The 774-acre subdivision off Seminole Woods Boulevard will grow to 890 homes and include 26 acres of commercial space, some of it possibly used for condos or apartments in the distant future.
Flagler, Palm Coast & Other Local News
Signs of the Times: Flagler Sheriff’s New Recruits and School Deputies Train to Take Down Mass Shooter
Twenty-six Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies, including all of its school resource deputies, trained through a mass-shooter scenario Thursday afternoon at a Korona church, part of what’s now standard training at the agency.
Flagler County and Bunnell Governments Lose Their Finance Directors in Middle Of Budget Season
Bunnell lost virtually the entirety of its finance department when four employees resigned and the new finance chief was forced to resign in an unexpected shake-up, with the county sending in help.
For Parents’ Peace of Mind, It’s Time for Video and Audio Monitoring of Flagler’s Special Education Classrooms
An incident at Belle Terre Elementary School last school-year illustrates the need for more objective, independent oversight of what goes on in special education classrooms, where students may not have a voice of their own.
Judge Jim Manfre? Former Sheriff Among Applicants for New Flagler County Judge Seat
With two days to go before the application window closes, eight candidates have applied to be appointed Flagler County judge, the second county judge seat the Legislature approved in its last session to share the docket of County Judge Melissa Distler.
Intoxicated Mother Faces Felony Charges After Her 3-Year-Old Child Wanders Parking Lot Naked and Alone
Amber L. Bruder, a 27-year-old resident of the Palm Pointe apartment complex in Bunnell, told hospital staff she was drunk when her 1-year-old boy was spotted wandering around the complex’s parking lot alone.
Texas Roadhouse Breaks Ground in Winn-Dixie Shopping Center off Palm Coast Parkway
Palm Coast’s Texas Roadhouse will be a dinner-only 369-seat restaurant in a 7,163 square foot building. The restaurants typically generate $5.2 million in annual sales, or $364,000 in state and local sales tax.
School Board’s Next Superintendent Hire Will Include Familiar Consultant and Community Panel
The Flagler County School Board took its first steps Tuesday in what will likely be an eight to nine-month process of replacing Superintendent Jim Tager–and the board’s third search in in five years.
County Awards $76,000 in Tourism Grants to 24 Organizations But Rejects 8, Raising Questions
The Flagler County Commission on Monday approved 24 grants totaling $76,000 for mostly local organizations’ cultural and sports events, festivals and professional meetings, money to be drawn from the county’s tourist tax revenue.
Between Mass Shootings and ‘Overkill,’ Flagler’s Elections Office Will Add New Security Barriers
Flagler Elections Supervisor asked for and received $15,300 from the county commission to build glass partitions separating her front-desk staff and another area in the office from the public.
AdventHealth Surgeon John J. Cascone Faces Felonies in Domestic Violence Incident
John J. Cascone, 54, a well-known surgeon at AdventHealth Palm Coast, was jailed on charges of aggravated battery, a second degree felony, and battery by strangulation, a third degree felony, following an alleged incident with his wife.
Wall Collapse at Construction Site in Hammock Sends 3 to Hospitals, One With Severe Injuries
Three workers were injured, one of them severely, after a wall collapsed on the workers at the site of a house under construction at 51 Calle Del Sur in the Hammock Saturday afternoon.
Fund-Raiser for Teens-in-Flight, the Flagler Non-Profit That Keeps Churning Out Young Pilots
Teens-In-Flight, the flight school created by Col. Jack Howell, holds its second annual “Hangar Party” fund-raiser Saturday from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Palm Coast Elks Lodge, hoping to draw 165 people and raise $35,000.
Curtain Rises on Flagler Auditorium’s New Director and Renovations With Ribbon-Cutting Tonight
The public can meet new Auditorium Director Amy Fulmer and tour the venue on the FPC campus during a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the renovations at 5:30 this evening. The event will feature live music and food for guests.
That “Natural” Dr. Seltzer Pill for Erectile Dysfunction? FDLE Warns It’s Illegal and Dangerous
The pills are believed to have been sold on eBay and in retail stores in St. John’s County. The pills sell for $10.99 each, and agents seized more than $800,000 worth of the pills.
Sheriff’s National Night Out for Crime Prevention Tuesday Evening at FPC
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office will be hosting National Night Out at Flagler Palm Coast High School Tuesday, Aug. 6, from 6 to 8 p.m., in conjunction with school resuming six days later.
In Culmination of the Bizarre, Man Who Faced Life in Prison For Attempting to Electrocute His Wife May Walk Out of Prison in 10 Months
Michael Scott Wilson, 32, was sentenced to 3 years in prison today but may walk out of prison in 10 months because of time served and early release. He was convicted on reduced charges after facing a first-degree attempted murder charge.
