The Club’s December Online Holiday Auction, along with member contributions, enabled the organization to make donations this month to both Christmas Come True and Flagler Technical College’s Adult Education programs, specifically GED scholarships for participants in the Open Door Re-Entry & Recovery Ministry.
All Else
Sheriff’s Detective Mark Moy Is Arrested on a Domestic Battery Charge and Relieved of Duty
Mark A. Moy, a 14-year veteran of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office and a well-regarded detective with roles in high-profile arrests and convictions of murderers and molesters, was arrested today on a domestic battery charge today, suspended without pay and relieved of duty pending further investigations.
Court Orders Prosecutor to Discipline Attorney Who Dressed as Grim Reaper in Alert Over Covid Dangers
Days after asking The Florida Bar to consider sanctioning an attorney who made national headlines by dressing as the Grim Reaper to criticize Gov. Ron DeSantis’ response to the coronavirus pandemic, an appeals court took the rare step of ordering a state prosecutor to pursue discipline against Santa Rosa Beach lawyer Daniel Uhlfelder.
Ask the Doctor: Returning Children to School Safely, All Those Post-Vaccine Reactions, HIV-Patient Eligibility
Dr. Stephen Bickel answers new questions about the anxieties of returning children to school in covid times, the effects (or non-effects) of the covid vaccine on various medical conditions, the eligibility of populations other than those 65-and-over for the vaccine, and more.
In Flagler Beach, the Two Finalists for City Manager Are a Contrast of Experience and Personalities
William Whitson has managed four cities and was assistant manager of Port orange for eight years, Dru Driscoll has worked 22 years in Daytona Beach, the last few as deputy city manager and fire chief. They are seeking to replace the late Larry Newsom, who died in August.
Palm Coast Prepares for New Garbage Contract as Waste Pro starts ‘Inappropriate’ Courtship of Council Members
Waste Pro’s 5-year contract with Palm Coast ends in 2022. The city will bid out the contract this year and seek residents’ input through a survey on what they want from their next hauler, especially to keep costs down, such as automated hauling, larger garbage cans, reduced pick-up days, recycling changes and the like.
Flagler Health Department Issues First Rabies Alert in 11 Years, for Bunnell and Southern Part of the County
The Health Department issued the rabies alert for Bunnell and the Korona community in response to a raccoon that tested positive on Tuesday after attacking a dog. The center of the alert is near Old Cemetery Road in Korona, an unincorporated community north northeast of Favoretta on US 1 and south of Bunnell.
Reilly Opelka Loses Epic Five-Setter Against Best Friend Fritz at Australian Open
The 23-year-old battled his best friend, Taylor Fritz, for more than four hours in a second-round match at the Australian Open, and was at one juncture just two points away from winning and getting to the third round Down Under for the first time.
Walmart Starts Covid Vaccines Friday But Not in Flagler, Volusia or St. Johns; 9% in Flagler Have 1st Shot
Florida residents may get vaccinated at any Florida Walmart location of their choice, regardless of their home address. The Flagler County Health Department meanwhile continues to administer about 800 first shots per week.
Porch Piracy in Palm Coast: 2 Arrested on Felony Charges After Package Thefts in K-Section
With 1.7 million packages lost or stolen every day in the country, Palm Coast is no stranger to porch piracy, and on Tuesday two out-of-towners were arrested and charged with felony burglary for allegedly stealing packages from front porches in the K-Section.
Confrontation at City Hall Prompts Palm Coast to Add Armed Security and Consider Metal Detector
Employees’ confrontation with a man who refused to wear a mask before a recent Palm Coast Council meeting was the last straw for the manager, who opted to add armed security and soon add a metal detector outside the public meeting venue. He said the generally more tense atmosphere here and elsewhere is prompting moves for greater security.
In Wake of Attempted Poisoning of Florida City’s Water, Palm Coast Manager Says System Here Is Safe
Palm Coast City Manager Matt Morton sought to reassure council members this morning about the safety of the city’s water utility system in light of last week’s attempted poisoning of Oldsmar’s water, in Tampa Bay.
