Flagler County public schools lost $400,000 in funding and 100 students between fall and January financial and enrollment calculations as private school subsidies of vouchers surged 20 percent since last year. State voucher spending reached $19.2 million dollars this year. District enrollment remains stagnant despite significant population growth, and budget transparency issues persist because state calculations combine voucher funds with district allocations.
Flagler, Palm Coast & Other Local News
Missing Records and Financial Desperation Undermine Marineland’s Hope to Reopen Marina Contract
The Marineland Town Commission seeks to renegotiate its contract with Mobius Marine, manager of the town’s 20-slip marina, to increase stagnant revenue. Marina earnings grew 179 percent since 2014. The town receives only $18,000 annually, without inflation adjustments. Attorneys warn that missing records undermine the town’s legal standing. Procedural failures regarding the 2023 contract extension further complicate efforts to extract higher payments from the marina.
Flagler Sheriff’s Deputy Kaleem Chohan, 24, Fired After Domestic Violence Arrest
The Flagler County Sheriff today fired first-year deputy Kaleem Suhail Chohan following his arrest Sunday on a battery charge involving his sister. The charge is a first-degree misdemeanor. He would have normally been suspended without pay pending the disposition of the case. Singe he was three days shy of his probation ending, he was fired.
Proposed Charter Amendments Would Address Council Removals, Vacancy Appointments and Debt Limits
Palm Coast officials narrowed over a dozen charter proposals to three priority amendments for the November ballot. The measures establish formal procedures for removing council members, refine the process for filling vacancies, and double the city’s general fund debt limit to $30 million. Some proposals are closer to final language than others.
Flagler Beach’s 6th Street Deli Among 1st Tenants as Promenade in Palm Coast’s Town Center Recruits
The $79 million mixed-use Promenade project in Palm Coast’s Town Center secured among its initial commercial tenants Flagler Beach’s 6th Street Deli and Fleet Feet as recruiting for the complex continues before late summer openings. Palm Coast is offering significant economic incentives to attract businesses there, though an attempt to attract a craft brewery fell flat. The Promenade includes 204 apartments and 68,000 square feet of retail space.
Don’t Let Palm Coast’s Westward Invasion Sprawl Over Old Brick Road
Walden Pond serves as a grim cautionary tale for Flagler County preservationists as the colossal western expansion of Palm Coast threatens Old Brick Road. County commissioners are right to demand wide buffers and forbid at-grade crossings. Saving what remains of the historic Dixie Highway requires resisting developer logic that prioritizes proximity over true natural preservation.
Final Legal Challenge to Flagler Beach’s Annexations Of Veranda Bay And Summertown Ends
Resident Stephen Noble dropped his lawsuit against Flagler Beach over the annexation of Veranda Bay, making the 756-acre annexations of Veranda Bay and Summertown uncontested. The developer agreed to pay legal fees and transfer property to Noble as part of the settlement.
Supreme Court Denies Coastal Church’s Emergency Request to Resume Services in Flagler Beach Shopping Center
The Florida Supreme Court denied Flagler Beach’s Coastal Family Church’s request to hold in-person services during ongoing litigation, leaving in place a lower court injunction based on restrictive shopping center covenants. The property owner argues that public assemblies at the Flagler Beach shopping center violate agreements. Pastor Roderick Palmer faces separate legal woes from a credit card debt lawsuit and a foreclosure action involving a local property.
Lance Blanchette Appointed Flagler Beach Police Chief On Strength of Record and Vigorous Endorsements
City Manager Dale Martin announced the appointment of Lance Blanchette as the permanent Flagler Beach police chief during this evening’s City Commission meeting. Blanchette served as acting chief since Matt Doughney retired in early January. He earned support from Sheriff Rick Staly and an independent law enforcement panel, among others.
Developer Reveals Master Plan For 22,000-Home Western Expansion That’ll Remake Palm Coast
Raydient, the development arm of Rayonier, presented general plans for a 22,000-home development west of U.S. 1 that will nearly double the population of Palm Coast over 30 years. The proposal replaces previous agreements and shifts costs to taxpayers. Despite the scale of the project, its consequences on the city’s future and upcoming city annexation, the reveal at the Palm Coast Community Center lacked a presentation and offered very few specific details regarding infrastructure and funding.
