This prescribed fire will remove the hazardous level of fuel on the property. Potential fires have a greater risk of being destructive the longer vegetation accumulates.
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Barrie Michaels Joins Flagler Auditorium as Marketing Manager Ahead of 25th Anniversary
Barrie Michaels will manage media relations, communications, and other outreach efforts for the auditorium, serving as the primary contact for media inquiries and as a representative for the organization in the community.
Thursday Briefing: Arts Foundation Groundbreaking in Town Center, Rymfire’s Poetry Night, Whitney Bats
The Palm Coast Arts Foundation breaks ground for its events venue in Town Center in a celebratory event at 4 p.m., Whitney Lab’s lecture series returns with an esoteric discussion of moths and bats.
Legislature Tells Florida’s Horse Farmers to Find a New Business
Florida horsemen are screwed, argues Nancy Smith: Only a miracle can save the $1.2 billion Florida horse racing industry they represent. Their bane: the Florida Legislature.
Family Livid After FDOT Uproots Roadside Memorial to Tyler Tracy 7 Months After Wreck
Tyler Tracy’s memorial was one of five an FDOT official decided had to be removed on US1, though others were left in place, angering Tracy’s widow and family and getting Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts involved in defense of the family.
Taser Brings Down Armed Burglar After Shots Are Fired and Cops Set Chase
The late-night pursuit in a Bunnell neighborhood, guns drawn, resulted in the arrest of Grant D. Gieger, a convicted felon with a long history of arrests and violence.
More Public Record Exemptions For Gun Owners, This Time For Hunters and Fishermen
People getting hunting, fishing and boating licenses and certificates from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission would be shielded from public record disclosures.
Wednesday Briefing: Dangerous Fire Conditions, Elections Supervisors’ Pay, Obama’s Military Fetish
Very low humidity and very high winds combine for dangerous fire conditions today, NOAA warns. The Florida Legislature considers higher pay for supervisors of election.
Dueling On, State Recommends $19,000 Fine and Public Reprimand Against Manfre, Who Maintains Innocence
The dueling recommendations in the long-standing ethics case against Sheriff Manfre are awaiting an administrative law judge’s decision, further dragging on an issue that has clouded the sheriff’s term into his re-election year.
In a Decisive Shift, Palm Coast Will Oppose Fracking On and Offshore, Citing Environment
Abandoning its silence and tacit nod to fracking, the Palm Coast City Council will forcefully oppose hydraulic fracturing in a resolution, citing water and environmental protection.
Palm Coast Man Jailed on $160,000 Bond Over Molestation Charges Involving 2 Children
Joel Aiello of Frontier Drive in Palm Coast was arrested on five felony counts of sexual improprieties involving children–a 14-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl.
Bathroom Use By Transgenders Scuttles Bill Designed to End LGBT Discrimination
The anti-discrimination bill is backed by big business such as Disnet and AT&T but opposed by social conservatives such as Florida Family Policy Council.
Tuesday Briefing: Flagler Centennial Designs, Palm Coast’s $25 Million Sewer Plant, Trump’s Twitter Insults
The Flagler centennial committee has a logo, Palm Coast readies to spend $25 million on a new sewer plant, Roland Hanna at the Village Vanguard.
Florida’s Black Cowboys: An Exhibit Tours All Flagler Schools, Bucking Stereotypes
The Florida Black Cowboys exhibit, produced by the Agriculture Museum, opens a window on a little-known part of Florida and American history. The exhibit will appear at every Flagler County school.
Ex-Flagler Beach City Manager Applies for Unemployment, Though He Resigned (Twice)
Ex-city manager Bruce Campbell ad made clear to the Flagler Beach City Commission that it was his choice not to have his contract renewed, which would make him ineligible for unemployment as the decision to leave was voluntary.
Stand-Ins for Clinton and Sanders in a Presidents’ Day Forum at AACS Monday
Palm Coast’s Africa American Cultural Society will host a political forum at 6 p.m. Feb. 15 featuring the two respective local leaders of the campaigns for Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.
Health Insurers Moving to Undermine Obamacare By Limiting Enrollment
major insurers are seeking to sharply limit how policies are sold to individuals in ways that consumer advocates say seem to discriminate against the sickest and could hold down future enrollment.
Monday Briefing: LGBT Discrimination, Death Sentences, Pot for Terminally Ill, Clinton’s Double-Standard Decibels
The Florida Legislature takes up a death-sentence “fix,” Hillary Clinton blasts the double-standard over women shouting, the Legislature considers pot for the terminally ill.
