The Palm Coast City Council marks the city’s 20th anniversary, double-murderer David Snelgrove’s trial runs into a second day of jury selection, the Flagler County School Board discusses a proposed suicide prevention policy.
All Else
New Rules Regulating CBD Products and Hemp in Florida Now In Effect
New rules regulating CBD products address issues such as pesticides, how packages are labeled and the inspection of products sold or produced in the state, and are derived from a federal law opening the door to CBD and hemp regulations.
20 Years After Double Murder in Palm Coast, David Snelgrove Faces Death Penalty Trial for 3rd Time
David Snelgrove murdered Glyn and Vivian Fowler in Palm Coast in 2000, but is in yet another penalty phase of his trial this week because two previous recommendations for death were not unanimous.
Monday Briefing: 911 Center’s Training Milestone, Mayor’s 90/90 Challenge, Snelgrove Death Penalty Phase
The latest sentencing phase for David Snelgrove, convicted of murder two decades ago, begins with jury selection, Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland’s Fitness Challenge begins, auditions for “Ripcord” at the Flagler Playhouse.
DSC’s Florida Lifestyle Institute Announces History Course for Seniors
The Florida Lifestyle Institute at Daytona State College opens the gateway to infinite opportunities and learning experiences. Starting January 21, the Florida Lifestyle Institute in conjunction with Wisdom In Senior Education (WISE), will host a three week history course for seniors, entitled “From the Crown to Brexit: A History of the United Kingdom in the […]
Voting Rights Restoration Gives Felons a Voice in More States, But Florida Muddies Trend
In the past year, six states implemented measures restoring voting rights to people with felony convictions, including Florida, though Florida alone raised new obstacles: the payment of fines and restitution before rights may be restored.
Charges Will Be Dropped, But Flagler Deputy Petkovsek Returns to Duty Facing Stiff Disciplinary Measures
Flagler County Sheriff’s detective Richard Petkovsek was off duty when he was arrested outside a St. Augustine bar for disorderly intoxication and resisting arrest. He was reinstated after losing 42 days of pay and will be on probation for a year, among other disciplinary measures.
Three Years of Documenting Hate
“Go back to your country” or “go back to X country” was one of the most common phrases encountered in both hate crimes and bias incidents, along with a large number of hate incidents in schools, particularly after the 2016 election. Latinos have been targeted based on the (often erroneous) belief that they are immigrants or for speaking Spanish.
Proposed 9-8-8 Suicide Prevention Number Could Lead to Surge in Calls
The FCC unanimously approved a proposal to set aside 9-8-8 as the replacement for the existing national suicide hotline number: 800-273-8255. The new number isn’t expected to go live for a year or more.
2019 In Review: New Sheriff In Town
In 2019, the change brought by DeSantis was the most important story in state government and politics. During his Jan. 8 inauguration address, DeSantis praised Scott, who was elected to the U.S. Senate last year, for leaving a “strong foundation” but also pointed toward what was to come.
In Flagler, Life-Saving Policing You Can Be Proud Of
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is entering its eighth year without a single officer-initiated shooting of a civilian, a heroic achievement that contrasts tragically with jurisdictions across the country where 900 to 1,000 civilians lose their lives annually.
Ronald H. Collins Jr. Charged With 2nd Degree Murder in Death of Woman Found in West Flagler Monday
Ronald H. Collins Jr., 51, turned himself in for the killing of Jillian Petrotto, 31, whom he said he killed in a rage over her wanting to buy drugs. He’d killed her in Volusia, then brought her to Flagler.
Nikki Fried Backs Cities and Counties on Immunity for More Restrictive Local Gun Laws
The law, passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature in 2011, threatens tough penalties — including fines and potential removal from office — if local elected officials approve gun regulations.
Inside Documents Show How Amazon Chose Speed Over Safety in Building Its Delivery Network
Amazon ignored or dismissed safety concerns about its delivery network to prioritize speed and explosive growth, according to new documents and interviews with insiders.
She Thought She Had a Cold. She Briefly Saw a Doctor and Got Antibiotics. Her Insurance Bill: $25,865
A woman, worried that her sore throat might be strep, got swabbed at her doctor’s office. The sample was sent to an out-of-network lab for sophisticated DNA tests ― with a price tag similar to a new SUV.
A Year-End Thank You To Our Readers and Supporters From the FlaglerLive Board of Directors
As you and your family make decisions as to which organizations will receive your charitable donations, please keep in mind that there are those who would like nothing more than to have aggressive news outlets like FlaglerLive disappear entirely.
Michael Cummings Sentenced to Life In Prison for Jealousy-Induced Murder of Ex-Wife
Circuit Judge Terence Perkins sentenced Michael Cummings, 48, to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the brutal killing of his ex-wife Faith Cummings in their Point Pleasant home in Palm Coast two years ago.
