There’s an effective way to end the stalemate between the Flagler Sheriff and the school board over deputies in schools without breaking the bank or compromising security.
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Heidi Shipley Will Not Run Again For Palm Coast Council After All, Citing Futility
Feeling sidelined at the losing end of 3-2 votes, Heidi Shipley said she won;t run again, but her decision is drawing interest for other candidates in addition to former Mayor Jon Netts.
Palm Coast’s City Repertory Theatre Leaps Into Faith and Murder with ‘Agnes of God’
“Agnes of God” is an investigation of religion, of faith, of science, of what, how and why we believe, says City Repertory Theatre John Sbordone. The play opens Friday.
Florida Prisons Cut Drug-Rehab and Re-Entry Programs That Help Felons From Re-Offending
Florida’s prisons are slashing substance-abuse services, transitional housing and re-entry programs, the very programs that keep inmates from returning to prison.
Rift Widens Between Sheriff and School Board Over Deputies’ Cost For Flagler Schools
At least an $88,000 rift divides Flagler’s sheriff from the school board as they negotiate to have deputies at every school come August. The divide may be larger when mental health money is included.
Florida Woman Seeks Anonymity in NRA Lawsuit, Citing Potential Threats to Her Safety
The woman wants to join the National Rifle Association’s challenge to a new Florida law that made it illegal to sell guns to anyone under age 21.
Sheriff Touts 45 Drug Arrests in Flagler in 7-Month Operation, Part of Broader But Cyclical Effort
Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly hosted a press conference with Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood and Putnam’s Gator DeLoach to highlight a 27-county, 7-month drug investigation they took part in.
Roundabout Construction at US1 and Old Dixie Will Start In a Few Months Despite Opposition
Construction of the much-opposed roundabout at U.S. 1 and Old Dixie Highway in Flagler is expected to start after August absent intervention by the governor or lawmakers.
20-Year Sheriff’s Employee Fired After Investigations Into Timesheet Discrepancies
Nancy Birdsong, an employee in the judicial process fugitive unit, was fired on April 24 and faces a felony charge of grand theft over allegedly fabricating timesheets.
Bunnell Raises Bar For Next City Manager as Commission Plans For New Hire in 60 Days
The Bunnell City Commission in a special meeting Monday will issue a want-ad for its next manager today, requiring a minimum of a master’s degree and 10 years’ government experience preferred.
Citing Net Losses Near End of 2017, Report Raises Questions About Job Growth in Florida
A new federal report cast Florida in an unusual role: as the state with the most net job losses, at least for the third quarter of 2017, contrasting with Gov. Rick Scott claims.
Keith Johansen Arrested in Shooting Death of Wife Brandi Celenza, Faces 2nd Degree Murder Charge
Keith Johansen, 36, was arrested shortly after 4 p.m. today at his Palm Coast home and charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of his wife, Brandi Celenza, 20 days ago.
Don’t Ask Democrats To Fall On a Sword In Race Aiming To Flip Flagler Seat Blue
Despite Nancy Soderberg’s advantage, fellow-Democrats John Upchurch and Stephen Sevigny say they’ll let voters, not the Democratic Party, decide who should be the nominee in the congressional race.
10-Month-Old Girl, Unattended, Drowns in Family Pool in Palm Coast’s E-Section
A Palm Coast girl who would have celebrated her first birthday on June 6 died Thursday afternoon after drowning in the pool at her home on Edward Drive.
Bunnell’s Acting Manager Must Give Up Police Powers; Commission Will Set Search Criteria
The Bunnell City Commission holds a special meeting Monday to decide how to search for a new manager and set its acting manager Tom Foster’s salary. Foster must give up police powers in the new job.
Making Allusions to Oklahoma Bombing, Palm Coast Man Threatens to Blow Up Flagler Sheriff’s Office and Kill Rick Staly
Raymond Crown, 52, threatened to blow up the Sheriff’s Office in Bunnell with ammonium nitrate, kill a deputy and the sheriff after he was arrested for a criminal mischief incident in the Hammock.
Joanne Jones, 84, of Palm Coast, Is Killed in T-Bone Crash at Utility Drive and Old Kings Road
Joanne Jones, 84, was pinned and killed in a t-bone crash at the intersection of Utility Drive and Old Kings Road at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Two others–a man and a woman–suffered minor injuries.
