Flagler County Tax Collector Suzanne Johnston took herself and most of her staff through a gun-safety class and shooting session at the range to prepare for her office’s new service: processing and fast-tracking concealed-weapons permits, starting today (June 22).
Flagler, Palm Coast & Other Local News
John Dopp, Sheriff’s Detective, Union Leader and Fierce Advocate, Promoted to Corporal
Jon Dopp, 30, a 10-year veteran of the force, will supervise one of the county’s two squads. His role in the union’s leadership, representing cops, will not change.
Wife Charged In Killing Richard Resnicoff, Guitarist for the Famous, in Grand Haven in ’13
Lucille Horton, 69, is charged with vehicular homicide, a second-degree felony. In a civil lawsuit, Horton claims Resnicoff had been abusive and violent and that day had threatened and shoved her, prompting her to flee–and throw him off her car.
Salvaged by Revels’s Diplomacy, Pot-Decriminalization Proposal Will Now Seek Cities’ Approval
The proposal would allow cops to issue civil citations to people caught with small amounts of marijuana, avoiding a criminal record. But its success depends on approval from all cities and the county commission, which is yet to come.
Daytona State Reducing Fees for Total Cost-Saving to Students of 3.5% This Fall
The savings are a result of a reduction in the access fee from $4.93 per credit hour to $1.35 per credit hour. Added to a 2 percent cut in tuition implemented last spring, overall cost savings per student comes to 3.3 percent.
Dennis McDonald, Who’s Twice Sued Palm Coast, Now Wants To Be Its Mayor
Dennis McDonald, Palm Coast’s and county government’s most relentless critic and a three-time candidate for local office previously, joined four other candidates for the seat Jon Netts is vacating: Milissa Holland, John Brady, Travis Kaufman and Ron Radford.
She Tells Him She Wants To Break-Up. He Allegedly Threatens Her With a Rifle.
Daniel Buck Douglas, 38, a resident of 6514 Tangerine Avenue in Bunnell, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon early this morning after his girlfriend accused him of pointing a rifle at her during an argument.
Cindy Dalecki is Flagler Beach Rotary’s New President, Tim O’Donnell Gets Year’s Top Honor
Dalecki owns Marketing 2 Go, the new-media company she started six years ago on her own and has since turned into an operation employing half a dozen. The club held its annual Cycle Flagler event in May, raising over $15,000.
3 Hurt, 2 Critical: Van Dives Into Pond After Striking Matanzas Woods Exit Sign and Tree
One man was able to get out almost immediately. Two others were entrapped in the wreck at the 293 Exit on I-95. Fire rescue personnel pried out the front windshield and rescued the two passengers, who were conscious but badly hurt.
At Salvo Gallery, JJ Graham’s Burst of 50 “Builder Paintings” Brush Art For Growth’s Sake
Salvo Gallery’s indefatigable JJ Graham painted 50 works for Saturday’s now show opening as a way to fund the next stage of growth at the gallery and artist community he co-owns with Petra Iston in Bunnell.
A Flagler Beach Vigil for Massacre Victims, Flickering Grief of LGBT Community
Pulse, the scene of the massacre in Orlando, was a favored destination for the Palm Coast-Flagler gay, lesbian and transgender community, which had nothing like it nearer. The vigil will pay tribute to the victims, raise money and awareness.
Woman Survives Crashing Under Trailer at 70 MPH and Getting Dragged 1/4 Mile on I-95
The crash took place north of the Palm Coast Parkway intersection after the woman’s Hyundai lost control and bounced off the guardrail, catapulting underneath the tractor trailer.
Man Shot in Area of Bayberry and Old Dixie Highway: It Was Self-Inflicted
The sheriff’s office learned of the shooting only when hospital staff reported it. The man was then taken to Halifax in Daytona Beach and has since been questioned by detectives.
Palm Coast’s Cypress Knoll Golf Course Closing Saturday, Employees Are Told
Golf Group of Palm Coast purchased the Cypress Course, Pines Course and the closed Matanzas Course from bankrupt Crescent Resources for $2 million. Crescent operated locally as Landmar Group. The three courses were collectively know as the Grand Club.
Criminal Torment: Once Again, Phillip Haire Is Arrested Days After Other Charges Are Dropped
In the third arrest in three months, Haire’s arrest, on minor charges–missing a supervision meeting and having a small amount of pot–illustrate the unforgiving spiral of the judicial system that certain defendants who can;t afford a lawyer end up repeatedly navigating.
Yes, Palm Coast Wanted to Boot County EMS Crews Out of Station 22, But That Fire Is Out For Now
A closer look at the record shows that contrary to City Manager Jim Landon’s claim that the county was going on rumors, city officials, including Landon, very much wanted to see county EMS crews out of the fire station on Palm Coast Parkway.
