The hourlong forums will feature all, or nearly all, candidates running in local elections, with candidates for the Flagler County Commission and for Sheriff on Wednesday, and the candidates for Palm Coast Mayor and the Palm Coast City Council on Thursday.
All Else
Sylvia Ann Stover-Marthia, 1952-2020
Sylvia Stover-Marthia 68, of Flagler Beach passed away September 7, 2020, with her family by her side. She was born to the late Willie and Vinonia Crews on September 3, 1952 in Folkston, Georgia
Joe Mullins Again Erupts in String of Abuse Against Commissioner Hansen at 9/11 Event, Spurring Calls for Censure
Less than 48 hours after insulting Commissioner Greg Hansen at a County Commission meeting, Commissioner Joe Mullins unleashed another string of worse abuse on Hansen, to his face–at an event commemorating the death of 3,000 victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks. But Commissioners Sullivan and O’Brien are resisting saying whether they’d censure him.
31 Test Positive At Grand Oaks Rehab; Flagler’s Covid Death Toll Up to 21 as Cases Spike Again to Near Peak
Two more covid-related deaths were added to Flagler’s tally and a serious spike in cases at the Grand Oaks rahab and nursing home, in schools and at social clubs has resulted in a return of near-peak case loads for the county.
America Is About to Lose Its 200,000th Life to Coronavirus. How Many More Have to Die?
As a nation, we became inured to a national death toll that has only recently dropped below a thousand people a day. Think about that. Every week, we lose far more of our fellow citizens than died 19 years ago in the most devastating terrorist strike in American history.
Palm Coast Council Approves ‘Luxury,’ Woods-Ringed 256-Apartment Complex on West Side of W-Section
The development of 12 three-story buildings on 92 acres of woodlands and lakes near U.S. 1 in Palm Coast has drawn little attention and none of the opposition that traditionally barnacles to large apartment complex proposals in the city.
Haunted by Covid, Palm Coast and Sheriff Prepare for Halloween With Balance of Tradition and Safety
While such standard events as the Palm Coast Fire Department’s Hall of Terror have been cancelled, Parkview Church’s mega trunk-or-treat event will unfold as a drive-through version, and the sheriff is adding a drive-through event in early October.
County and City Taxes Will Stay Flat for Most Homesteaded Properties Except for Spike in Bunnell
Residents of Flagler County and each of its cities will again see little to no change in their property tax bills next year as governments are adopting tax rates that either stay flat or roll back a little, with the exception of Bunnell.
Save Lives. Fill Out Your Census.
Certain communities — such as rural, Black, Indigenous, Latinx, immigrant, and LGBTQ folks — are especially likely to be undercounted. Some experts warn this year’s census could be the worst undercount of Black and Latinx people in 30 years.
Joe Mullins Fires Demeaning Personal Insults at Commissioners in a Meeting, Repeating ‘Dangerous’ Pattern
Flagler County Commissioner Joe Mullins called fellow-Commissioner Greg Hansen a “fat sonofabitch” and Charlie Ericksen a “useless old man” at a meeting Wednesday just months after Ericksen had felt so threatened by Mullins that he called on Sheriff Staly for help.
Opponents of The Gardens Development Win Commissioners’ Concern Even as They Lose Appeal
Preserve Flagler Beach, a group largely opposing the proposed 335-home Gardens development on John Anderson Highway, lost a procedural battle but gained commissioners’ sympathy and concerns on substantive grounds in a hearing Wednesday.
Bars May Reopen Monday at 50% Capacity Indoors, Full Capacity Outdoors
Bars and craft breweries were among the businesses ordered to go dark in March by DeSantis in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, which causes the respiratory illness known as Covid-19.
Heroes
If Flagler County had a Nobel Prize, Flagler Health Department Chief Bob Snyder and Dr. Stephen Bickel, the medical director there, would have won it this year for their management of the coronavirus pandemic, absurd claims against them notwithstanding.
FPC and Matanzas Face Off Sept. 18 on Gridiron as Fall Sports Return and Uncertainty Outnumbers Fans
Attendance at FPC will be limited to 640 people in the stands, or about 13 percent of the stadium’s capacity of 5,000. No tickets will be sold at the gate, no interactions between fans and athletes will be allowed.
Joey Renn Jr., 21, Charged With Vehicular Homicide in Death of Logan Goodman, 14, in Woodlands
Using video footage, a traffic homicide investigator clocked Joey Renn going 109 miles per hour on his Suzuki motorcycle before impact after failing to negotiate a curve in Palm Coast’s Woodlands.
County Commission Meeting Turns Circus as Defiant Anti-Maskers Spread Falsehoods Before They’re Asked to Leave
A group of anti-mask militants held up the county commission meeting for 30 minutes today before addressing the panel in brews of misinformation, social media memes and alternative facts and calling for the removal of the Health Department’s Bob Snyder and Dr. Stephen Bickel. The commissioners explicitly rebuffed the militants in turn.
