For Flagler County, a season a 70 percent likelihood of 11 to 17 named storms is beginning even as costly and exhausting recovery efforts from Hurricane Matthew have a long way to go.
Flagler, Palm Coast & Other Local News
Two 16 Year Olds Arrested in “Crime Spree”; Cops Searching For Blue-Mohawk Man
Tyrekk Reed, a student at Buddy Taylor Middle School, and Kenderrick Morton, both 16, were arrested Wednesday as detectives continue to look for additional suspects in what they’re calling a crime spree.
Flagler Secures Millions for Beach, Roads, Judges, But That’s Before Scott Lifts Veto Pen
Millions of dollars through numerous Flagler-bound appropriations could potentially be vetoed as Gov. Scott today received the state’s budget, and will soon decide what stays and what goes.
Palm Coast Man Accused of Threatening 17-Year-Old With Gun Arrested for 5th Time in 8 Months
Anthony Eason, a 35-year-old resident of Port Echo Lane in Palm Coast with a history of arrests involving weapons, threats of using weapons, domestic violence and hiding from police, was again arrested Sunday, hiding in his bedroom.
This Time Palm Coast Council Agrees to Explore Charter Review, But Under Its Control
The council will solicit public input for possible changes to the city charter, but it will not appoint a charter review committee, and will make changes only if it senses a groundswell for changes.
Bloods Gang Leader Brandon Washington Back in Flagler, Contesting Life Sentence
Brandon Washington was accused of leading a Bloods-affiliated gang in Palm Coast until his arrest in 2008 sentencing to four life terms without parole in 2011.
European Village Shooter Facing Up to 35 Years in Prison Is Termed an “American Hero” and Gets 7 Years’ Probation
Daniel Noble fired two shots from an assault rifle at European Village before being wrestled to the ground by three men in December 2014. His attorney pointed to his Iraq War service for leniency.
J. Marie Battenhouse, 19, Is Killed in I-95 Crash; Former Matanzas Student Is 20th Death on Flagler Roads This Year
Jirawadee Marie Battenhouse, a 19-year-old resident of Palm Coast’s C Section, died early Saturday morning (May 27) as a result of her injuries, hours after a two-vehicle crash on I-95 near Palm Coast Parkway.
3 Flagler Jail Deputies Quit While Under Investigation for Sexual and Other Misconduct
No charges will be filed against Bradley Gilyard, Julio Vazquez and Jonathon Vitale, who resigned before facing disciplinary action that may have included getting fired.
Palm Coast Woman Facing Murder Charge in Death of Her Husband Is Found Dead
Jan E. Sochalski was facing a second-degree murder charge in the death of her husband Henry last May. She was accused of suffocating him in his hospital bed.
Bunnell’s PFC Jonathan Nat Spicer, A Conscientious Objector, To Be Honored On Memorial Day
It isn’t often that a conscientious objector who refused to carry a rifle in the thick of battle is the decorated hero to be recognized at a Memorial Day ceremony Monday in Bunnell.
In Flagler and Palm Coast, Hate Crimes Are a Rarity Even as State and National Stats Soar
Officials and experts cite many reasons why reported hate crimes are rare: there may be more harmony locally, but also more subjectivity, under-reporting and lack of awareness when hate crimes are committed.
Gallery Openings: Palm Coast Modern Artist Krystyna Spisak-Madejczyk Looks for ‘Secrets’
Krystyna Spisak-Madejczyk found herself almost a refugee in 1981, with nothing but her art work, when she was in New York and martial law was declared in her native Poland.
The Live Interview
Six Questions For James Tager, Superintendent
James Tager, who begins as Superintendent June 1, answers questions about his temperament, open government, transgender rights, zero tolerance and other issues.
Flagler Beach Pier Cleared for July 4 Fireworks, Which Will Go Off Even If Burn Ban Persists
Flagler County Fire Chief has cleared the July 4 fireworks for takeoff while an engineering firm certified the Flagler Beach pier’s safety for the event.
Palm Coast Man Faces Felony for Interfering in Custody of Missing Girl, 17
Christopher McMurphy faces a 3rd-degree felony charge following accusations that he interfered with the custody of a 17-year-old girl reported missing on May 21.
Sheriff’s “Taxi-Patrol Car” Cautions Against Drunk Driving Over Memorial Day Weekend
More than 400 deaths and 47,000 injuries are projected on U.S. roads over the Memorial Day weekend, prompting police agencies to heighten awareness campaigns.