Agriculture Commissioner Fried Rejects Canada and Mexico Trade Deal Over Absent Protections for Seasonal Growers
Fried, Florida’s only statewide elected Democrat, said she was “deeply disappointed” protections for seasonal growers were not included in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which is intended to replace the 26-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement. The House approved the new agreement, known as the USMCA, on Thursday.
Vivian Leslie Liles Jones, 1927-2019
Vivian Jones, 92 died at home in Palm Coast FL in the company of loved ones on December 17, 2019. She was born February 15, 1927 in Sellers, South Carolina, the daughter of Rufus Leslie Liles and Mary Lexie Burr. Vivian graduated from Winyah High in Georgetown South Carolina and then worked as a secretary […]
Daytona State College Awarded Grant from Department of Justice
The $300,000 grant is a three-year renewal of previous funding and helps Daytona State build on the success of its recently completed Campus Program.
Widespread, Heavy Rain and Coastal Flooding Bearing Down on Travel Weekend, Weather Service Warns
The most widespread, persistent heavy rainfall will overspread the local area Saturday night through Sunday night, the National Weather Service in Jacksonville cautions, with most areas expected to get 2 to 4 inches of rain.
Christmas Briefing: Last Briefing of the Year, Ten Tenors at the Auditorium, Solstice Celebration, Roth’s Christmas
Weekend of Dec. 20-22: Showers expected on and off all weekend, highs in the lower 70s, lows in the 50s. See the latest National Weather Service-Jacksonville Briefing here. Today’s document from the National Archives and the Astronomy Picture of the Day. Today’s National Commemorations. Today’s tides: at the beaches, at the Intracoastal Waterway. Drought Index: […]
Both A1A Lanes Reopen to Traffic in Flagler Beach in Big Relief to Businesses and Central Ave.
A little more than 300 days into the latest reconstruction of that storm-battered road, both lanes of State Road A1A reopened to traffic at 3:55 p.m. today. The full project won’t be completed until late January.
Flagler School Board Lets a Pastor Insult a Transgender Student at a Meeting, In His Presence
Rev. Charlene Cothran of Palm Coast called a transgender student “mentally ill” and his father “confused” and “intimidated” in both their presence during a Flagler County School Board meeting this week, with pushback only from Colleen Conklin.
Supreme Court Defines When Stand Your Ground Law Shifting Burden to Prosecution Applies
With backing from groups such as the National Rifle Association, the 2017 law shifted the burden from defendants to prosecutors to prove whether a self-defense claim is justified.
Flagler Cats Bingo Business Shut Down on Allegations of Operating as Illegal Gambling Parlor
Flagler Cats Bingo, opened last year in Flagler Beach as a fund-raising arm of Flagler Cats, was raided and shut down by the sheriff’s office after 48 gambling machines were seized. Owner Mari Molina says she was not aware of any gambling.
Thursday Briefing: The Inspired Mic at Hidden Treasures, IB Diploma Ceremony, Fake and Real Christmas Trees
The Inspired Mic, the region’s most challenging open mic evening, at Hidden Treasures in Flagler Beach, the annual IB diploma ceremony at FPC, wood or plastic–the battle over Christmas trees.
Trump’s Judaism Order Has Nothing To Do With Fighting Anti-Semitism
The meat of this action is aimed at Israeli boycott movements on college campuses across the U.S. It threatens to withhold federal funding from schools where students organize events linked to the Boycott, Divest, and Sanctions (BDS) movement for Palestinian rights.
In Major Shift, Federal Spending Bill Contains Money for Gun-Related Research
The spending bill allocates $25 million to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health to study gun violence. If the bill becomes law, it would be the first time in more than 20 years that Congress has allocated money for such studies.
Why Dorothy Singer, Convicted of Murdering Her Husband, Was Back In Court Today, Set for Re-Trial
Dorothy Singer was convicted in a trial last year of murdering her husband Charles at their West Flagler home, but an appeals court granted her a new trial because of an error trial judge Dennis Craig committed.
Mary Ann Clark, Power Behind Piles Of Flagler Scholarship Awards, Gets One In Her Name at AAUW
The late Mary Ann Clark started the AAUW Flagler branch’s very first scholarship 32 years ago. The organization has since awarded 231 scholarships to Flagler students totaling $220,000. Now a new scholarship will be awarded in Clark’s name.
Wednesday Briefing: Trump’s Impeachment, Singer Pre-Trial, $12,000 Tax Break in Bunnell, Mica at Tiger Bay
Trump impeachment in the U.S. House, ex-Congressman John Mica is the lunch speaker at Flagler Tiger Bay, The Bunnell City Commission gets in the business of giving a business tax breaks to build in the city, paws to read at the county library.
GOP Legislators Claim Restrictions on Medical Pot Keeps It From Ending Up In Recreational Hands
In a Florida Supreme Court case with major ramifications for the medical-marijuana industry, the Florida House contends a disputed 2017 law helps prevent “diversion” of pot to the illegal recreational market, minors and other states.
