The house at 20 Rockne Lane is in foreclosure and severely damaged inside, and was allegedly used for minor drug activity. Five people were arrested there.
Flagler, Palm Coast & Other Local News
Foreclosure Tale: When Renters, Despite Protections, Are Intimidated Into Leaving
Palm Coast’s Genis family–mother, father, six children–was duly paying rent on its Smith Trail home when it was sold by the court and the family was given 10 days to clear out, even though it never saw an eviction notice.
68-Year-Old Driver Jailed in Flagler After Eluding 5 Cop Agencies and Ramming a Cruiser
Ronald Pinkerton, 68, was chased by Port Orange, Holly Hill, Ormond Beach, Volusia and Flagler cops early Thursday before finally be stopped by Flagler deputies and taken to jail, his face lacerated and bloodied.
Visitor in Critical Condition After Car Strikes Him Near the Flagler Beach Pier
Antonio Branca was walking back to his car near the pier in Flagler Beach was struck by a Cadillac Thursday afternoon and taken to Halifax hospital in critical condition.
Drawing Mayor’s Rebuke, Palm Coast Manager’s Trash Talk Skips Agenda Notice
Palm Coast City Manager Jim Landon drew up bid restrictions for the city’s $35 million trash contract designed to favor Waste Pro, the current hauler, while virtually disqualifying others–and preventing two potential new city council members from having a say in the contract.
Ethics Commission Finds Against Oel Wingo, ex-Palm Coast Deputy Manager, on Various Charges
The Florida Ethics Commission found probable cause that Oel Wingo, in her brief tenure as Holly Hill city manager last year, misused her position, falsified and destroyed public records. Wingo served in Palm Coast for a decade.
Subtle Revelations as Commissioners Speed-Date Through 15 Job Council Candidates
An inside look at today’s rapid-fire one-on-one job interviews with 15 of the 36 candidates looking to fill the county commission’s nine-member economic development council.
Florida Lawmaker Proposes Broader GPS Tracking of Juvenile Offenders
Florida’s Juvenile Justice system eliminated its ankle-monitoring system in 2004. GPS tracking would be cheaper, but also possibly more pervasive, and paid for out of local dollars set aside for various court initiatives.
300-Ft. No-Surf Zone Plan Around Flagler Beach Pier Has Surfers Angling for Battle
A season rich in storms, good waves and good fishing resulted in renewed clashes between fishermen and surfers around the Flagler Beach pier, and the latest proposal to extend the no-surf zone around it, priming angers before Thursday’s Flagler Beach City Commission meeting.
Flagler 911: The Live Crime Blotter
A son allegedly beats up his elderly mother just back from visiting her husband at the hospital, a pit bull bites a 10-year-old boy, trespassers aplenty, and again with people who don;t lock their cars then call the cops to complain about stolen GPS devices.
Andrew Young, a Civil Rights Star, Glitters Over African American Cultural Society’s 20th
Andrew Young headlined Palm Coast’s African American Cultural Society’s 20th anniversary celebration Sunday with humor, a little Martin Luther King memorabilia, and a lot of pragmatic hope about American culture.
Flagler County Jail Daily Bookings: Oct. 21-28, 2011
Flagler County jail daily bookings for the week of Oct. 21-28, 2011. With links to inmate search functions, visitation rules and correspondence requirements.
This Week in Flagler and Tallahassee: “Talking With…” and Job Interviews
The county commission interviews some two dozen candidates for its new economic development council, the City Repertory Theatre opens “Talking With…”, a new play, Flagler Beach talks surfing.
Transformers: Public Schools Want to Be More Like Charter Schools
Florida public schools, envious of the flexibility enjoyed by charter schools–and fearing a migration to charters–are launching a lobbying campaign in the legislature to relax some public school regulations like class size and school hours.
Unemployment Largely Stalled: 14.6% in Flagler, 10.6% in Florida; Scott in Brazil
With Florida Gov. Rick Scott touting a recovery from a trip in Brazil with 180 politicians, pals and business interests, Florida’s and Flagler’s unemployment numbers remained more static, 20 percent of Floridians either out of work or under-employed.
Cole Bros. Circus Comes to Palm Coast Trailing History of Violations and Animal Abuse Charges
Cole Brothers Circus owner John Pugh pleaded guilty in February to violating the Endangered Species Act and the circus was fined $150,000, and both face a long list of animal abuse and neglect charges from the USDA.
Heiser Time Over: Tourism Council’s Trusted Executive Resigns; Turbulence Ahead
Peggy Heiser’s resignation, attributed to family priorities, will have political and economic ramifications as the Chamber of Commerce’s Doug Baxter–not the tourism council or the county commission–chooses a successor.
