The school board will most likely have to sell the 7-acre property–now without a building–at a loss, after owning it since 2003 but for far more trouble than it was worth.
Flagler, Palm Coast & Other Local News
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.
Another Exhausting But Short-Term Victory For Flagler Government as Vacation-Rental Deregulation Fails Again
Flagler County government had staunchly opposed lawmakers’ attempts to eliminate local regulation of short-term vacation rentals, regulations crafted in 2014 largely at Flagler’s behest.
Accused Drunk Driver Crashes Dodge Durango Through Fencing Along Rymfire Drive
Robert Sewell, 31, resident of Palm Coast’s R-Section, was on his way to Kangaroo at 1:25 Tuesday morning when he crashed through property fencing on Rymfire Drive.
Matanzas Student Frustrated in Math Jokes of “Shooting Up” the School, and Is Arrested
The arrest this morning of Raul Hernandez, 14, signals that school and sheriff’s officials will be taking a hard stand against any threats, however un-serious the intention.
Gregory Allen Henry, 12, Is Missing: Sheriff’s Deputies Seeking Public’s Help (Update: Found)
Gregory Allen Henry, a 12-year-old student at Wadsworth Elementary and a resident of Slator Court in Palm Coast who went missing Monday evening from a Seminole Woods park.
For Sheriff and Flagler Schools, Clear Accord: No to Arming Teachers, Yes to More Deputies
At a joint news conference later this week, Sheriff Rick Staly and Superintendent Jim Tager will outline new security measures and initiatives and a plan for additional school deputies, but no weaponizing of teachers.
Hammock Beach “Dragging Their Feet” Over Dunes-Repair Agreement, Vexing County
The agreement with Hammock Beach is the last piece of a mosaic of agreements framing the reconstruction of protective dunes along the beach. But hammock Beach has yet to sign.
“Do 17 Good Deeds”
Many Join Students Marching Across Flagler Beach Bridge For Gun Sense and Safety
A march of about 200 people across the Flagler Beach Bridge drew students, faculty, administrators and politicians and ended in a brief stand at First Friday for safety measures in schools.
Palm Coast Tells Matanzas Golf That Foreclosure Is On Again as Deadline Passes
Matanzas Golf Club owners did not comply with a deadline to demolish or renovate a cart barn at the site and now face a resumption of Palm Coast’s foreclosure proceedings.
Palm Coast Resident In New York For Friend’s Birthday Party Is Murdered Outside Pizzeria
Hakeem Javon Griffin, a 22-year-old resident of Ryan Drive in Palm Coast, was killed in an argument on a street in Queens, N.Y. on Feb. 28.
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.
3 Arrests Yield Stash of Weapons, Cash and Drugs–and Former Member of Mosquito Control Board
The arrests took place at 15 Fariston Place and 196 Pine Grove Drive in Palm Coast, yielding almost $50,000 in cash, more than a dozen firearms, and several pounds of pot.
Water’s Chlorine Taste, Smell and Discoloration Affects South Palm Coast Customers
A mechanical problem at one of the Palm Coast’s three water treatment plants Thursday caused the level of chlorine to spike, and shut down the plant.
Gov. Scott’s Boasts of “Recovering” $1.2 Million From Palm Coast Data Aside, New Documents Detail Extent of Deal’s Failures
Documents obtained by FlaglerLive and disclosed for the first time show the extent of Palm Coast Data’s difficulties and some of Palm Coast government’s own deception along the way.
Ex-Youth Pastor Convicted of Molesting Teen Church Members Back in Court, and Jail
Christopher Thomas Miller was convicted of molesting two 15-year-old girls at Bunnell’s Praise Assembly of God in 2006, but was jailed over violating his probation.
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.
Holy Cow! Three Crashes, Three Dead Cows in Three Separate Areas of West Flagler
Three vehicles, including a cop’s car, were totaled overnight in crashes with cows on three different Flagler County roads. The drivers were not hurt. Cows’ owners have yet to be identified.
Palm Coast and Matanzas Golf Course Owners Reach Agreement, With Conditions
Palm Coast government has agreed to significantly code enforcement reduce its lien on the Matanzas golf course in exchange for a dismissal of all pending litigation.
