Hurricane Irma’s tropical-storm forces have already drenched Flagler well ahead of peak activity and now are slowing enough to cause worries that the damage will be more severe than anticipated.
Flagler, Palm Coast & Other Local News
FPL Says 10 Percent of Flagler Residents Expected to Lose Power, Millions More Across Florida
FPL is deploying nearly 17,000 line workers across the state and conducting repairs between Hurricane Irma feeder bands to minimize outages.
Three Charged With Curfew Violation and Fraud After Scoping Out Flagler Beach Properties
Two men and a woman had allegedly spent Saturday scoping out Flagler Beach properties to figure out which had been left vacant by evacuees.
Sheltering From Irma in Flagler: 4 Shelters, 3,000 Spots, Food, WiFi, Power And ♥ Left Behind From Students
Here’s what to expect at Flagler County’s four emergency shelters opening at 7 a.m. Saturday, who’s paying for all that food, and what you can stream on WiFi.
What To Expect in Flagler In Next 48 Hours on Shelters, Evacuations, Storm Effects and Hunkering Down
As Hurricane Irma approaches, a complete run-down of what you should expect from emergency responders and what you should do in the next 48 hours.
As Flagler Prepares For Irma: “We’re Anticipating A1A To Be Severed In Multiple Locations”
Law enforcement, first responders and local governments were in full preparation mode with evacuation orders policing planning going into gear. The details.
Palm Coast’s Big-Box Stores All Out of Water, Shipments Expected But No Promises
Aldi, Publix, Target and Winn-Dixie all show bare water shelves and few promises about when the next shipments are due, as supply lines are dependent on state conditions.
A “Cop” Faces Weapons Charge After Temperamental Confrontation at Palm Coast Gas Station
Justin Digeorgio, 23, allegedly pointed a gun at a man at the busy Mobil station on Pine Lakes Parkway after the man got upset that Digeorgio cut in line, into the spot he was holding for his wife.
After Resisting Most of the Day, Flagler District Agrees to Close Schools Friday and Monday
The school district had wanted to keep schools open Friday, but by 4:45 p.m. today caved to health and county emergency officials’ pressure, who wanted to get a special needs shelter ready at Rymfire Elementary.
A Little Hurricane Greediness: Hammock Dunes Bridge Still Charging Tolls Until Tonight
Gov. Scott suspended tolls on all state bridges and roads Tuesday, but the privately-run and very profitable Hammock Dunes Bridge is still charging motorists $2 until Wednesday evening.
Man Who Reported Armed Burglary Is Arrested And Blamed For Running “Drug House”
James Soldo, 37, was assured by detectives that they were only seeking answers about the morning’s armed burglary, but arrested him anyway when they found a bag of marijuana in the house.
Owen Parker, 19, Sentenced to 2 Years in Local Jail For Molesting Girl, 12, Near Rymfire Elementary
Owen Parker had followed a 12-year-old girl into a wooded trail where she was biking with her friends, near Rymfire Elementary, when he assaulted her.
Armed Burglary at B-Section Home Forces Indian Trails and Belle Terre Schools on Lockdown
The attempted armed robbery at 15-B Bunker Knolls Lane, a duplex, forced Belle Terre Elementary and Indian Trails Middle School on lockdown.
Walgreens Employees Tied Up During Armed Robbery; Incident Connected to Car Arson in Woodlands
The Walgreens pharmacy at 1109 Palm Coast Parkway was the target of an armed robbery early Sunday morning. Hours later an intentional car fire in the Woodlands was connected to the robbery.
Aaron Dalton, 29, Is Killed, Noah Chavez, 18, Critical In I-95 Crash Near Flagler-St. Johns County Line
Aaron Dalton, 29, and Noah Chavez, 18, both of DeLand, were both ejected in a crash at Mile Marker 297 on I-95 near the Flagler-St. Johns County line around 7 this morning.
Behind Solar Shades Soon in Palm Coast, A “Voluntary” FPL Program of Limited Benefit But Ample Marketing
FPL’s SolarNow program bills willing customers $9 a month then uses the money to build solar-power installations like those coming to Holland Park, City Hall and the Community Center.
In Flagler Beach, Palm Coast and County, More Contempt For Medical Pot
Elected officials in Palm Coast, Flagler County and Flagler Beach are still peddling false or misleading assumptions as they draw up more restrictive medical pot dispensary zoning.