Proposal Would End Florida’s Confederate Holidays and Protections for Confederate Flag
A proposal is back in the Florida Senate that would end legal holidays marking the birthdays of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee and Confederate President Jefferson Davis, along with Confederate Memorial Day.
Why the U.S. Is Underestimating Covid Reinfection
Hundreds of Americans suspect they contracted covid early in the pandemic and recovered, only to get infected again months later. But because the U.S. does so little genetic sequencing of covid samples, we don’t know much about reinfection rates.
Healthy Opelka, Ranked 40 in the World, Hopes to Start 2021 Tennis Season With Strong Australian Open
Reilly Opelka’s career has been hampered by injuries, but the 7-foot ex-Palm Coast resident who still has strong ties to the community opens his bid at the Australian Open this weekend healthy and strong, and ranked 40 in the world.
Struggling Elementary Students Could See Books Delivered to Their Homes
A priority of House Speaker Chris Sprowls that would lead to books being delivered to the homes of struggling elementary school readers got unanimous approval Thursday from a House panel.
After the Muslim Ban
Before we let the horrors of the Trump administration fade away like a fever dream, we have to ask ourselves how we got here. Otherwise, it’s going to become a recurring nightmare, argues Domenica Ghanem.
Federal Investigation Finds Staff Brutality and Sexual Abuse of Inmates at Florida Prison. State Demurs.
The federal investigation found “varied and disturbing reports” of sexual abuse, including rape, of female inmates by staff members at the state’s largest women’s correctional facility. State officials had documented and been aware of sexual abuse by sergeants, correctional officers and other staff at Lowell Correctional Institution in Ocala since at least 2006.
Appeals Court Orders New Bova Murder Trial: Judge ‘Abused’ Discretion By Denying Him Right to Represent Himself
The Fifth District Court of Appeal today ordered Joseph Bova re-tried for murder, 17 months after a jury found Bova guilty and a judge sentenced him to life in prison. The court ruled that Judge Terence Perkins was wrong to deny Bova his right to fire his attorneys and represent himself, no matter how much of a mess Bova would have made for himself.
Senate Panel Signs Off on Vast Expansion of Use of Tax Dollars for Private Schools
The measure (SB 48), filed by Republican Sen. Manny Diaz of Hialeah, would expand eligibility for school-voucher programs and allow parents to use taxpayer-backed education savings accounts for private schools and other costs.
Palm Coast Fire Department Resumes Home Inspections Through Community Outreach Programs Following Covid Response
The City of Palm Coast Fire Department is resuming home safety inspections through its community outreach programs after suspending them in 2020 due to Covid-19.
Water Management District Focuses on Wetlands and the Benefits they Provide
As part of our year-round work to protect water, the St. Johns River Water Management District is focused on wetlands and the benefits they provide to all our core missions. We joined others who care about water resources earlier this week in observing World Wetlands Day. Our work includes protecting, restoring and preserving natural systems, […]
Even With Remote Option, Enrollment in Flagler’s 9 Traditional Schools Is at Lowest Level Since 2005
With Flagler schools reflecting some decline, Florida legislators and local education officials are trying to pinpoint what happened to nearly 90,000 “missing” public school students across the state, as public school enrollment estimates have dropped amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Renner Warns of ‘Massive Shortfall’ in State Budget Even as He Projects a Stronger Economy in Flagler
While he warns of a nearly $3 billion state budget deficit, Paul Renner, the Palm Coast Republican and chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said Flagler is running out of houses to sell and the arrival of two universities and Boston Whaler will significantly improve the local economy.
Palm Coast Man Arrested in Bogus Scheme to Frame Girlfriend’s Ex in Shootings
Ariel Diaz, a 35-year-old resident of Eastern Place in Palm Coast, was arrested Friday on charges of fabricating evidence, making up a story of being shot at, and making bogus calls to 911 in an alleged attempt to frame another man for supposedly shooting at him and his car. The other man previously dated the woman Diaz is now dating.
