Sally Sherman “retired” and returned the next day with a $12,500 raise as a “consultant” so she could skirt the law requiring retirees to stay out of Flagler government work for half a year.
Flagler, Palm Coast & Other Local News
Sheriff Files Criminal Charges Against Dr. Florence Fruehan, Alleging Pattern of Inappropriate Touching
At least five women have now come forward with allegations of inappropriate touching by Florence Fruehan, the Palm Coast physician who agreed to surrender his license last month.
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.
Palm Coast Data Adds New York Magazine and National Wildlife Amid Stable Revenue
Palm Coast Data’s revenue has been solid, with continued addition of clients, and its parent company has been reporting modest but consistent profits, in contrast with earlier years.
41-Year-Old Man, Out on Bond On Sex Charge, Accused of Drugging and Raping 16 Year Old
Victor Williams, 40, of Palm Coast’s B Section, is accused of drugging and raping a 16-year-old boy, and was facing a charge of luring a minor for sex last year.
Flagler Ready to Pay $1 Million To Fix Sheriff’s Building? Bogus Claim, County Says
County Commission Candidate Dennis McDonald says Commissioner Dave Sullivan told him it would take $1 million to fix the Operations Center, a claim Sullivan says is false.
Palm Coast Council Fires City Manager Jim Landon, Ending 11-Year Tenure
The Palm Coast City Council this morning voted 4-0 to fire City Manager Jim Landon, ending his 11-year tenure after weeks of mounting tension and clashes with the council.
Three Suicides Averted in 2 Days As 911 Dispatchers and Deputies Defuse Chilling Situations
Over the weekend, authorities converged on three suicide attempts–by gun in Flagler Beach, by hanging and by cop off a county road in western Flagler, and by knife in Palm Coast’s K-Section.
Florida Charter Schools Have ‘Largely Failed to Deliver’ Promised Innovation, Report Finds
A new report from a Tallahassee-based research group raises questions about the growing role of charter schools in Florida, including citing the closure of 373 charter schools since 1998.
Escaped Pit Bull Attacks and Kills Chihuahua on Palm Coast’s Fortune Lane
The chihuahua was on a leash when the pit bull attacked and mauled it Sunday evening. The pit bull does not appear to be at risk of being declared a dangerous dog. At least not yet.
County Commission Candidate Dennis McDonald Must Pay $59,000 as Court Dismisses His Appeal
County Commission Candidate Dennis McDonald’s appeal of an order to pay $59,000 in attorneys’ fees was dismissed because he didn’t follow court rules. The order is related to a frivolous suit McDonald had filed against ex-Commissioner George Hanns.
Thefts, Hit-and-Run With Injury and Graham Swamp Search Lead to Arrest of Frequent Felon
Jonathan DeMartino, 37, faces four felony counts after a run of alleged property and other crimes, one of them injuring a woman in a Palm Coast Parkway hit-and-run.
13 Years in Prison For Matthew Nesbitt, Who’d Threatened Cops With a Knife in Z-Section Chase
The three-hour sentencing hearing devolved at times into a shouting match and disbelief over suggestions that cops should not be scared by a knife-wielding man.
At least 100 Pounds of Pot Wash Up on Hammock Shore, But No Finders Keepers as Man Is Arrested
A 61-year-old man was arrested in the Hammock Thursday for allegedly grabbing an 11-pound brick of pot that had washed up on shore.
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.
Nicholas Urban, 18, Dies of Self-Inflicted Gunshot; Matanzas High Community’s 6th Suicide in 5 Years
Nicholas D’Artagnan Urban, 18, was found at his home in Palm Coast’s Hammock Wednesday. He had graduated Matanzas High last December. His death is the 8th violent death involving the Matanzas High community since 2013.
Palm Coast Residents’ Stormwater Cost Will Double Over Next 6 Years and Utility Bills Increase By $30 a Month
Palm Coast homeowners are in for big rate increases between the new water and sewer rates the council just approved and the steep new stormwater rates it is set to approve next week.
