Battles between Palm Coast government–the council and Jim Landon, the manager–and Dennis McDonald, the perennial critic, got so personal in a previous lawsuit, records show, that the city was willing to risk taxpayer money until it was forced to accept a settlement.
Flagler, Palm Coast & Other Local News
The New Palm Coast Community Center: A Bounty of Spaces Welcoming Uses and Nature
The $8 million renovation more than triples the size of the old building to 18,000 square feet, with ample and handsome spaces inside and out, including a renovated public park.
Sheriff Credits “Fugitive Friday” Video For Re-Arrest of Palm Coast Man He’d Arrested In May
Sheriff Rick Staly last August pulled over James Christopher Raposa for speeding. He was later placed on probation on an impaired driving charge, but violated probation.
Dennis McDonald To Sue Palm Coast for 3rd Time in 5 Years, 2nd Time Over Sidewalk Fall
Dennis McDonald, a four-time candidate for office who perennially sues Palm Coast and files complaints on elected officials, required a hip replacement after falling on a city sidewalk before Christmas.
After Awarding $15,000 Raise to Assistant, Palm Coast’s Landon Is “Offended” at Claim He’d Award Big Raises On His Way Out
Palm Coast Council member Heidi Shipley and Jim Landon, the city manager, got in a brief sniping duel over the raise Landon awarded a loyal second without informing the council.
Palm Coast’s Bob Coffman Drops Out of Democratic Race for Congress, Citing Money
That leaves Nancy Soderberg, Stephen Sevigny and John Upchurch in the race on the Democratic side, with Soderberg so far the clear front-runner among Democrats, and John Ward among Republicans.
Flagler Unemployment Ticks Up by 0.6%, Mirroring Increases in Surrounding Counties
Flagler, St. Johns, Duval and Volusia all saw unemployment figures increase by 0.5 to 06 percent in January, with Flagler’s increase also due to a larger labor force.
Lawmakers Pass $88.7 Billion Budget But With Few of Flagler’s or Local Cities’ Priorities
Palm Coast and the county did not get any extra appropriations, nor did Flagler’s county court system get extra help for Judge Melissa Moore-Stens.
6 Years After Murdering Dana Mulhall, Paul Miller, 70, Claims Lawyer Failed Him By Not Invoking Stand Your Ground
Flagler Beach’s Paul Miller shot and killed his neighbor Dana Mulhall as Mulhall in a dispute over Miller’s barking dogs. Miller is contesting his life sentence and was back in court in Flagler today.
Brazenly Misrepresenting Council, Palm Coast’s Landon Names Assistant and Awards $15,000 Raise Council Did Not Approve
For Palm Coast Manager Jim Landon, the Beau Falgout appointment for $110,000 a year is the latest in a long list of instances where Landon’s version misrepresents the facts.
Bigotry-Laced Threats To Shoot Up Pet Smart Over Cats’ Insurance Lead to Woman’s Arrest
Keech, a 53-year-old resident of Palm Coast’s R Section, was upset that Pet Smart would not cancel the health plan for her two cats, which she claimed had died.
Details Behind 6th Grader at Center of Bunnell School Incident Point To a “Gun,” a Troubled History and Family
The 6th grader at the center of the alleged gun incident by a Bunnell Elementary playground has had a history of suspensions and an unstable home life.
Palm Coast Man Faces Felony Animal Cruelty Charge After Yorkshire Terrier Is Brutalized
Brenden Geary of Winchester Place in Palm Coast is accused of brutalizing the 11-pound dog after the dog had allegedly relieved herself on the carpet.
Sheriff and Superintendent Pledge to Double School Deputies as They Outline New Normal Of Campus Security
School deputies will be increased to 13, with two at each high school and one in every elementary school, while a series of other security measures are implemented in a reflection of post-Parkland massacre norms.
Suspended Student Feared To Have a Weapon at Bunnell Elementary Fence Triggers Alert, and Arrest
A student who’d been suspended earlier in the day is facing arrest for assault was seen at a Bunnell Elementary fence with what looked like a weapon near dismissal time Wednesday afternoon, causing a lockdown.
“It Stinks,” Palm Coast Manager Says of WastePro’s Service as Mayor Speaks of Ending Contract
Mayor Milissa Holland is raising the possibility of finding a new garbage hauler for Palm Coast after losing patience with complaints about WastePro.
School Board Will Yet Again Try To Sell Corporate One Property Off Palm Coast Parkway
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.
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.