Does Palm Coast Have a Panhandling Problem? Council Member Thinks So, But Legal Options Are Limited
Palm Coast City Council member Heidi Shipley, citing “regulars” panhandling on Old Kings Road and Palm Coast Parkway, wants an anti-panhandling ordinance.
Palm Coast Council Whittles Charter Amendments Down to 3 Minor Changes
Council members discarded the idea of expanding the council to seven members and stuck to minor changes about elections in case of death or resignation, and the next charter-review process.
Bunnell Inmate With 8 Prior Charges For Assaulting Cops Gets 9th One
Samuel Higgins is awaiting trial on assault and burglary charges at the Flagler County jail. He threatened a correction’s deputy’s life and threw a liquid at him, an offense for which he’d previously served prison time.
Bunnell’s Charles Cowart Jr. Arrested Again, For Allegedly Stealing 15 Flags in 3 Cities
Charles Cowart Jr. is accused of stealing enormous flags from Palm Coast Parkway and Indian Trails Sports Complex, among others. He’s been arrested many times for doing strange things.
For All of Sheriff Staly’s “Green Roof Inn” Tough Talk, the Green Also Stands For Hope and Renewal
Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly today unveiled the Stride Program at the county jail, an ongoing rehabilitation and preparatory program to help inmates reintegrate society and stay out of jail.
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.
Robert Barshied, Missing Two Days, Is Found Dead Near Bings Landing, an Apparent Suicide
Robert Barshied, 69, of Matanzas Shores, was found dead in a marsh after an extensive air, sea and foot search. He’d left a suicide note at his home.
Zambrano Orders Judge Scott DuPont to Clear Out of His Offices In Flagler and Putnam
Chief Judge Raul Zambrano’s order, delivered to DuPont by letter today, is as close to the firing of a judge short of a Supreme Court impeachment, and follows an investigation’s withering recommendation for removal.
Behind the Shooting On Seamanship Trail: Drugs, Underage Sex and Mom’s Warnings
Contents of Tristan George’s phone reveal incriminating texts and videos about underage sex and drugs, and warnings to the Palm Coast man from his mother about his behavior.
Epic Child Abuse Case Fails Stand Your Ground Defense in Debacle of Witnesses
An unusual stand-your-ground case unfolded in Flagler court this morning over an allegation that a 39-year-old man punched a 16-year-old girl at Epic Theater in palm Coast last October.
New Trouble For Gunshot Victim and Suspect: Rape Charge Involving a Minor
Tristan George, 19, was shot outside his Palm Coast house at 28 Seamanship Trail in November in a case still under investigation. He now faces a statutory rape charge.
With ‘Macbeth’ and Measureless Content, Palm Coast Arts Foundation and City Rep Theatre Launch Shakespeare In the Park
It’s “Macbeth” time Thursday through Sunday as the Palm Coast Arts Foundation and City Repertory Theatre hope Shakespeare in the Park, in Town Center, becomes a local tradition.
In a First, Palm Coast Drug Dealer Is Indicted on 1st Degree Murder in Overdose Death of Savannah Deangelis
Joseph Colon, 34, of Palm Coast, is accused of selling the heroin and fentanyl that killed Savannah Deangelis, 23, moments later at her Grand Haven home last October.
Anxious Morning of Gun Threats in Palm Coast Affecting 3 Schools, and a Demonstration by 200 Students at FPC
A gun threat at FPC’s i3 Academy proved unfounded, Buddy Taylor and Wadsworth went on lockdown as deputies resolved another gun threat in Palm Coast’s P-Section, and 200 students at FPC demonstrated against gun violence.
“I’d Like To Stare At Him In the Eyes Now”
Serial Masked Armed Robber Sentenced To 30 Years as Victim Rebukes Him
A Terranova Restaurant owner in court today told castigated Charles Rushing-Griffen for the way he’d stared at her while robbing her at gunpoint in December.
Mold Found In 2 Rooms at Sheriff’s Operations Center After 4 Employees Complain of Rashes
The four employees were relocated and the concern prompted an environmental investigation of the old but renovated building and the closure of two rooms pending extensive clean-ups.
