The Flagler County Commission got its first budget overview of the year Monday, ahead of six months of discussions, debates and battles over budget priorities in the midst of an election year with its own unpredictable variables.
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Bogus Claim of Armed Kidnapping Leads Flagler Deputies and Air One on Costly Search
Robert Geroux, a 19-year-old Pennsylvanian, was arrested on charges of lying to law enforcement and making a false crime report after a road trip with a man from Pennsylvania went awry in Palm Coast Saturday evening.
Caylee’s Law Now In Effect, Making Lying About a Missing Child a Felony
Prompted by the death of Orlando two-year-old Caylee Anthony in 2008, Gov. Rick Scott on Friday signed a measure to bolster penalties for lying to police when a child goes missing.
The 4th Amendment, Stripped and Degraded
The Supreme Court’s decision allowing the strip-searching of anyone booked into jail–no matter how small the charge, no matter the presumption of innocence of the accused–is merely the latest in a long series of constitutional violations, enshrined by conservative justices.
Protecting the Oceans to Protect Life
The oceans are not an inexhaustible source of good things, argues Frank Gromling. It is past time for every earth-dweller to make a pivotal change in direction to allow the oceans to recover to their former health and productivity.
Anthony Rogers, Troubled Man Trying to Right His Life, Is Killed in Bike Wreck On Matanzas
Antony Rogers, 19, of Palm Coast, was riding with Lauren Kashtan, 17, who suffered serious injuries in the wreck when Rogers failed to negotiate a curve and crashed against a palm tree.
Bob Graham, the First Lady and Umbarger: Honoring Florida’s Book Award Winners
Caren Umbarger, artistic director of the Flagler Youth Orchestra, was among the authors honored by First Lady Ann Scott at a Governor’s mansion luncheon recognizing the winners of the Florida Book Awards. Umbarger recounts the experience.
In Flagler County, a Reflection of Democrats’ Lost Promise as GOP Regains Registration Lead
Democrats’ voter-registration advantage vanished in Flagler County after a three-and-a-half-years, reflecting surging Republican activity and diminished Democratic excitement, but also the consequences of onerous voter-registration laws that disproportionately affect Democrats.
Sidney Odell Jenkins: A Celebration of Life, April 7
A Celebration of Life for Sidney Odell Jenkins, who passed away unexpectedly March 31, will be held Saturday, April 7, at 4 p.m. at the Pellicer Community Center near Bunnell. All are invited.
Biker Airlifted in Critical Condition After Car Cuts Him Off at US1 and Matanzas
Robert O’Conner of Palm Coast was traveling north on US1 when an 88-year-old driver misjudged the distance between his Dodge and the Harley, and crossed US1 at Matanzas. The biker smashed into the Dodge.
US Jobs Up Just 120,000, Disappointing Expectations; Unemployment Down to 8.2%
While the U.S. unemployment rate fell to 8.2 percent in March, job creation was disappointing, at 120,000, about half the expected numbers, lending further credence to evidence of a fitful, not robust, recovery.
GOP Candidates and Media to Kids: Drop Dead
While presidential candidates almost always include their offspring in their campaign publicity, candidates and media discussed children’s issues less than two percent of the time over 20 debates – just 17 debate questions of more than 1,000.
Flagler 911: Taser vs. Suspect in Custody, and a Rip from Steve Emmett’s Boating Trip
A suspect in custody at the Flagler County jail is Tased when he refuses to cooperate with deputies; ex-Beverly Beach mayor Steve Emmett, now enjoying his days off fishing and boating, runs into the Bait and Tackle Shop at Bings Landing.
“Exceptional Bravery and Courage”: How Teens Saved 2 Lives in Harrowing Palm Coast Wreck
Cody Decker and Luke Vaughn, both 17 and vacationing in Palm Coast from DeWitt, Mich., recounted in a moving ceremony hosted by Sheriff Fleming today how they saved Carlos Adams and Tracy Lopez out of their burning Jaguar Tuesday morning.
Post-Traumas, Flagler Humane Society Tries Make-Over
The Flagler Humane Society, after the firing of its executive director and the loss of what would have been a half-million-dollar bequest, is projecting a new outlook and seeking out partnerships–and residents’ votes that could potentially yield $125,000.
Fear Factor: Concealed Weapons Approaching 1 Million in Florida as NRA Gains Ground
The number of concealed weapons permits has risen dramatically in recent years as new laws making it easier to obtain them have been placed on the books by lawmakers, spurred on by the National Rifle Association, one of the most effective lobbying forces in the capital city.
Bev Slough, St. Johns School Board Chair, Joins GOP Congressional Race in District 6
Bev Slough, St. Johns School Board Chair and former president of the Florida School Boards Association, is the 7th GOP candidate for a congressional district that includes all of Flagler County.