Sheriff’s Request for 15 New Deputies Adds to Budget “Challenges” as Local Governments Begin to Haggle
Sheriff Rick Staly wants 10 new deputies from the county and five from Palm Coast. County government is facing $9 million in “challenges” as budget season launched this week.
Bowlers Raise $2,200 for Domestic Violence Shelter as Government Demurs on Funding Request
An official for the Family Life Center asking for a budget increase was told “we’ll see” by the County Commission, but a Palm Coast Yacht Club fundraiser netted $2,200.
Profile In Resilience: Cindy Dalecki’s Journey From Loss Back to Radiance
Cindy Dalecki, one of the most recognizably sunny personalities and marketing executive in Flagler Beach and Palm Coast, describes her ongoing recovery from losing her husband and companion of 28 years.
Flagler 3rd Graders’ Reading Scores Jump, And Exceed State Average By 11 Points
The Flagler school district average of 69 percent of students at proficiency or better exceeds the state average of 58 by 11 points as every elementary school showed strong improvement.
Marketing 2 Go, Curley Tail Design and the Branding Box Move to Ripple Coworking in Flagler Beach
Marketing 2 Go, Dalecki’s 7-year-old company and with Kim Fitzgerald’s Curley Tail Design, who together run The Branding Box, moved to Ripple Coworking, a startup in a venerable building.
A Man Is Killed in Fiery Morning Crash On Old Kings Road South of Graham Swamp
Joshue Rafael Venegas, 30, of Palm Coast, killed was speeding north at 3 a.m. on Old Kings Road, clipping a pick-up truck with three occupants before losing control.
For Overworked County Judge Melissa Moore-Stens, $150,000 Worth of Help May Be Coming
Flagler County is not getting an additional county judge, but the money appropriated will pay for the equivalent of 428 days of service by retired judges brought back on a per-day basis to handle cases.
The Solemn and the Symbolic Mark Flagler Sheriff’s Ceremony Commemorating Fallen
In a departure from previous ceremonies, Thursday’s commemoration included a march and a riderless horse, symbolizing fallen officers, and the unveiling of a Wall of Heroes.
Flagler Unemployment Falls to New Post-Recession Low, Matching Florida’s 4.5%
In April, the number of the unemployed in Flagler County fell by almost 200, though the labor force shrank almost equally, and the overall number of Flagler County residents with jobs fell by 100.
School Board Veto Call to Scott: “Legislators Didn’t Follow Basic Tenets We Teach Students in 7th Grade Civics”
The Flagler County School Board complete letter to Gov. Rick Scott asking him to veto an education bill that would “shortchange” Flagler County students. The bill was passed at the last minute with little discussion.
Citing Chronic Crisis, Sheriff Plans Community Summit on Domestic Violence and Task Force
Sheriff Rick Staly intends to call a community summit followed by a task force that would have a few months to produce a set of recommendations to enact. Other domestic violence initiatives are ongoing.
Flagler Grand Jury Indictments: Gore and Singer May Face Death Penalty, Haire Life in Prison
Dorothy Singer, accused of killing her husband, and Bobby Gore, accused of killing his son, may face the death penalty, and Phillip Haire, accused of shooting at a cop and his parents, may never see freedom again, if convicted.
House Bill 7069 Will Change Education in Flagler For Generations, Not For the Better
Flagler County School Board Chairman Trevor Tucker explains his opposition to a massive education bill, focusing on the bill’s preferential treatment of charter schools at the expense of traditional public schools.
Four Arrests in 4 Separate Violent Assaults in a 24-Hour Period Underscore Domestic Issues
Andrew J. Krupp, 20, of Palm Coast, Qwajon R. Laster, 20, of Bunnell, Raymond Amara, 54, of Palm Coast, and Jacob Robertson of Flagler Beach were all arrested on felony charges stemming from violent confrontations.
Daytona State Will Not Increase Tuition in 2017-18, But a Few Fees Will Go Up
Tuition will remain flat even though the Florida Legislature slashed the budgets of public colleges across the state by $30 million in the session just ended. The cuts affected remedial education.
Middle and High School Students Can Rejoice: ID Cards May Be Carried Through Cell Phone
The Flagler School Board is set to approve a rule change in June that would allow students no longer to have to wear their ID badges, and to show them through their cell phone if requested, come the 2017-18 school year.
School Board Awards Superintendent Tager $135,000 Contract Plus Performance Bonuses
James Tager’s full compensation package, before incentives kick in, is $154,200, with $5,000-worth of recurring bonuses if he pushes the district to earn an A and improves its graduation rate.