School Supplies Sales Tax Holiday Through Tuesday, Back To School Jam Saturday at FPC
The 2019 back-to-school sales tax suspension, or holiday, began at a minute after midnight today (Aug. 2) and runs through Tuesday, Aug. 6. The Flagler County district’s annual Back to School Jam is on Saturday at Flagler Palm Coast High School, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Benjamin Allen, 16, Is Charged as an Adult in 1st Degree Murder of 17-Year-Old Elijah Rizvan
State Attorney R.J. Larizza opted to try Benjamin Allen as an adult for the July 12 incident. If convicted, he may face life in prison, but he is not eligible for the death penalty.
Congressman Mike Waltz, Again in Flagler, Gets a Primer on Coastal Reconstruction and Talks Climate Change
U.S. Rep. Mike Waltz was in Flagler County for the second time this week, touring Flagler Beach’s road reconstruction and sea wall projects along A1A and speaking at length in an interview of his views on climate change.
Sheriff’s Deputy Fired For Failing to Take Action With Wrong-Way Car That Ended in Fatal Crash, Is Ordered Reinstated
Robert Finn in his patrol car crossed paths with Wendell Parker going the wrong way on an I-95 exit ramp moments before Parker died in a head-on collision with another car. Finn was fired a year ago, but ordered reinstated this week.
Flagler Felon Gary Rahme Arrested for Armed Bank Robbery on U.S. 1 in Joint Operation With St. Johns
Gary R. Rahme, a 59-year-old one-time felon and resident of Daytona North, was arrested on a charge of armed bank robbery at an Ameris Bank July 12 on U.S. 1, just south of St. Augustine, where he took $13,000.
Judge Denies James McDevitt Motion for Relief, Letting 40-Year Prison Sentence Stand for Rape in Flagler Beach
James McDevitt, now 27, argued he’d gotten poor counsel from two attorneys before his sentence on a 2013 rape of a 40-year-old woman in Flagler Beach. A circuit judge rejected his claims.
Kimberle Weeks Appeals 8 Felony Convictions, Alleging Court Errors Warrant a New Trial
Kimberle Weeks, the former Flagler elections supervisor convicted on eight felony counts of illegally recording conversations, filed the initial brief to her appeal with the Fifth District Court of Appeal almost 14 months after her trial.
David Zlokas, 66, Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison in DUI Death of ‘Best Friend’ Gary St. Peter
David Zlokas, the 66-year-old former resident of Surf Side condominiums, drove home drunk in 2017 and smashed his Mustang against a tree. He survived. Gary St. Peter did not.
Soccer and Lacrosse Tournaments May Quit Indian Trails Complex as 2 Fields Are Converted for Palm Coast Little League’s Uses
The Indian Trails Sports Complex’s 10 multi-purpose fields, often used for soccer or lacrosse, would be reduced to eight, with two fields being converted to baseball and softball use to accommodate Palm Coast Little League.
In a Flagler First, U.S. Rep. Mike Waltz Holds Probing Round-Table With County Directors
First-year Congressman Mike Waltz did what none of his predecessors have ever done, sitting down with Flagler County government directors and hearing issues and concerns for an hour Monday.
Reprimands Follow District Investigation of Allegations of Inappropriate Treatment of Autistic Child at Belle Terre
The parent of a non-verbal autistic 4th grader at Belle Terre Elementary had recorded staffers over several hours without their knowledge, and filed a complaint that led to a local and state investigation.
L-Section Homeowner Sees Her Car Getting Burglarized Live on ‘Ring’ Doorbell System, Leading to Suspect’s Arrest
The Palm Coast homeowner was watching her property on her phone from Kissimmee when she saw the alleged burglar, alerted Flagler authorities, and helped lead to the arrest of a 19-year-old on felony probation for car breaks.
Wrestling With New Polling Rules, Flagler District May Close Schools on Both Primary and General Election Days
The Flagler school district may no longer ban campaign workers from soliciting voters on school-based polling places, as it did in the last election, prompting a safety-based consideration of closing all schools on all election days.
Burglary in L Section Leads to Car and Copter Chase, then 2nd Arrest of Palm Coast Man in 5 Days
Palm Coast’s Justin Aldrich, 41, had just been released from jail in Volusia on a burglary charge only to be charged in Flagler with burglary and fleeing and eluding law enforcement, each a felony, and resisting arrest, a misdemeanor.
Flagler Health Department Expands Hepatitis Clinic, Marking Hepatitis Day 2019
The Flagler Health Department in Bunnell has renewed its commitment to diagnosing and treating Hepatitis after receiving grant for Hepatitis C treatment and clinic expansion.
Flagler Beach Police Chief Doughney: “I Don’t See Panhandling as a Problem In the City”
Flagler Beach Commissioner Eric Cooley pushed for an ordinance targeting “aggressive panhandling” in the city, but the Police Chief Matt Doughney rejected the premise that there was such an issue in Flagler Beach, and got the proposal tabled pending his revisions.
Richard L. Russell, With Long History of Firearm Crimes, Arrested For Throwing Rocks at Cars on A1A
Lenient judges have allowed Richard L. Russell of Palm Coast’s P Section again and again to avoid severe punishment despite seven charges, one of them a felony and four guilty convictions before his latest arrest this week.