One Fugitive Arrested After All-Night Hunt in B-Section, Other Man Still On the Run Following Wreck on I-95
Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies aided by Flagler County Fire Flight had been hunting two men believed to be escaped convicts following a single-car crash on I-95 just north of Palm Coast Parkway this evening at 6:12 p.m.
As Flagler’s Emergency Communications Briefly Falter, Palm Coast and Sheriff Assail County Over Long-Term Plans
The county’s critical emergency radio system briefly failed when a tower lost its back-up power Thursday even as county, city and sheriff’s officials were meeting in the first high-level meeting since 2013 to deal with their differences over modernizing the emergency communications system.
E Pluribus Un-American:
The Judeo-Christian Smear of Islam
President Obama’s trip to a mosque to reassure American Muslims of their importance should have been unnecessary. It reveals how deep-seated prejudice remains, especially that of conservative Christians who claim to preach acceptance.
Chief Justice Jorge Labarga Will Serve Second Successive Term, a First Since 1865
Chief justices preside over the Supreme Court and, more broadly, head the state’s judicial branch. In the broader role, Labarga has focused on taking steps to try to expand access to legal services for low-income people, creating a commission to work on the issue.
Where’s Opelka? Injury and Ranking Climb Keep Star From Palm Coast’s Tennis Tourney
Palm Coast’s celebrated Reilly Opelka, the boys Wimbledon Champ, says he probably would not have competed in the ongoing Men’s Futures Tennis Tournament even if he did not have a stress fracture as he targets bigger tournaments to earn more ranking points.
Weekend Briefing: First Friday, Stewart Jones at Ocean Art, Polar Bear Plunge, Birding Palm Coast
It’ll be difficult keeping track of events this weekend with birding, art, First Friday, the Polar Bear plunge and many more activities in Palm Coast and Flagler Beach.
Terrorism Isn’t the Biggest Threat Facing America. It’s Barely a Threat at All.
Ignorance, misplaced fear, irresponsible media and blustering presidential candidates have made more of terrorism than it deserves while sidelining the one weapon at America’s disposal in the fight: smarts.
Sheriff’s Sgt. Van Buren Announces Retirement 7 Weeks After He’s Named Deputy of the Year
Sgt. Michael van Buren had just ended one of his most decorated years since joining the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office 28 years ago. He is leaving to take a job in Palm Coast’s public works department and have more time with family.
Plea Lessens Palm Coast Child Rapist’s Sentence to 10 Years in Prison, 20 on Probation
Andrew S. Wilson, 55, of 82 Brushwood Lane in Palm Coast, had been arrested on a count of raping a child younger than 12, based on incidents that took place two decades ago.
Measure Forbidding Local Governments From Using Red-Light Cameras Advances
Sen. Jeff Brandes’ measure would repeal a law known as the Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act of 2010 and, as a result, prevent local governments from using the cameras for traffic enforcement.
Bringing “Poverty Inc.” to Palm Coast’s Epic Theater, a Compassionate Entrepreneur’s Goal
Jenny Skripko, a Palm Coast resident and “Compassionate Entrepreneur” with Trades of Hopes, is bringing the celebrated “Poverty Inc.” documentary to Epic Theaters on Feb. 23, but a minimum of 87 tickets must be sold by Feb. 16.
Orlando Artist Stewart Jones Opens at New Ocean Art Gallery in Flagler Beach Friday
Jones’s one-person show, “Documental Environments – From Shore to Shore,” will run from February 5 to 29, with the artist’s opening reception on Friday at 6 p.m.
Thursday Briefing: Renee Taylor’s Life On a Diet, FPC’s One-Act Plays at the Bistro, John Irving Talks
Renee Taylor is at the Flagler Auditorium, FPC Thespians are in two one-act comedies: “AP Theatre” by Ed Monk and “The Least Offensive Play in the Whole Darn World” by Jonathan Rand.
Palm Coast Deputy Fire Chief Jerry Forte In Dramatic Rescue of Drowning Man
Palm Coast Deputy Fire Chief Jerry Forte was in the W-Section when the drowning of a 71-year-old resident on Whispering Pine Drive was called in. He rushed to the scene and pulled the man out of the pool.
Palm Coast Council Gives Itself a Few Dollars’ Raise, Thwarting Nobile on Referendum
Another nearly year-long discussion ends with an annual $228 raise for the mayor, $228 for council members, and no future automatic increases, but no referendum either, on the question, as Council member Steven Nobile had favored.
Family of Corey Jones, Killed by Cop, Calls For Regulation of Police Body Cameras
A musician, Corey Jones was fatally shot by a plainclothes Palm Beach Gardens officer when his car broke down on Interstate 95 in the early morning after a gig. The officer, who was driving an unmarked van, has since been fired.