All Charges Dropped Against Charlie Faulkner in Tendentious Arrest Over Political Sign Removal
The case triggered an outcry, not least from Faulkner, his family and his lawyer, who termed the arrest and jail booking of the 63-year-old engineer an overreach by a sheriff’s deputy.
Palm Coast Will Spend $500,000 to “Optimize” a Few Traffic Signals, But Expected Gains Are Vague
The $500,000 will install surveillance cameras and high-speed Internet to just 12 intersections, with more spending and intersections connected in future years, and will create a so-called Advanced Traffic Management System.
Armed Robber Targets Walgreens on Palm Coast Parkway for Drugs, But Is Later Caught
An armed robber who targeted the Walgreens store on Palm Coast Parkway West early this morning got away with prescription drugs but was later arrested in Bunnell.
Repeat Offender Back in Jail on Weapons Charge, But Few Stick in Long History of Arrests
Perugia, a 56-year-old resident of 19 Sanchez Avenue in Daytona North, has seen charge after charge against him dropped going back to the 1990s, including several weapons and battery charges.
European Village Reborn: Palm Coast’s Poster-Child of Housing Bust Thrives Again
The Palm Coast City Council approved a rezoning that enables European Village to be more autonomous and more clearly advertise itself as the 14-year-old development seeks to solidify its new hold on business and residential activity.
All Charges Dropped Against 3 Men Arrested In Belle Terre Shooting Spree in March
Steverson Jean-Louis, 19, Derek Hall Jr., 23, and Phillip Haire, 18, were accused of shooting at a motorist in March. The motorist knew most of the men in the alleged assailants’ car and had had a run-in with two of them in February.
Motorcyclist Critical After Wreck Severs Leg in 3-Vehicle Collision at US1 South of Old Kings Road
Motorcyclist Eddie Davis Jr., 50, was in critical condition after his leg was severed in a wreck involving Palm Coast’s Alexis Jacquart, 23, and Richard Kenney, 33, late Saturday night.
Motorcyclist Seth Sistrunk Killed at Treacherous Intersection of SR100 and CR305
Seth Howard Sistrunk was struck and killed Saturday afternoon (June 11) by a pick-up truck as the motorcyclist was attempting to pass the truck in a no-passing zone on State Road 100.
Young Mother Pulls a Gun on Intruder on Seward Trail and Helps Lead to His Arrest
Marco DeJesus allegedly attempted a home-invasion burglary in mid-afternoon Thursday in Palm Coast. He did not figure on the homeowner–a young mother–pulling a gun on him, chasing him off and getting pictures of his vehicle and tag.
Taxable Values Improve Less Than in 2015, But Still More Strongly Than in Pre-Recession Years
Palm Coast’s and Bunnell’s values improved least among local governments, at 3.9 and 2.2 percent, while county, school and Flagler Beach values all exceeded 5 percent.
Dunkin Donuts on Palm Coast Parkway Demolished By Flames During Roof Repairs
The Dunkin Donuts on Palm Coast Parkway near Winn Dixie was engulfed in flames this afternoon after a fire broke out around 4:30 p.m.
72-Year-Old Man Exposes Himself to Two Teen Girls at Pier’s A-Frame in Flagler Beach
James Tussing, who has no prior arrest record, exposed himself to a 15-year-old girl and her friend and blamed them for wearing bikinis late into the night.
Marcus Sanfilippo Will Succeed Richard DuPont as Bunnell Elementary Principal
Marcus Sanfilippo had been an assistant principal at Indian Trails Middle School. He is a former county Teacher of the Year and in 2015 was the assistant principal of the year.
Palm Coast Hints at Again Increasing Monthly Stormwater Fee As It Projects Fund Deficits
By some of its calculations, Palm Coast is projecting deficits of $1 million a year despite increasing the storwater fee 46 percent four years ago, though it has room to manage the deficit by reducing capital expenses.
Ethics Commission Dismisses Claim Against Flagler’s Craig Coffey, Adding to Pile of Frivolity
The complaint, by Mark Richter, had alleged that the county administrator had personally gained from the acquisition of the old hospital in Bunnell that became the sheriff’s operations center, among other claims the ethics commission found groundless.
More Violent Crime But Lower Crime Rate in 2015 Gives Fodder to All Sheriff’s Candidates
For the first time in five years, total crime increased in Flagler County in 2015, by 1.7 percent, although the crime rate decreased modestly, by 0.7 percent, as population increased, giving incumbent sheriff Jim Manfre and his opponents room to use numbers to their advantage. .
Dog Bite at Ex-Flagler Beach Manager Campbell’s Property Sends Mail Carrier to Hospital
Mail carrier Jennifer Benson, 49, was treated for eight stitches after a dog at ex-Flagler Beach City Manager Bruce Campbell’s house attacked her when Campbell opened the door to pick up a package.