School District Seeks to Reassure Flagler Parents Disaffected Over Reorganization Involving 1,900 Special Education Students
The Flagler school district is cutting in half its so-called “staffing specialists,” or advocates for special education students, but says the change is for the better. Parents disagree.
As Palm Coast Council’s Protracted Manager-Hiring Process Continues, Search Firm Bails
The council’s top choice for a manager-recruiting firm dropped out over Sunshine Law issues, leaving the council with other firms it will interview, one of them merely for appearances’ sake.
Florida Angling Closer to More Restrictions On Shark-Fishing From Beaches and Piers
Calls to restrict or ban shark fishing from beaches, piers and bridges led the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to direct staff to craft new rules.
With “Shrek The Musical,” Matanzas High School Mega-Production Aims To Make Everyone a Believer
“Shrek the Musical” at Matanzas’s Pirate Theatre Wednesday through Saturday is a huge, roaring production involving a cast and crew of 90, with a 20-piece live orchestra.
At Flagler Beach Rally, Democrats Charge Blue Wave With Eyes on Flipping Congressional Seat
Congressional Democratic candidates Nancy Soderberg, Stephen Sevigny and John Upchurch all showed at Sunday’s Rally By the Sea by Flagler County Democrats.
Clarity on Shooting Death of Brandi Celenza in F-Section May Take Weeks, Possibly Months
Sheriff Rick Staly said it could be months before the case of 25-year-old Brandi Celenza’s death by gunshot is resolved. But the sheriff said he is confident of a resolution.
Bunnell Commission Fires Manager Dan Davis in 3-1 Vote, Citing Internal ‘Unrest’ and
Other ‘Concerns’
The Bunnell City Commission hired Dan Davis as its manager in December 2015. Davis was fired this evening at the end of a discussion on his latest evaluation.
Sticking With Motorola, Flagler Rejects Bid Protest Over $14.8 Million Contract For Emergency Communications
The Flagler County Commission in a special meeting today rejected Communications International’s protest over a bid that went to Motorola to build critical emergency communications infrastructure.
Steve Nobile Resigns From Palm Coast Council, Triggering Repeat of 2016 Appointment Dilemma
Citing family health issues, Palm Coast Council member Steve Nobile is resigning his seat in May, repeating the dilemma the council faced when Bill McGuire resigned in 2016.
Family Life Center Takes Over New But Familiar, More Visible Space: ‘We’re Here if You Need Us’
The administrative offices of Flagler County’s shelter for victims of rape and domestic violence moved to where the sheriff’s detective bureau used to be on State Road 100.
With Social Media Surveillance, Flagler School District Is Breaching Community Trust
With its contract with Social Sentinel, a social media snooping company, the Flagler school district is going into the secretive surveillance business for a much heavier cost than advertised.
Judge Rejects Local Districts’ Challenge of Controversial Law Shifting Money To Charter Schools
The controversy highlights continuing tensions between local school districts and the state about oversight and expansion of charter schools, which are public schools but are often run by private operators.
Flagler and Florida Unemployment in Holding Pattern For Seventh Month In a Row
Flagler’s unemployment rate is at a healthy 4.1 percent, where it’s been, give or take a few decimal points, for seven months, with the state’s unemployment mirroring the holding pattern.
Florida Moves to Shut Down For-Profit Residence After Finding Horrific Abuse and Neglect
The move follows years of complaints that patients at a center for children with disabilities were violently mistreated by staff and subjected to physical restraints like straitjackets.
AR-15s in Flagler Schools, Traffic Cops in Mustangs, New Marine Unit: Sheriff Staly’s State of Policing
Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly spoke to some 75 people Thursday on a re-energized state of policing in Palm Coast and the county, summing up initiatives and coming developments.
Spirit Ride’s Coffin Honoring Fallen Tow Operators and Other Emergency Responders Makes Ceremonial Stop in Bunnell
The ceremonial casket is part of American Towman’s Spirit Ride pilgrimage through 200 cities across the country to bring attention to the dangers emergency responders face every day.