Low Gas Prices Are Great For You and Me. For World Security? Not So Much.
Banditry, corruption and tyranny from Saudi Arabia to Iraq to Russia depends on high oil prices. As prices fall, the bandits in charge will quarrel more among themselves – and with their neighbors.
How 3-Month Investigation Led to Arrest of Palm Coast Man in Flagler Beach Publix Robbery
Crushing debt allegedly led Daniel J. Fountain, a Palm Coast resident on probation and facing foreclosure, to rob Publix of $2,668 last October–and immediately start making bill payments to Palm Coast utilities, Brighthouse and others.
Wednesday Briefing: Tennis Pros, Scott Chats Up Counties, Disruptive Season in Full Swing
The Men’s Futures Tennis Tournament at the Palm Coast Tennis Center enters its second day, Gov. Rick Scott addresses the state association of counties, where most of Flagler’s commissioners are this week.
Belle Terre Swim and Racquet Club Lives: School Board Grants Reprieve, 5-0
The school board’s unanimous decision ends a remarkable turnaround for the club, which just last September faced permanent closure, though its deficits have still not been entirely erased.
Florida Supreme Court Halts Executions Indefinitely; 389 Death Row Inmates In Limbo
The U.S. Supreme Court invalidated Florida’s death-penalty sentencing scheme on Jan. 12, forcing the state to rewrite its law but also putting in question whether the new law must apply to all 489 death row inmates.
My Sobering, Rewarding Job at an Abortion Clinic
Catherine Durkin Robinson’s duties involved helping patients through their abortion procedures. They’d already met with the doctor and nurse. Her job was to assist them emotionally.
“We Live Without My Son”: A Mother’s Story of Her Teen’s Suicide Frames Town Hall Meeting
Barbara Coxwell, who lost her 15-year-old son to suicide in 2013, and School Board Chairman Colleen Conklin, led the virtual town hall as a first step in a countywide effort to broaden attention to suicide-prevention across all age groups.
County Attorney Hadeed Challenges State Ethics Panel’s Fee Denial and Calls for Appeal
County Attorney Al Hadeed says the Florida Ethics Commission was wrong to deny Flagler attorneys’ fees from frivolous complaints filed by government opponents. He wants the decision appealed to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal.
Palm Coast Arts Foundation Breaks Ground for Outdoors Venue in Town Center on Feb. 11
The initial project will consist of a 32,000 square-foot open-air arts and culture pavilion center and a small enclosed venue that’ll double up as an event center for meetings and small events.
Tuesday Briefing: Belle Terre Swim Club’s Fate, Palm Coast Council’s Pay, Men’s Futures Tennis,
The Flagler County School Board finally decides the future of the Belle Terre Swim and Racquet Club, Palm Coast Council members choose how to pay themselves more.
Celebrated Emergency Services Chief Kevin Guthrie Resigns, Jolting Commissioners
Kevin Guthrie headed the county’s emergency services division since late 2013 to mostly rave reviews, but frustrations with the county administration may have led to his decision to leave.
Carolyn Frisbie, Leader in Palm Coast’s Community Chorus, Is Killed in Car Crash
arolyn Frisbie, a long-time member of Palm Coast’s Trinity Presbyterian congregation and among the leaders of the Community Chorus of Palm Coast, was killed the evening of Jan. 29 in a two-vehicle collision on U.S. 1 in St. Johns County.
Flagler Beach’s Lt. Cox, Among 10 Winners, Is Countywide Public Safety Person of the Year
Aside from Cox’s top award, winners included the Sheriff’s Senior Cmdr. Mark Carman, Flagler County Fire Rescue’s Jon Moscowitz and Bob Pickering of Emergency Management.
In “Fair Sentencing” Push, an Attempt to Reconsider Florida’s Get-Tough-On-Crime Laws
Fair Sentencing seeks to change laws of the 1990s, such as 10-20-Life, mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses and habitual-offender laws, as other states have done.
Monday Briefing: An EMT Academy for FPC, A Malpractice Suit Heads for Trial, Out-of-State Health Insurance
Flagler Palm Coast High School may soon get to ready for a career as Emergency Medical Technicians: it’s one of several items on the Flagler County Commission’s long workshop agenda Monday morning. Florida lawmakers consider out-of-state insurers.
Flagler’s Family Life Center Now a Certified Rape Crisis Center, Ensuring Critical Services
Until Family Life took over the service in an arrangement with the sheriff’s office in March 2014, Flagler County had been without a reliable crisis center because the Children’s Advocacy Center had quit providing that service.