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, Palm Coast & Other Local News
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.
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.