Sheriff Rick Staly last August pulled over James Christopher Raposa for speeding. He was later placed on probation on an impaired driving charge, but violated probation.
Backgrounders
Post-Hurricane Initiatives Fall Short of Measures to Prevent Fuel Crises In Next Storms
A strategic fuel-reserve task force and using rail-tank cars to bring fuel into evacuation areas to avoid a repeat of runs on gas stations were among initiatives that failed at this year’s legislative session.
Florida Increases Per-Student Funding By $101, Much Of It For Security and Mental Health
The annual school funding formula would include a new category for mental-health funding with $69 million and increase the school-coop pot by $97 million, to $162 million.
Hammock Beach “Dragging Their Feet” Over Dunes-Repair Agreement, Vexing County
The agreement with Hammock Beach is the last piece of a mosaic of agreements framing the reconstruction of protective dunes along the beach. But hammock Beach has yet to sign.
Ding Dong! The Obamacare Tax Penalty Is(n’t) Dead–Not Until 2019
That means you still will owe an Obamacare tax penalty if you didn’t have health insurance or an exemption from the mandate in 2017. The same holds true for this year.
Does Palm Coast Have a Panhandling Problem? Council Member Thinks So, But Legal Options Are Limited
Palm Coast City Council member Heidi Shipley, citing “regulars” panhandling on Old Kings Road and Palm Coast Parkway, wants an anti-panhandling ordinance.
Bunnell’s Charles Cowart Jr. Arrested Again, For Allegedly Stealing 15 Flags in 3 Cities
Charles Cowart Jr. is accused of stealing enormous flags from Palm Coast Parkway and Indian Trails Sports Complex, among others. He’s been arrested many times for doing strange things.
Zambrano Orders Judge Scott DuPont to Clear Out of His Offices In Flagler and Putnam
Chief Judge Raul Zambrano’s order, delivered to DuPont by letter today, is as close to the firing of a judge short of a Supreme Court impeachment, and follows an investigation’s withering recommendation for removal.
Behind the Shooting On Seamanship Trail: Drugs, Underage Sex and Mom’s Warnings
Contents of Tristan George’s phone reveal incriminating texts and videos about underage sex and drugs, and warnings to the Palm Coast man from his mother about his behavior.
Flagler Sheriff and County Officials Worry That Prison Reforms Could Shift Inmates,
and Costs, to County
A spate of criminal-justice reform bills in the Florida Senate has Flagler’s sheriff and a county commissioner worried about what that could mean for the local jail population and budgets.
Thoughts and Prayers, As Pointless as Outrage
The ultimate, most pointless outrage is at lawmakers and gun freaks, one and the same, who stand in pools of blood as they tell us our gun epidemic has nothing to do with it.
Qualifications Commission Recommends Judge DuPont Removed, Calling Him “Reckless,” Untruthful and “Heavy Handed”
Judge Scott DuPont serves on Flagler’s and Putnam’s civil benches, and was facing a series of accusations that he’d acted wrongfully and recklessly as a judge and a candidate.
Weekend Briefing: Afro-American Heritage, Race the Runways, Dance Party, Nouvelle Trio, Sweetwater Birds
Flagler Beach Rotary’s runway run at the airport, the Annual Black Heritage Day Festival, birding at Sweetwater, Willie Nelson postpones to Feb 27, and a lot more.
Military Inferiority Complex:
Dear Leader Wants A Parade
The military doesn’t need parades. It needs to come home. Worshipping it in time of endlessly losing wars only locks and loads more cannon fodder.
Dunes Restoration Project Update At Week 3, With Video
Some 2,800 linear feet of dunes have been restored as of February 7, with the county’s goal being a mile a month. Chris Goodfellow’s videos have been documenting progress.
Thursday Briefing: Flagler Beach Library Reopening, George Wood Sentencing, Dr. Carter Wing, Vacation Rentals
Palm Coast’s George Wood faces a stiff sentence following convictions for the 12th time on felonies, Sheriff Staly renames a jail wing in honor of Dr. Morris Carter, who’s been the jail’s doctor for four decades, G.K. Chesterton on public opinion.
