Tony Lagano of Palm Coast’s Fernwood Drive drew cops’ attention last month for a Facebook posting where he alluded to a school shooting. He was jailed for violating an injunction on April 28.
Flagler, Palm Coast & Other Local News
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.
Hit-and-Run Driver of Kia Forte Sought in Head-On Crash On Palm Harbor Parkway
Tiffany A. Fugit, 25, was driving her Honda Accord north on Palm Harbor Parkway on April 27 when the driver of a silver Kia Forte crossed the yellow line and crashed into her, then fled.
Alert Issued For Brianna Day, 15, Missing From Palm Coast Home Since April 26
Brianna Day, 15, a resident of 3 Westbrook Place in Palm Coast and a student at Buddy Taylor Middle School, has been missing since April 26.
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.
A Flagler Jail Employee Is Arrested Over Pot Possession at Work, Jail’s 6th Serious Issue In a Year
Victoria Ferguson, a 30-year-old employee in the CCTV hub, was arrested and charged with a felony for allegedly stashing marijuana in her locker at work.
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.
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.
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.
Flagler’s New Breastfeeding Support Group Seeks to Encourage Moms to Hang On
The Flagler Health Department and Florida Hospital Flagler are partnering to provide a bi-monthly breastfeeding support group at the hospital.
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.
Two Flagler School Buses Involved In Minor Incidents In Thursday’s Afternoon Runs
Neither incident was serious, but at least one of them led to inaccurate rumors on social media that a weapon was involved: it never was.
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.
A Palm Coast Resident Says “School Shooting” In a Facebook Video That Has Nothing To Do with School Shootings. Cops Show Up.
Tony Lagano, 35, was upset over a family court issue and alluded to a school shooting in a sarcastic Facebook video last week, only to be visited by sheriff’s deputies.
Matanzas High School Girl Reports Being Raped By Another Juvenile at Her Home
An investigation is ongoing into the allegation of a rape of a 16-year-old girl after the alleged perpetrator asked to meet the girl to “catch up.”
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.
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.
Florida Hospitals and Halifax Health Named Among 150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare
Adventist Health System, which includes the Florida Hospitals in Volusia and Flagler counties, was recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review as one of the top places to work in health care.
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.
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..
Flagler-Palm Coast Under Tornado Watch Until 6 PM as Line of Storms Approaches
The squall line this afternoon is expected to produce locally heavy rainfall of 1 to 2 inches, with locally heavier amounts, and winds of 30-40 mph.
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.
88-Year-Old Palm Coast Man Dies of Gunshot, 3rd Elderly Suicide in Seven Weeks in Flagler
Joseph O’Sullivan, 88, of Palm Coast’s P Section, died of a gunshot Wednesday. There have been at least eight suicides in the county since the new year.
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.
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.
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.
Man, 59, Critical After He Was Found Submerged in a U-Section Swale as Children Returned From School
David A. Niesse is in critical condition after he was found face-down in a waterlogged swale in front of his Palm Coast house, a scene that left a busload of Imagine School students shaken Tuesday.
In Praise of Pops: Jax Symphony’s Palm Coast Picnic Returns in Salute To Bracing Favorites
The Jacksonville Symphony’s 11th Picnics and Pops concert with the Palm Coast Arts Foundation is an exploration of the worlds of pop music’s Mozarts.
20 Years in Prison for Ex-Soccer Coach Who Molested Boys at Palm Coast Academy; He Faces New Rape Charge
Sean Stern was a program director at Palm Coast’s ex-Sports Pathways soccer academy for boys and girls, where he molested at least three boys over many months.