Repeatedly Rebuked for ‘Knee-Jerk’ Decisions, County Retreats From Boat-Ramp Giveaway in Hammock
County Commissioner Andy Dance repeatedly spoke against making hurried decisions without study or community input as commissioners voted 4-1 to reject the administration’s plan to give away a public boat ramp and right of way on the Intracoastal in the Hammock.
Tampa’s Mayor Faces Twin Challenges of a Covid-Era Super Bowl and Ron DeSantis
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, a Democrat who switched from the Republican Party in 2015 and a former Tampa police chief, would like to take stronger action to stop the spread of the coronavirus. But Gov. Ron DeSantis has limited what local officials can do.
Flagler County Government Will Host Weekly Feel-Good Show on Local Radio
Flagler County commissioners haven’t discussed it publicly yet–or agreed to it–but the county administration is preparing to host a weekly radio show, or infomercial, on WNZF, the Flagler Broadcasting station, starting likely in February. The sponsored half-hour show would focus on feel-good stories, profiles of county employees, and highlights of county doings.
Two Flagler Beach Residents Arrested After Refusing to Comply With Mask Mandate at Commission Meeting
In a first at a local government meeting, two Flagler Beach residents were arrested Thursday evening after defiantly delaying a Flagler Beach City Commission meeting for 12 minutes, refusing to don a mask, in accordance with a city ordinance, and refusing to leave the commission room on their own. They were not arrested for a mask violation, but for trespassing after warnings.
Punting Responsibility, County Pits Hammock Neighbors Against Each Other Over Its Public Boat Ramp Giveaway
Flagler County government owns the unmarked, unguarded road segment of Pamela Parkway in the Hammock that ends as a boat ramp and that once cost a woman her life as she unknowingly drove into the Intracoastal. The county wants to give away the right of way to two homeowners in exchange for the homeowners building a seawall. Other residents object.
Upholding Requirement, Court Compares Mask Mandate to Smoking Bans in Public Places
A state appeals court Wednesday rejected a challenge to a Palm Beach County requirement that people wear face masks in businesses and other public places to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Flager Beach Rotary’s Race for the Runways 5K Is On at County Airport, With Strong Covid Safety Guidelines
The pandemic requires format changes and safety guidelines for everyone’s comfort and safety, participant and volunteer peace of mind and safety being paramount in this 10th Anniversary Race. Participants will also be required to sign a release.
Appeals Court Sides With Hammock Association Against County and Developer on 240-Boat Storage Facility
The Hammock Community Association won another victory today as a district court denied the appeal by a developer of a lower court decision quashing redevelopment of a boat yard into a 240-boat storage facility next to Hammock Hardware on State Road A1A.
A Blustering Jonathan Canales Calls Court ‘Satanistic’ as He Loses Latest Appeal of Life-Term Conviction
Jonathan Canales, the 34-year-old former Mondex man serving a life term for shooting his then-girlfriend, accused the prison system of exposing him to beatings and the courts for being “satanistic” and skewed against defendants, but could not show any evidence that he’d had poor legal representation.
7 Days, 11 Additional Covid Deaths in Flagler, Totaling 68 as County Passes 5,000 Cases; 2nd Dose Vaccines Begin
It was the deadliest seven-day stretch of the pandemic for Flagler County. Over the weekend the tally rose to 60, and today the Health Department reported eight additional deaths, all senior citizens, bringing Flagler County’s total to 68. Second-dose shot vaccines were set to begin this week, along with a new batch of first-dose vaccines.
Anti-Vaccine Activists Are Peddling False Claims That Covid Shots Are Deadly, Undermining Vaccination
Anti-vaccine groups are exploiting the suffering and death of people who happen to fall ill after receiving a covid shot, threatening to undermine the largest vaccination campaign in U.S. history. In some cases, anti-vaccine activists are fabricating stories of deaths that never occurred.
