The April party had taken place on private property–where the 15 people involved had been trespassing–with some of the drinkers younger than 21.
Carousel
Monday Briefing: FPC’s Dusty Sims Gets State Honors, Sea Ray Parking Green-Lighted, Traditional Phones Lose Appeal
Dusty Sims, the 2015 state assistant principal of the year, will be honored in Tallahassee today. He has since been named principal at Flagler Palm Coast High School.
Iran Nukes Deal Will Protect Against Saudi and Israeli Threats
Iran hasn’t launched a single war in 50 years. Israel has launched eight, Saudi Arabia has kept funding America’s worst enemies–ISIS, the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. Who are the real threats to Mideast peace?
Not So Fast on Killing Teddy: Conservationists File Suit to Stop Bear Hunting in Florida
With permits for this fall’s hunt going on sale Monday, the Seminole County-based group Speak Up Wekiva filed a lawsuit in Leon County circuit court Friday challenging the constitutionality of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission-approved bear hunt.
Flagler Live-Blogs Harper Lee’s “Go Set a Watchman,” Chapter 7: Doxology Sings Dixie
In Chapter 7 of “Go Set a Watchman,” a church service turns into an example of Northern aggression against Southern hymnals and Doxology.
Flagler Chamber Launches School For Business-Minded Political Candidates, But Behind Closed Doors
The two-day school, held in private, will train a dozen potential candidates chosen by a secret chamber committee for their business focus. The sessions are scheduled for September.
Cases Involving Police Shootings Across Florida Spur FDLE to Seek More Investigators
FDLE always investigates shootings involving police in local agencies. Those investigations have increased 40 percent last year alone, and 100 percent in the past five years.
Weekend Briefing: Flagler Students Win National Gold and Bronze, a Rattler in the L’s, Fetal Cell Research
Stanley Wykretowicz, the 39-year-old Palm Coast resident accused of brutalizing his 2-year-old daughter last year, is back in court today, the start of an otherwise uneventful weekend in Flagler.
What Flagler Beach Got Wrong About “Crowd Managers,” and What the Auditorium Got Right
Flagler Beach City Commissioner Kim Carney misinterpreted and exaggerated a fire code about “crowd managers” to her colleagues. The code does not require such managers at First Friday events, as she suggested.
Federal Court Upholds Docs v. Glocks Law Forbidding Physicians From Asking About Guns
The 2-1 decision by a panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was a victory for the National Rifle Association and other gun-rights advocates and a defeat for medical groups that argued, at least in part, that the law infringed on doctors’ First Amendment rights.
Lawsuits Accuse Air Traffic Controllers of Negligence in 2013 Crash That Killed 3 On Palm Coast’s Utica Path
The plane was misled to Flagler airport instead of the nearer Ormond airport when the emergency began, the two daughters of the pilot and two sons of a passenger claim in their federal lawsuits.
Thursday Briefing: Princess Place Stable Restored, Palm Coast Birds, How the GOP Demolished Voting Rights
The county has completed restoration of the livery stable at Princess Place Preserve, a Nikon birding show is devoted to Palm Coast, the Republican dismantling of the Voting Rights Act is explained.
Ordering Them to “Get On With It,” Flagler Beach City Manager Tells His Bosses to Find His Replacement
Addressing his five bosses more bluntly than he has at any point in his four years as city manager, Cambpell told them he’s not interested in another contract and that he’s quitting in September.
Flagler’s Fire Flight and Crews Save 2 Homes Surrounded By Brush Fire in Eagle Rock
A 3.5-acre brush fire that had surrounded two homes in Eagle Rock at the south end of the county, requiring their evacuation, was halted and controlled, capping a busy day for Flagler Count Fire Rescue crews and Fire Flight, the county’s emergency helicopter.
Flagler Fire Flight Assists in Ocean Search for Missing Teens Amid Conflicting Reports of Effort’s Status
Helicopter pilot Dana Morris and flight medic George Tolbert searched 150 miles of the ocean off the Flagler County coastline and as far out as five nautical miles this morning without success.
News 13’s Jason Wheeler Becomes Face of Flagler Schools in District’s Push For Broader Community Appeal
Wheeler’s appointment is part of a reorganization reflective of Superintendent Oliva’s intention to broaden the marketing of the district’s programs to the community in hopes of further engaging the community at large.
Wednesday Briefing: Another County Citizen’s Academy, Medical Pot’s Empowerment, Snooping on Students
Flagler County is looking for its next class of candidates for its Citizens Academy, how medical pot returns control to patient over their pain and bodies, Jon Stewart’s secret White House meetings.