Attention Weather Spotters: Free SkyWarn Classes Offered in Flagler on Nov. 7; Registration Required
Free seats are still available for Basic and Advanced SKYWARN classes to be conducted in Flagler County by the National Weather Service on Nov. 7 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Bunnell’s James Hayes, 22, Arrested for Carjacking an 81-Year-Old Woman
James Hayes had been jailed a dozen times in Flagler, on petty charges, until the Oct. 6 carjacking outside a Burger King on U.S. 1 and Grenada Blvd. in Volusia. The car was found Monday in Bunnell.
Palm Coast Pinch-Hits for Troubled Marathon Promoter Dean Reinke, Securing TDC Grant
Half-Marathon promoter Dean Reinke’s Dean Reinke Sports Group attempted three times to get Tourist Development Council subsidies in the last two years and was turned down because of deceptive practices. Palm Coast government stepped in and got the grant for the January event.
Jane Martin’s “Talking With…,” at Palm Coast’s City Repertory Theatre Oct. 28-Nov. 5
Jane Martin–a pen-name–pulls off a clever series of monologues by 11 women in “Talking With,” directed by John Sbordone at Palm Coast’s City Repertory Theatre.
Invoking Migration to Charters, A Split Flagler School Board Favors Move Toward Uniforms
Reacting in part to a pronounced migration of students to charter schools in the county–and in part to its own leanings–the Flagler school board Tuesday agreed to solicit parental input in preparation for a uniform policy.
Night Clerk at Microtel on Old Kings Road Tied and Robbed at Gunpoint
The armed robbery at Microtel a little after 3 a.m. Monday is the second armed robbery in a 1-mile radius in six days. Last week, a resident of the Woodlands was robbed at gunpoint while walking nearby.
Mike Taschler, Palm Coast Data VP and COO, Is Out as Revenue Continues to Fall
Taschler’s departure follows less than three months after the resignation of Palm Coast Data CEO John Meneough, and three weeks after the company posted another steep revenue decline.
Pink Armies Invade Flagler In Varieties Of Breast Cancer Awareness Campaigns
The Flagler County fire department, Palm Coast government, Florida Hospital Flagler, schools and organizations are all in on raising awareness to battle breast cancer in October.
Daily Wadsworth Elementary Jam On Parkview Drive Should End as No Parking Signs Go Up
For several years, Parkview Drive along Wadsworth Elementary has turned into a hazardous, child-crossing parking lot as school lets out. Soon, No Parking signs will go up along the two-lane road, to the displeasure of some and relief of others, in hopes of ending the hazard.
Flagler County Jail Daily Bookings: Oct. 14-28, 2011
Flagler County jail daily bookings for the week of Oct. 14-28, 2011. With links to inmate search functions, visitation rules and correspondence requirements.
This Week in Flagler and Tallahassee: School Uniforms Again and Andrew Young
The African American Cultural Society’s 20th anniversary celebration culminates with a talk by former UN Ambassador and civil rights leader Andrew Young on Oct. 23 at 2 p.m. at Matanzas High’s Pirate Theater.
From Harvest Hoedown to Smashing Illiteracy
At the Palm Coast Tennis Center, it was all about raising dollars for Flagler’s Dolly Parton Imagination library, and at Bunnell Elementary, it was the annual Harvest Hoe Down: a sum-up and an image gallery of both.
Scanner Rash: Man Shoots Mom by Accident, 3 More Teens Arrested in Burglary
The shooting took place on Belvedere Lane, the burglary on Eastwood Drive, following by hours another string of teen burglaries. Sheriff Don Fleming is wondering where the children’s parents are.
Seawall Soul-Searching and Yet More Muddles Over Alternatives in Flagler Beach
The Flagler Beach City Commission shelved state transportation dollars that would have refurbished the seawall along 13th Street and skirted around discussions of alternatives to beach-saving in confusing motions Thursday.
Bruce Campbell Appointed Flagler Beach Manager, 5-0, Ending 18-Month Spectacle
With Commission Chairman John Feind switching from opposition to endorsement, Bruce Campbell was finally given the permanent job, unanimously, a year and a half after the city began its search for Bernie Murphy’s replacement.
Two Teens Arrested After Rash of B-Section Burglaries Involving Unlocked Cars
Anthony Clark, 18, of Palm Coast, and William Medders, 17, of Daytona North (the Mondex) were riding bikes on Beechway Lane at 3 a.m. with GPS devices, a radar detector and a Bluetooth in their bags.
