Benjamin Wytiaz, a man with a long arrest record in three other counties, startled a Hammock woman in her home as she was getting out of the bathroom, and was later arrested. He said he was looking for a place to sleep.
Flagler, Palm Coast & Other Local News
Olando Ellis, 63, Killed on I-95 Near Matanzas Exit When Semi Slams His Stalled Mercedes
Olando Ellis’s car had stalled in the right-most southbound lane and lost all power and lights. He’d called 911 for help, then was struck and killed by the truck.
Ethics Panel Ratifies $4,500 Fine Against Barbara Revels in Closing Blur on Distinguished Service
The fine and public censure bookend Barbara Revels’s eight years of public service as a member of the Flagler County Commission, where she had been its most effective member and most skillful parliamentarian.
A Stolen Gun, A Cry for Help Over Crack, Then Surrender to Felony Charges
Pamela Guth, a 54-year-old resident of Rose Petal Lane in Palm Coast, was arrested on two felony charges after turning herself in for stealing a gun to buy cocaine, and trying unsuccessfully to get the gun back.
In Flagler Again, Gov. Scott Issues $15.8 Million For Beach Fix in 4 Counties, $5.4M for Flagler
The $15.8 million is not necessarily new money but includes at least $5.3 million Flagler County has been lobbying for to rebuild dunes. Gov. Scott made the announcement at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park’s beach.
Flagler Beach Approves $40 Million State Plan to Rebuild Dunes, With Sea Wall at City’s North End
In a surprising shift, Flagler Beach City Commissioners agreed to a state plan to build a sea wall at the city’s north end in exchange for a beach management plan the state would pay for.
County Commission Chairman Nate McLaughlin Apologizes to Flagler Beach Officials Over Interference
Commissioner Nate McLaughlin apologized in person to Flagler Beach City Manager Larry Newsom and City Commissioners Jane Mealy and Marshall Shupe over comments he claimed were misconstrued.
Gov. Scott Visiting With Flagler Commissioners Friday But County Keeps Meeting Veiled
As has been the case with previous such visits, the Flagler County administration did not send out notices about the governor’s visit to the county Friday, morning, his fourth since Hurricane Matthew struck.
Flagler Youth Orchestra Performs History of Music in 16 Chapters Saturday in Palm Coast
The Flagler Youth Orchestra’s most advanced ensemble will perform the tour de force at Palm Coast United Methodist Church’s Concert Series at 4 p.m. Saturday. It’s free.
Woman Stabs Husband in Self-Defense Near Dead Lake; He Faces Four Felony Counts
Earnest E. Thomas, 27, was allegedly stabbed by his wife in a confrontation in front of their young children but had been allegedly assaulting, strangling and imprisoning her, and was charged with four felony counts.
Why Is the County Chairman Meddling in Flagler Beach’s Business, and Why Was Flagler Beach’s Manager Job-Hunting in Bunnell?
Flagler Beach officials were perplexed and angered by County Commission Chairman Nate McLaughlin’s apparent interference in their city manager’s–and their city’s–business at a time when county and city are trying to work out difficult issues.
House Panel Votes 13-1 to Ban Red-Light Cameras by 2020, But We’ve Been Here Before
State data showing increased crashes at red-light camera intersections adds momentum to the Florida’s latest effort to ban the cameras, but similar attempts have failed in the Senate before.
Red Light Blown, 2 Seriously Hurt in T-Bone Crash on Palm Coast Parkway and Belle Terre
A pre-dawn t-bone crash on Palm Coast Parkway–the second in nine days–sent two drivers to the hospital with serious injuries and resulted in a mangled delivery truck and a pick-up truck in a ditch.
Janis Washburn, 68, Found Dead in Intracoastal Near Hidden Treasures By Flagler Beach Bridge
Janis Washburn, 68, of Palm Coast’s E-Section, was detected by a jogger on the Flagler Beach bridge just before 11 a.m. She had lived in Palm Coast since 2008.
To the Tune of Harpsichord, Indian Trails’ Sarah Flannery Is Flagler’s Spelling Bee Champion
Sarah Flannery will represent Flagler County in the 73rd Annual Regional Spelling Bee hosted by the Florida Times-Union. It will be held in Jacksonville next month.
Rebecca DeLorenzo Resigns Flagler Chamber Presidency to Head Red Cross Chapter
Flagler Chamber officials say DeLorenzo’s resignation is an opportunity for the chamber to rethink its direction, including what staffing will be needed. The chamber had employed seven, down from 13 four years ago.
Rift Opens Between County and Flagler Beach Over Dunes Fix; County Depletes TDC Fund
Flagler County commissioners agreed today to deplete a $1.5 million fund for beach management as part of a match to draw down state dollars, but none of the money would benefit Flagler Beach, angering officials there.
