The Flagler Beach March 5 election has drawn two incumbents, Jane Mealy and Rick Belhumeur, second-time challenger Paul Eik, and newcomer Deborah Phillips, a business owner in town.
Flagler Beach
In Flagler Beach, A1A Shops and Restaurants Hope Their ‘Open For Business’ Signs Are Louder Than Road Construction
A1A businesses in Flagler Beach worry that year-long construction on the road will once again hurt business even as they prepare a campaign to remind patrons that doors are very much open.
Proposal Calls for $1-an-Hour Paid Parking on A1A in Flagler Beach, Restrictions Elsewhere, and Meter Maids
The Flagler Beach City Commission is yet again considering a paid-parking proposal for its downtown area, but the plan, which projects $300,000 in revenue, would cost almost as much to run.
Disputed Wetlands Restoration In Flagler Beach Will Proceed as St. Johns River Board Unanimously Approves $500,000 Project
The St. Johns River Water Management Board unanimously approved the 100-acre, $500,000 wetlands restoration project on the Intracoastal Waterway near Gamble Rogers Recreation Area in Flagler Beach.
Flagler-Palm Coast’s Crime Rate Falls Sharply in First 6 Months of 2018, Arrests Up 35%
The drop in crime in Flagler and Palm Coast was reflected across almost every category and the addition of 23 new deputies led to a steep rise in arrests in the first six months of 2018.
Many Questions Remain as County and City Approve $100 Million, 50-Year Beach-Protection Plan in Flagler Beach
Flagler County will be on the hook for nearly half the almost $100-million cost of the project over its 50-year span, with the federal government responsible for the rest.
$22.4 Million A1A Rebuilding and Sea Wall Construction in Flagler Beach Starts in January
The Florida Department of Transportation just awarded a $22.4 million contract to a Jacksonville contractor to start construction, sea wall and dune repairs on three segments of A1A in Flagler Beach.
Flagler’s Legislative Delegation Is Taking Requests: Hutson and Renner Hear Wish Lists Dec. 7
House Rep. Paul Renner and Sen. Travis Hutson, who represent Flagler in Tallahassee, are holding their annual legislative meeting for Flagler governments and residents on Dec. 7 at 3 p.m. in Bunnell.
Rosy Disconnect Between District’s Wetlands Project and Opposition in Flagler Beach
St. Johns River Water Management District officials were largely self-congratulatory today as they discussed a wetlands restoration project that has drawn fierce opposition in Flagler Beach.
In Flagler Beach, Leery Opposition to St. Johns District’s Wetlands Restoration Is Unabated
Public opposition remains strong to a planned wetlands “restoration” project along the Intracoastal in south Flagler Beach, forcing the St. Johns Water Management District to decide whether to forego it or plow through.
One Email From Serial Litigant Shuts Down Flagler Beach’s Video Access to Public Meetings
Eddie Sierra, a deaf south Floridian, is filing lawsuit after lawsuit against local governments across Florida if they stream government meetings without close-captioning them for the deaf.
State Attorney Drops Battery Charge Against Flagler Beach Commissioner Eric Cooley, Closing the Case
The domestic battery misdemeanor charge against Eric Cooley was dropped Friday morning after the prosecution failed to convince the alleged victim to cooperate, ending the three-month case against the Flagler Beach city commissioner and 7-Eleven owner.
St. Johns River District Was Barreling Into Flagler Beach’s Marshes to “Restore” Them. Then It Met Fierce Opposition.
With little notice, some haphazardness and many unanswered questions, the St. Johns River Water Management District was speeding toward a $500,000, 113-acre “restoration” of marshes at the south end of Flagler Beach, angering residents and businesses, who slowed the project.
For Flagler Beach’s 400 Homes Flooded By Irma, Millions in New Repair and Rebuild Grants Bus In
The federal government is making $616 million available to moderate and low-income property owners and landlords for Hurricane Irma-related repairs across Florida. Flagler Beach is on the priority list.
Attorney Calls For Gag Order on Sheriff Staly in Eric Cooley Case, Claiming Prejudicial Words
Palm Coast Attorney Josh Davis wants a court to muzzle Sheriff Rick Staly in the case of alleged domestic violence involving Flagler Beach City Commissioner Eric Cooley. The sheriff is having none of it.
2018 Flagler Jail Bookings, Sheriff’s, Bunnell and Flagler Beach Crime and Incident Reports (Archived)
Archived 2018 Flagler County jail bookings, commanders’ crime and incident reports, Flagler Beach and Bunnell police shift reports and archive.
