Palm Coast’s flush years are over, yet City Manager Jim Landon and the council are still high on a new city hall and a water desalination plant.
Flagler, Palm Coast & Other Local News
Revenue Crunch Not Yet Sobering
How Flagler County Is Preparing for the BP Oil Slick–If It Hits (And What You Need to Know)
Flagler County’s emergency response to the oil slick hitting Flagler Beaches is similar to hurricane preparation. It’s happening now.
Secret Video Surveillance Around Palm Coast’s Ralph Carter Park
The Sheriff’s Office confirms that secret video surveillance took place around Ralph Carter Park. Fixed surveillance video cameras are on their way.
2 SUVs Wreck on Matanzas Woods & Bird of Paradise
Jennifer Parks of Palm Coast was T-boned on Matanzas Woods at noon Friday by Colin Taschler, who failed to negotiate a curve. Both were taken to Halifax Hospital.
Bunnell Residents Demolish Bypass Proposal; Planning Board Recommends Broad Study
After a lengthy, at times contentious public meeting on the bypass, the Bunnell planing board recommended in favor of a study as long it takes in “the big picture.”
91% of Flagler High School Seniors Clear FCAT Graduation Hurdle; Most Others Fail Re-Takes
Flagler’s seniors down to their last chance to pass the FCAT before graduation did not do as well as last year’s seniors, although the numbers can be deceiving.
Crime Reports, May 17-23
A good samaritan holds a teen vandal at gunpoint until deputies arrive, domestic disturbance turns up backyard pot plant, a caller demands phone sex, and more.
Dogs Scarred from Possible Dog-Fighting Rescued from Seminole Woods House
The puppies were found dehydrated and bearing bite marks and other scarring that led investigators to charge a Seminole Woods resident with nine counts of animal cruelty.
Weigh Station Loads Up Realtors’ Forum with Mayors
Questions were gentle, answers more so, revealing little new in a public forum with Flagler’s mayors on Wednesday morning.
Tea Party Throng Fills FPC’s Dawg House Cafe
The third meeting of the local tea party movement to be held at FPC drew 228 people, but discussions were standard and relatively tame.
Flagler Schools Bracing for Dismal
Fiscal (and Oil Spill) Impact
Budget shortfalls, new financial burdens and disappearing sources of money are all converging on the Flagler school district at the same time, setting up a potential funding crisis in the next two years.
4-Year, $168,600 Contract for Superintendent Janet Valentine
Janet Valentine will replace Bill Delbrugge on July 1, when Delbrugge heads to a new job and life in Cairo, Egypt.
Bohemian Rhapsody: Flagler Firefighters Go Czech to Defend World Title
They were world champions last year. This week, two teams of Flagler medic-firefighters return to Prague to defend their title.
Ménage-à-Stab in Bunnell
A morning argument at a S. Anderson St. home in Bunnell evolved into a stabbing that sent Kevin Harris to jail and Rickey Glover to the hospital.
White Elephants Grinding Down Flagler Airport
Commissioners on Monday learned of yet another county airport building for which taxpayers are left holding the bag.
Goomba’s Ex-Hit Man Joe Milano’s Trials Delayed Until June
The trials of Joseph Milano, former Goomba’s Pizzeria owner and former mafia hit man, were delayed until at least mid-June by both the prosecution’s and the defense’s maneuvers in separate cases.
Anniversary Storm Clatters Through Flagler
Monday’s storms broke a long dry spell, caused little damage and only briefly flooded streets and swales thirsty for a good soak.
Live Coverage of Goomba’s Pizza Mobster Joe Milano’s Court Date
Joseph Milano/Joey Calco, former owner of Palm Coast’s Goomba’s Piza, is in court today, on trial for aggravated assault and other charges, but the state is seeking a delay. Live coverage.
Caren Umbarger Named Flagler Youth Orchestra’s Artistic Director
Caren Umbarger studied with Jonathan May and brings more than a quarter century of eclectic experience in teaching and performing music.
Photo Gallery: The Flagler Youth Orchestra From May to Umbarger
Images spanning performances and rehearsals of the Flagler Youth Orchestra from Jonathan May to Caren Umbarger, 2009-2010.
All Potatoes All the Time in Bunnell’s Festival
A mashed-potato eating contest and cookoff highlighted Bunnell’s second annual Potato Festival on Saturday.
Flagler Firefighter and Pro Volleyball Player Fighting for His Life
Professional volleyball player and Flagler County Firefighter-EMT Ranse Jones is fighting for his life in a Panama City hospital for nearly a week after being stricken by a brain aneurysm during a volleyball tournament at age 34.
Contrary to Fears, Bunnell Bypass Would Not Significantly Affect Traffic, Studies Show
Bunnell’s downtown won’t be lacking in traffic in the future. The real battle is over a mega-developer’s road-improvement funds.