Greg Hansen Sworn-In, Completing Historic Republican Sweep of County Commission
Greg Hansen will fill the 22 months remaining on the term of the late Frank Meeker, a Republican who was often at war with the brand of local Republicans Hansen sympathizes with.
Fourth Fatality in 8 Days On Palm Coast Parkway as 60-Year-Old Beverly Campbell Dies
Beverly Ann Campbell, 60, had stopped near Florida Park Drive after her van struck a deer, and was rear-ended by 79-year-old Frank Mannarino, who told authorities Campbell’s van did not have its lights on.
All Storm Warnings and Watches Cancelled: “We’ve Dodged A Couple of Real Big Bullet”
Much of Palm Coast and Flagler County have a 30 percent chance of experiencing a tornado, as half the county is in a high-risk zone for very severe weather Sunday evening. The weather system spawned tornadoes across the Deep South, killing at least 15 people so far.
City Rep Theatre Inaugurates “Next to Normal,” a Musical on the Theme of Bipolar Disorder
“Next to Normal” debuted Off-Broadway in 2008, winning the Outer Critics’ Circle Award for Outstanding Score. The musical opened on Broadway in April 2009 and was nominated for 11 Tony Awards, winning three.
Alleged Roma Court Academy Burglar Arrested, Had Left Home Over Stringent Rules
Markell Peck, 21, told the sheriff’s office he was in and out of Roma Court Academy for several days over the holidays because he wouldn’t stay at his mother’s place.
Resurgence: Georgia O’Keeffe, Chief Two Moons and a Jewish-Native American Connection
“Resurgence: Southwest Native Americans in Literature & Art” is a two-day event at Ocean Art Gallery, 206 Moody Blvd. (S.R. 100), Flagler Beach, Florida. The Native American paintings of Rachel Thompson will be on display and the artist will give a talk during a reception from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday.
5 Years in Prison for Rebecca Lawless in DUI Death of Diane Upton in SR100 Crash
The five-year sentence is less than half the minimum required by law, but the judge agreed to the plea because Upton’s family, showing mercy, did not want Lawless more severely punished.
Short-Listed For High-Tech Finance Company’s 250 Jobs, Flagler Seeks $500,000 in Incentives
Flagler County government is making its most expensive pitch to attract 250 jobs, a high-tech finance company based in the Northeast and looking to expand either in Florida or Georgia.
Why Are Flagler Schools Talking Rezoning Despite 2,000 Empty Seats? One Word: Choice
Old Kings and Belle Terre elementaries are overcapacity because they’ve allowed too many out-of-zone students to enroll. Some Board members want limits on such “choice” enrollments before rezoning takes place.
Man, 19, and 15-Year-Old Arrested Separately in Connection With Recent Palm Coast Burglaries
Nasir Clark, a 19-year-old homeless man, and a 15-year-old resident of Big Bear Lane in Palm Coast were arrested Monday in connection with a string of burglaries, one of them occurring the day Sheriff Rick Staly was sworn in.
School Board’s 1st Step in Replacing Jacob Oliva: Figuring Out How Broad of a Search
The Flagler School Board wants to hear from the state board association whether it should seek help through that route, though it intends to appoint a local citizen’s search committee as well.
2 Killed in T-Bone Crash on Palm Coast Parkway; Felon Ran Red Light; Road Rage Possible Factor
Two people were killed, including Terri Lynn Wickel, in a two-vehicle crash on Palm Coast Parkway at Pine Code Drive. Tyler L. Wilkinson is alleged to have blown through a red light.
Maxine Kronick, Fierce Doyenne of Local Arts and Children’s Theater, Dies On Approach of 80
Maxine Kronick, actress, special events coordinator and arts champion, had co-founder Theaterrific in the late 1980s in Palm Coast, a theater program for poorer children, and remained involved in local theater at Buddy Taylor Middle School and elsewhere.
Feelin’ Alright: Rock Hall of Fame Member Dave Mason Traffics at Flagler Auditorium
Dave Mason was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 as a founding member of Traffic and has played with the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix and Fleetwood Mac.
Flagler Superintendent Jacob Oliva Is Named Florida Vice Chancellor for K-12 Education, Will Leave in June
Superintendent Jacob Oliva’s three-year tenure has been largely controversy-free and saw the expansion of technology and classroom-to-career programs. He leaves in May.
Epic Theaters Evacuated After Gun Fears; Sheriff Warns: “This Is Not Going To Continue”
A brawl and fear of a gun at Epic Theaters Friday night triggered a panic and a massive police response. No weapon was found, but Sheriff Rick Staly is demanding that Epic come up with a better security plan.
Explosion and Fire Flare in J.T.’s Seafood Shack’s Kitchen in Hammock Injure Two Employees
The incident at J.T.’s Seafood Shack is believed to have been caused by a fire flare in the kitchen. Patrons were in the restaurant but were not affected.