On Notice at 11th Hour, Sheriff Staly and Clerk of Court Bexley Meet and Resolve Courthouse Space Impasse
After a wild day of hopeful negotiations, then a declared impasse, Sheriff Rick Staly and Clerk of Court Tom Bexley met and resolve the controversy over space for sheriff’s uses at the courthouse.
County Will Sue Clerk of Court Bexley as Courthouse Space Negotiations for Sheriff Fail ‘Over 200 Feet’
Flagler County government late Thursday started the process to sue Clerk of Court Tom Bexley as intense negotiations over space for the sheriff reached a final impasse over a mere 200 square feet of space in contention.
Critical Negotiations Over Courthouse Space for Sheriff Down to a Few Hundred Square Feet
Negotiations for a final settlement for the sheriff’s use of space at the county courthouse were down to a few hundred square feet Thursday, with a lot riding on a resolution.
Flagler’s 4 Mayors and a Commission Chairman Boast of Renewed Energy and Problem-Solving
Mayors and the county commission chairman speak as if clouds have lifted and new sources of energy are driving their organizations–resolving chronic controversies and problems, reinvigorating economic plans, even cleaning house, especially in Palm Coast’s administration.
Flagler’s FireFlight Helicopter, On Reconnaissance, Prevents Potentially Devastating Wildfire
FireFlight crews used the helicopter’s ability to travel anywhere within the county in 15 minutes with its 210-gallon water bucket to prevent a wildfire from getting out of control on July 16.
Clerk of Court Bexley Offers 1,000 Extra Square Feet for Sheriff’s Uses, 4,000 Short of County’s Request
Clerk of Court’s “final offer” consists of 1,000 additional square feet of space for use by sheriff’s personnel at the courthouse, enlarging and segregating the zone used by the agency’s detectives.
Roma Court Academy Teacher Faces Child Abuse Charge in One of 3 Investigations at Palm Coast Child Care Facility
Roma Court Academy in palm Coast was the subject of two DCF and Flagler Sheriff’s Office investigations in 48 hours, one of them leading to a felony child abuse charge filed against a 51-year-old teacher.
So You Want To Be a Flagler County Judge: Nominating Commission Is Fielding Applicants
The Judicial Nominating Commission for the Seventh Judicial Circuit is taking applications for the newly created Flagler County Judge seat, leaving Gov. Ron DeSantis to make the appointment likely this fall.
Salvatore Randazzo, 59, in Apparent Suicide on Esperanto Drive, Prompted by Terminal Illness
Salvatore Randazzo, a 59-year-old resident of Esperanto Drive in Palm Coast, died in an apparent suicide on Friday (July 19) from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home. He had reportedly been battling cancer and given only a few months to live in spring, when he ceased treatment.
Palm Coast Wawa Re-Files Permit Application to Build at State Road 100 Site, Resuming Process
Weeks after cancelling its permit applications, Wawa, the much-anticipated convenience store planning at site at Bulldog Drive and State Road 100, on Monday re-filed a permit application with Palm Coast government.
Ex-Bunnell Commissioner’s Son Edwin Henry, 56, Found Dead on Martin Luther King Blvd.
Edwin Devon Henry, the 56-year-old of former Bunnell City Commissioner Daisy Henry, is believed to have died of a medical condition he’d been battling.
Flagler’s Suicide Rate Falls to Still-Grim 9th-Highest in State But Sets Record Gun Deaths; Florida’s Matches 43-Year High
Twenty-nine people killed themselves in 2018 in Flagler County, two fewer than in 2017, but still by far the second-highest total in Flagler history. More people died by firearm in Flagler in 2018 than ever before.
Breakthrough In the Works as Court Clerk Bexley Proposes ‘Generous’ Plan for Sheriff’s Space at Courthouse
Clerk of Court Tom Bexley made a “Final offer” to the county, proposing new space at the courthouse for the sheriff’s office, potentially ending what had been heading for a legal confrontation between the clerk and the county, and resolving a serious space issue for the sheriff.
What Will Tom Bexley Do? Ultimatum Clock Stops as He Calls For Key Meeting on Courthouse Impasse Monday
In a sign of a possible breakthrough, Clerk of Court Tom Bexley called County Commission Chairman Donald O’Brien to set a Monday meeting and discuss the county’s ultimatum for a space study and more space for the sheriff at the courthouse.
Flagler’s Unemployment Rises to 4.1%, Florida’s Keeps Hovering in 3.4% Range for 12th Month
The June unemployment figures for Flagler and Florida suggest both the state and the county have bottomed out in a job market at the closest to full employment they may see in this economic cycle.
Firefighters Rescue 2 Dogs in Blaze that Demolishes Half a Home in Beverly Beach Hours After 1-Acre Fire in Seminole Woods
A blaze demolished much of a mobile home in Beverly Beach hours after firefighters battled a one-acre brush-fire that erupted just after 1 p.m. and spread rapidly at Seminole Woods Boulevard and Citation Parkway.