Trimming Budget and Rancor, Flagler Beach Commissioners Agree to No Tax Increase Next Year
In recognition of residents’ difficulties with Covid-19, Flagler Beach city commissioners agreed to a net-zero tax increase next year, which will translate to a modest tax decrease for many property owners, or some increase for those who aren’t homesteaded and whose assessed values have shot up.
Flagler Sees 3 More Covid Deaths, New Spike in Cases and Hospitalizations; 14 Cases at Old Kings Elementary
There’s been 184 new cases in the last 14 days alone in Flagler, and 28 positive cases in the Flagler County school district through today since school reopened on Aug. 24, half of them at Old Kings Elementary, as a renewed spike has the local health department chief concerned.
Palm Coast Will Establish an Arts District in Town Center as New Spur for Commerce of Culture
The Palm Coast City Council is moving toward establishing an arts district in Town Center, bringing together key arts and culture organizations through an arts council and dedicating revenue from the Town Center redevelopment zone to match private grants, spur artistic and cultural activity in the district and further encourage economic development.
Recently Out of Prison, Delenzo Aaron, 32, Re-Arrested on Kidnapping Girlfriend and 6 Other Charges
Delenzo Aaron, 32, had been released from state prison in April and was staying at his mother’s house in Palm Coast when he allegedly took his girlfriend through a nightlong ordeal, resulting in her hospitalization.
America Doesn’t Have a Coherent Strategy for Asymptomatic Testing. It Needs One.
While it battles a virus that can spread quickly via silent carriers, the United States has yet to execute a strategy for testing asymptomatic people. This is a problem, especially as the CDC pushed guidelines that people without symptoms didn’t necessarily need to be tested.
Mary DiStefano, Two-Term Palm Coast Council Member Through City’s Boom and Bust, Dies at 83
Mary G. DiStefano, an X-ray technician by trade and marketing professional for medical companies, ran for the council in 2003 and served until 2011. She was named Rotarian of the Year and Woman of the Year in her 28 years in Palm Coast.
Larry Newsom’s “Brighter Side of Life”: A Celebration
A celebration of the life and times of the late Larry Newsom, Flagler Beach’s city manager for the past four years and one of local governments’ more colorful personalities, featured a video tribute produced by Flagler Broadcasting’s David Ayres and Rich Savage.
State Puts Gag Order on Flagler Health Department’s Public Release of Covid Numbers in Schools
The state’s gag order falls as the Flagler health department was preparing to issue a weekly reports of cases in schools, and as a drizzle of covid cases continues to affect Flagler schools, with a few classrooms, individual faculty and students required to quarantine. The district intends to issue some of the information.
Palm Coast’s Garrett “Baby Dyce” Dunn Calls 911 then Shoots Himself on Brittany Lane
Garrett Dunn, 31, had built a following on YouTube as Baby Dyce, with over 3,200 subscribers, reviewing music and comedy clips on his channel with affable humor and raw language.
Police Chiefs Issue Use-of-Force Report With Premium on ‘Preservation of Life’ and Calm Communication
The Florida Police Chiefs Association has issued a report calling for a series of steps, ranging from largely banning chokeholds and other neck-related restraints to stepping up recruitment of police officers who would better reflect communities.
‘Guerilla Epidemiology’: How Palm Coast Sewers Are Helping Guide Health Department’s Covid Strategy
Palm Coast and the Flagler Health Department unveiled an innovative way to conduct covid-19 surveillance by measuring the viral load in city sewers, and overlaying the findings according to six geographical areas where testing of individuals is then targeted accordingly.
Doughney Option Off the Table, Flagler Beach Appoints Building Official Its Place-Holding Interim Manager
The Flagler Beach City Commission in a surprise appointed Rick McFadden, its long-time building official, as its interim manager until a permanent manager was found. He said he was willing to take on the role if it helped.
Florida Bars Cook Up Ways to Reopen By Turning Into Low-Budget Restaurants
Low-budget, hassle-free cuisine like hot dogs and cold sandwiches might be a financial godsend for desperate bar owners who’ve been sidelined for months because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’m So Embarrassed,” Judge Perkins Says of Further Delays in 3 Murder Trials Caused by Covid, Despite Innovations
Nathaniel Shimmel has been waiting three years for his murder trial, Tammy Almond two, Benjamin Allen one, and all three must wait until at least November as Covid restrictions are hampering Circuit Judge Terence Perkins, to his dismay, from going forward.
Ban on Visitors in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities Is Lifted Despite Concerns
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday he will allow visitors into nursing homes and assisted living facilities, nearly six months after the state blocked visitation during the first wave of coronavirus infections.
Jorge Salinas, a Transparency Ace, Appointed Deputy County Administrator In Largely Secretive Process
County Administrator Jerry Cameron appointed Jorge Salinas, 53, an assistant city manager in an Oregon town for the past five years, as his “chief of staff,” ending a largely secretive process that had involved the county commission.
Calling Current Schooling ‘Not Sustainable,’ 100 Teachers at FPC Plead for Altered Instruction on Fridays
Reflecting intense concern and frustration with current teaching requirements that blend in-person and distance learning, Flagler teachers submitted a plan to the school bard to turn Fridays into planning and focused study days as opposed to direct instruction days.