City Repertory Theatre Revives Absurdist Classics With Multi Actor One-Act Plays for Season Finale
Palm Coast’s City Repertory Theatre concludes the current season with a trio of absurdist one-act plays featuring playwrights David Ives and Israel Horovitz. The production includes “The Universal Language,” “Sure Thing,” and “Line.” Local actor Danno Waddell brings his expertise in the fictional language of Unamunda to the stage as performances explore human connection and competition. Shows run from April 24 through May 3.
Palm Coast Buys Right-Of-Way For Future Whiteview Parkway Extension Through New U-Haul Storage Facility
The Palm Coast City Council approved the first phase of a multi-phase U-Haul storage facility on U.S. 1 at Whiteview Parkway. The city also bought a right-of-way through the property for $280,000 in cash and $220,000 in impact fee credits. Appraised for $700,000, the land enables the future westward extension of Whiteview Parkway.
Council Approves Shift to 244 Houses at Sawmill Development as Concerns Over Ruined Historic Site Surface
Palm Coast City Council members approved a plan converting 320 planned townhomes into 244 single-family houses within the Sawmill Branch development on US1. Council member Dave Sullivan cast the lone dissenting vote over irreparable destruction of the Revolutionary-era Hewitt Sawmill historic site due to recent construction drainage. The developer promised to investigate these preservation claims before the final vote scheduled next month.
Palm Coast Council Approves Tax Rebates of Up to 95% To Jumpstart Stalled Town Center Commercial Development
The Palm Coast City Council approved a construction and tax-incentive program to spark commercial construction in Town Center, offering property tax rebates of up to 90 percent or more for significant investments. Town Center has fallen far short of investment and revenue expectations as the special tax district expires in 2034. Leaders excluded residential projects from the deal, prioritizing vertical density and commercial growth over single-family homes.
Historic Old Brick Road Now a Battleground Between Flagler County Preservation and Palm Coast Expansion
Flagler County commissioners are stalling a proposed joint agreement with Palm Coast and Raydient, the developer of over 20,000 homes in the so-called “westward expansion” of Palm Coast, to ensure the preservation of historic Old Brick Road. They demand significant land buffers and flyover bridges instead of at-grade crossings. This firm stance aims to protect the World War I-era Dixie Highway remnant from development. The commission envisions the road as a vehicle-free linear park for nature-tourism.
Judge Denies Restoring Bond For Anne Mae Demegillo Following Murder Indictment In Newborn Death
Anne Mae Demegillo will remain at the Flagler County jail following a judge’s ruling against restoring a $250,000 bond, now that a grand jury indicted the 21 year old on first-degree murder charges related to her newborn’s death. The capital felony status removes her legal entitlement to pretrial release. Defense attorneys unsuccessfully argued for her freedom based on lack of flight risk. Defense attorney Aaron Delgado has replaced Michael Politis.
Former Flagler Beach Fire Chief and Historical Museum President Robbie Creal Dies at Age 75
Former Flagler Beach Fire Chief Robbie Creal died at his North 5th Street home this weekend at 75. Creal served as fire chief for 26 years before leading the Flagler Beach Historical Museum. Police discovered his body Monday during a welfare check requested by his sister. Authorities found no signs of foul play. The local community remembers him for his extensive civic and historical contributions.
Flagler County February Jobless Rate Drops To 5.8% and Labor Force Adds 500 Workers
Flagler County’s unemployment rate improved slightly to 5.8 percent in February, after a 6 percent showing in January. The local labor force grew by 500 workers. Local wages remain below state and national averages. Single-family home prices decreased from last year and cash buyers accounted for over 40 percent of recent home sales.
Calling Plan ‘Garbage,’ Theresa Pontieri Vows to Block Westward Development Unless Rayonier Pays More for Infrastructure
Palm Coast Council Member Theresa Pontieri rejected Rayonier’s Palm Coast westward expansion plan, labeling the document “absolute garbage” for adding 10,000 homes but eliminating previous developer commitments for roads and parks as taxpayers pick up the $126 million cost of a “Loop Road.” Pontieri demanded the landowner fund infrastructure improvements before a new development order is submitted to the council for approval.
Palm Coast Council Member Theresa Pontieri’s Statement on Westward Expansion Development Proposal
The full text of Palm Coast City Council member Theresa Pontieri’s statement opposing a proposed Master Planned Development order submitted by Rayonier, the Wildlight, Fla.-based company that owns the majority of the 20,000 acres slated for the western expansion.