Scott Wants To Cut Medicaid Application Window From 90 Days To 30; His Savings Claims Are Challenged
The Scott administration’s cost analyses sometimes have not made sense to Medicaid experts or health and social-service providers in the trenches.
Students Raise Concerns, But Flagler School Board Approves Social Media Surveillance
The Flagler County School Board Tuesday approved a three-year, $55,500 contract with Vermont-based Social Sentinel to troll eight different types of social media accounts.
It’s Up to Grown-Ups To Stop Bullying, Not Kids
Speaking of her own experience with bullying, the author holds the adults who watched and did nothing far more responsible than those who perpetrated it.
Tax-Evaders Beware: Flagler Will Take Over Local Collection From Short-Term Renters, Projecting Jump in Revenue
The Flagler County Tax Collector, not the state Department of Revenue, will be collecting the 5 percent tax on short term rentals starting in July–a tax hundreds of property owners are evading currently.
Voters Will Decide School Board Term Limits and Ending Local Control Over Charter Schools
Under current law, school boards operate and control public schools within their counties. That would end if voters approve a constitutional amendment.
Flagler School Board Wants To Snoop on Students’ Social Media, And Maybe Yours. Wrong Move.
The School Board is set to contract with Social Sentinel, a company that will troll social media accounts across Flagler for $18,500 and issue “alerts” to select officials. It’s an inappropriate move down a slippery slope.
Flagler Moves to Protect Public’s Use Of Beaches Ahead of Law Granting Property Owners Restrictive Rights
The new law allows beachfront private property owners to trespass the public from private beaches, something not allowed currently, and never done in Flagler.
Ballot Proposal Would Ensure Crime Victims Have Their Say in Plea Agreements and Sentencing
The proposal, which will need support from 60 percent of voters in November, would seek to ensure the rights of victims to receive information and provide input during criminal cases.
Wendell Parker, 32, Killed, Woman Critical in Head-On I-95 Collision North of Palm Coast Parkway
A man was killed early this morning and a woman is in critical condition following a head-on collision on I-95, just north of the interchange with Palm Coast Parkway..
Felons’ Lawyers Accuse Scott and Cabinet of Foot-Dragging Over Judge’s Rights-Restoration Order
A federal judge who found the state’s vote-restoration process unconstitutional gave Scott and the Cabinet until April 26 to overhaul the process. They’ve done nothing.
7 New Sheriff’s Deputies, 143% Cost Increase as Outline of Flagler’s School Safety Takes Shape
Sheriff Staly and Superintendent Tager are negotiating an increase of the school deputies’ program to $1.8 million split 50-50, with the schools’ share paid by the state and the sheriff’s by the County Commission.
Flagler Judge Scott DuPont Called “Unfit,” “Outrageous,” “Disturbing,” “Beyond Reckless” and Contemptuous of Law
A devastating 21-page opinion by a disciplinary judicial commission repeats in harsher language a call for Judge Scott DuPont’s removal, a recommendation going before the Supreme Court.
Cities and Counties Pushing Back Against State Law Limiting Local Gun Regulations
Local governments are challenging the 2011 “preemption” law, which bans them from imposing gun restrictions tougher than those in state laws.
West Flagler Man Faces Kidnapping and Assault Charges Involving Woman Picked Up in Daytona
Jesse Alan Pack is accused of kidnapping a woman in Daytona Beach and driving her to Flagler, where she reported escaping on County Road 200 near U.S. 1.
Pick-Up Flips on Old Kings, Driver Arrested For DUI, Palm Coast Firefighter Injured
Lt. Brian Mugford of the Palm Coast Fire Department injured his foot when looking for other patients: the driver of the pick-up had falsely claimed someone else had been driving, and had run off.
Judge Says Cancer Patient May Grow His Own Pot Plants, Seeding New Front in Florida Marijuana Wars
The patient is forced to grow his own plants to make liquid treatment because the state hasn’t allowed any marijuana operators to sell whole plants to patients.
Sheriff Staly’s Heimlich Saves Elected Party Official’s Life at Candidate Forum
Sharon Demers, an elected Republican state committeewoman and a former candidate for school board, was choking when Staly successfully executed a Heimlich maneuver on her.