Robert Zetrouer, 65, faces three 2nd-degree felony counts in the sex assaults of the 13-year-old daughter of his then girlfriend in Palm Coast, but lawyers agreed to possibly exclude some testimony involving the girl’s brother in the early portion of the trial, set for July 18.
Flagler, Palm Coast & Other Local News
Poison Flush: Drug Take-Back Day in Palm Coast and Flagler Beach on Saturday, No Questions Asked
Residents can stop at four locations in Palm Coast and one in Flagler Beach to privately return expired or unwanted prescription, over-the-counter meds, vitamin or herbal remedies as well as veterinary medications.
Palm Coast Man Accused of Slamming 4 Year Old to Ground Is Committed to State Hospital
A judge today determined Christopher Williams, 22, incompetent to stand trial just yet, but his commitment to a psychiatric hospital may be temporary. The judge will reevaluate his condition at an undetermined date.
Sen. Travis Hutson Draws a Democratic Opponent in Palm Coast’s Curtis Ceballos
Curtis Ceballos, 54, launched two technology startups in the past two years and intends to focus on technology jobs and vocational education in his campaign. He unsuccessfully ran for county commission in 2006.
Jonathan Canales, Accused of Shooting His Wife in Mondex, Will Not Face Trial Just Yet
Committed to a psychiatric hospital a year ago, Canales, a PTSD-suffering Iraq veteran, was judged still incompetent for trial in alleged shooting of Tiffany Norman, but today’s hearing suggested that such a trial is now a matter of time.
Deputy David Malta, Class of ’87, Is Latest Long-Timer to Retire from Sheriff’s Office
David Malta, the latest in a long string of veterans who have left, retired or been forced out of the agency, started his career under Sheriff Bob McCarthy. His retirement was foreordained, however, because of a Florida Retirement System program he joined five years ago.
2-Year-Old Girl Pulled Unresponsive From F-Section Pool Sunday Has Died
The 2-year-old daughter of Mandee and Douglas Seitz who was pulled unresponsive from her swimming pool on Palm Coast’s Ft. Caroline Court Sunday evening died late Monday night, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said today.
Waldemar Rivera Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison Over Step-Daughter’s Rape
Waldemar Rivera, 37, was sentenced last month in a rape of his 13-year-old step-daughter in their P-Section home in Palm Coast. Judge Matthew Foxman expressed surprise at the contrasting demeanor of Rivera in court with that of the man being sentenced for the crime.
In Palm Coast’s Expensive Hunt for New Retailers, a Few Leads, But Only Low Wages
Last July Palm Coast government signed a $135,000, contract with marketing company to recruit retailers. Nine months later, a couple of low-wage retailers are possible, and a half dozen more are long-term possibilities, but nothing more firm than that.
Michael Stens, County Judge’s Ex-Husband, Is Arrested on DUI Charge After Crash in F-Section
Michael Stens, 44, a resident of Fenimore Lane in Palm Coast, divorced from County Judge Melissa Moore-Stens three years ago, crashed his Prius into a culvert within a few feet of his house after driving home and was arrested on a drunk driving charge Monday morning.
Rymfire Elementary Briefly on “Code Orange” as Sheriff Detains 3 Outside Campus in Car Theft
A police matter that took place outside the campus of Rymfire Elementary–but did not endanger anyone inside–required the school to declare a “Code Orange,” or a less strict variant of a lockdown, just after 1 p.m. today.
Teens in Flight’s Jack Howell Shortlisted For Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation Award
Col. Jack Howell of Palm Coast was nominated for the national award for his work with Teens in Flight over the past 10 years, an organization that trains young pilots whose parents were killed or injured in conflicts since 2001.
Sheriff Manfre Calls Ethics Case Against Him “Terrorism,” Vows to Fight To Supreme Court
Calling the protracted ethics case against him “terrorism,” “nonsense” and politically motivated “slime” by two former colleagues, Flagler County Sheriff Jim Manfre this morning delivered his most detailed—and impassioned—defense of himself since the case against him began in 2014.
NSA Designates Daytona State a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education
DSC is the first state college in Florida to receive the four-year designation based on the college meeting stringent academic criteria and distinguishing its strengths in cybersecurity and cyberforensics training.
Despite Alarms, an Ex-Cop on Disability–and Supporter of the Sheriff–Is Hired As Deputy
An internal investigative report had recommended against hiring ex-NAACP Vice President Eric Josey, a veteran of the NYPD on disability who had difficulties fulfilling basic training exercises. The Sheriff’s Office defends the hiring, while Josey calls criticism of his performance “embellished” and a political “firestorm.”
300-Gallon Chemical Spill in Flagler Beach Closes A1A From South 5th to North 4th
A truck carrying diluted sulfuric acid spilled some 300 gallons of the liquid at the intersection of State Road 100 and State Road A1A in Flagler Beach earlier this morning.
Median Price of Homes in Flagler Cross Back Over $200,000 For 1st Time Since Housing Boom
The average number of home sales in the past seven months is still slower than the previous six months, but inventory is diminishing and prices continue to rise, once again raising questions of affordability.
Ethics Commission Tosses 5 More Complaints Against County Officials, from Weeks Era
The Florida Ethics Commission threw out complaints against four of the five Flagler County commissioners and County Attorney Al Hadeed in the latest sweep of what has been a drizzle of frivolous complaints against county officials.
R-Section Shooting Is Caught on Private Surveillance Video, But No Suspects or Known Injuries
Several shell casings were recovered from the 11 p.m. shooting in the area of 11 Riverview Place, and several people interviewed, but no suspects and no vehicle were recovered.
Gate Gas and Aldi Grocery Will Rise at Corner of SR100 and Belle Terre, Ending Political Signs
The Palm Coast City Council approved a redrawing of the property into six lots, three of which are under contract, with two projected for non-fast-food restaurants in the future.
County Approves Big Spending on Tourism Office Staff and Rigs and Hints at Raising Tax
County government absorbed the tourism office last fall and is spending big on it, raising staff pay, expanding staff, buying $300,000 worth of equipment and talking about raising the 4 percent sales tax supplement on short-term rentals to 5 percent.
“Go Forward!” Flagler Beach Tells County, Clearing Way for $900,000 Design of Beach-Erosion Project
The Flagler Beach City Commission endorsed the county’s decision to give up on federal dollars and instead spend county and state dollars on the first phase of what will amount to a hugely expensive, $44 million beach-protection project over the next 50 years.
Step-Father Accused of Child Abuse After Boy Throws Burrito at Him
Peter Adelstein of Palm Coast was disciplining his step-son for not cleaning up after lunch when he allegedly grabbed the boy by the neck and dared him to “try me.”
Sheriff’s Sgt. Jason Neat Reprimanded Over Errors in Cocaine Seizure That Affected Case
Had Christopher Demon Lang’s lawyer not noticed that the cocaine amounts he was charged with possessing were higher than those found in his home, he could have faced a much stiffer prison sentence.
Deputy Responsible for False Arrest of Dakota Ward Is Suspended For 3 Days as Investigation Concludes
James Gore, a Flagler County Sheriff’s deputy who two weeks ago was disciplined in an unrelated matter, was suspended for three days without pay and charged with “unsatisfactory or incompetent performance” as a result of his investigation that led to the false arrest of an 18-year-old Bunnell resident late last month.
Father Accused of Smacking and Suffocating 9-Year-Old Son For Talking Back During Chores
Joshua Stevens, 31, a resident of Prospect Lane in Palm Coast, allegedly struck his child five times and closed his nose and mouth when the child talked back while mopping the floor.
Flagler’s Unemployment Ticks Down to New Post-Recession Low of 5.3% as Employment Surges
In March, strong job growth continued in Flagler County with a gain of 396 for a two-month gain of 868 jobs–numbers not seen since before the Great Recession. Florida’s unemployment rate fell to 4.9 percent.
Ethics Commission Unanimously Approves $6,200 Fine Against Sheriff Manfre, and Public Censure
State ethics commissioners voted without discussion to impose the fine and censure. Manfre has vowed to keep fighting the charges dating back to the early part of his tenure in 2013.
Palm Coast Man, 23, Accused of Sexually Assaulting Two Teen Girls at Long Creek Preserve
Christopher Hollinger, 23, of 43 Forsythe Lane, is at the Flagler County Jail on $270,000 bond on accusations of statutory rape and other charges stemming from an alleged March 15 incident.
Nurse Assistants at Grand Oaks Rehab Strike for $15/hr Wage in Echo of National Movement
Workers at Grand Oaks Rehab Center in Palm Coast, most on poverty wages, walked out for 24 hours, though they’d given the facility almost two weeks’ notice and replacements ensured no residents lacked care.
Pot-Possession Decriminalization Could Advance in Flagler As Part of Broader Civil Citation Program
Not just the possession of small amounts of pot, but such offenses as battery and criminal mischief could be de-criminalized and shifted to civil citations in an approach that will be studied by a newly formed committee.
Survey Puts Homeless Total in Flagler-Palm Coast at 104, But Undercount Likely
The 2016 census of the homeless population in Flagler-Palm Coast was a dramatic decline from 2015, but also very likely an under-count. The majority of homeless people who have no shelter at all are in Palm Coast.
For 2nd Time in 2 Months, County’s Emergency Communications Falter, and Agencies Chafe
A problem at a tower on John Anderson Highway hampered sheriff’s deputies’ ability to communicate for an hour Monday evening. The county is describing the issue as minor while Palm Coast and the sheriff’s office see it as more emblematic of a recurring problem.
Anna Pehota’s Defense Takes Fresh Turn Down Memory Lapse in Husband’s Killing
An unexpected statement by Pehota, 76, who faces a 2nd degree murder charge, that she doesn’t remember her interrogation opened the way for a defense on psychological grounds, and a request for a delay in her trial, initially scheduled for next week.
Hear Us Roar, Older Residents Tell Palm Coast Council as They Clamor for a Senior Center
But the Palm Coast City Council is cool to the idea of a dedicated senior center: it has an active community center on Palm Coast Parkway and is ramping up uses of its new city hall’s community wing.
New Partnership Will Expand Grand Haven Realty Beyond the Gates
Grand Haven Realty announced today a new partnership between company president Jim Cullis and Lindsay Dolamore, the 2016 President of the Flagler County Association of Realtors.
Costlier and Behind Schedule, Holland Park Renovation Swings For Another $50,000
Holland Park’s $4.7 million renovation was to be completed by now. Instead, completion is not expected until late June and the council said it would approve another $50,000 in unexpected expenses.
Demolition Devours Another Chunk of Old Palm Coast as Backhoes Blitz ITT Building
The massive building at 1 Corporate Drive had been ITT headquarters in Palm Coast’s nascent days then office and classroom space for the school district’s adult education programs. The building had its uses but was never a good investment for the district.
Car Rear-Ends Wadsworth-Bound School Bus With 19 Students on Board in P Section
A car rear-ended the Elk school bus at 8:15 this morning at Pine Grove Drive and Pittman Drive in Palm Coast. The driver of the car was injured, but none of the 19 students aboard the bus nor the driver were injured, a school district spokesperson said.
Cycle Flagler, Flagler Beach Rotary’s Annual Tour, Returns May 1 With Circuits of 16 to 100 Miles
The Rotary Club of Flagler Beach’s Cycle Flagler is back. The 2016 edition is scheduled for May 1, starting with 6 a.m. registration at the Flagler County Airport, one of the event’s hosts.
Weekend Briefing: Relay for Life in Palm Coast, Right Whales Talk, Rockin’ County Fair, Twitter’s Perv Park
Relay for Life in Palm Coast’s Central Park Friday and Saturday, the fair and Rock n Ribfest continue, Frank Gromling talks whales, how Twitter has turned into a park for pervs.
Gateway Drug Bunk: No, Smoking Pot Doesn’t Lead to Harder Drugs
Smoke pot and be merry. Cops’ and politicians’ claims that pot is a gateway drug is baseless fear-mongering intended to stop the legalization of marijuana. But it’s time to dispense with the lie once and for all.
Palm Coast Man Who Shot Wife With AK-47 Continues to Fight His 25-Year Sentence
William Carson Merrill shot and killed his wife as he played with the assault rifle in their home four years ago. He is battling in court for a new trial, arguing that he tendered an involuntary plea to the manslaughter charge.
Rookies Hutson and Renner Sum Up Legislative Session as Veterans of Policy and Reforms
First-year Sen. Travis Hutson and Rep. Paul Renner, whose districts include all of Flagler, spoke at a Chamber of Commerce breakfast this morning in a celebration of of the session they just completed, and promises to keep cutting taxes and reducing government regulation.
Same Accusations, Different Day: Palm Coast Man and Woman Jailed Again on Violent Assaults
A couple have four battery or aggravated battery charges between them in the last three years, three of those charges in the last three weeks.
Florida Hospital Flagler CEO Ken Mattison Leaving For Volusia; Ron Jimenez, a Physician, Takes Over
FHF CEO Ken Mattison was reassigned to head the transition of Bert Fish Medical Center’s 112-bed hospital in New Smyrna Beach into the Adventist system. Dr. Ron Jimenez will have his first posting as a hospital CEO.
Upset Over Daughter’s Nude Pictures, Mother Is Charged With Aggravated Child Abuse
Virginia Jennelle of Palm Coast allegedly gashed her daughter’s forehead with a broomstick and poured food all over her to make her unpresentable and keep her from running away.
Flagler County Fair 2016: Rock n’ Rib Fest and Nova Rex’s Metallic High Hair Among Peaks
The Flagler County Fair begins today through Sunday and this year folds in Rock ‘n Ribfest, the annual rock music festival that will feature several bands. including Nova Rex and Restless Heart.
After Reaping 69 Awards at State Competition, Flagler’s Problem Solvers Go International
Students from four Flagler County schools collected dozens of awards and many were invited to international competition in Michigan in June, but that means fund-raising is intensifying to get them there.
In Major Shift, County Proposes Rebuilding Beach Without Federal Dollars For Now
With federal dollars unlikely to share in the $44 million project, Administrator Craig Coffey wants the county commission to share costs with state transportation and environmental agencies instead, though the plan is rife with uncertainties.