In Walton, One Confederate Flag Replaces Another as “Compromise” Is Termed a Cop-Out
The Panhandle’s Walton County Commission today voted 4-0 to replace the Confederate battle flag with the first flag of the Confederacy, the Stars and Bars, on government grounds, eliciting applause from some and ridicule from others.
Genesis Was Wrong: Man’s Dominion Over Animals Is Stewardship, Not Ownership
Pope Francis has now rejected mainstream Christian view, insisting that being created in God’s image doesn’t mean dominion over the earth or absolute domination over other creatures.
Palm Coast Council Member Bill McGuire Wants End to City Funding of School Deputy
Palm Coast pays for one of the six school deputies on Flagler’s 11 campuses. McGuire wants the school district to pick up that cost, but he drew little support from fellow-council members.
Sheriff Seeking Help Locating 16-Year-Old Lawrence Evans, Missing Since July 23
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in locating Lawrence Bennie Evans, 16, of Bunker View Drive in Palm Coast. Evans has a history of running away. He was last seen on July 23.
Tuesday Briefing: Nominate Your Veteran of the Year, Black on Trump, and Those Dull Tax Hearings
The county is looking for nominations for Veteran of the Year, tax rate hearings begin today with the school board, Lewis Black gives Donald Trump the kick in the toupee he needs, from back in 2012.
Flagler Live-Blogs Harper Lee’s “Go Set a Watchman,” Chapter 6: Skinny Dipping Sins
In Chapter 6 of “Go Set a Watchman,” Scout and Henry take a dip in the waters off Finch Landing, fully clothed, but no one believes they stayed modest.
County and Bunnell Join Schools and Palm Coast’s Higher Taxes, Flagler Beach Holds Line
The tax increases are generating almost no opposition, in large part because they are tied to benefits taxpayers can see: raises for teachers and cops, additions of firefighters (three this year at the county, three more next year), restoring reserves decimated during the recession, and so on.
Whistleblower Suit Against Sheriff Proceeds as Judge Rejects Latest Attempt to Dismiss It
Circuit Judge Michael Orfinger this morning ordered the whistleblower lawsuit to go forward, putting the case on track for trial next year, in the thick of Manfre’s re-election campaign.
Palm Coast Motorcyclist Willie French, 41, Trauma-Evacuated After Wreck on Belle Terre
Motorcyclist Willie E. French Jr., a 41-year-old resident of Palm Coast’s R-Section, was trauma-evacuated early this morning after he collided with a car at the intersection of Belle Terre Parkway and Whipporwill Drive.
In Flagler Sheriff’s Race, It’s Déjà Vu All Over Again As Fleming and Pollinger Join Forces Against Manfre
The flagler sheriff’s race will feature a familiar cast of characters as Don Fleming again will challenge Jim Manfre, this time with ex-candidate John Pollinger at Fleming’s side.
At Olustee State Park, Confederacy Wins One As Plan For Union Monument Is In Retreat
Florida’s Olustee Battlefield State Park, site of the Civil War’s largest battle in the state, was to have a Union monument until opponents revived an old conflict.
Monday Briefing: Sheriff’s Budget, Bunnell and County Tax Rates, and Cheating Ethically
The County Commission and Bunnell’s city commission today set their proposed tax rates, and the county reviews the budgets of constitutional officers including a big increase submitted by the sheriff.
Barack Obama Stands Up to the Warmongers
The US is not a partisan in the Shia-Sunni struggle. If anything, the US confronts mainly Sunni terrorism, funded from Saudi Arabia, not Shia terrorism backed by Iran.
Flagler Live-Blogs Harper Lee’s “Go Set a Watchman,” Chapter 5: Days Of Her Lives
In Chapter 5 of “Go Set a Watchman,” Scout flashes back to childhood as she skates on a date with Henry.
Old Battle Brews As Land Owner Snags Flagler Beach Offer to Make Old Golf Course Whole
Instead of selling a 2.9-acre parcel to the city to fill in the old Ocean Palm Golf Club, the parcel owner rejected the city’s offer and asserted it will seek a zoning change, reviving a 25-year legal battle over the land at the south end of town.
State Ethics Commission Finds Sheriff Manfre in Violation on 3 Counts in 6-1 Vote; He Doubles Down
Meeting in Tallahassee this morning, the Florida Ethics Commission voted 6-1 to find probable cause that Flagler County Sheriff Jim Manfre violated the state’s ethics laws on three counts. The case now goes to the Attorney General’s office for prosecution.
SUV Overturns in T-Bone Wreck at Whiteview and U.S. 1, But Only Minor Injury
A Nissan SUV overturned after it was t-boned at the intersection of Whiteview Parkway and U.S. 1 in Palm Coast shortly after 10 a.m. Friday, resulting in one minor injury to the driver of the car that struck the SUV.