Flagler’s State Lawmakers Lend an Ear to Local Pleas in Annual Wish-Listing Ritual
Gambling regulations, state dollars for Flagler’s roads, warnings against the unintended consequences of state budget cuts and numerous more local concerns busied the nearly two-hour meeting between Flagler’s state lawmakers and local politicians, organizations and citizens.
John McDonald, Long-Time Beverly Beach City Commissioner, Dies at 76
John McDonald, a Beverly Beach city commissioner for almost 11 years, had retired there in 1986 after serving 26 years in the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.
Quiet Woodlands Evening Shaken by an Armed Robbery; Sheriff Looking for Leads
A 32-year-old resident of Palm Coast’s Woodlands was robbed of his cash and cigarettes at gunpoint at Oak Trails Boulevard and Blare Drive, just off of Old Kings Road, just before sunset Tuesday evening.
Animal Kingdom Moves Into Flagler County Art League’s Gallery for the Month
The Animal Kingdom is the Flagler County Art League’s newest show, a rich (and uneven) menagerie of some 66 works in a half dozen mediums, on exhibit at the league’s gallery through October.
Hans Tanzler III is Scaled Back St. Johns Water Management District’s New Director
Hans Tanzler’s tenure will dovetail with Gov. Rick Scott’s directive to make the district a friend rather than a regulator of big water users and applicants, such as utilities, developers and large landowners.
Bunnell Manager Wants His Gun Back–as a Reserve Officer for Sheriff or Flagler Beach
Even though it’s a personal matter to the manager, the Bunnell City Commission agreed to use its city attorney, at $145 an hour, to seek out a state Attorney General’s opinion on whether Manager Armando Martinez may serve as a reserve cop elsewhere.
Flirting With the Bizarre and the Unconstitutional, Bunnell Retains 4 Lawyers
A Bunnell city commissioner opened Monday’s commission meeting with a hard-core Christian prayer as seven lawyers, including the city attorney, looked on–and took the fifth on the matter, as most were angling for a contract with the city.
Penny Wise, Light Foolish: Palm Coast in the Dark In Reclamation of Ralph Carter Park
League organizers and parents are calling Palm Coast’s plan to charge youth leagues for field and light use at city parks short-sighted and counter-productive, given the leagues’ stabilizing effect on once-troubled parks such as Ralph Carter Park.
Flagler County Jail Daily Bookings: Oct. 7-14, 2011
Flagler County jail daily bookings for the week of Oct. 7-14, 2011. With links to inmate search functions, visitation rules and correspondence requirements.
Major Power Outages in Flagler Restored, But Many Smaller Ones Remain
Winds of up to 60 miles per hour have downed power lines and trees, cutting power for 6,000 customers in Flagler County as of 10:30 p.m. See how you can track your outages and find out reconnection times.
This Week in Flagler and Tallahassee: Local Legislators’ Annual Drive-By Natter
Sid Nowell’s job is on the line in Bunnell, Bruce Campbell’s job may finally become more permanent in Flagler Beach, the African American Cultural Society’s 20th anniversary celebrations all week, dire state revenue estimates, and more.
Dares From the Familiar From 7 Photographers at Hollingsworth Gallery’s Latest Show
Hollingsworth Gallery’s first all-photography exhibits features provocative, unsettling and arresting work by Steven Benson, Daniel Biferie, Jennifer Kaczmarek, A.J. Neste, Mark Townsend, Mercedes McCartney and Nik Clements.
Acting Time May Be Over in Flagler Beach As Commission Takes Up Manager’s Fate
It’s been nine months since Bruce Campbell started as actingcity manager, making it the longest job interview in memory for any local government executive. The wait appears to be over as two commissioners who’ve opposed his permanent appointment so far face a reckoning next Thursday.
Buddy Walk in Town Center Canceled, Creekside Festival Goes On
Buddy Walk in Town Center canceled, Great bed Race in Flagler Beach postponed, Creekside Festival goes on: the rains are playing havoc with weekend events in Flagler County.
Palm Coast’s First Business-to-Business Expo: How-To For Recession-Defying Entrepreneurs
Some 60 businesses and agencies turned up for the day-long business-to-business expo organized by Palm Coast’s Business Assistance Center to focus on local, small and emerging businesses.
Flagler 911: The Live Crime Blotter
Defrauding Golden Corral, a stolen Jeep at St. Joe’s Plaza, a man jailed for attacking his mother after refusing to do the dishes, a case of bullying at Matanzas High School, and innumerable larcenies and burglaries.
Recoiling Over Park Fees, Little Leagues Shine a Light on Palm Coast’s Increasing Insularity
A debate over new lighting fees at Palm Coast’s athletic fields reveals a city out of touch with its community organizations and contradicting its own claims about being kid- and sports-tournament friendly.