Palm Coast’s Lindsey Isaacs, 23, Arrested in Hit-And-Run That Killed Jorge Salinas, His Wife and a Motorcyclist
The Florida Highway Patrol arrested 23-year-old Lindsey Brooke Isaacs, a resident of Palm Coast’s Integra Woods apartments, for the October hit-and-run crash on I-4 that killed Deputy Flagler County Administrator Jorge Salinas, Nancy Salinas, and Joaquin Deno, a Deltona father of five. Investigators used license plate readers to locate Isaacs’s Dodge Durango. She previously sued to recover her car before these charges were filed.
Birthright Citizenship Ruling Will Decide Whether America’s 250th Is Celebration or Curtains
A Supreme Court ruling against birthright citizenship is a dangerous stepping stone toward mass denaturalization and the erosion of individual sovereignty. That’s Trump’s endgame. Anything less than a decision demolishing the challenge would disgrace the sestercentennial anniversary we are about to celebrate.
Severely Injured Puppy Found In Flagler County Park’s Ditch Shows Signs Of Illegal Dog Fighting
A severely injured puppy was abandoned in a ditch at Shell Bluff park, suffering from deep wounds and infections consistent with illegal dog fighting. Caroline Johnson of SMART coordinated the rescue and transport to East Coast Animal Hospital, where Shelly continues her recovery and prepares for future adoption. There are no current leads on the dog’s recent history.
Palm Coast Man, 64, Arrested After Detectives Intercept Illegal Peer-To-Peer Child Abuse Downloads
Flagler County authorities arrested 58-year-old Scott Beverst for possessing child sexual abuse material after detectives intercepted illegal downloads through a public peer-to-peer network and traced the IP address to his Palm Coast house, where he lived with his parents. Beverst admitted familiarity with the dark web and specific abuse series as investigators found hundreds of files on his laptop. He remains in jail on a $250,000 bond.
School Board Cools On YMCA Pool Partnership While Considering Building Its Own, Despite Fiascoes
The Flagler County School Board is not enthusiastic about a potential partnership with Palm Coast for a shared YMCA pool, instead showing interest in the district building its own Olympic-size facility despite past management and financial failures at its own Belle Terre Swim and Racquet Club. This discussion coincided with an unsolicited $1.9 million offer from Ryan Companies for surplus district land that could provide revenue for a district stake at the YMCA.
Neighbors Mobilize Against Development of 39 Houses on Previously Protected Matanzas Golf Course Tract
Palm Coast L-section residents are largely opposed to a plans to develop 39 houses on the so-called Tract 3 of the former Matanzas golf course, a tract the Palm Coast City Council had protected from development in 2021, when it approved the broader, 268-home project. Residents argue the Land Development Code protects their views. The developer is not adding new homes, but shifting them from another tract, which would be give to the city for a public park.
Flagler Beach Accepts $20,000 Gift from Susan Smith for 5 AEDs in Late Husband’s Memory
The Flagler Beach Fire Department and city government marked a $20,000 donation to the city’s Volunteer Fire Association to install five Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in public spaces throughout the city. Susan Smith presented the gift at City Hall to honors the memory of her husband, Mark Hietpas, who died in a rip current in the British Virgin Islands two years ago.
Jury Finds Henriqson Guilty On All 11 Child Sex Abuse Counts; Judge Sentences Him to 9 Life Terms
A Flagler County jury convicted 48-year-old Krystopher Henriqson on 11 counts of raping and molesting his former stepdaughter over three years, when she was betwen 9 and 12. DNA evidence and recorded phone confessions secured the verdict at the end of a three-day trial. Henriqson faces life in prison.
Flagler Tourism Council Approves $357,000 Grant to Light Up 3 Fields at Indian Trails Sports Complex
The Flagler County Tourist Development Council approved a $357,000 grant for Palm Coast to install lights on three soccer fields at the Indian Trails Sports Complex. The funds became available after Flagler Beach abandoned its Beachwalk expansion project. The new lights will support regional tournaments and local leagues.
Palm Coast Council Surprised by Discovery of Unannounced CRA Funding for New YMCA Project
The Palm Coast City Council’s Theresa Pontieri was surprised Tuesday after learning the Town Center redevelopment zone is contributing $1.4 million toward the new YMCA. Initial presentations suggested funding came from park impact fees.