Sheriff’s Deputies Going Under Cover This Weekend, as Laborers, To Catch Drunk Drivers
The National Safety Council estimates between 376 and 471 killed on American roads over Labor Day weekend, and between 43,200 and 54,200 injuries in traffic-related crashes.
Chez Jacqueline Hosts Fundraiser For Flagler’s Cold-Weather Homeless Shelter Sept. 6-7
The Sheltering Tree, which depends entirely on donations, has provided the homeless with food and extreme weather shelter since 2008: the shelter opens whenever the temperature falls to 40 degrees or below.
Sheriff Seeks Public Help In Catching “Paint Bandits,” But Discounts Race or Gang Motive
For the third time this month the same seemingly random acts of vandalism by spray paint, using vague symbolism and vaguer racial undertones, have targeted homes, this time in Palm Coast’s E Section.
Two Palm Coast Firefighters Responding to Attempted “Chemical Suicide” Sent to Hospital
A man believed to have attempted “chemical suicide” or “detergent suicide” at a house on Black Bear Lane in the Woodlands was hospitalized as were two firefighters exposed to the fumes.
At Palm Coast Meeting On Elder Needs, Pleas For Senior Center, Better Information and Respect
Some 90 people turned out to speak their mind on what’s needed in Palm Coast for seniors, revealing long lists of needs but also gaps of awareness of what’s already here.
For David Snelgrove, Sentenced in Palm Coast Double-Murder in 2000, Execution Again In Question
The Supreme Court threw out David Snelgrove’s death sentence as unconstitutional because twice juries were not unanimous. A re-sentencing’s complicated road began today before Judge Dennis Craig.
Bunnell, Citing Iffy Crime Figures, Will Be Holdout Against Medical Pot Dispensaries
Bunnell will be the only local government that will ban medical pot dispensaries. Officials there, on little or flimsy evidence, claim dispensaries would attract crime.
Palm Coast Man Faces Child Abuse Charge in Strangling Grandson Over Power Bill
Kelvin Martinez, 55, on probation for his second DUI guilty verdict in five years, allegedly choked and beat his grandson after being angry that he left his computer on all day.
After Years of Resistance, County May Finally Absorb Bunnell Fire Department In Expansion
Bunnell government appears ready to cede its fire department’s property to the county, which is expanding its ambulance service from seven to eight 24-hour rigs, and would so so in Bunnell.
Graham Swamp, Magnet For Self-Abuse, Nets Two Arrests In Sting For Onanists
A Palm Coast man and a Tennessee man were the latest arrested for allegedly masturbating at Graham Swamp, in front of an undercover cop, the first such arrests there since 2013.
28-Year-Old Man Critical As Car Flips Into Pond at I-95 Palm Coast Parkway Exit
William Birch Jr., 28, was pulled out of his car with fluid in his lungs and in critical condition. His brother Aaron Gordon, 25, was not injured. The two had been arguing just before the wreck.
Renner and Hutson Call For State Audit of Free-Spending Flagler Mosquito Control District
It is the first indication that the tax-supported district, which has itself so far refused to conduct an audit in the wake of the crisis, will be examined independently.
In Preventive Demonstration, Sheriff Highlights Lethal Danger of Leaving Children in Hot Cars
With an average of 39 children killed each year for being left in hot cars, Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly and DCF officials underscored the danger in a demonstration in Palm Coast this morning.
In the Hammock, A Concern That a Small Rule Change Will Turn Rustic A1A Into Commerce Central
The Flagler County administration is reinterpreting how the residential and commercial mix along A1A must be applied, raising fears that it’ll open the way to innumerable businesses there.
Divided Flagler Beach Commission Agrees To 15% Tax Increase, 2 New Cops, 1 Fire Captain
Residents in Flagler Beach will see their second big tax increase in a row, along with a 35 percent water and sewer rate hike, a 10 percent garbage hike and a 30 percent stormwater hike.
“I Just Kept Stabbing,” Son Says of Killing Mother in Panicked Argument on Woodhollow
Nathan Shimmel, 22, says his mother Michele Shimmel was threatening to throw him out of the house when he panicked, grabbed a knife and stabbed her “a lot.”
Nathaniel Shimmel, 22, Faces 1st Degree Murder Charge in Stabbing Death of Mother on Palm Coast’s Wooodhollow Lane
Michele Shimmel was stabbed and killed at 47 Woodhollow Lane in Palm Coast this evening, sometime between 7:15 and 7:30 p.m. Her 22-year-old son, Nathanial Shimmel, is in custody.
