Flagler Palm Coast High School’s Thespians stage their winter play, Ken Ludwig’s “Moon Over Buffalo,” the Flagler Beach City Commission meets, household debt reaches $14 trillion.
All Else
In Flagler Beach, Swale-Digging Triggers Flood of Grievances and Few Answers Satisfying to Residents
The swales will continue to be dug. The project is contracted and paid for. The contractors digging swales may be more sensitive to some of the residents’ concerns, but that’s a subjective possibility.
It’s Not Just Noise: Airport Advisory Board Tensely Questions Lack of Planning as County Administrator Probes Board’s Role
Tension continues between members of the Flagler Airport Advisory Board and Airport Director Roy Sieger over planning and noise issues. Administrator Jerry Cameron said he’ll look into the board’s bylaws to better define its role and relationship with the County Commission, which appoints it.
Sen. Hutson Joins 3-2 Party-Line Vote to Further Advance Short-Term Rental Bill Ending Local Control
A long-running dispute over vacation rentals is heating up, as a Senate panel Tuesday approved a proposal that would give the state — not local officials — control over regulation of short-term rentals.
Wednesday Briefing: Swales in Flagler Beach, Navy Bombing in Ocala Forest, Women’s Suffrage Everywhere
A community meeting on Flagler Beach swales, the Public Safety Coordinating Council meets, Navy bombing that rattles windows in Flagler is scheduled at the Ocala forest, women’s suffrage is celebrated in the state capital.
In Flagler Primary for Superintendent, Orndorff, Mittelstadt, Johnson and Conklin Are Committee’s Top Choices
Vernon Orndorff, Cathy Mittelstadt, Earl Johnson and Colleen Conklin each got 50 percent or more votes from the 20-member citizens’ committee making non-binding but still weighty recommendations for superintendent to the school board.
Sharp ‘Disconnect’ Between Providers and Needs In Flagler’s Mental Health and Addiction Landscape
At the latest forum on mental health and addiction in Flagler and Palm Coast, health providers’s optimism about their work and presence contradicted the dearth of services and access to them that prevails in residents’ experiences.
Three Fires in Volusia and Ocala Forest Are Sending Smoke Over Flagler
Three controlled or “prescribed” fires burning to the southwest and the west are sending plumes of smoke and acrid smells over Palm Coast and Flagler County.
Special Education Council Draws Up Superintendent Recommendations as Board’s Consultants Fret
Flagler schools’ Exceptional Student Education Parent Advisory Council is submitting a list of superintendent candidates it deems worthy of further research to the school board-appointed citizens advisory committee. EPAC’s involvement was not quite welcomed by the board’s consultants.
Tuesday Briefing: Traffic Safety, Superintendent Search Advisory Committee, Navy Bombing
The citizens’ advisory board in the search for a new superintendent shortens the list of applicants, the county’s traffic safety team meets, Palm Coast Open winner.
Senators Are Warned Florida’s College Sports Could Be Harmed, But Move for Athletes’ Earnings
A bill has been characterized as a “bill of rights” for Florida college athletes in outlining how they can earn compensation for their “name, image, likeness or persona.”
One Side Says Defamation. The Other Says Intimidation. The Gardens Development Spins-Off a Lawsuit.
Ken Bryan, a candidate for Flagler Beach City Commission and a board member of the group opposed to The Gardens development, was sued by the developer’s parent company. Bryan’s attorney charges the suit has no merit and says there may be a counter-suit.
How Kidneys, Hearts and Other Lifesaving Organs For Transplant Go Missing In Transit
In a nation where nearly 113,000 people are waiting for transplants, scores of organs — mostly kidneys — are discarded after they don’t reach their destination in time.
Deputies Respond to Apparent Suicide Attempt at Country Hearth Inn on Old Dixie Highway
An apparent suicide attempt drew a large response by Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies early this morning in front of the shuttered Country Hearth Inn, on Old Dixie Highway.