In Palm Coast’s New Garbage Contract, Some Savings and Big, Green, Long-Term Benefits
The $7 million, 5-year contract Palm Coast ratified with Waste Pro this week requires the company to build a natural gas fueling station and make it available to city vehicles by June 1, 2013, opening the way for considerable potential savings and cleaner fuel consumption for some of the city’s 258 vehicles.
404 Error: Flagler Jobs Council Tangles Over Its Web Address, then Delegates
It’s what happens when a committee of nine tries to do the 21st century equivalent of screwing in a light bulb: come up with a web address to describe itself. Flagler County’s fledgling jobs council couldn’t do it.
Too Much of a God Thing
A new survey finds signs of public uneasiness with the mixing of religion and politics. The number of people who say there has been too much religious talk by political leaders stands at an all-time high since the Pew Research Center began asking the question more than a decade ago.
Flagler NAACP’s 2012 Olympics of the Mind April 14 at the Auditorium
Come out and support Flagler County’s talented young scientists, poets, filmmakers, painters, musicians, writers and lots more, and see Flagler’s high school students reaching for the gold in the 2012 NAACP Olympics of the Mind on April 14.
Gap of Dollars and Concerns Splits Flagler County and Palm Coast Over Sales Tax Renewal
The two local governments are far apart over how to split revenue from a sales tax surcharge voters would have to approve this November, causing Palm Coast to think of dumping the sales tax–and the county to panic–as the two head for a joint meeting next week.
GOP’s Congressional Candidates Vie to Out-Right Each Other In Their Flagler Coming Out
The six Republican candidates for Flagler County’s newly drawn congressional district, in a joint appearance in Palm Coast Monday, could not distinguish themselves on issues, but did so in experience and style as they were hosted by the local chapter of the Ronald Reagan Republican Assemblies.
Two Teens on Spring Break Pull Victims Out of Fiery Jaguar Crash on Palm Coast Parkway
Cody Decker, 17, and Luke Vaughn, also 17, on Spring Break from Dewitt, Mich., pulled Carlos Adams, 42, and Tracy Lopez, 44, out of their burning Jaguar on Palm Coast Parkway early Tuesday morning.
Your Password, Please: When a Job Interview Includes Demands for Facebook Pages
In a society where privacy is constantly eroding, recent efforts by some employers to pry into Facebook pages to investigate job applicants should be resisted as an unwarranted intrusion on personal freedom and dignity.
“My Dog Wouldn’t Drink the Water”: Bunnell Residents May Not See Change for 21 Months
Bunnell’s commissioners have known since 2004 that the city’s water could be toxic but have only recently developed plans for a new system; that plan isn’t paid for, and won’t be functional for one to two years, if that. Residents are unhappy.
Literal Landing Blvd. for Fire Flight Helicopter and Paralyzed Car Crash Patient
Fire Flight, the county’s helicopter, was called in to take a 50-year-old man to Halifax after a minor rear-ending complicated spinal surgery the man had undergone in September. The rear-ending left him paralyzed from the waist down.
Cop Chase Through F Section Nets Arrest of a Chronic Injunction Violator
Barry Gallagher was jailed several times on drunk driving and domestic violence charge when, on Sunday, he broke his injunction, sought out his wife’s car and led police on a chase that finally ended near Freneau Lane.
Hopes of Returning Passenger Line to Florida East Coast Railway Awaiting Amtrak Decision
Pushing to get an east-coast rail line that would cross Flagler County back on track, proponents say their venture would complement plans for privately operated high-speed passenger service between Miami and Orlando.
A Hoodie Over Florida’s Image as More National Voices Denounce Trayvon Killing
The nation’s only black governor, Deval Patrick of Massachusetts, former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush of Illinois are the latest national politicians to voice outrage over the Trayvon Martin Killing and its aftermath in Florida.
Between a Tortoise and a Turtle
Living on the Atlantic Coast, we often hear about sea turtles while gopher tortoises get second billing, though they’ve inhabited Florida and a few other southern states for millions of years. A primer.
FPC’s Preston Hagens Is Seriously Injured in SR100 Crash; FHP Seeking Witnesses
A T-bone crash closed SR100’s west lanes for two hours Saturday and sent three people to hospitals when a Ford Mustang lost control and crossed into the westbound lanes. FHP is looking for witnesses.
“We Are Trayvon Martin”: Two Moms Mobilize 125 Protesters in Spirited Palm Coast March
Saying the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford could have happened to themselves or their own children, protesters in hoodies, brandishing skittles, iced tea and signs marched and chanted for more than an hour along Belle Terre Parkway Thursday evening.
From Depression to Mere Recession Flagler Unemployment Falls to 12.7%
Flagler’s improving numbers also show a net increase of nearly 800 people with jobs, reversing previous months’ declines in both the labor force and actual employment. Florida’s unemployment rate also fell, to 9.4 percent.
