designation
Deputy Chief Forte was recognized Tuesday by the Palm Coast City Council, with the Chief Fire Officer designation presented by Fire Chief Mike Beadle.
Deputies on Alert For Suspicious Man Who Tried to Lure Children Into Woods on Peppercorn Lane
A man attempted to give an 11-year-old girl and her brother $20 to show them a “hiding place” in the woods as the children played on Palm Coast’s Peppercorn Lane Monday.
Wednesday Briefing: Flagler Beach v. Sklar Marina, Teacher Pay, Pynchon on Balance, Kiwanis Grants
The Flagler Beach City Commission holds a closed-door meeting to discuss its legal case against Howard Skalr’s marina on the Intracoastal, Thomas Pynchon on balance in media, the Public Safety Coordinating Council meets for the first time in two months.
In State of the State, Gov. Scott Takes Fight for Economic Incentives to House Speaker
The speech to open the 2017 legislative session came just two days before the House is expected to take up legislation that would abolish the economic-development agency Enterprise Florida and restrict tourism-marketer Visit Florida.
City Elections: Flagler Beach Voters Stay With Shupe and Carney, Bunnell Elects John Sowell and Re-Elects Rogers
Flagler Beach voters gave Marshall Shupe and Kim Carney solid re-election numbers, while Bunnell voted out Bonita Robinson, replacing her with John Sowell, and re-electing John Rogers to three-year terms.
Palm Coast Retreats From Mayor Radio Show In Favor of Free, Staff-Hosted Podcast
After the controversy triggered by City Manager Jim Landon’s mishandling of a radio show proposal featuring the mayor, his administration is proposing a podcast instead, but while still spending $8,000 on promotional radio advertising.
Missing: Elizabeth Higgins, 16, Also Known as Rhiannon Higgins, Has History of Running Away
Higgins is 16, white, about 5’2”, and weighing 135 pounds. She was last seen possibly wearing a green hoodie and blue jeans. Her direction of travel is unknown.
Tuesday Briefing: Elections in Flagler Beach and Bunnell, Palm Coast “Radio,” State of the State, Driverless Cars
Two seats in Flagler Beach, two seats in Bunell up in this election featuring three candidates in each contest, Palm Coast will re-discuss the Milissa Holland radio show with a new proposal, Rick Scott does State of the State, the school board holds an epic workshop.
O’Brien Surprise: Commissioner Agrees To Higher Tourism Tax, But With Beach Twist
County Commissioner Donald O’Brien today was willing to raise the county’s tourism tax to 5 percent, but to further increase revenue for beach restoration, and, for a year, lower revenue for promotions.
Felons Seeking to Regain Right To Vote Look to Constitutional Amendment
The constitutional change, if approved, could open up voting rights for more than 700,000 Floridians, although fewer than 300,000 could be expected to apply, at least initially.
Three Deputies Injured In Separate Incidents With Suspects Prompts Warning From Sheriff
A road deputy and two detention deputies were injured over three days in separate assaults, two of them involving inmates with violent histories, one of them during a foot chase.
Cyclist Richard A. Lee, 59, Is Killed Crossing Palm Coast Parkway at Boulder Rock Drive
Richard A. Lee was struck by a car at the intersection of Palm Coast Parkway and Boulder Rock Drive just before 7 p.m. Sunday evening. Lee, a resident of Palm Coast’s B-Section, later died en route to a hospital.
Monday Briefing: Tourism Tax Increase, Short-Term Vacation Rental Regulation, Felon Voting Rights, Dred Scott at 160
The county commission considers raising the county’s tourism tax from 4 to 5 percent, the Supreme Court reviews the proposed ballot wording of a constitutional amendment that would restore voting rights to felons who complete their sentence,
Remembering John Hankinson Jr., Towering Force in Environmental Protection in Flagler and Elsewhere
John Hankinson Jr., a long-time resident of Summer Haven just north of Marineland, had been an EPA Regional administrator and had headed a post-Deepwater Horizon spill task force. He was a frequent performer in the local musical scene as Johnny Matanzas.
Rideshare South: Why Way Fewer Teens Are Bothering With a Driver’s License
The drop has been sharpest in the South, where the share of high school seniors with a driver’s license fell from 88.6 percent in 1996 to 71.2 percent in 2015.
Palm Coast’s 2017 Photo Contest
Inviting Entries Through May 31
The photographs will be used by the city for marketing, promotional and public relations purposes such as publications, videos and websites, and at city facilities, to promote the city.
Gov. Scott Names Political Loyalists To Constitutional Revision Commission
Scott’s selections included a number of Republican political allies, including influential insurance lobbyist Fred Karlinsky, a major Scott political fundraiser, and Brecht Heuchan, a key player with the governor’s “Let’s Get to Work” political committee.