Sheriff Warns Against Misleading Medical Pot Scams “Popping Up All Over Palm Coast”
Yard signs in Palm Coast have popped up advertising “legal” weed, but the signs are scams, and a further reflecting of the confusion caused by lawmakers’ inability to agree to rules on medical pot, enabling scammers to fill voids.
Rare Black Bear Sighting, at Flagler County’s Emergency Operations, Occasions Cautions
A Flagler County Sheriff’s deputy happened on a black bear prowling around the county’s Emergency Operations Center Sunday night and spooked it off.
Elections Supervisor Proposes 2 New Voting Precincts, But GOP Concerns Prompt Delay
The Flagler County Commission was set to approve the $24,000 plan Monday evening but agreed, unusually, to a 30-day delay to accommodate Republican Party concerns about internal party elections and committee representation.
Gambling or Charity? Conflict Over Shut-Down of Electronic Bingo, Which Had Sustained Flagler Cats
Shamrock Bingo in Bunnell operated for years until an inspection found its 40 electronic machines to be illegal. Lawyers for the business are disputing the finding. The city will seek a state Attorney General’s opinion.
Palm Coast Man Accused of Drugging and Raping 13-Year-Old Girl
Fredie Jiles Leon, who goes by the name of Fredie Leon, an 18-year-old resident of 5 Whittier Lane in Palm Coast, was arrested Thursday (May 11) on two counts of raping a 13-year-old girl after allegedly drugging her.
Cyclist Critical After He is Struck By Vehicle on Belle Terre and SR100 in Apparent Hit and Run
Kerry Milich, A cyclist, 57, was struck by a car at the intersection of Belle Terre Parkway and State Road 100 just after 4 p.m. Michael Bailey, the driver of the car, left the scene but was later located.
Wildfire Smoke Shrouds Flagler-Palm Coast From West as Officials Declare Fire Warning
A Red Flag Warning signaling a high-fire danger is in effect from noon to 8 p.m. today, and a 300-acre fire in Crescent City was sending thick smoke over Flagler-Palm Coast today, flooding the 911 center with worried callers.
Supreme Court Orders New Sentencing of Palm Coast Double-Murderer on Death Row
David Snelgrove has twice been sentenced to death for the murders of Glyn Fowler, 84, and his wife, Vivian, 79, on Bannbury Lane in Palm Coast in late June 2000, but never unanimously.
Just Back from Open-Heart Surgery, Palm Coast Man Is Accused of Threatening His Wife With a Gun
William J. De Perrio, a 67-year-old resident of Easton Place in Palm Coast, allegedly pointed a gun at his wife’s head as she was trying to help him with his medication and threatened to kill her.
Deputy Richard Petkovsek Is CrimeStoppers’ Flagler Law Enforcement Officer of the Year
Richard Petkovsek, with the sheriff’s office just three years, was recognized for bravery, selflessness and an act of humanitarianism toward a homeless man.
From Austin Outdoor to Brass Tap: A Native Son Opens Palm Coast’s Largest Craft Beer Bar
Ed Schatz, who started Austin Outdoor in 1994 and sold it in 2008, is opening Brass Tap in Palm Coast’s Island Walk Monday, and planning to make it the first of nine such craft beer bars along East Florida’s coast.
1938-2017
James E. Gardner, ITT President
And Palm Coast Founder, Is Laid to Rest
James E. Gardner, who died May 5 at age 78, led ITT as it built Palm Coast between 1978 and 1990, and served on or led innumerable civic and business organizations.
11 Months After Fire, Dunkin Donuts On Palm Coast Parkway Reopens, With Sprinkles and 35 Employees
The Dunkin Donuts on Palm Coast Parkway reopens at 4 a.m. Thursday after it burned for reasons yet undetermined in June 2016, affecting about 1,000 customers a day.
Decriminalized Pot-Possession Program Will Advance in Flagler, But With Little Support From Sheriff
The proposal to decriminalize possession of small amounts of pot possession in Flagler County has been in limbo for almost a year after a key judicial and law enforcement panel approved it last year, before the election.
Curt and Impassive in Appearance Before Judge, Dorothy Singer Is Held Without Bond in Murder Case
Dorothy Singer, 52, accused of shooting dead her husband, will be represented by Public Defender Ray Warren, a seasoned murder-trial lawyer who has represented recent high-profile Flagler defendants.
In Big Victory For Flagler (and St. Johns), Rep. Renner Delivers $13.3 Million For Dunes Restoration
The $13.3 million has yet to be split between the two counties, but will go a long distance to alleviate Flagler’s $22 million dune restoration needs, with local sources kicking in several million dollars.