Flagler Clerk Gail Wadsworth Tries a Hail Mary As Courts Take Yet Another Budget Hit
The $31 million statewide budget cut in clerks of court’s budgets translates to a loss of $90,000 to Flagler County’s court system, and up to three jobs, adding to successive cuts going back to 2008 that Clerk Gail Wadsworth calls unsustainable.
Seriously Sit-Com: A Play in High “Art” at Palm Coast’s City Repertory Theatre
Three friends. A white painting. And the mayhem it causes. The latest play at Palm Coast’s City Repertory Theatre, opening Friday (at Hollingsworth gallery) is a provocative comedy that’s been translated in 35 languages since its premier in Paris in 1994.
Attention Flagler Political Candidates: These 5 Politicians Have Something to Teach You
The Flagler County Chamber of Commerce is hosting an informational political candidate panel discussion on April 18 with seasoned politicians who will share their insights and answer campaign-related questions.
Post-Trayvon, Florida’s Stand Your Ground Law Won’t Be Repealed But May Be Revised
As the 2005 Stand Your Ground law has come under intense scrutiny in the wake of the shooting of the unarmed Trayvon Martin, veteran lawmakers haven’t been able to agree even on what the measure allows but point to a need for clarification.
Facing $1.6 Million in New Cuts, Flagler School District Is Looking for “Big Ideas”
Flagler school board members don’t want to go through what they did last year, nickel-and-diming small programs, so they’re looking at offering students and parents morte “school choice,” revamping the district’s health insurance, offering early retirement and other “big ideas.”
Scott Signs a Series of Tax Cut Bills, Including Expansion of Corporate Tax Exemption
While supporters insisted that the legislation signed Wednesday will help provide a better business climate, they were quick to say that a variety of factors were at work in the economy, and it would be difficult to accurately figure out how many jobs the measures might create.
Rites of Spring: Flagler’s Jobs Council Retreats to Princess Place for Goal-Setting With CEO
For the third time in three years, an economic development effort gets under way to “to lead Flagler County out of the dismal economic landscape” of the last few years, hoping, this time, to make a mark.
Obama Surges Ahead of Romney and Santorum in Florida and Ohio in Latest Polls
In head-to-head contests, Obama is beating Romney and Santorum in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania, three swing states that the GOP cannot lose if it hopes to win back the White House in November.
What Does a Black Father Say to His Son?
In the wake of the killing of Trayvon Martin, everyone has been talking about mothers having the talk with their sons. But I haven’t heard enough about us — fathers, black men — having that conversation with our sons, writes Andrew Skerritt.
From the Archives: Palm Coast’s Masonic Cemetery, Where a Cherished Glen Harbors Family Albums
The Masonic cemetery is Palm Coast’s oldest human landmark and the most noble monument to the region’s ancestry, forgotten relics of Indian haunts aside. But it’s been at the margins of care.
Desecration By Neglect: Palm Coast’s Masonic Cemetery Decaying Again 2 Years After Lift
A vandalized grave and exposed casket. Crosses thrown about. Piles of garbage: Palm Coast’s historic black Masonic Cemetery, refurbished with the city’s help just two years ago, is sinking into neglect again, with no help in sight.
In a Blow to the County, Palm Coast Explores Switch from Sales Tax to New Utility Taxes
The Palm Coast City Council is exploring dropping a half-cent sales tax surcharge it’s been levying with the county for 10 years, and adopting instead new utility taxes without need for voter approval or splitting revenue with the county.
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Loses as U.S. Supreme Court Refuses to Take Appeals of Florida Cases
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. was forced to pay tens of millions of dollars to the families of dead smokers, part of a flood of tobacco litigation moving through Florida’s courts, and the first of their kind to reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
Tea Party’s Medicare Beneficiaries Honk Up Palm Coast Against Federal Health Mandate
Some 50 to 60 Flagler tea party activists clumped around a Palm Coast intersection Monday, protesting “Obamacare” in a distinctly less impressive display of numbers or passions than in previous rallies.
Trayvon Martin Ripples: Attorneys Take On Profiling As NRA Defends Stand Your Ground
A group of Tallahassee criminal defense lawyers called Roundtable for Justice is moving to shed more light on racial profiling in Florida while the NRA’s lead lobbyist on Florida’s Stand Your Ground law defends the measure.
Obamacare’s Days In Court: A Primer
It’s the Super Bowl of Supreme Court cases with consequences for all: the three days of arguments over the constitutionality of Obama’s health care reform begin today. Here’s a clear-eyed explanation of what it’s about and likely outcomes. It’s the Super Bowl of Supreme Court cases: the three days of arguments over the constitutionality of Obama’s health care reform begin today. Here’s a clear-eyed explanation of what it’s about and likely outcomes.