Victim, 13, Testifies Against Ex-Stepfather as Chilling Recorded Confession and DNA Evidence Pile Up
The now 13-year-old alleged victim testified today against her stepfather, Kristopher Hendriqson, in his second day of trial on capital rape charges stemming from allegations that he’d been raping and molesting her since she was 9. The prosecution presented recorded phone calls containing Henriqson’s confessions and forensic DNA evidence matching his profile that he’d left on the girl’s chest. Henriqson abandoned his self-representation after a poor start on Monday.
Palm Coast City Council Rejects Privatization Of Palm Harbor Golf Course as Near-Term Revenue Improves
The Palm Coast City Council rejected privatizing the Palm Harbor Golf Course following reports of a a surplus through management changes, higher fees and flexible passes. The city may consider returning the facility to an enterprise fund model. Despite current financial success, looming capital costs remain.
Sheriff Says He’ll Request 13 New Deputies as he Touts Helicopter, Drones, ICE Partnership and Crime Drop
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly reported a 54 percent crime decrease since 2017 during his annual Addressing Crime Together presentation last week. He intends to request 13 new deputies. His report detailed a new Bell 505 helicopter acquisition and expanded drone first-responder programs and defended the agency’s collaboration with federal ICE agents while highlighting successful inmate rehabilitation programs at the jail.
Trial Begins With Major Disruptions as Self-Representing Henriqson Delivers Improper Opening Statement
Kristopher Henriqson’s trial on child rape and molestation charges started with along delay as Henriqson, representing himself, attempted to deliver an improper 12-page opening statement. Judge Dawn Nichols ordered the prosecution to highlight acceptable portions after repeated jury recesses, reducing the statement to less than a minute.
Reimagining Itself, Flagler Beach Approves New Transportation Fees To Start Funding $38 Million ‘Mobility’ Plan
Flagler Beach commissioners unanimously approved new mobility fees on new construction to fund a $38 million transportation plan. The initiative shifts the city away from car-centered infrastructure toward a multi-modal environment accommodating pedestrians and cyclists. The fee schedule targets residential and commercial developments.
Flagler County Unemployment Jumps to 6 Percent, Highest Rate in Five Years
Flagler County unemployment reached 6 percent in January, the highest rate since October 2020 as labor markets in St. Johns and Volusia counties also showed strains in January. Florida lost 20,000 jobs over the year.
Saturday in Byblos:
Charlie Sheen’s Addictive Book of Hedonism
Charlie Sheen survives his own history of addiction to deliver a surprising memoir in “The Book of Sheen,” a three-voice fugue of stardom, debauchery, and Casanova-like reflections. He skips the Hollywood trap of mawkish regret as his narrative energy and wit recount a life spent mostly in a drug-induced haze.
Clerk of Court Tom Bexley Makes It Official: Heidi Petito Starts New Senior Adviser Role Monday
Flagler County Clerk Tom Bexley officially hired former County Administrator Heidi Petito as a senior adviser starting Monday. Petito left her 23-year career within the county organization today following intense friction with three commissioners, accepting a 48 percent salary reduction to exit what she repeatedly described as a toxic environment. Her new responsibilities include executive counseling and intergovernmental relations. Bexley praised her fiscal stewardship and deep institutional knowledge.
Flagler Beach Commissioner Defies Contractual Obligation By Voting Against City Manager’s Ethics Defense Bill
The Flagler Beach City Commission approved paying a $10,800 legal bill for City Manager Dale Martin following a dismissed ethics complaint, but Commissioner John Cunningham opposed the payment based on personal suspicions as Mayor Patti King criticized the use of innuendo to challenge the state ethics commission findings.
Flagler Sheriff’s Detective Ardit Coma Files Federal Lawsuit Against Ormond Beach For Alleged False Arrest
Flagler County Sheriff’s Detective Ardit Coma filed a federal lawsuit against Ormond Beach and the officer, Sgt. Caleb Braun, who allegedly falsely arrested Coma after a December traffic stop for speeding escalated into a felony charge of fleeing and eluding. Attorney Anthony Sabatini filed the suit on Wednesday in the Middle District of Florida, arguing the city maintains a custom of improperly escalating routine stops into unlawful felony arrests.