Counting the Days, Anna Pehota, Who Killed Husband in Hammock, Welcomes Trial in July
The trial of Anna Pehota, 76, who faces a second-degree murder charge for shooting her husband dead in October, goes on trial on July 18, a date Judge Matthew Foxman said is immovable.
Bunnell Elementary Leads the Way as Flagler’s Problem Solvers Shine Again at Internationals
Flagler County’s nearly 60 community problem solvers accomplished at this year’s international competition what their predecessors have almost every year for more than half a decade: they cleaned up in wins, trophies and plaudits.
Cody Lynch, 21, Jailed on Charge of Battering Pregnant Wife for Second Time in Two Years
Despite four arrests for various offenses since 2014, including violent offenses, felonies, and a charge of battering his pregnant wife, all charges against Cody Lynch but one had been dropped until this latest one.
Palm Coast-Flagler Under Tropical Storm Warning as Colin’s Local Version Brings a Messy 24 Hours
A disorganized and scattershot Tropical Storm Colin is set to cross Florida late tonight into Tuesday, dropping between 2 to 5 inches of rain on Palm Coast and Flagler County.
Alligator Stops Traffic to Cross at Cypress Edge Drive
The gator, more than 5 feet long, was sitting by the crosswalk then suddenly scampered across the road, using the white-striped crosswalk as if it had been trained to do so.
Scaling Some Opposition, Captain’s BBQ at Bing’s Will Expand Seating Areas, But Not Capacity
Captain’s Bait, Tackle and BBQ at Bing’s Landing, the county park, scaled some opposition by Hammock residents to win county approval for an 800 square foot expansion that will not, however, add to the restaurant’s 200-seat capacity.
Early-Morning Fire Demolishes House in Flagler Beach, 2nd Blaze in 2 Days in the City
An early morning fire Sunday demolished a 63-year-old house on South Daytona Avenue. The homeowner was absent. On Saturday, an electrical fire damaged the back end of a three-story structure at the north end of town.
Walter Forehand, Hilton’s Bartender and Flagler Beach’s Ex-Leisure Director, Seriously Hurt in Bike Wreck
Walter Forehand Jr., the unfailing bartender at the Hilton Garden Inn and former beach services director in Flagler Beach, was trauma-evacuated by air late Saturday night after a wreck on his motorcycle on U.S. 1.
At Sheriff’s Forum, 6 GOP Candidates Thump More Chests Than Manfre, and Few Ideas Clash
The two-hour forum before 300 people revealed some sheriff’s candidates better prepared than others, only a few differences of opinion, and less focus on Jim Manfre than on the future.
Lawsuit Against Palm Coast’s Golden Corral Alleges Sexual Harassment of 17-Year-Old Girl
The lawsuit and the company’s response raise questions about the extent of a company’s responsibility in protecting its employees from undue hostility and differentiates, in the company’s view, between issues involving peer-employees as opposed to employees and their supervisors or superiors.
In Flagler Elections, Primary May Decide Half the Local Races, Including Supervisor
Underscoring the importance of turnout, All voters, regardless of party affiliation, may vote for Supervisor of Elections, School Board and Palm Coast council in the Aug. 30 primary, with the results in two of the three races deciding the outright winners. That’s assuming no one pulls the write-in ploy.
Acknowledging “Dark Times,” Flagler’s Democrats Say They’re Back and Battling For Long Haul
The Flagler County Democratic Party is hoping top shed years of disarray and political bankruptcy as it fields a few more candidates and organizers in a push for local and state successes. But the difficulties are still as prominent as organizers’ optimism.
Three Years On, Palm Coast Resident Sues Sheriff’s Office Over Wreck With Patrol Car
The t-bone crash involving sheriff’s deputy James Gore, who was going through a red light while answering a call, and E-Section resident John Mitchell at Pine Lakes Parkway and Palm Coast Parkway on Oct. 31, 2013.
Attorney Again Asks for Bova, Accused of Mobil Mart Murder, To Be Declared Incompetent
It’s been almost year since Joseph Bova II’s last appearance in court, but his attorney says he has deteriorated since and should again be judged incompetent to stand trial. His next hearing is scheduled for early July.
In Feud’s Latest Distortion, Palm Coast Blames County for “Killing” $600,000 City Road Grant
Palm Coast and the county are at it again, but in this case the city appears to have misrepresented the county’s intention not to violate the law in the latest flare-up of an ongoing feud between City Manager Jim Landon and County Administrator Craig Coffey.
Can You Be Punished For Refusing DUI Test? 2 Highest Courts About to Decide.
Sept. 1 arguments before the Florida court on the question may be made moot by a decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, expected in June, on the same issue. U.S. Justices were skeptical of breath tests.
Intersection at Old Kings Road and Town Center Blvd. Will Finally Get a Traffic Light
The $154,000 project will include some new landscaping and will also result in the closure of the makeshift parking area for people who use the Lehigh Trail. The zone must be closed to make the new arrangement safer.