Palm Coast’s Sam Andolina, 39, Accused of Raping Fiancée’s 13-Year-Old Daughter
Sam Andolina, 39, faces rape and molestation charges following an incident he claims to authorities was initiated by the alleged victim. He’s being held on $150,000 bond.
Hurricane Florence to Have Only Minor Effects in Flagler; Local Strike Team Heads North
With Hurricane Florence’s effects causing possible erosion locally, Flagler County officials are on the alert for any breaches along the coast, where the year-long dune-rebuilding project is still ongoing.
Bunnell Signs Manager Alvin Jackson, Who Makes a Point of Not Holding Cities “Hostage” With Severance
Bunnell commissioners unanimously voted to hire Alvin Jackson as their next manager for $82,000 and a purposefully restrained severance package that contrasts with Palm Coast’s experience.
Keith Johansen, Accused of Murdering His Wife, May Not be Competent to Stand Trial
Keith Johansen is accused of murdering his wife, Brandi Cleneza, 25, at their F-Section home in April. Authorities have seized a notebook he kept that they say may be revealing.
Ron DeSantis Quits Congress to Focus on Governor’s Race Against Andrew Gillum
DeSantis had missed 4.2 percent of the roll call votes since January 2013, but the percentage has spiked to 53.8 percent since July.
Palm Coast Council Would Rather Spare Dog Cooper’s Life. You Wouldn’t Know It
From Its Court Pleadings.
Palm Coast’s administration is is making its decision to kill Cooper the dog synonymous with the council’s preference. But it isn’t.
Pay Disparity: Many Flagler Government Employees Paid Less While Several “All Stars” Are Overpaid
A salary study found pay disparities between Flagler government and other governments, but also within Flagler government, where an “all stars” system is rewarding some employees far more than others.
For 2nd Time in 3 Weeks Man Pulls a Gun on Flagler Deputies, But No Arrest This Time
Flagler deputies were checking on a 33-year-old man who had been reported to be suicidal (possibly falsely). He came out of his house pointing a gun at the deputies.
Judge Orders Spanish-Language Sample Ballots in Flagler and 31 Other Counties
Making clear that only time restraints limited his decision, a federal judge ordered that sample ballots in Spanish be provided but stopped short of ordering actual Spanish-language ballots in Flagler and 31 other counties.
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.
Supreme Court Excoriates Ex-Flagler Judge DuPont, Citing Manufactured Facts, Disrespect and Blatant Disregard for Rules
The decision amounts to a brutal condemnation of Scott DuPont’s behavior by the state’s highest court and a signal to other prospective judges that zero tolerance applies with regards to violations of the Code of Judicial Conduct.
Crashed Hydrant in Bunnell Cuts Off Water Citywide, Shutting Down Courthouse
A car crash against a hydrant caused the water pressure to fall and shut down service citywide in Bunnell in late morning. It was not expected to be restored until 5 p.m.
Sheriff Investigating Death of Samantha Brewer, 30, in R-Section as Overdose Claims Another Life
Samantha Brewer had called a friend over from the C-Section. He was in the bathroom 4 minutes, when he returned, Brewer was unresponsive from an overdose.
Racist and Bullying Behavior Leads to Firing, Retirement and Transfer of 3 Veteran Flagler Sheriff’s Deputies
Following internal investigations, Deputy Jon Freshcorn, Sgt. John Bray and Cmdr. Brian Pasquariello were all subject to discipline following a breakdown in professional conduct at the courthouse.
68-Year-Old Man Jokes About Tossing Grenade at Walmart Employees, Faces 2nd Degree Felony
William Rudd, a resident of Peppercorn Lane in Palm Coast, faces a second-degree felony after joking he could toss a grenade at a group of Walmart employees.
3 Hospitalized in Latest Crash at Notorious Old Dixie-US 1 Intersection at White Eagle Lounge
Two women and a man were hospitalized late Tuesday afternoon after the latest crash at the intersection of U.S. 1 and Old Dixie Highway, by the White Eagle Lounge.
Council Approves Rezoning for Apartments on Old Kings Road That Drew Strident Opposition From Woodlands
The 74-unit apartment complex would be for people 55 and older and affordably priced, but Woodlands residents say it will burden their neighborhood with traffic and other potential nuisances.