6 Years Late, $13 Million in Debt, County Concedes Incompetence Running Utility as It Seeks Plantation Bay Bailout
Flagler County officials admitted to the catastrophic consequences of the Plantation Bay utility deal and to the county’s inability to manage the plant as they look for ways to extricate the county from a huge debt load.
Residents Near Flagler Airport Threaten Lawsuit Over Noise, and Get County’s Pledge to Examine Issue
A half dozen residents described intolerable noise from flight-school planes at the Flagler airport, and got the county administrator’s pledge of a workshop in January to examine solutions.
Palm Coast’s Starlight Parade Draws Record Number of Participants and 10,000 Spectators
Over 80 participants registered to either have a vehicle or walk in the parade—including multiple community groups, civic organizations, local schools and private local businesses.
Education Commissioner Corcoran Wants Prayers at School Athletic Events ‘Permitted to Greatest Extent Possible’
As a three-year legal battle continues over the issue, Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran wants the Florida High School Athletic Association to reconsider policies that prevented Christian schools from offering a prayer over the stadium loudspeaker before a 2015 state championship football game.
Roy Longo Honored for 504 Missions on Fire Flight, 30 Years as Flagler Rescue Paramedic, and that Dolphin
Roy Longo, who became a local hero after saving a dolphin in distress with a county ambulance in 1999, was honored for his 30 years of service tonight, the last seven as a medic on Fire Flight, the county’s emergency helicopter.
Prosecution Seeks To Take Picture of Defendant’s Erect Penis. Judge Says No. Twice.
51-year-old Elijah Jackson’s trial began in Bunnell this morning. He faces accusations of transmitting an image of his penis to his 15-year-old cousin. The prosecution on two occasions sought to have Jackson’s penis photographed while erect, for comparative purposes.
Crime Rate in Flagler and Palm Coast Continues Steep Drop in 1st Half of 2019
The crime index in Flagler County and Palm Coast dropped in the first six months of 2019, continuing a steep decline of the last two years, falling 15.1 percent compared with the first six months of 2018. The declines were especially steep in Flagler Beach and Bunnell.
Monday Briefing: Bethune-Cookman’s Nurses, Elijah Jackson on Trial, Another World
Where the other world is, Elijah Jackson goes on trial on charges of using a computer to lure a child, the county commission and the East Flagler Mosquito Control District board meet.
City of Palm Coast to Host Inaugural Tech Beach Hackathon
The City of Palm Coast is proud to announce the official launch of the inaugural Tech Beach Hackathon event for January 17-20, 2020 at the Palm Coast City Hall (160 Lake Ave).
Daytona State College to Admit New Cohort into Massage Therapy Program this Spring
Daytona State College’s Massage Therapy program will admit a new cohort in the Spring term of the 2019-20 academic calendar. The program is limited access, but only requires a standard GED and students must be 18 years old. A background check and drug screening are also required to ensure candidates are eligible to sit for […]
Flagler College’s Regional Accreditation Is Reaffirmed
After more than a year of planning, research and work, Flagler College had its accreditation reaffirmed with no recommendations for improvement by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC) at their 2019 Annual Meeting in Houston, Texas this week. “I cannot stress how important this accreditation process was for […]
The Price of America’s Inability to Track Child Deaths from Abuse and Neglect? Sometimes, More Lives.
Reliable statistics on deaths and near-deaths from abuse and neglect can help shape better policies to protect children. A new report shows the breadth of government failures to collect and report this information.
EF1 Tornado Struck From West Flagler Through Flagler Beach, With 110 MPH Winds Over 20 Mile-Path
The National Weather Service this afternoon confirmed that an EF1 tornado touched down in West Flagler early this morning (Dec. 14) and cut a 20-mile path northeast to Flagler Beach then offshore.
Calling It Terrorism, Judge Finds FPC Girl Guilty of Threatening to Kill Teacher; She’s Appealing
Circuit Court Judge Chris France, applying an extremely broad definition of terrorism, today found a 17-year-old former Flagler Palm Coast High School student guilty of threatening to kill her teacher through written messages to a fellow-student a year ago.
Johnnie Thomas Jr. Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for ‘Cold-Blooded’ Killing of Robert Emmanuel
Johnnie Spydale Thomas Jr., a 26-year-old Bunnell resident with a long record of crime and incarceration, was sentenced to 25 years in prison this morning for bludgeoning 60-year-old Robert Emmanuel during a crack deal outside Emmanuel’s Bunnell home two years ago.
Weekend Briefing: Starlight Parade, ‘Actually’ and Weird ‘X-mas Carol’ on Stage, Coffee With Cops, LGBT Gathering
Palm Coast’s Starlight Parade on Saturday, plays and concerts at CRT, the Playhouse, the Auditorium and Matanzas High, Coffee with a Cop, the David Snelgrove death penalty case, and much more.
$600,000 Sought to Help Pulse Massacre Survivors
Two House Democrats want the Legislature to set aside nearly $600,000 to keep open the doors of a center that helps survivors of the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando.