John Dugent Jr., a 20-year-old resident of 5906 John Anderson Highway had snuck into the Shell station on A1A in Flagler Beach before closing time.
Flagler, Palm Coast & Other Local News
To Battle Nit-Pickers, Palm Coast Will Make Anonymous Code Enforcement Complaints More Difficult
In an attempt to fight back against harassing and nit-picky neighbors, the Palm Coast City Council will require names and email addresses from people filing code violation complaints electronically.
1-Year-Old Palm Coast Boy Dies From Fall Into Exposed Septic Tank While Visiting Ocala
Wyatt Steed, the 1-year-old son of Palm Coast resident Linsay M. Steed, 25, died Sunday when he fell into a septic tank near an apartment complex in Ocala, where the boy and his mother were visiting.
Sunburned Child at Flagler Camp Exposes a Florida Paradox: Paddling Is OK. Applying Sunscreen Is Not.
The Palm Coast mother of a 5-year-old child who got sunburned while in care of Flagler camp counselors was surprised to find the strict limitations on school employees touching children.
Jailhouse Porn
Fort Apache: Flagler
There’s nothing to be proud of in the pornography of incarceration: Flagler had no reason to triple the size of its jail other than to amplify an indefensible architecture of disproportionate punishment.
Java Joint Burglary: Suspect In Custody in Georgia, Wanted on Numerous Break-Ins
Joseph C. Hodge, 52, of Jacksonville, has been sitting in a county jail in Georgia on a burglary charge for the past 39 days, and was tied to a burglary at Java Joint, the restaurant in Flagler Beach, in late June.
Ex-Supervisor Kimberle Weeks Billed Taxpayers $12,500 For 3 Lawyers and Misled Media
The bills include $5,000 to defend herself in a state investigation that resulted, after she resigned, in 12 felony counts against her. She charged the bills to taxpayers.
Matanzas Woods Parkway Re-Opening on Monday, 2 Weeks Before School Resumes
Though more lane closures are projected, none will be allowed on Matanzas Woods Parkway between 7 and 8:30 a.m. or between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. on days when school is in session.
Weekend Briefing: Cleaning Up Matanzas Woods Golf, Art League’s Plein Air, Trump’s GOP Show-Stealing
Trump steals the show at the GOP debate, the Matanzas Woods golf course owner is ordered to clean up, First Friday in Flagler Beach, the emotional journey of a plastic bag.
In Setback for Sea Ray, Flagler Beach Votes 3-2 to Challenge Land Use Change Over Parking lot
A divided Flagler Beach City Commission voted 3-2 Thursday to take a challenge to the state of a county land use amendment enabling Sea Ray Boats to build a parking lot on 24 acres south of its property off Colbert Lane in Palm Coast.
Flagler Beach Will Seek In-House City Manager Before Putting Out Broader Call
As it replaces Bruce Campbell, who’s leaving in september, the city will give preference to an internal applicant, then possibly advertise more broadly later this month if internal applicants don’t make the cut.
In Latest Round of County-City Water War, Flagler Now Objects to 25% Surcharge From Palm Coast
The county is giving Palm Coast 30 days to consider reducing or waiving the surcharge while also exploring importing water from Bunnell to serve the county airport, which is surrounded by Palm Coast.
Flagler’s Congressional District Would Lose Putnam and Most of St. Johns But Pick Up Volusia
The change suggests that the district would tilt left somewhat, compared to its current makeup, which could favor Democrats. A special session of the Legislature will decide the final boundaries in accordance with a Supreme Court Order.
Trauma Alert and 1 Child Among 6 Hospitalized After 2-Car Wreck on A1A Near Bing’s Landing
Six people were hospitalized, one of them in serious to critical condition and one of them a child, after a two-car collision on State Road A1A at the entrance to Bing’s Landing late Wednesday afternoon. Three Flagler County Fire Rescue ambulances and Flagler County FireFlight, the county’s emergency helicopter, transported patients. Fire Flight transported one […]
Driver at Origin of 2 Wrecks That Killed 6 People is Fined $1,000 and Loses License
Roy White, 39, was found to have caused the wreck on I-95 in Palm Coast in June 2014 that killed two people, and that caused a back-up that led to a second wreck in which four people died.
Case Dismissed: No Penalty Against Brian Szmitko, Responsible for Death of Elisa Homen in Whiteview Wreck
Because of a technicality on the careless driving citation, Szmitko walked off free of any penalty or so much as points on his license for the crash, let alone a license suspension.
Atticus Finch, Grand Wizard of the KKK: Harper Lee’s “Go Set a Watchman,” Chapter 8
In Chapter 8 of “Go Set a Watchman,” Scout discovers that her father Atticus is the leader of a KKK-like organization, and her boyfriend is just as much as a white supremacist.