Flagler Beach Commissioner Eric Cooley’s Victim of Alleged Battery Wants Case Dropped
The alleged victim in the battery case against Flagler Beach business owner and Commissioner Eric Cooley cites media and social media “stalking” among reasons she wants the case dropped.
Déjà Vu All Over Again at Flagler Beach Golf Course as City Grants Yet Another Probation
Even though the city commission found a golf management company in default of its lease, the commission offered yet another conditional set of terms to make the nine-hole golf course work.
Flagler Beach Commissioner Kim Carney Sued For Invasion of Privacy and Negligence
By Rape Victim
A lawsuit claims Kim Carney intentionally sought to publicly reveal the name of a rape victim and discredit her. Carney counters that she didn’t do anything illegal.
Tax Notices Mailed to Property Owners Point to Mostly Modest Increases
Property owners started receiving their tax notices in the mail last week. the numbers are not as dire as feared or as they seem, particularly when a tax bill is looked at whole rather than in its various parts.
State Attorney Files Battery Charge On Flagler Beach Commissioner Eric Cooley, Ending Speculation
The State Attorney filed the battery charge on Commissioner Eric Cooley on allegations he struck the woman he lived with and worked with at Flagler Beach’s 7-Eleven.
A Body Is Found in Intracoastal Search For Matthew Otis, 20, Who’d Disappeared Off a Boat on Sunday
Matthew Otis, 20, of Palm Coast, was lost in the Intracoastal around 6:30 Sunday evening as he and friends were boating and tubing on the water.
Cops Behaving Proudly: Sheriff and Flagler Beach Police Chief Sum Up Solid State of Law Enforcement
Sheriff Rick Staly and Flagler Beach Chief Matt Doughney appeared at a chamber breakfast to speak of the state of law enforcement in the county, from diminishing crime rates to improving PR.
Gloves Come Off on Both Sides as Flagler Beach Seeks To End Lease With Golf Course Management
The Flagler Beach Commission tonight will decide whether to end its lease with the company running its golf course, which itself is threatening litigation in the latest twist of a frayed relationship.
Flagler Beach Commissioner Eric Cooley on His Arrest: ‘There Is Only an Accusation Made’
Flagler Beach Commissioner Eric Cooley briefly spoke for the first time of his June 29 arrest on a domestic violence allegation, after a resident questioned the city commission on its next move.
Floats of Pink, Red, White and Blue Reap Rotary’s Trophies For Fabulous 4th Parade
The Flagler Beach Rotary-sponsored parade’s big winner was Florida Pirate Alliance, which took Best of Parade, with more than a dozen more winners and honorees.
Flagler Beach Commissioner Eric Cooley Arrested on Domestic Violence Charge
Flagler Beach City Commissioner Eric Cooley was arrested on a domestic violence charge Friday evening at the 7-Eleven store he owns on South Oceanshore Boulevard.
Flagler County Passes Precedent-Setting Ordinance Protecting Public Use of Private Beaches, But Its Future Is Uncertain
Flagler’s customary-use ordinance forbids the walling off of private sections of beaches, though a new state law allows just such segregation from public use. Flagler expects its ordinance to be challenged.
Rotary Club’s Fabulous Fourth Parade in Flagler Beach Calling For Floats
This year’s parade theme is “Freedom for All.” The application entry deadline is July 1. There is no cost to enter a float in the parade.
Flagler Beach Golf Course Struggles On, But City Declares Re-Evaluation Committee Premature
Flagler Beach commissioners rejected Kim Carney’s call for appointing a reevaluation committee for the nine-hole golf course at the south end of town.
Flagler Beach Restores Beach Management Panel In Hopes of Securing $500,000 A Year
The Flagler Beach City Commission restored the Beach Management Committee disbanded in 2014 in hopes of ensuring that a state agency sends $500,000 a year to the city for management of 6 miles of dunes.
Flagler Beach Cool To Contributing Money, Palm Coast-Style, For Schools’ Resource Deputies
Palm Coast pays for an extra school resource deputy to defray the school board’s and sheriff’s costs, but Flagler Beach is reluctant to do likewise for now.
Paul Miller Loses Latest Appeal of Life Sentence for Dana Mulhall’s Murder in Flagler Beach
Circuit Judge Dennis Craig ruled that even if a use-of-force expert had been heard at trial, the jury would not have found grounds for self-defense and convicted Miller, now 70, of murdering Dana Mulhall.