Flagler Commissioner Donald O’Brien Named to Florida Association of Counties’ Board of Directors
O’Brien has forged an independent path on the commission, focusing on strict financial oversight. The statewide Florida Association of Counties advocates and lobbies on behalf of Florida’s 67 counties.
Flagler Youth Orchestra, Accompanist to Generation of Students, Marks 14th Year With Open House Wednesday
Many thousands of students have enrolled in the free Flagler Youth Orchestra’s strings program through the years, with some 400 enrolling each fall. Its open house is next week.
For Palm Coast’s Boldest Stage in New Season, “Rocky Horror,” Satanic Puppet, and a Shrew
Palm Coast-based City Rep, always willing to do a Capt. Kirk and boldly go where few community theaters have gone before, will offer six productions in the coming season.
DUI Manslaughter Charge for David Zlokas in Death of Gary St. Peter in A1A Crash;
Bar Named in Lawsuit
David Zlokas and Gary St. Peter had just left Uncaged Tasting Room, the bar in the Hammock, when they crashed and St. Peter was killed. Zlokas faces criminal and civil actions.
Dottye Benton, Owner of Dangerous Dog Cooper, Faces Felony Charge Following 3rd Bite
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office filed the charge that Palm Coast Animal Control asked for, citing owner Dottye Benton’s pattern of neglect and dissimulation.
Sheriff Asks For Semi-Permanent Solution Away From Comatose Building As Issue May Linger Up To a Year
In a workshop initially mean to to hear the latest analysis of previous air testing, Sheriff Staly asked county government to work out a semi-permanent solution to his staff’s evacuation from the troubled Operations Center.
Palm Coast Builds Path Where Michelle Taylor, 16, Was Killed; To Her Father, It’s “7 Years Too Late”
Michelle Taylor, 16, was walking along Lakeview Boulevard in 2017 when she killed by a car. Her father is angry at a city that had been ‘putting frickin’ umbrellas over monkey bars’ instead of building paths and putting up lights.
Flagler Jail Sends ‘Inmate Work Crew’ Around Town, and Gets Paid GED Instructor
A black-and-white-striped Flagler County jail work crew will start duties around the community, and the jail is getting a GED instructor for nearly 30 hours a week.
Palm Coast Council and Manager Jim Landon Again Clash Sharply Over Methods and Goals
Palm Coast Council members repeatedly and sharply criticized Manager Jim Landon over a “disconnect” between their goals and his execution, the latest in a series of increasing clashes.
Greg Hansen, Trevor Tucker, Joe Mullins Win, Janet McDonald , Fischer, Tipton and Branquinho in Runoffs
County Commissioner Greg Hansen and School Board member Trevor Tucker are headed to comfortable victories, and newcomer Joe Mullins is well ahead of Commissioner Nate McLaughlin.
Low, $500 Bond For Sex Offender’s Re-Arrest Raises Sheriff’s Eyebrows–and Unravels
Bleak Case Through Court Maze
Tavares Calloway was 21 when he was charged with the statutory rape of a 15-year-old girl. Probation violations landed him in prison for 3 years. He’s been rearrested again on a violation weeks after his release.
Bunnell Selects Self-Proclaimed Economic Development Guru Alvin Jackson as Manager
Alvin Jackson was the only candidate interviewed twice. His first interview turned off commissioners for being too flashy. His second was calmer, and he’d schmoozed commissioners behind the scenes.
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.
Palm Coast Woman Faces 3 Aggravated Animal Cruelty Charges Over Dogs Abandoned 16 Days
Rochely Ann Lopez-Colon, 25, was arrested after the three dogs were found in an R-Section back-porch, emaciated down to their bones, covered in fleas, amid feces, without food or water for more than two weeks.
Last of 8 Fugitives Wanted for Notorious Pot Farm Robbery in Oregon Is Caught in Palm Coast
Jody Deville Reynolds, 35, was wanted in the December 2016 robbery of a marijuana farm in Oregon, and had been staying with his girlfriend when Flagler Sheriff’s deputies and other cops converged on him Friday morning.