With less than four months away from the 2022 gubernatorial primary, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is pushing for a televised debate among Democratic candidates, claiming U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist “is refusing to debate” her and she has accepted several invitations from broadcast media outlets across Florida.
News Briefs
Key West Pride to Feature Parties, Performances and a Parade June 1-5
The subtropical island of Key West is to welcome revelers to its annual Pride celebrations Wednesday through Sunday, June 1-5. Scheduled festivities showcase the diversity and equality that help make the continental United States’ southernmost city a top vacation destination for LGBTQ visitors worldwide.
Free WaterSafe Event Set for May 21 at belle Terre Swim Club
Flagler County Fire Rescue is partnering with agencies and businesses throughout the county to provide an educational yet fun day of water safety instruction for families and children. WaterSafe will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 21, at the Belle Terre Swim & Racquet Club, 73 Patricia Lane, Palm Coast.
Florida Gas Prices at Highest Level in 5 Weeks, with Flagler Average at $4.23
In Flagler County, the average gas price for regular unleaded was at $4.23 a gallon this morning, compared to $4.21 in St. Johns and $4.14 in Volusia. Regular at Wawa on State Road 100 in palm Coast was selling at $4.179 and $4.15 at the Shell station at Flagler Plaza in Flagler Beach. Both RaceTrac stations on State Road 100 were selling at $4.29, and $4.18 at the RaceTrac on Palm Coast Parkway.
Marineland Dolphin Adventure Earns American Humane Recognition Exceptional Animal Welfare
American Humane, the country’s first national humane organization and the world’s largest certifier of animal welfare practices, today announced that Marineland Dolphin Adventure earned the American Humane Certified seal, demonstrating the exceptional welfare and treatment provided to animals in its care.
Free “Storm Spotters” Class On May 20 At Emergency Operations Center
Participants are eligible to become volunteer storm spotters and assist Emergency Services and the National Weather Service by reporting potentially hazardous weather events.
Daytona State College Marks Opening of First-Ever Student Residency Hall
Located on the Daytona Beach Campus, the four story, 252-bed facility opens its doors to DSC’s first-ever on-campus residents this summer. The residence hall was designed to be an affordable option within reach for all students, including those on financial aid and scholarships.
Palm Coast Fire Department’s Battalion Chief Sean Major Retires After 31 years
In 1991, Sean Major was working at a Lawn & Landscape with then-Lieutenant Mike Beadle. He was encouraged to check out the fire department as a volunteer. Lieutenant Beadle’s encouragement would lead to a 31 year career of service to the citizens of Palm Coast.
Sheriff’s Office Hosts 2022 Fallen Officers Memorial Ceremony
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) hosted the 2022 Fallen Officer Memorial and Candlelight Vigil just outside of the Flagler County Courthouse Thursday. Supporters and participants were able to observe the service and help us honor our fallen brothers and sisters.
Hop on a Bus and Tour Half Dozen Flagler County Parks – for Free
More than a dozen lucky residents will be able to join Parks and Recreation staff and the Flagler County Parks Advisory Board for the Summer 2022 Tour of Parks on June 10.
Dyllan Lemoine, 21, Arrested on Sex Charge After Video Circulates in an Elementary School
A video circulating through a local elementary school depicting sexual acts involving 21-year-old Dyllan Lemoine and a female child at Hidden Lake Park in west Flagler resulted in Lemoine’s arrest on Tuesday.
Florida Gas Prices, Averaging $4.18 a Gallon, at Their Highest in Four Weeks
In Palm Coast and Flagler County, prices this morning were at $4.15 a gallon for regular at the 7-Eleven on East Moody Boulevard in Flagler Beach, and at $4.17 at the two RaceTracs on State Road 100, and $4.18 at the RaceTrac on Palm Coast Parkway.
Some 1,500 Will Earn Degrees at Embry-Riddle Graduations
Nearly 1,500 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University students will earn degrees at the spring 2022 commencement ceremonies for the Daytona Beach, Florida, and Worldwide campuses this May. Polaris Dawn Commander Jared Isaacman will serve as the keynote speaker at the Worldwide Campus event.
FDLE Arrests 3 at Dade Correctional Institution Officers for Murder
Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested three correctional officers accused of murdering an inmate at Dade Correctional Institution (CI) on February 14, 2022. The officers, Christopher Rolon, 29, Kirk Walton, 34, and Ronald Connor, 24, are each charged with murder.
Ex-Democratic Minority Leader Sen. Gary Farmer Files to Run for Judge Instead of Seeking Re-Election
Sen. Gary Farmer, a Lighthouse Point Democrat who was ousted as minority leader at the end of the 2021 legislative session, filed paperwork Thursday to run for circuit judge in Broward County instead of seeking re-election to the Senate.
Palatka Blue Crab Festival Features 34 Musical Acts Memorial Day Weekend
The Palatka Blue Crab Festival will be held on Friday, May 27th from 6pm to 11pm, Saturday, May 28th from 9am to 11pm, and Sunday, May 29th from 8am to 11pm in downtown Palatka, 210 St. Johns Avenue. Admission and parking is free.