New Spate of “Stay White” And Other Disturbing Graffiti, But Authorities Suspect Youthful Idiocy More Than Malice
The “stay white” vandalism was one of another half dozen instances of graffiti at homes on Farrington, Farragut and Florida Park Drive in Palm Coast’s F-Section, and on Raeland Lane.
Palm Coast Approves Its First Microbrewery: Moonrise Brewing Co. at European Village
The brewpub and restaurant, opening in October, will produce about 15,000 pints a month. Its three owners, in the industry many years, expect it to become a big draw for European Village.
With First Win in US Open Qualifiers, Opelka Looks To Turn Frustrating Pro Season Around
Reilly Opelka won a three-set qualifier Tuesday but needs to win two more matches to qualify for the U.S. Open men’s main draw for the first time, which would be a huge accomplishment for the 19 year old.
On Brink of Banning Medical Pot in Haze of Misinformation, County Opts for Compromise
Three Flagler commissioners nearly pulled off a medical-marijuana ban in the county before one of them surprisingly, and perhaps unintentionally, opposed the ban.
Palm Coast’s David Shute, 47, Critical Following Motorcycle Crash on Palm Coast Parkway
It is not yet clear what caused David Shute to “lay down” his motorcycle immediately after making a right onto Palm Coast Parkway from Old Kings Road. He was flown to Halifax hospital.
Former WyoTech President Jorge Gutierrez Named President of Flagler Chamber of Commerce
The chamber is eager to increase its membership, which has been stagnating around the 750 to 780 mark for years, while also improving its revenue after it was forced to sell its own building to meet expenses.
A Centenarian Eclipse Winks at Flagler’s Centennial in Hour of Luminous Awe
Flagler County couldn’t have asked for a more apt coda to its centennial, a centenary gift from moon and sun under a radiant sky witnessed to the delight of many in Flagler Beach this afternoon.
Cash Resigns at Depleted Mosquito Control As Board Mixes Denial With End to “Frivolous Things”
In their first meeting since revelations of a $1.1 million deficit, Mosquito Control commissioners mixed a sense of denial with vows of being more transparent and in control.
Plane Lands on Flagler Beach Bridge, Two Aboard Escape Injuries Despite Fire
A single-engine plane executed an emergency landing on the Flagler Beach bridge at 7:50 this evening. The plane either was on fire or caught fire after it landed. Two people aboard escaped injuries.
Buddy Taylor Middle School Teacher Travis Holloway Again Arrested Over Domestic Violence Charge
It is Holloway’s third arrest in the past eight years, the second involving domestic violence, a period through which he’s been employed by the Flagler school district.
Beating Palm Coast and Flagler Beach, County Will Be 1st to Welcome Pot Dispensaries; Bunnell May Ban Them
The Flagler County Commission is expected to approve opening the county to medical pot dispensaries Monday, becoming the first local government formally to do so.
Flagler Unemployment Steady at 4.8%, Florida Adds 32,000 Jobs As Labor Force Grows
Compared to June, Flagler’s labor force didn’t budge, nor did the number of people with jobs, nor did the number of unemployed persons.
Misconduct Charges Mount Against Flagler Judge Scott DuPont, Now Pointing To Courtroom Violations
Seven new charges against Circuit Judge Scott DuPont bring the total to 12 and now point to disturbing allegations of violations against people appearing in court and lawyers.
Deficit-Ridden Mosquito Control’s Bail-Out Includes $400,000 Property Deals With Palm Coast and County
Palm Coast government will contribute $293,000 and Flagler government $100,000 in property deals as a large part of East Flagler Mosquito Control’s plan to bail itself out of a $1.1 million hole.
A Man Exposes Himself and Chases After Employee On Florida Hospital Flagler’s Walking Trail
Alonso Ricardo, 51, of Bunnell, faces three charges after exposing himself and chasing after a hospital employee who was exercising on the campus trail on her lunch break Wednesday.
Palm Coast Man Arrested For Confronting Teacher (and Ex) in Belle Terre Elementary Parking Lot
Joshua Laks, a 34-year-old resident of Karlstad Place in Palm Coast, arrested for throwing eggs and a souvenir cup at a teacher, has a history of arrests in Volusia.