5 Contestants, 2 Seats: Flagler Beach Woman’s Club Hosting Candidates’ Night Ahead of City Election
Flagler Beach and Beverly Beach are holding the year’s first local elections on March 2. The Beverly Beach races are uncontested, though the city will have two new commissioners. The Flagler Beach races for mayor and one commission seat very much are contested.
Sea Ray Plant Will Reopen as Boston Whaler, Bringing Back 300 to 400 Jobs and Annexing Into Palm Coast
Capping a whirling six months of major economic-development victories for Palm Coast, and two and a half years after the Sea Ray plant shut down off Colbert Lane, eliminating some 440 high-paying jobs, the plant will reopen very soon under the banner of Boston Whaler, a boat builder owned by Sea Ray’s parent, Brunswick Corp.
Ask the Doctor: No, Vaccines Contain No Aborted Fetus Tissue, Socializing Without Masks, Politics of Vaccines
Dr. Stephen Bickel answers two dozen new questions, including about the politics and logistics of the vaccine rollout, whether vaccinated people may socialize without masks, and numerous specific questions about the vaccine and beyond it.
Senate Pandemic Preparedness Chairman to Advocates of Covid-Safety Lockdowns: Drop Dead
Businesses will remain open for the economic well-being of the state even as covid-19 cases continue to surge in Florida, the head of a Senate select committee on the pandemic said this week.
“We’ve Let the Worst Happen”: Reflecting on 400,000 Dead
A reporter who’s covered the pandemic from the start examines the toll covid-19 has taken on the country and what to expect from a new president.
Black Crappie Regulations Review Meetings for Central Florida Waterbodies
The objective of the conversations will be to gather stakeholder input on current black crappie regulations and will focus on statewide opinions, as well as resource specific regulations.
Professional Women’s Group of Flagler Hosts Virtual Networking Event January 28
A spokesperson from the Flagler County Education Foundation will be the guest speaker and the topic will be the importance of their Take Stock in Children program.
Flagler Unemployment Flat for 4th Month in a Row as Economy Struggles To Regain Pre-Covid Confidence
Flagler County’s and Florida’s December unemployment figure reflect continued struggles in an economy dominated by a hospitality industry, including bars and restaurants, that lost yet more jobs as the pandemic ramped up in the state.
Almost 20 Years Later, Construction Begins on The Gardens Along John Anderson, But Lawsuit Looms
Crews began clearing acreage for The Gardens, a development along John Anderson Highway first proposed under a different name almost 20 years ago, but the controversies and obstacles that have dogged the project since continue, including a lawsuit filed just weeks ago.
Thomas Aquinas O’Dea Sr., 1935-2021
Thomas Aquinas O’Dea Sr. passed on to be with God on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021, at Morristown Medical Center.
Few Trump Supporters Turn Out at State Capitol in Tallahassee
After preparation for potentially large-scale protests, only about 10 supporters of President Donald Trump waved signs to motorists outside Florida’s Capitol on Wednesday as President Joe Biden was sworn into office in Washington, D.C. With law-enforcement officers visible atop the Florida Capitol and the nearby Leon County Courthouse, the handful of Trump backers maintained their […]
American Impressionism at the Lightner Museum
This spring, the Lightner Museum in St. Augustine celebrates the evocative, timeless beauty of late 19th and early 20th century American art with two exhibitions of American Impressionist paintings.
Flagler Grand Jury Issues 4 Indictments for Murder, 2 More in Drug Deaths, 2 in Killing of Deon O’Neal Jenkins
The indictments of Allyson Dawn Bennett, 39, and Javian Neesmith, 21, are Flagler County’s second and third for murder stemming from the death of individuals from drug overdoses–a relatively new, rapidly expanding but also increasingly controversial trend in criminal prosecutions that began with the emergence of the fentanyl epidemic.
Joe Biden’s Inauguration, and Amanda Gorman’s Beacon
President Joe Biden’s moving and restorative inauguration was upstaged by Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman, whose words reflected the unvanquished voice of the American we idealize, the possible and the impossibly scaled in this country of the “battered and beautiful.”