Pianist George Winston, a Stetson Alumni, Returns For a Benefit Concert Feb. 25
The intimate evening of music with George Winston supports Stetson’s School of Music Scholarship Fund. Stetson dropped out of studying sociology at Stetson in the 1960s, but got an honorary doctorate in 2004.
Wednesday Briefing: Meet School Board Candidates, Record Skywarn Class, Opioids and Hazing
The year’s first election forum features school board candidates at a Republican committee meeting, the Supreme Court hears a hazing case, legislators talk opioids.
Federal Judge Declares Florida’s Arbitrary and Governor-Controlled Method of Restoring Felons’ Voting Rights Unconstitutional
In a stinging blow to Gov. Rick Scott, a federal judge ruled that the governor’s near-exclusive authority to restore, and more often deny, voting rights to ex-felon is unconstitutional.
Grant Will Fund Vocational Help For More Than a Dozen Students at FPC and Matanzas
A legislatively chartered organization granted FPC and Matanzas $22,000 for the vocational program through the Flagler Education Foundation.
Four Local Governments Vying For Residents To Enroll In Their “Academies”
Local governments’ citizenship academies have been relatively popular, especially among potential political candidates or people who want to see the plumbing of government firsthand.
To Keep America Great, Legalize All Undocumented Immigrants
We have a choice: Keep our economy vibrant and enviable or demolish it by expelling and demonizing undocumented immigrants, as short-sighted nations have done in the false name of “purity” over the years.
Unusual Degree of Mayhem, But Also Success, Reflected in Sheriff’s Quarterly Awards
An award ceremony seemed to reflect the particular vigor and style of policing Rick Staly ushered in just over a year ago, when he became sheriff.
Measure to Restore Voting Rights to 1.5 Million Florida Felons Goes on November Ballot
Voting rights of felons who have served their sentences, completed parole or probation and paid restitution would be automatically restored. Murderers and sex offenders would be excluded.
Address Florida’s Deadly Rail Crossings Now, During 2018 Session
Between 2011 and 2017, there were a total of 105 deaths on more than 350 miles of Florida East Coast Railway tracks, which also run through Bunnell. A rail safety bill needs legislative support.
Cops’ Stop and Frisk Is Cut Back. Crime Doesn’t Spike. It Tumbles.
Police have radically cut back their controversial use of stop-and-frisk policies in New York. To the surprise of some, crime didn’t spike, but tumbled yet again.
Jimmie Brazell, 56, Struck and Killed As He Steps Out From Car On I-95 in Palm Coast
Jimmie Brazell, 56, was killed by a passing car as he walked across I-95 in Palm Coast after an argument with his new bride, who had asked him to pull over.
Roundabout at U.S. 1 and Old Dixie Will Save Lives, But Resistance Is Expected
Those used to roundabouts love them, those not hate them: traffic experts say the roundabout at US1 and Old Dixie can work well with good design and education.
Wednesday Briefing: Pink Army Check, Inspired Mic, TDC Cancelled (Again)
It’s the Flagler district’s spelling bee finals, the Inspired Mic is all improvisations at Europa at European Village, the Tourist Development Council can’t seem to get a meeting going, and Philip Roth speaks.
Jacksonville Sheriff Criticizes “Walking While Black” Reporting. Editors Respond.
Reporting has shown that disproportionate numbers of the tickets in Jacksonville and elsewhere have gone to blacks, prompting a critical response from Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams–and a corrective retort from editors.
Husband’s Arrest Adds Troubling Details To Wife’s Untimely Death on Point Pleasant
Used syringes were found in the house at 6 Point Pleasant Drive and Michael Cummings’s clothes were spotted with blood when he met a sheriff’s deputy. He was arrested for obstruction.
Flagler Film Festival’s 55 Movies Go From Gothic to Micro-Shorts to Burt Reynolds
Burt Reynolds appears in the romantic comedy “Miami Love Affair,” one of the many films screened at Palm Coast’s Hilton Garden Inn this weekend in the annual Flagler Film Festival.
Flagler’s Opioid Crisis Seen From Those Fighting It: A Severe Lack of Treatment Beds, Drug Court at Capacity, Jail as a Waiting Room
The most comprehensive picture of the opioid crisis in Flagler County came to light today in a gathering of Flagler County judges, top cops, medical, social and government services. Here are the details.