Gas Prices Averaging $4.10/gal. in Florida as Oil Execs Rake In $45 Million More in Compensation
Florida gas prices are gradually moving lower after rising 10 cents last week. Florida’s state average rose from $4.01 to $4.11 per gallon. Drivers are now paying an average price of $4.10 per gallon.
Haw Creek and Rima Ridge Get Weather-Monitoring Stations
Flagler County has two new hurricane wind rated weather-monitoring stations in Haw Creek and Rima Ridge thanks to coordination between Emergency Management and WeatherSTEM through grants provided by the State of Florida.
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried Sues Feds Over Gun Restrictions for Medical Pot Users
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried on Wednesday filed a lawsuit challenging federal restrictions that can prevent people from buying and possessing guns if they obtain medical marijuana in Florida.
Democratic Black Caucus Formed in Flagler County
On Saturday, April 9, 2022 at 9:00 AM at the African American Cultural Center and Museum history was made. The Democratic Black Caucus of Flagler County (DBCFC) was formed.
Gas Prices Drop 25 Cents in Two Weeks
Florida gas prices dropped another 7 cents last week. The state average has now declined nearly 25 cents per gallon over the course of a little more than two weeks.
School Appeals Pre-Game Prayer Ruling
A Tampa Christian school is appealing a federal judge’s ruling that backed a decision by the Florida High School Athletic Association to prevent a prayer over a stadium loudspeaker before a 2015 state championship football game.
Volunteer Firefighter Jericho Taylor Recognized for Intervention at Crash Site
At the April 5 Palm Coast City Council Meeting, Palm Coast Volunteer Firefighter Jericho Taylor character was recognized by the City Council for his interventions at a recent fatal motor vehicle crash.
Santa Rosa County Objects to FPL Rate Increase
In a letter dated March 24 and posted Tuesday on the state Public Service Commission website, the Santa Rosa County Commission pointed to a base electric-rate increase that took effect Jan. 1 and additional costs that FPL is passing along to customers because of high natural-gas prices.
Father and Son Duo Appearing at DSC’s L. Gale Lemerand Entrepreneurial Speaker Series
Randy Dye is the owner of Daytona Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM and Maserati Alfa Romeo of Daytona which employs more than 100 people from our community. A former race car driver himself, he is the current owner of Daniel Dye Racing where his son Daniel drives on NASCAR’s ARCA Circuit.
Stetson University’s Second Stage Theater Hosts ‘A Doll House, Part 2’
Stetson University continues its 116th season with Lucas Hnath’s A Doll’s House, Part 2, which will run April 7-10 at Stetson University’s Second Stage Theatre, located inside the Museum of Art, 600 N. Woodland Blvd., adjacent to the DeLand campus. Admission is free.
SMA Healthcare Foundation Hosts 7th Annual Who Is Jay Mental Health Symposium
The SMA Healthcare Foundation (the Foundation) is pleased to announce it will feature suicide prevention keynoter Jeff Yalden and This Is My Brave – The Show at the 7th Annual Who is Jay? Mental Health Symposium, coming up on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach.
ERAU Undergrad’s Research on ‘Space Mice’ Tops National Conference
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University senior Olivia Siu won first place in the undergraduate Brain and Behavior category of the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s (AAAS) annual poster session for her research on how simulated cosmic radiation affects the behavior and cognition of male and female mice.
Friends of A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway Dedicate All-American Road
The Friends of A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway, Inc. dedicated A1A as an All-American Road with a ribbon cutting ceremony on March 29, 2022 at the Bridge of Lions in St. Augustine, Florida.
Northeast Florida Regional Airport Marks Arrival of Elite Airways Nonstop Jet Service to and from Portland, Maine
Elite Airways LLC began scheduled operations this past weekend between Northeast Florida Regional Airport (UST) and Portland International Jetport (PWM) in Maine—marking the expansion of commercial air service at NFRA in St. Augustine, Florida.
Stetson University Announces Across-the-Board Raises, Including $15/hr Minimum
The university is providing a dollar-per-hour increase for all eligible bi-weekly, non-exempt, full- and part-time employees, and an across-the-board, annual pay increase of $1,800 for eligible full-time, monthly, exempt employees.
Senior Planner Bill Hoover Retires After Seven and a Half Years in Palm Coast Government
Bill Hoover has been a planner in the State of Florida for over 33 years. He worked for Hillsborough and Collier Counties and for Butler Engineering, Inc. in Ft. Meyers prior to opening his own business in Naples, FL. He and his wife, Charlene, discovered Palm Coast in 2014.
Florida Gas Prices Drop 20 Cents in Nine Days, But Expect Rollercoaster
The price of oil suffered steep losses last week, enabling the price of gasoline to back off from record highs. But the declines may be temporary: a barrel of oil was again trading above $110 today, after falling below $100 last week. Motorists may have to brace themselves for a rollercoaster ride ahead.