Flagler Beach Without a Beach? Researcher Lays Out Erosion’s Implications at Workshop
Flagler Beach native and beach-erosion expert Chad Boda presents findings from his recently-defended dissertation on beach sustainability at a city workshop.
Flagler Beach Drug House Busted, Filth Draws Code Enforcement, 5 Arrested, 3 Already Out
The Paytas family members and associates at the 135 Oak Lane house in Flagler Beach have been subjects of drug busts before, and some of them have served prison time.
Iconic Geodesic Dome at North End of Flagler Beach Collapses and Won’t Be Rebuilt
The two geodesic-domed houses, totaling close to 10,000 square feet between them, have been at Flagler Beach’s north end since the early 1980s. The owner says the dome will be replaced with a flat roof.
Pedestrian Struck By Vehicle on A1A at South 7th in Flagler Beach Is Air-Lifted
A man believed to be older than 55 was struck by a passing car on State Road A1A as he was crossing the street this evening around 7:15 p.m.
After Parkland Massacre, Friday’s Student-Led March Across Flagler Beach Bridge Aims for Solidarity of the Possible
The march head toward First Friday was organized by Flagler Palm Coast High’s Tyler Perry, mixing solidarity with students in South Florida with more local goals about safety.
Gently But Firmly, Flagler Beach Tells County It Wants Control Over Wickline Center Back
The Wickline Center on Daytona Avenue is city-owned, but entirely controlled by the county, a situation the city wants changed in view of a revamp of that entire city-owned block, including the Montessori school.
Flagler Beach Cuts Its Lifeguards in Half, Narrowing Coverage Area Closer to Pier
A $100,000 cut from the lifeguard budget accommodated the addition of a cop, a firefighter and a raise to the city manager, but will result in a smaller lifeguard coverage area.
Urging Opposition, Flagler Beach’s Jane Mealy Says Vacation-Rental Proposals Could Change City’s Look
In an open plea to residents circulated by letter, Flagler Beach Commission Chair Jane Mealy warns of vacation-rental proposals that could change the make-up of the city, eliminating distinctions between residential and commercial zones.
Four Local Governments Vying For Residents To Enroll In Their “Academies”
Local governments’ citizenship academies have been relatively popular, especially among potential political candidates or people who want to see the plumbing of government firsthand.
Raising Faith Over Futility, Flagler Launches Unprecedented $25 Million Dunes-Restoration Feat
For 50 hours a week for the next 48 weeks, trucks will dump nearly 1 million tons of sand along 12 to 15 miles of Flagler County beaches, rebuilding the dunes hurricanes washed away.
Flagler Beach Places Golf Club On Probation, Pending Compliance With Lease Terms
Two Flagler Beach city commissioners were ready to end the lease with the manager of Ocean Palms Golf Club Thursday, but were held back in a last-chance effort to allow for compliance.
Eric Cooley Wins Flagler Beach Commission Seat Unopposed, Mayor Provencher Reelected Unchallenged
No one ran against Eric Cooley, ensuring that he’d take a Flagler Beach Commission seat in place of Joy McGrew automatically. Linda Provencher was again elected without opposition for the fourth contest out of five.
Bobby Gore Sentenced to 15 Years In Shooting Death of His Son in Flagler Beach as Judge Rebukes “Family Culture” of Firearms
Bobby Earl Gore, 74, shot his son Lucas, 31, last April at their Flagler Beach home, allegedly after Lucas had terrorized and humiliated him. A judge did not feel too much lenience was required in the sentence.
Flagler Beach Will End Its Lease With Ocean Palms Golf, Finding Settlement Inadmissible
Flagler Beach commissioners no longer want to work with Terry McManus, lease-holder of the city-owned golf course, and plan on either taking over the course or finding a new management firm.
Flagler Beach Will Lift Parking Restrictions On Downtown Businesses in Short-Term Fix
Th Flagler Beach City Commission in an unusual show of liberality resolved to loosen strict restrictions on parking regulations to allow two businesses either to expand or to grow downtown.
With Project Share, Flagler Beach Rotary Brings Christmas to 1,300 of the Region’s Neediest Children
Project Share was born 18 years ago after Roseanne Stocker drove through rural areas of deep poverty and teamed up with her father to provide toys for 30 children. The project has grown every year since.
Behind Pending Sale of Sea Ray, A Few Hints As to Why, None As To What Next
Brunswick Corp. had noted a little disappointment with storm-related slowdowns at Sea Ray but explains its sale as a more strategic decision to focus more on different parts of its business.