Jim Landon’s Fake News
Palm Coast Manager Jim Landon’s plans for a “scripted” weekly radio infomercial hosted by Mayor Milissa Holland demeans the mayor, the council and her listeners. If Holland is to do a show, it should be on her unscripted terms.
Florida Supreme Court Upholds Ban On Openly Carrying Guns in 4-2 Ruling
Justices, in a 4-2 ruling, said the state law “regulates only one manner of bearing arms and does not impair the exercise of the fundamental right to bear arms.”
Palm Coast’s Michelle Taylor, 16, Is Killed When Struck by Car on Lakeview Blvd., 21 Year Old Injured
Michelle Taylor, 16, a student at Matanzas High School, was killed, and 21-year-old Elizabeth Sherman was injured. They were struck just past the intersection with Laramie Drive.
Weekend Briefing: Job Fair, 1st Amendment Vigil, Flagler Reads History, Haw Creek Paddle, Walk for Food
FPC’s Walk for Food on Saturday, First Amendment Vigil in Daytona Saturday evening, Flagler Centennial events from Sisco Deen on the county’s history to a kayaking trip, Florida’s anniversary, much more.
Stephen Schoembs, 43, Celebrated Chef and Flagler Native, Found Dead at Walmart Parking Lot
Stephen Schoembs had been reported missing the day before. The cause of death has not been determined. He was the executive chef at Hammock Dunes Club after a stint abroad.
Flagler Beach Could Have an 1,100-Foot Pier, But On Concrete, and Not Before 2021
Concepts of a future Flagler Beach pier were unveiled, projecting greater length but less wooden rusticity, and still a lot of uncertainty regarding cost. The earliest date for a new pier would be 2021.
Florida’s Fractured Republican Leaders Heading Into Contentious Legislative Session
A philosophical schism is plaguing a fractured Republican Party leading up to what insiders characterize as potentially one of the most contentious legislative sessions in modern history.
Thursday Briefing: Flagler’s New Website, Thai By Thai Returns, Dr. Seuss Night, Lambert Avenue Drainage, King Kong
It’s Dr. Seuss Night at Rymfire and Wadsworth Elementaries, on Dr. Seuss’s 113th anniversary, Thai by Thai welcomes the diners’ club, Flagler Beach’s Lambert Avenue residents get a drainage presentation.
Dog Gets Killed by Neighbor’s Dog. That Was Only Part of the Problem for Responding Deputies.
A young Flagler County Sheriff’s deputy became the object of a woman’s aggression after cops had been called to the address over a disturbance with neighbors, and a dead dog.
Heads Scratch as Mysterious Lift-Boat Appears Near Shore in Flagler Beach
An oil-rig like platform that’s actually a “liftboat” appeared near shore, traveling south, in Flagler Beach tonight, and stopped, raising pylons and more questions than answers.
Palm Coast Government Wants To Know: How Are We Doing? Survey Draws Thousands
By February’s end, the online survey of Palm Coast residents on life in the city had drawn upwards of 3,000 responses, more than six times more than the mail-in surveys the city conducted through an agency in previous years.
Guns at Florida Airports, Colleges, Government Buildings: House Speaker Says “Let’s Try It”
Some 39 bills, resolutions and resolution-like memorials have been filed in the Legislature so far that include language that would make gun possession and carrying more permissive in Florida.
Don’t Fall For False Tone of Moderation in Trump’s Fact-Challenged Speech to Congress
Some pundits and lawmakers applauded Trump for this “presidential” moment. Tone aside, however, the substance of the speech doesn’t diverge from Trump’s radical nationalist extremism, argues Peter Certo.
Florida Hospital Flagler, County’s Largest Private Employer, In Network Named Great Place to Work
The “150 Great Places to Work in Healthcare” distinction recognizes organizations for their commitment to fulfilling missions, creating outstanding cultures and offering competitive benefits to their employees.
Wednesday Briefing: Thrive, Beer Day, Facts, Ethics, Maya Angelou, Disney’s “Exclusively Gay Moment”
A relatively quiet day in Flagler but it’s Beer Day in Iceland, the trouble dogmatic beliefs, and how Disney’s new version of Beauty and the Beast explores sexuality.
In Ugly Meeting Over Mayor’s Radio Show, Palm Coast Manager and Council Member Turn Offensive
City Manager Jim Landon made baseless accusations of “misinformation” and council member Steve Nobile called fellow-member Nick Klufas a child during a discussion of a proposed weekly radio show featuring Mayor Holland, and paid for with public money.