The Greatest Save is a national award that recognizes police work that protects children from exploitation and trafficking. George Hristakopoulo’s investigation led to the arrest of a 51-year-old man accused of raping a 16 year old.
Flagler, Palm Coast & Other Local News
Sheriff and Bunnell Police Team Up With ATF In Illegal-Guns Sting: Half a Dozen Arrested
Drive-by shootings spurred the Flagler Sheriff’s Office to instigate a four-month federal-state-local operation connecting drugs to illegal guns.
How Palm Coast Manager Landon Used a Director’s Departure To Save His Own Job
When Jim Landon claimed to the city council that uncertainty about his future would cause directors to leave, he already knew that one of them was leaving–but for a $17,000 raise.
Unidos Por Puerto Rico:
Palm Coast’s Hispanic American Club Organizes 2-Day Drive For Devastated Island
The Hispanic American Club of Palm Coast is organizing the two-day drive to fill a container that would be shipped to Puerto Rico from Jacksonville for an increasingly desperate population on the American island.
Only a Handful Turn Up at Palm Coast’s 1st Charter-Review Workshop; Public Input Limited
Just 13 or 14 people turned up for the first of four city charter-review workshops, and that public’s chance to weigh in was severely constrained by rules that leave the process largely in the council’s control.
“A Major Disaster Has Taken Place Here”: Flagler Beach Pleads Amid Crisis Affecting Up to 400 Homes
Mold is the growing, silent enemy in hundreds of flooded homes in Flagler Beach, making them potentially unlivable and creating new crises for residents with nowhere to go.
Palm Coast Will Buy Property From Troubled Mosquito Control; $317,000 Cost Rises By $24,000
Palm Coast government had sought to buy the old headquarters for the financially troubled Mosquito Control district for $293,000 just a few months ago, before the district sought a re-appraisal.
West Flagler Event Turns Into Big Post-Hurricane Relief Effort For Hundreds of Households
Food and pantry items were provided to 167 households, 200 backpacks were filled with toiletries, the Red Cross served 300 meals last Saturday.
It Is Done: Sklar And Flagler Beach Sign Settlement Over Marina, Ending Decade Battle
A legal battle that immobilized the Flagler Beach marina since 2010 ended when owner Howard Sklar signed a settlement agreement Monday, and the mayor signed it today.
21-Year-Old Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison For Home-Invasion Killing In Palm Coast’s F-Section
Carl Devore was sentenced for the death of his accomplice, who was shot in self-defense by a resident at the house Devore and his accomplice were invading in July 2016.
Man Accused of Attacking Girlfriend Then Pummeling Dog That Sought To Protect Her
Steven R. Belisle, 27, of Central Avenue in Flagler Beach, faces two felony charges, including animal cruelty, after allegedly attacking a pit bull and its owner during an argument.
Engineer Likens Flagler Beach Pier to “Congestive Heart Failure” As Reopening Is Again Uncertain
Though it looks structurally sound, the Flagler Beach pier suffered multiple forms of damages not visible to the naked during Hurricane Irma and must again undergo repairs before re-opening.
Historically Low School Tax Will Diminish Effects of Tax Increases in Palm Coast and County
Even though county government, Palm Coast, Flagler Beach and Bunnell are all increasing taxes, homeowners’ bills will not see a steep increase thanks to a lower school tax.
The Bombing Begins Friday: 2 Planes Will Spray Entirety of Flagler To Kill Billions Of Post-Irma Mosquitoes
A pair of King Air planes will be sweeping and spraying over the entire county over the next two nights to kill an already rising swarm of mosquitoes bred from standing water left by Hurricane Irma.
Students Can Rejoice: Only 1 Hurricane Make-Up Day, No Disruption of Thanksgiving Week Off
The district will make up one day on Oct. 16, with three days already accounted for in the existing schedule and two days waived by the state.
Duel Over Sklar’s Marina Continues Even as Divided Flagler Beach Commission Approves Latest Agreement
The Flagler Beach City Commission voted 3-2 to approve a settlement in the nearly 8-year-old dispute, but not before making still more changes to an agreement that now Howard Sklar may either approve or reject.
A 16-Year-Old Arrested in Connection With Fireworks Burglary and Misfire That Injured 2 Younger Boys in July
DNA evidence collected at the burglarized fireworks shop led to Jovawn McClendon, a 16-year-old student at Flagler Palm Coast High School, who now faces several charges.
From “I Am A Camera” To Macbeth, City Repertory Launches Seventh Season Of Razor-Edged Theater
City Repertory Theatre continues to go where no other Palm Coast or Flagler theater dares to go, opening tonight its seventh season with “I Am Camera,” a work set in Weimar Berlin, and at the origin of “Cabaret.”