16th Covid Death in Flagler; Old Kings and Bunnell Quarantine 2 Classes; District Will Issue Weekly Covid Report
In a series of development, and as a drizzle of cases continue to develop on local campuses, the Flagler Health Department and the school district will issue weekly reports detailing where in schools covid-19 cases have been confirmed, in contrast with Volusia County, where the district is refusing to disclose any such information.
Opelka Falls in First Round at Fan-Less U.S. Open
Opelka was facing two opponents Monday night at the US Open: The world No. 10 ranked player David Goffin, an outstanding all-around competitor, and Opelka’s own balky right knee, which he re-injured last week.
State’s Legal Fees Top $800,000 In Court Fights to Keep Schools and Colleges Open
Florida officials have committed to spending more than half a million dollars on private lawyers to defend a mandate that schools reopen brick-and-mortar classrooms, and upwards of $300,000 in a parallel fight involving college and university reopenings amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Jerry Cameron, Chief of Sham
Flagler County Administrator Jerry Cameron put on a show behind closed doors of interviewing what may be his successor. Though 121 people applied, Cameron knew who he was going to pick from the start, skirting public record and open meeting laws along the way.
Calling Himself a ‘Scapegoat,’ Colon Pleads to 30 Years in Prison in Murder by Heroin of Savannah Deangelis
Joseph Colon, 37, pleaded to 30 years in prison in the death of Savannah Deangelis, 23, in 2017, after she took delivery of two $40 bags of heroin from him.
In Flagler Beach, A Pitched Battle Over Taxes Is Dividing Commissioners as Administration Draws Fire
The Flagler Beach City Commission appeared ready to prevent a tax increase of any kind this year until a surprising call for another budget meeting had two commissioners questioning the administration’s motives, and those of fellow-commissioners.
No Symptoms? No Testing. CDC Sticks By Controversial New Guideline Despite States’ Backlash
In an about-face reportedly prompted by the Trump administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week quietly narrowed its guidelines for Covid-19 testing — upending previous recommendations that all people exposed to the virus should get tested, whether they have symptoms or not.
3 Covid Cases at Bunnell and Old Kings Elementary, 2 at FPC; 21 Cases at 7 Assisted Living Facilities
Flagler County’s Covid-19 numbers have been trending downward for the last five weeks. But new infections have emerged in schools as faculty and staff returned to campuses and, after a long period of calm, in more than half a dozen local assisted living facilities.
26-Year-Old Woman Killed in 2-Car Crash on I-95 South of State Road 100
A 26-year-old Ormond Beach woman was killed early Friday morning in a two-vehicle crash on I-95 south of the State Road 100 interchange.
Cookies, Cakes and Candies: Florida Health Department Clears the Way for Edible Pot Products
The emergency rule on medical, edible pot dictates that “edibles shall be produced in a manner to minimize color intensity and other color and visual characteristics attractive to children.”
Motorized March to Flagler Courthouse Friday Marks 1963 March on Washington and Justice Reform
After the motorized march wends its way into the parking lot, speakers on the steps of the Flagler County courthouse commemorating the 1963 March on Washington will talk on criminal justice issues, voting rights and police reform.”
State of the Sheriff: Staly’s Self-Evaluation Touts Low Crime, Initiatives and ‘Open Carry,’ Stoking Campaign
Sheriff Rick Staly spent some of his “Addressing Crime Together” presentation in campaign mode, appealing to Second Amendment advocates, though the greater majority of his presentation focused on more factual accomplishments, initiatives and developments to come.
Police Chief Matt Doughney Appointed Interim Flagler Beach Manager As Search for Newsom Replacement Begins
Flagler Beach Police Chief Matt Doughney will lead the city as the commission itself handles every aspect of the hiring process for the next manager over the next few months. Doughney is leaving the door open to be among the applicants for the permanent job.
Joseph Colon, Heroin Dealer Accused of Murdering Savannah Deangelis, Will Plead to 30 Years in Prison
Savannah Deangelis was 23 and had been clean and in rehab for months when she took delivery of a $40 dose of heroin from Joseph Colon, and overdosed at her parents’ home in Grand Haven. Colon was indicted on capital felony murder.
Hundreds of Thousands of Nursing Home Residents May Not Be Able to Vote in November Because of the Pandemic
Swing states such as Florida and Wisconsin have suspended efforts to send teams to nursing homes to assist with voting. Despite a federal law that residents must be “supported by the facility in the exercise of” their rights, some states prohibit staff from actively doing so.
County Administrator Jerry Cameron Maneuvering to Hire His Successor Behind Closed Doors, With Commission’s Complicity
Four local candidates have been short-listed out of more than 100 applicants for deputy Flagler County administrator in a hiring that likely lines up the next county administrator, but Cameron has been going about the hire with no public discussion, involvement or notice even though commissioners are interviewing the candidates Friday.
Florida’s Colleges and Universities Are Suspending Students Who Flout Covid-Safety Rules
Florida university officials have started suspending fraternities and punishing students who flout coronavirus-safety measures, as schools grapple with cases of the virus at the beginning of the fall semester.