In Latest Fallout from Factious Weeks Era, Hutson Files Bill to Clarify Attorney Role on Canvassing Boards
The Hutson bill would designate the county attorney as the canvassing board’s counsel absent a two-third vote by the board to appoint a different attorney.
Mother Accused of Assaulting Her 13-Year-Old Daughter, Then Going After Her Protectors
Dawn Nickonovitz, 39, of Palm Coast, previously arrested for abusing 911 and violence against her daughter, was re-arrested for violating an injunction and allegedly assaulting her daughter’s father and grandfather.
Palm Coast Man, 35, Injured as Car Shears Off Light Pole and Overturns on Belle Terre Parkway
A single-vehicle wreck shut down both northbound lanes of Belle Terre Parkway north of Bird of Paradise at 4:30 p.m. when Peter Slusarz, 35, lost control of his vehicle and struck a concrete light pole, overturning his vehicle and felling the light pole.
Commissioner Revels Saves 13 Jobs, Rejecting Privatization at Expense of Lowest-Paid Employees
The county administration had proposed to privatize cleaning services for $500,000, allegedly saving $174,000 a year, but employees hired by the private company would have lost all benefits, and many would have lost their jobs outright.
County Seals Final Approval for Sea Ray Parking Plan, This Time With a Caution
The County Commission gave final approval today for Sea Ray Boats’s planned 24-acre parking lot south of its plant off Colbert Lane, but not without words of caution from several commissioners.
Rookie Flagler Deputy Jonathan Kuleski Cleared of Wrongdoing at Party With Under-Age Drinkers
The April party had taken place on private property–where the 15 people involved had been trespassing–with some of the drinkers younger than 21.
Flagler Chamber Launches School For Business-Minded Political Candidates, But Behind Closed Doors
The two-day school, held in private, will train a dozen potential candidates chosen by a secret chamber committee for their business focus. The sessions are scheduled for September.
What Flagler Beach Got Wrong About “Crowd Managers,” and What the Auditorium Got Right
Flagler Beach City Commissioner Kim Carney misinterpreted and exaggerated a fire code about “crowd managers” to her colleagues. The code does not require such managers at First Friday events, as she suggested.
Lawsuits Accuse Air Traffic Controllers of Negligence in 2013 Crash That Killed 3 On Palm Coast’s Utica Path
The plane was misled to Flagler airport instead of the nearer Ormond airport when the emergency began, the two daughters of the pilot and two sons of a passenger claim in their federal lawsuits.
Ordering Them to “Get On With It,” Flagler Beach City Manager Tells His Bosses to Find His Replacement
Addressing his five bosses more bluntly than he has at any point in his four years as city manager, Cambpell told them he’s not interested in another contract and that he’s quitting in September.
Flagler Fire Flight Assists in Ocean Search for Missing Teens Amid Conflicting Reports of Effort’s Status
Helicopter pilot Dana Morris and flight medic George Tolbert searched 150 miles of the ocean off the Flagler County coastline and as far out as five nautical miles this morning without success.
News 13’s Jason Wheeler Becomes Face of Flagler Schools in District’s Push For Broader Community Appeal
Wheeler’s appointment is part of a reorganization reflective of Superintendent Oliva’s intention to broaden the marketing of the district’s programs to the community in hopes of further engaging the community at large.
Palm Coast Council Member Bill McGuire Wants End to City Funding of School Deputy
Palm Coast pays for one of the six school deputies on Flagler’s 11 campuses. McGuire wants the school district to pick up that cost, but he drew little support from fellow-council members.
Sheriff Seeking Help Locating 16-Year-Old Lawrence Evans, Missing Since July 23
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in locating Lawrence Bennie Evans, 16, of Bunker View Drive in Palm Coast. Evans has a history of running away. He was last seen on July 23.
County and Bunnell Join Schools and Palm Coast’s Higher Taxes, Flagler Beach Holds Line
The tax increases are generating almost no opposition, in large part because they are tied to benefits taxpayers can see: raises for teachers and cops, additions of firefighters (three this year at the county, three more next year), restoring reserves decimated during the recession, and so on.
Whistleblower Suit Against Sheriff Proceeds as Judge Rejects Latest Attempt to Dismiss It
Circuit Judge Michael Orfinger this morning ordered the whistleblower lawsuit to go forward, putting the case on track for trial next year, in the thick of Manfre’s re-election campaign.
Palm Coast Motorcyclist Willie French, 41, Trauma-Evacuated After Wreck on Belle Terre
Motorcyclist Willie E. French Jr., a 41-year-old resident of Palm Coast’s R-Section, was trauma-evacuated early this morning after he collided with a car at the intersection of Belle Terre Parkway and Whipporwill Drive.
In Flagler Sheriff’s Race, It’s Déjà Vu All Over Again As Fleming and Pollinger Join Forces Against Manfre
The flagler sheriff’s race will feature a familiar cast of characters as Don Fleming again will challenge Jim Manfre, this time with ex-candidate John Pollinger at Fleming’s side.