Erin Vickers, 23, Found Guilty of Raping Her 1-Year-Old Daughter; She Faces Life In Prison
Erin Vickers was found guilty on two of 49 charges she faces in connection with rapes and the production of movies and pictures involving her daughter in sexual acts perpetrated by her mother. The case is not over.
Flagler County Appeals Dangerous Dog Ruling, Challenging Judge DuPont’s Interpretation of Law
Circuit Judge Scott DuPont in August quashed the Flagler County Commission’s order declaring a dog dangerous, saying the commission acted improperly. Flagler is appealing.
2nd Attempt To Fire Landon Fails as Palm Coast Council Submits to Manager’s Retirement Timeline
The second attempt in two weeks to fire Palm Coast Manager Jim Landon in 60 days failed today, with the council rebuffing Steven Nobile’s push to replace the manager in six months rather than two years.
Clarence Murphy, 41, Charged With 1st Degree Murder in Shooting Death of Cousin On Parkview This Morning
Murphy, a probationer, was “enraged” that the EBT card Ahmad Rashad Laster traded him for drugs was not the amount agreed upon, so he allegedly shot Laster–and confessed doing to to detectives.
21-Month-Old Boy Tests Positive For Cocaine, Palm Coast Mom Charged With Child Neglect
Ashley Estepp, the 23-year-old Palm Coast mother of a young boy, had taken him to the ER fearing he’d ingested a prescription pill, but he tested positive for cocaine.
Jury Selected With Unusual Swiftness In Trial of Erin Vickers on Charge of Raping Her Own Child
Erin Vickers, 23, of Palm Coast, is on trial on the first of 49 counts involving accusations of rape, videotaping and transmitting sexual acts involving children.
FPL Lies
FPL’s response to Hurricane Irma in Flagler has been disgraceful and secretive, both at the expense of local emergency responses and at the expense of residents.
In Boggy West Flagler, Power Kicks Back On, Home Goes Up In Flames, Cat, Called Smokey, Is Killed
Deep in the woods off CR 305 the home John Martin and his 90-year-old mother Grace shared blazed the moment power went back on this afternoon, leaving them with nothing.
Humanitarian Needs Overtake Emergency Response in Flagler as Power Issues Compound Pain
Continued power outages affecting a quarter of Flagler County’s population are shifting needs to food and other basic necessities as county and other governments assess damages.
At Surfside Estates and Marineland Acres, Two Flagler Communities Feel Singled Out For Storms’ Wrath
Surfside Estates, the mobile home community in beverly Beach, and Marineland Acres north of the Hammock were both whacked by Hurricane Matthew and again by Hurricane Irma.
With a Third of Flagler Still Without Power, FPL Offers Little More Than Scripted Answers
Florida Power and Light is not telling customers when their power will be reconnected nor giving an idea of where the work is taking place next.
In Flood-Pummeled Flagler Beach, Mountains of Heartbreak, But Surges of Grit And Samaritans
No place was hardest-hit by floods than Flagler Beach, yet no place seems as vibrant with community support as neighbors have mobilized to help neighbors cope.
Flagler Schools Closed Through Monday; Flooding Complicating Homecoming Across Florida
As evacuees continued to struggle either to make it home or to contend with power cuts, Flagler Schools decided to remain closed until Monday for more clean-up.
As Emergency Yields to Recovery in Flagler, More Inconveniences Than Damages Or Troubles
More than 60 percent of Flagler residents were still without power Tuesday evening but recovery efforts were powering up and destruction from the storm was limited.
Spotty Cell and Internet Service in Flagler: “How Many Bars Do You Have?” Is A Post-Irma Refrain
The infuriating cell and internet signal failures residents in the Flagler-Palm Coast region are experiencing will parallel power failures and restoration.
Damages: 50,250 Lose Power, Flagler Beach, Beverly Beach Heavily Flooded, Less So in Palm Coast, No Systematic Devastation; Curfew Extended On Island, Schools Closed Wednesday
While Flagler and Palm Coast made it through Hurricane Irma without devastation, there was heavy flooding in homes in South Flagler Beach and the west end of the county.
R-Section Man Accused of Smashing Glass Door To Burglarize Evacuated, Elderly Neighbor’s House
Andrew Gross of Palm Coast’s Red Mill Dr. had visited his neighbors during the storm, then allegedly used a paver to break into the house after they evacuated.
In Flooded Flagler Beach, Caring For Neighbors In Cops’ Colossal Trucks Or in Tiny Kayaks
The Sheriff’s Office sent out its colossal military-surplus trucks on search and rescue missions, while at least two Flagler Beach residents conducted their own in canoes and kayaks.
Conditions Deteriorating Across Flagler: Waters Rise, 22,400 Out of Power, Irma Spins Further East
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.
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.