Weekend Briefing: Sheriff Manfre v. Ethics Commission, Credit Card Thief Sought, A Marineland Engagement
Sheriff Manfre’s case goes before the Florida Ethics Commission this morning, the sheriff’s office is seeking the public’s help finding a credit card thief caught on video, a donation drive for the family victimized by a May fire in Palm Coast.
Flagler Live-Blogs Harper Lee’s “Go Set a Watchman,” Chapter 4: Maycomb Delta
In Chapter 4 of “Go Set a Watchman,” Scout and Henry have a date after Lee gives us a brief history of Maycomb, in words almost identical to those used in Mockingbird.
Florida Supreme Court Refuses to Lift Stay on Execution of Jerry Correll, Who Contested Lethal Injection
The Florida Supreme Court’s 5-2 decision turned down AG Pam Bondi’s request to let Gov. Scott set an executuon date, and ordered a hearing on Correll’s assertion that the drug poses a heightened risk to him because of his alleged brain damage and history of drug use.
Hobby Lobby, Brass Tap Beer Bar, Moe’s Grill and 500 Jobs: Island Walk Is 84% Full
The developers of Island Walk, the once and future shopping center previously known as Palm Harbor in the heart of Palm Coast, have secured long-term leases with enough retailers to fill 84 percent of its space when it begins opening in phases in 2016.
Within 5 Hours, Two Shoplifting Incidents at Walmart Escalate Into Felonies With Assaults
Walmart in Palm Coast was the scene of two separate and apparently unrelated incidents that started as shoplifting and turned into aggravated assault in one case, and grand theft auto, reckless driving and fleeing cops in another. Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies made an arrest in the first case. They are still searching for the suspect in the second case.
Palm Coast Back-Pats Its Grim Luck: Red-Light Camera Suit Dismissed After Plaintiff’s Death
Palm Coast’s decision not to settle a lawsuit against it had looked like a mistake once the Supreme Court ruled red-light cameras illegal, until the plaintiff died and was not replaced on the lawsuit, allowing the city to slither out of the it.
Thursday Briefing: Bull Creek Restaurant Celebrates Year 1, Flagler Beach Still Disputes Sea Ray Lot
It’s a weekend celebration at Bull Creek Fish Camp, it’s continuing opposition to Sea Ray’s parking lot plans at the Flagler Beach City Commission, and Christian Thieleman conducts the complete first symphony by Beethoven.
Reporter Kicked Out: When Public Officials Abuse Florida’s Sunshine Law, With Lawmakers’ Blessing
A “health district” run by public officials closes a public meeting under a bogus exemption to the Sunshine law, and gets a blank check to secretly talk about whatever it wishes, though it affects public policy.
Walmart And Other Big Energy Users Want Out of Florida’s Conservation Program, Claiming They Can Do Better
Opponents say such a one-sided proposal would shift costs to small businesses and residential customers and jeopardize the viability of the 35-year-old conservation program.
Flagler-Palm Coast Score Most “Fantastic” Month of Home Sales Since Recession
The 247 homes sold in June reduced the county’s supply to just five months’ worth, tilting the market to sellers’ advantage, while prices saw a healthy rise as well.
School District Likely to Close Belle Terre Swim and Racquet to the Public in September
The Flagler County School Board, which runs the facility, may close it to the public as early as September as its losses this year totaled $137,000.
Wednesday Briefing: Vehicle Burglaries Rash, Godspell Auditions, Breakfast With Lawmakers
Vehicle burglaries at Flagler beaches has the sheriff’s office again urging motorists to take basic precautions, City Repertory Theatre auditions for “Godspell,” the campaign against Planned Parenthood.
Flagler Live-Blogs Harper Lee’s “Go Set a Watchman,” Chapter 3: Aunt Alexandra’s Trash
In Chapter 3 of “Go Set a Watchman,” Scout and Aunt Alexandra rumble over Henry, and our 10 readers respond every which way.
The Iranian Nukes Deal and the
Horseman of the Jewish Apocalypse
Netanyahu is an ideologue of Jewish catastrophe. By this logic, risks and challenges cannot be approached with a view toward resolution, yielding instead to paranoia and antagonism, writes Shlomo Ben-Ami.
Some of Your Privacy Rights Are Waived In Medical Malpractice Lawsuits, Court Rules
The Florida court’s decision stemmed from a controversial 2013 law the Republican-controlled Legislature passed after a lobbying battle between groups such as doctors and plaintiffs’ attorneys.
Board Reverts Back to Old Rule: Middle and High School Students Must Wear ID at All Times After All
After the School Board agreed in June to ease the policy and let students only produce IDs on request, it decided this evening to go back to the original policy: all IDs must be worn at all times, or else the student will be subject to a visit to the dean’s office.