Matanzas High Students Developing Justice Academy For Aspiring Cops and Lawyers
Matanzas High’s law and justice academy, developed by students with help from the sheriff’s office and others, mirrors the popular fire academy at Flagler Palm Coast High School.
2 Palm Coast Women in Separate Incidents Face Charges of Felony Child Abuse By Strangling
Julie Bruce, 52, is accused of strangling an 8-year-old child, and Tina Seale, 40, is accused of strangling a 13 year old. Both women live in Palm Coast.
Witness Describes Disturbing Near-Miss Immediately Before Friday’s Crash That Killed 2 on SR100
Patrick Spurgeon, a trucker, said the woman who slammed into a pick-up, triggering the fatal wreck Friday, had moments earlier passed him while a motorcyclist was passing from the other direction.
Flagler Sheriff and County Officials Worry That Prison Reforms Could Shift Inmates,
and Costs, to County
A spate of criminal-justice reform bills in the Florida Senate has Flagler’s sheriff and a county commissioner worried about what that could mean for the local jail population and budgets.
2 Dead, 4 Injured, 3 Seriously in 3-Vehicle Crash on SR 100, West of CR 305
A three-vehicle crash on State Road 100 west of Bunnell Friday evening resulted in the death of Ralph Pellicer, 43, of Bunnell and of Jobe Podach, 35, of Holly Hill.
T-Mobile and Hair Cuttery On Palm Coast Parkway Targeted By Smash-And-Grab Burglars
Both stores on Palm Coast Parkway were burglarized early Thursday morning after burglars smashed glass doors with bricks and ransacked interiors.
Qualifications Commission Recommends Judge DuPont Removed, Calling Him “Reckless,” Untruthful and “Heavy Handed”
Judge Scott DuPont serves on Flagler’s and Putnam’s civil benches, and was facing a series of accusations that he’d acted wrongfully and recklessly as a judge and a candidate.
Flagler Airport Chief Roy Sieger Calls Fuel Tax Cut Proposed By Renner Committee “Ridiculous,” and Loses
Airport Director Sieger spoke before Paul Renner’s Ways and Means Committee, but Renner, the Palm Coast Republican, voted with the committee to approve the tax cut.
Palm Coast Man Arrested on Charges of Bathing Toddler in Boiling Water and Beating Him
Deviaun A. Toler, 26, of 32 Westfield Lane in Palm Coast, was arrested this morning after an investigation alleges he bathed a child in boiling water and beat him with a switch and a belt.
Fugitive Who Taunted Sheriff on Facebook Is Arrested; Deputy Injured in Violent Struggle
Leslie Pitter faces a first-degree felony after dislocating a deputy’s shoulder in an encounter that included his being tased, and fugitive Francisco Valdez was caught and jailed after taunting the sheriff’s Fugitive Frriday Bingo.
In a Flagler First, 16 Couples Marry, 5 Renew Vows in Mass Ceremony on Courthouse Steps
A couple together 60 years were among those renewing vows in a ceremony led by Clerk of Court Tom Bexley and coinciding with Valentine’s Day.
Facing Deportation, an Undocumented Immigrant Held at Flagler Jail Changes His Plea at Last Minute
The case of Palm Coast resident Filipino Francisco Justo underscores how the potential for deportation increases rather than decreases burdens on the judicial and penal systems.
The Sheltering Tree, Flagler’s Homeless Shelter, Holds Fundraiser March 4
The “Have a Heart for the Homeless” dinner and dance will raise money for the shelter assisting new, near, or chronically homeless, and the all-volunteer effort needs your help.
Man at Flagler Jail Tries to Hang Himself, Fellow-Inmates and Deputies Rush To Save Him
An inmate at the Flagler jail tied a bed sheet around a railing, then around his neck, and attempted suicide before inmates and deputies rushed to his rescue Tuesday.
Another Life Term For Paul Dykes as Lurid Child-Rape Case Ends, Absent Reversal on Appeal
For Palm Coast’s Paul Dykes, 21, the most immediate challenge is to contend with a brutal prison culture that makes prey of child sexual predators.