Forecast Is for ‘Somewhat Below Normal’ Hurricane Season, But Flagler EM Chief Urges Caution
Colorado State University researchers today predicted a “somewhat below-normal” Atlantic hurricane season: 13 named storms, instead of 14 to 15 in an average year, six hurricanes instead of seven, and two reaching major storm strength instead of three. Flagler County Emergency Management Direcxtor Jonathan Lord cautioned against putting too. much stock on forecasts.
Accused Rapist Henriqson Fumbles to Monday Trial and Risk of Life in Prison as He Persists with Self-Representation
After trying various ways to again delay a trial that’s been postponed since last fall, former Palm Coast resident Kristopher Henriqson, 48, faces trial Monday for numerous capital and life felony charges involving the alleged rapes of his stepdaughter over three years, when she was between 9 and 12. Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols denied his request for another continuance and cautioned him in two hearings this week against continuing to represent himself in two hearings this week. Henriqson has made numerous missteps in the case.
In Muddled Manifesto, Mayor Norris Wants to Sell ‘Bougie’ Southern Rec Center and Cut $10 Million in Spending
In an often sharply contradictory screed at the end of Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris proposed cutting $10 million from property tax revenue and suggested selling the Southern Recreation Center, labeling it a “bougie” drain on city resources. He was drawing his conclusions by relying on a dubious government spending formula from Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia even as he declared himself “happy” with last year’s budget and with the city’s fiscally conservative record.
Barnes & Noble Coming to Palm Coast’s Target Shopping Center
Palm Coast residents will soon see the end of a long bookstore drought as site plans submitted to the city reveal a Barnes & Noble will be part of a 50,000-square-foot expansion at the Target shopping center. The expansion includes a Five Below and a home goods store.
Nightmare Intersections at Royal Palms, Town Center Blvd. and Old Kings Will Switch to All-Way Stop Signs
The Palm Coast City Council approved installing all-way stop signs at two major intersections at Town Center Boulevard and Royal Palms Parkway, and Town Center and Old Kings Road, within three months to reduce five-minute wait times. These $15,000 improvements address immediate safety concerns. The council also approved design costs for the longer-term widening of Town Center Boulevard to four lanes.
Flagler County Sets Salary Up To $235,000 For New Administrator; Public Sector Focus and BA, not MA, Minimum
Flagler County commissioners crafted the job description and a $235,000 salary ceiling for their next administrator in place of Heidi Petito, among other details in the coming job posting. The Florida Association of County Managers, not the commission, will initially vet candidates, focusing on those with 10 years of leadership experience in the public sector and a focus on budgeting, economic development, and intergovernmental relations.
Ex-AdventHealth Nurse Avoids Prison Time in Plea to 5 Years’ Probation for Fraud and Unlicensed Practice
Autumn Marie Bardisa received five years of probation for practicing nursing without a license at AdventHealth Palm Coast. The 29-year-old treated over 4,000 patients using a stolen identity. Judge Dawn Nichols withheld adjudication and endorsed the plea deal, saying Bardisa had the the necessary medical training, excelled at her job, but showed incredible poor judgment. Bardisa eventually earned her license, but is surrendering it as part of the plea deal.
Flagler Commissioners Increasingly Nervous Over Long-Delayed Phoenix Crossings Affordable Housing Project
Flagler County commissioners are expressing significant concern regarding the delayed Phoenix Crossings apartment complex in Bunnell. The project aims to house young people exiting foster care and other low-income families. Repeated delays have dogged the project. Commissioners must now decide whether to restructure local grants to prevent the loss of federal and state funding.
Grand Jury Indicts Anne Mae Demegillo on First Degree Murder Charges in Infant’s Death
A Flagler County grand jury indicted 20-year-old Anne Mae Demegillo on a first-degree murder charge this afternoon. Investigators discovered digital evidence on her phone including searches for Casey Anthony and infant mortality. Demegillo previously faced manslaughter charges after her newborn daughter died in a toilet in early March. She turned herself in this evening.
Future Hammock Restaurant Wins Parking Reduction Despite Strong Opposition From Residents and 2 Commissioners
The Flagler County Commission approved a parking reduction for the future Modern Mexx restaurant in the Hammock despite concerns over parking congestion at other restaurants. Owners reduced the size of the seating area to mitigate concerns.