Proposal To Toughen Penalties For Texting While Driving Gains on 1st Day
With support from the House speaker, a proposal to make texting while driving a “primary” offense in Florida received unanimous support Tuesday from a House panel as the 2018 legislative session opened.
Gov. Rick Scott’s State of the State: Full Text
Gov. Rick Scott’s State of the State address, his last, as prepared for delivery today at the Florida Capitol, before a joint session of the House and Senate.
Tuesday Briefing: Dorothy Singer In Court, Manager Search, Wireless Palm Coast, Session 2018
Strap on those seat belts: the Florida Legislature gets started with Gov. Scotts State of the State, Dorothy Singer, accused of murdering her husband, is in court, Palm Coast council discusses wireless.
From Opioids to Taxes to Vacation Rentals: 11 Issues To Watch In Legislative Session Starting Tuesday
The House and Senate will negotiate a state budget and consider hundreds of bills including on health care, taxes, the environment, short-term rentals and hurricanes, among others. Here’s a preview.
Wednesday Briefing: Winter Storm’s Cold Rains and Night Freeze, Code Enforcement, Debussy
Cold but not freezing rain is expected in the morning, giving way to the coldest night of the year, with lows in the 20s, a new law office opens, schools closed all week.
Facebook’s Uneven Enforcement of Hate Speech Rules Allows Vile Posts to Stay Up
Asked about its handling of 49 posts that might be deemed offensive, Facebook, acknowledged that its content reviewers had made the wrong call on 22 of them.
Coffee Talk: Road Safety Focus of Inaugural Presentation in New Health Series
Palm Coast and Florida Hospital Flagler are presenting a new talk series focused on health, starting Jan. 10 with a focus on pedestrian, bicyclist and driver safety.
Easy Going Portable Buildings, 125 N. Volusia Ave., Pierson FL (386) 316-0346
Buy or rent portable buildings through Easy Going Portable Buildings of Pierson Fla. Call (386)316-0346 or email Terry Leishman at terrydpo@yahoo.com
Douglas C. Egan, 56, Takes His Own Life Near His Home in Seminole Woods
Douglas Egan of 4 Seward Trail was found dead of a gunshot wound the afternoon of Christmas day. He had sent a text to his wife in New York the previous evening saying to call police.
District Picks 100 Parents to Pilot App That Monitors and Controls Their Child’s Computer
Through a free app called Mosyle, parents will have the ability to control and lock down their child’s school issued device, with all parents given access by next fall.
All-Cash Business? Not So: Why It’s Getting Easier for Marijuana Shops to Open Bank Accounts
Almost 400 banks and credit unions now serve the medical marijuana industry, according to the U.S. Treasury — a number that has more than tripled since 2014.
Bigamy Charge Revived Against Palm Coast Sex Offender With Long, Violent Criminal History
Paul Stout, a Bunnell resident with a violent criminal history in three states, was rearrested on a bigamy charge he had first faced in 2013, when the State Attorney’s office dropped it.
Alabama Saves The Day. But Not Much Else.
If what it takes for Democrats to win is a Republican pedophiliac predator and compulsive lawbreaker, their victory in Alabama Tuesday helps the GOP more than it does Democrats.
Tuesday Briefing: Hammock Restaurant and Brewery, City Manager Head-Hunting, SpaceX Launch
A second brewery is cooking up in the Hammock, SpaceX launch just before noon, a fund-raiser tea at the Flagler Auditorium, a murderer returns to court.
Monday Briefing: Mary Ann Clark’s 90th, Bunnell Booze Hours, Diapers Tax Exemption, Lodge Supremacy
The Flagler Historical Society’s Mary Ann Clark celebrates her 90th birthday, Bunnell realigns its alcohol sale hours, Henry Cabot Lodge on American supremacy, the Legislature wants to exempt diapers from sales taxes.
“We Don’t Serve Gays”
Invoking Christian belief to deny service to a gay couple is not a First Amendment right, nor is it a matter of artistic expression. It’s good old discrimination under a new mask.
Found Guilty of Escape Out of Cop’s Car, George Wood Faces Up to 30 Years in Prison And Two More Trials
George Wood III of Palm Coast, 31, a felon now 11 times over, had busted out of a cop car after his arrest on SR100 in January and led police on an air and foot chase.