Palm Coast’s New Founders:
Nick Klufas Trains Vigilant Eyes on the City
In his picture of Palm Coast for the next four years, City Councilman Nick Klufas lays out his goals for a city with better cell coverage and emergency communications, among other needs.
Gov. Scott Appoints Greg Hansen, Local GOP Activist, to Frank Meeker’s County Commission Seat
Greg Hansen, 70, will fill the remaining year and a half on the late Frank Meeker’s term. He outflanked other local favorites who had included Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts and Larry Jones, an ally of County Administrator Craig Coffey.
Tyler M. Allen, 21, Is Killed, 2 Injured as Motorcycle Rams Car on Palm Coast Parkway Near Canopy Walk
Tyler Allen, 21, of Palm Coast, was killed and two women, including county government spokeswoman Julie Murphy, were injured this evening as Allen, riding a motorcycle, slammed into the back of the car the women were driving.
Matanzas Physics Teacher Andrew Hutcheson and Youth Center’s Brandon Seminara Are School District’s Best of Year
Andrew Hutcheson, an Advanced Placement Physics teacher at Matanzas High School, and Brandon Seminara, the Assistant Director of the Flagler County Youth Center, were named the Flagler School District Teacher and Employee of the Year for 2017.
3 Teens Linger in Jail Over Epic Theater Armed Robbery Allegation Even as Accuser, in Switch, Is Implicated
The accuser who claimed three teens robbed him at gunpoint at Epic Theaters last Friday was in fact there to sell a gun, a FlaglerLive investigation reveals. Yet the three teens he accused are still in jail.
Craig Coffey, Jim Landon, Now Dan Davis: For 3rd Time in 2 Years, Top Manager’s Raise Request Is Rebuffed
Bunnell’s Dan Davis this week joined Palm Coast’s Jim Landon and Flagler’s Craig Coffey, all of whose elected boards rejected their raise requests in the past two years, though Davis and Coffey still got smaller raises.
If You Still Have Damaged Property, You Could Knock Hundreds of Dollars Off 2017 Tax Bill
Property owners anywhere in Flagler and its cities who still have lost or damaged assets as of Jan. 1, such as lost screened-in areas, are eligible for re-assessments that could bring down their property tax bills.
Palm Coast’s New Founders:
Heidi Shipley On Safety, Seniors and Youths
From the eyes and ears of neighborhood watch groups to programs for youths and the elderly, Palm Coast City Council member Heidi Shipley envisions the best the city has to offer in the third of five articles on the future by council members.
Two Suicides in 24 Hours in Flagler as County Officials Seek Renewed Focus on Mental Health
Steven J. Fortier, 27, of Bunnell, was found dead in the Mondex Tuesday, and 73-year-old William Dessing took his own life Wednesday morning at his Flagler Beach home.
4th Flagler Film Festival Strings Variety of Themes, With Benefit to Tommy Tant Classic
The Flagler Film Festival at Palm Coast’s Hilton garden Inn starting Friday accepted 60 of 150 submissions from around the world, with question-and-answer sessions with filmmakers concluding most blocks of screenings.
Palm Coast’s New Founders:
Robert Cuff On A City’s Subtle Evolution
Palm Coast City Council member Robert Cuff, a Palm Coast founder in the ITT days before the city incorporated, sees deliberate but recognizable change in the four years ahead for the city.
Three Teens Charged in Armed Robbery of 15 Year Old at Epic Theaters, Over a Belt
Three teens, two of them students at Matanzas High School, were charged with armed robbery of an Indian Trails Middle School student at Epic Theaters in Palm Coast Friday evening.
Palm Coast Community Center’s $7.8 Million Renovation, After Postponement, Will Cost Double Initial Estimate
City Manager Jim Landon had first estimated a “$3 to $4 million” renovation cost, but then delayed it to build an addition to City Hall, ostensibly to save money. Community Center costs have now more than erased those savings, Council member Steven Nobile says.
Palm Coast’s New Founders:
Milissa Holland On the Continuity of Change
In the first of five articles by each member of the Palm Coast City Council, Mayor Milissa Holland imagines the city four years from now, seeing a more developed and vibrant but equally serene city to live in.
Palm Coast Woman, 19, Arrested on Molestation Charges In 3rd Incident Involving Runaway Girls
Maria Rose Howell, a 19-year-old resident of Biddle Place in Palm Coast who’d attended Matanzas High School, was booked at the Flagler County jail over the weekend on charges of molesting a 14-year-old girl she’d taken to Epic Theater for a date.
Crashes at Red-Light Camera Intersections Up 10%, Incapacitating Injuries Up 27%
A new report by the Florida highway safety department shows crash increases that belie claims that red-light cameras have made intersections safer. Palm Coast’s cameras are set to come down this year.