Old Battle Brews As Land Owner Snags Flagler Beach Offer to Make Old Golf Course Whole
Instead of selling a 2.9-acre parcel to the city to fill in the old Ocean Palm Golf Club, the parcel owner rejected the city’s offer and asserted it will seek a zoning change, reviving a 25-year legal battle over the land at the south end of town.
State Ethics Commission Finds Sheriff Manfre in Violation on 3 Counts in 6-1 Vote; He Doubles Down
Meeting in Tallahassee this morning, the Florida Ethics Commission voted 6-1 to find probable cause that Flagler County Sheriff Jim Manfre violated the state’s ethics laws on three counts. The case now goes to the Attorney General’s office for prosecution.
SUV Overturns in T-Bone Wreck at Whiteview and U.S. 1, But Only Minor Injury
A Nissan SUV overturned after it was t-boned at the intersection of Whiteview Parkway and U.S. 1 in Palm Coast shortly after 10 a.m. Friday, resulting in one minor injury to the driver of the car that struck the SUV.
Hobby Lobby, Brass Tap Beer Bar, Moe’s Grill and 500 Jobs: Island Walk Is 84% Full
The developers of Island Walk, the once and future shopping center previously known as Palm Harbor in the heart of Palm Coast, have secured long-term leases with enough retailers to fill 84 percent of its space when it begins opening in phases in 2016.
Within 5 Hours, Two Shoplifting Incidents at Walmart Escalate Into Felonies With Assaults
Walmart in Palm Coast was the scene of two separate and apparently unrelated incidents that started as shoplifting and turned into aggravated assault in one case, and grand theft auto, reckless driving and fleeing cops in another. Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies made an arrest in the first case. They are still searching for the suspect in the second case.
Palm Coast Back-Pats Its Grim Luck: Red-Light Camera Suit Dismissed After Plaintiff’s Death
Palm Coast’s decision not to settle a lawsuit against it had looked like a mistake once the Supreme Court ruled red-light cameras illegal, until the plaintiff died and was not replaced on the lawsuit, allowing the city to slither out of the it.
Flagler-Palm Coast Score Most “Fantastic” Month of Home Sales Since Recession
The 247 homes sold in June reduced the county’s supply to just five months’ worth, tilting the market to sellers’ advantage, while prices saw a healthy rise as well.
School District Likely to Close Belle Terre Swim and Racquet to the Public in September
The Flagler County School Board, which runs the facility, may close it to the public as early as September as its losses this year totaled $137,000.
Board Reverts Back to Old Rule: Middle and High School Students Must Wear ID at All Times After All
After the School Board agreed in June to ease the policy and let students only produce IDs on request, it decided this evening to go back to the original policy: all IDs must be worn at all times, or else the student will be subject to a visit to the dean’s office.
Racist Graffiti in Palm Coast’s L-Section Ascribed to Stupidity as Confederate Caravan Rumbles Through Bunnell
The racist graffiti in the L-Section was discovered Thursday and Friday, the Confederate caravan drove through Bunnell Monday, though both incidents appear to be isolated reactions rather than organized hate.
Tyler Tracy, 21, of Palm Coast, Is Killed in a Single-Car Wreck on U.S. 1; FHP Seeking Witness
Tyler M. Tracy, a 21-year-old resident of Palm Coast and parent of a toddler, was killed his SUV lost control and overturned on U.S. 1 near County Road 304. The Florida Highway Patrol is seeking a witness.
Palm Coast Proposes 6 Percent Tax Hike; Home Owners Will See Much Lower Increase
If the council sticks with the proposed 2016 rate, which is the same as this year’s, a homesteaded homeowner with a $150,000 house, in the median range in Palm Coast, would see a tax increase of between $5 and $10 dollars for the year.
Flagler Live-Blogs Harper Lee’s “Go Set a Watchman,” Chapter 2: Atticus-Scout Reunion
Ten diverse and opinionated members of the Flagler-Palm Coast community take on Harper Lee’s “Go Set a Watchman” in a new experiment in communal reading, chapter by chapter. Join us.
Days After Girlfriend Pleads With Judge to Let Him Bond Out, He Is Re-Arrested For Battering Her and Abusing Their Child
34-year-old Daniel Garcia was rearrested on charges of battering his girlfriend and her friend, abusing their 1-year-old child and stealing a car two days after Judge Walsh acceded to the 22-year-old girlfriend’s plea to let him out on a lower bond,
50-Year-Old Palm Coast Man Exposes Himself to a Child, a Woman and 3 Cops Near Best Western
Twice arrested for disorderly intoxication and once for domestic violence in the last three years, Boardman had to be taken to Florida Hospital Flagler for clearance because his alcoholic consumption registered so high.