Flagler Beach City Manager Search Launches Over Fault Lines
A fractured city commission decided against head-hunters or consultants in the search for a new city manager. Commissioners will do all the work.
Our Local (Lady) Sully: It Landed on SR 100 in Palm Coast
Leslie and John Nixon of Ormond Beach were on their way to dinner in Georgia when their Cessna 172 blew a cylinder over Flagler County, forcing them to make a hard landing on the westbound lane of State Road 100.
Honoring Flagler’s Finest, and Fallen
Flagler County Sheriff Don Fleming on Thursday led a moving memorial for officers lost in the line of duty.
Desalination’s Future Brackish as Costs Soar for Palm Coast
Hopes for a desalination plant are down to whether Palm Coast can bear the burden of mounting costs mostly by itself as other governments drop out of the colossally expensive consortium.
Hell Freezes Over: Flagler Chamber Wants To Hike Your Taxes
The Flagler Chamber of Commerce is pushing for a property tax increase to pay for business infrastructure and economic development.
Crime Reports May 10-16
A resident wakes to find an intruder in his bedroom, a stabbing in Bunnell, bungled auto theft attempt and more.
Flagler Beach Man Arrested in Two Burglaries
Gary Haney is accused of stealing beer and cigarettes from two Flagler County convenience stores in April.
Palm Coast Hops on Bunnell Train Station Bandwagon
Palm Coast was absent from the May 1 Amtrak attention-grabber in Bunnell, but the city council is making amends with a resolution of support.
County Employees’ New Health Plan: Higher Premiums, Lower Out-of-Pocket
County government is edging toward opening an in-house clinic for employees and dependents, but premiums would rise.
DOT Bypass “A Stake Right Through Bunnell’s Heart”
The bypass would accommodate a traffic surge from a Palm Coast development but might also accelerate Bunnell’s decline.
Construction Update: What’s Going Up, Where, When
From the movie theater in Town Center to Wal Mart to Red Lobster, Olive Garden and ABC liquors, a summary of visible and planned construction around Palm Coast.
Wildfire Spares Homes on Esperanto Dr.; Expect More Smoke
A wildfire on Esperanto Drive in Palm Coast broke out at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, forcing the evacuation of eight homes. None were charred.
Whip This: Roller Derby Jams Up Palm Coast
Palm Coast’s Derby Beaches are raising elbows, skirts and eyebrows as they storm their way into the nation’s naughtiest league sport.
Palm Coast Man Accused of Abusing Girls for Almost a Decade
Two sisters, now young adults, claim Phillip Maida abused them from the time they were 12 until as recently as this year.
Crime Reports, May 3-9
Motorcycle speeding on Palm Coast Parkway on a suspended license, a mysterious windshield shattering on Radium Lane, and more.
Palm Coast Group Nails Historic Marker on Church-State Wall
The first-ever Day of Inclusivity was held at Palm Coast’s Heroes Park under the umbrella of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
Union Bid Fails Among Flagler Beach City Employees
Thirty of 39 eligible employees cast ballots. The unionization bid failed by two votes.
In Blow to Palm Coast, St. Johns Latest to Retreat from Desalination
With St. Johns’ role and money minimized, Palm Coast taxpayers must assume a far larger share of the $1.2 billion project.
Liability Flops Color-Coded Safety Flags on Flagler Beaches
Adding warning flags to county beaches wouldn’t be costly, but exposing taxpayers to liability risks might be, so county commissioners are cool to the idea.
City Walk, Home of Palm Coast Government, in Foreclosure
City government officials have kept mum for a year since foreclosure proceedings began on much of the 167,000-square-foot development.
How a Boating Guru Turned Manatee Advocate
Ed Caroe applied for a manatee-protection rules committee as a boating advocate. At the last minute, he switched to manatee advocate. Here’s how.
“Day of Inclusivity” Answers National Day of Prayer May 6
Americans United for Separation of Church and State’s Day of inclusivity is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Heroes Park in Palm Coast, with speakers including Merrill Shapiro and the ACLU’s George Griffin.
10 Named to Flagler’s Manatee Rules Panel
A county-appointed rules committee has 60 days to recommend whether manatee speed zones are needed in Flagler’s waterways.
Bunnell and Flagler Whistle-Stop Amtrak
Bunnell and Flagler County put on a show for Amtrak’s 60-second slice through Bunnell as it considers resuming passenger service on the old Florida East Coast Railway tracks.
Photo Gallery:
Flagler’s Hopes Shimmer to the Glint of a Train
A photo gallery of Saturday’s turnout of some 150 people at Bunnell’s and Flagler’s plea to Amtrak to reestablish a stop in Bunnell.
Old Kings Road Reopens, Speeding Past History
Old Kings Road in Palm Coast reopens wider and newer, but also more distant from the history and intimacy that gave it its name.
Arts Foundation’s Music in the Air All Weekend
It’s went on all weekend at Central Park: live performances, small-town and big-name musicians, pop, jazz, soul, and plenty of food.