Annual Blessing of the Fleet at Palm Coast Yacht Club April 2
Palm Coast’s traditional Blessing of the Fleet returns to the city once again under the auspices of the Palm Coast Yacht Club on Saturday, April 2 at 3 p.m. All boaters near and far are invited to participate.
Four Stetson Students Place 3rd in National Ethics Competition
Graduate counseling students Nicole King (‘23), Melanie Strembel (‘23), Amber Lee (‘23) and Elizabeth Nicks (‘22) woke up on Feb. 25 to some great news. The four-person team received an email stating they placed third in the American Counseling Association (ACA) Graduate Student Ethics Competition.
Court Ruling Stands Against School Board’s Attempt To Close Textbook Committee to Public
The Florida Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to take up an appeal by the Collier County School Board in a case about whether it violated the state’s Sunshine Law in the handling of meetings of committees that evaluated and ranked textbooks.
Flagler County Fire Rescue’s Powell and Lawrence Return from Panhandle Wildfire Deployment
Lieutenant Jason Powell and Firefighter/Paramedic David Lawrence were deployed to Panama City, Monday afternoon, along with members of the City of Palm Coast Fire Department, St. Augustine Fire Department, Marion County Fire Rescue, and Clay County Fire Rescue as part of an engine strike team.
Palm Coast Fire Department’s Tim Wilsey Leads Series of Promotions
The Palm Coast Fire Department is proud to announce the next wave of promotions for the growth of the organization.
Daytona State College Foundation Launches Scholarship for Plantation Bay Employees and Residents
With more than $8,000 raised, initial awards in the amount of $1,000 per year for full- and $500 per year for part-time students will be granted for the 2022-2023 academic year to Daytona State students who are employees of Plantation Bay, as well as persons living in the north Volusia/south Flagler community.
Flagler County Firefighters Deploy to the Panhandle to Combat Chipola Complex Wildfires in Bay County
Firefighters from the City of Palm Coast and Flagler County Fire Rescue are deploying to the same area that was devastated by the eye of Hurricane Michael in October 2018. Much of the activity related to the fires are from blown down timbers caused by Hurricane Michael, making it very difficult to fight wildfires.
A ‘Renewed’ Bunnell Police Force Sends Message With ‘Operation New Day’
The operation lasting from 2:00 PM until 11:00 PM was very successful and resulted in 40 traffic stops, 34 warnings being issued, 6 uniform traffic citations being issued, 1 criminal uniform traffic citation being issued, 1 field interview report being written and 3 misdemeanor arrests being made.
Flagler Sheriff’s Citizens Academy Spring Session Registration Is Open
Learn all about the FCSO including District Policing, Investigative Services, Drug and Gang Enforcement, Victim Services and SWAT. Also, class members get to see Motor Unit and K-9 Unit demonstrations, take part in “Shoot, Don’t Shoot” demonstrations, visit the FCSO communications center and detention facilities and go on patrol with a Deputy Sheriff.
Broward’s Jared Moskowitz, DeSantis’s Ex-Emergency Management Chief and a Democrat, Will Run for Congress
Broward County Commissioner Jared Moskowitz, a Democrat who served two years as Gov. Ron DeSantis’ emergency management director, announced Friday he will run for a congressional seat that will be open this year because U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch is not seeking re-election.
Flagler Sheriff’s 911 Communications Center Re-Accredited
From the efforts of the FCSO 9-1-1 Communications Center to the cutting-edge technology used by the FCSO Communications Center, the TAC team members were impressed with the overall professionalism of the Agency’s dispatch center and each individual on staff they interacted with.
With Average Gas Price in Florida at $3.57 a Gallon, Some Begin to Change Driving Habits
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine caused oil prices to surge above $110 a barrel for the first time in a decade. Oil is now $19 a barrel more than Friday’s settlement. An increase of that magnitude could signal a 40-50 cent jump at the pump.
Take the Survey to Identify Needs of Older Adults and Caregivers in the Area
ElderSource, the Area Agency on Aging & Aging and Disability Resource Center for Northeast Florida is seeking input from the community to better understand the needs of older adults, persons with disabilities and their caregivers.
Palm Coast Government Awarded 2022 National Customer Service Association Service Organization of the Year
The National Customer Service Association has awarded the 2022 Service Organization of the Year award to the City of Palm Coast as part of their ‘All-Stars Awards’ program.
Daytona State College Receives $532,000 for Technical and Adult Education Student Grants
Daytona State College is excited to partner with the Florida Department of Education as the recipient of $532,000 in funding through the Open Door Grant Programs.
Palm Coast Fire Lieutenant Jason Wagner Celebrates 25 Years of Service
Jason Wagner began his career with Palm Coast Fire Department on February 3, 1997 as a Firefighter-EMT. He was promoted to Lieutenant in October 2000 upon the fire department coming under control of the newly incorporated City of Palm Coast. Wagner grew up in Palm Coast.
Elite Airways Adds St. Augustine-Portland, Maine, Non-Stop Beginning March 26
The new service starts March 26 and will operate on Saturdays traveling southbound and Sundays going northbound.Tickets are $199 each way for Portland/St. Augustine.