Monday Briefing: Catherine Robinson’s 25 Years, “Guys and Dolls” Auditions, STEM at DSC, Bloomberg’s Chance
Bunnell Mayor Catherine Robinson, Flagler’s longest-serving and most successful elected official, is honored for 25 years of service by the Florida League of Cities, the Flagler Playhouse holds auditions, Daytona State College’s STEM series is on.
Diane Vidal of Chiumento Dwyer Hertel Grant Appointed Flagler County Bar Association Director
Diane Vidal of Chiumento Dwyer Hertel Grant has been appointed as a Flagler County Bar Association Director. She will serve a term of two years in this position.
Single-Family Homes No Longer Sacred as States Turn to Zoning Laws to Lower Housing Costs
Twenty-eight states and Washington, D.C., last year passed a variety of legislation that addresses the housing affordability problem, from tax credits for developers to rental assistance and eviction protections for residents.
There’s No ‘Great American Comeback,’ and Certainly Not for Blue-Collar Workers
Low overall unemployment means little when half of Americans now work low-wage jobs. Manufacturing remains in decline, farm bankruptcies are spiraling, and union membership just hit an all-time low.
Flagler Beach Residents’ Anger Over Swale Dig Triggers a City Meeting, But Project Was No Secret
Flagler Beach officials will hold a meeting Feb. 12 as a result of mounting anger by residents at the south end of town surprised by the digging of swales along South Daytona, but the commission had repeatedly discussed the $500,000 stormwater project and its necessity last year.
Palm Coast Unveils UNF’s Futuristic MedNex Foothold in Town Center as Officials Lobby Lawmakers
Renderings of UNF’s MedNex project in Palm Coast’s Town Center, along with a new infographic about the innovative plan, are part of a lobbying offensive planned for next week by Palm Coast officials to advocate for the initiative.
This Time Death Row Inmate Cornelius Baker Shows Up, Only To Learn His Chance for Re-Sentencing May Vanish
Death row inmate Cornelius Baker’s fate is undetermined as the judge, the defense and the prosecution are all awaiting direction from other courts as to whether to re-try Baker in a sentencing phase or stick to his original death sentence.
State Health Department Pushing Against Less Regulated Interpretation of Medical Marijuana Grower Rules
State health officials urged the Supreme Court to overturn a ruling by the 1st District Court of Appeal that said a key part of the law conflicted with the 2016 constitutional amendment, approved by 71 percent of Florida voters.
Weekend Briefing: FYO Concert, Sensational 60s, Palm Coast Open, Hot ‘n Spicy Festival, Eagles, Humane Society
The Flagler Youth Orchestra’s top performers in concert, the Hot ‘n Spicy music and food fest at the Ag Museum, the Palm Coast Tennis Open’s final rounds, Eagles Tribute at DSC in Palm Coast, AAUW meeting, plenty more.
Bill Allowing Guns in Churches and Other Religious Institutions on School Grounds Gains
A controversial effort to allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to bring guns to religious institutions that share property with schools advanced through the House Education Committee Thursday.
Tommy Cannon, Obituary
Tommy Cannon passed away Tuesday after a long battle with cancer. Tommy was a Veteran in the United States Marine Corps and received two Bronze Medals and a Purple Heart for his service
The School Board’s Proposed Decorum Rules Are a Pretext to Silence Critical Information
The Flagler County School Board is considering speech restrictions at its meetings that include comment cards before a person can speak and prohibiting references to staff, students or anyone in the district.
Possible Severe Storms, Winds and ‘Isolated Tornadoes’ Late Tonight
Flagler and Palm Coast areas will be exposed to potentially severe storms, strong winds and “isolated” tornadoes between 10 p.m. tonight and 2 a.m. Friday. Winds could gust as high as 60 mph.
Thursday Briefing: Ultimate Abba at the Auditorium, Missing Information, Palm Coast Open, Coronavirus
The ultimate Abba tribute band is at the Flagler Auditorium, where Coronavirus cases have been confirmed, the Flagler Beach Citizens Academy is enrolling.
Colleen Conklin’s Name and Harsh Charge Overlay Superintendent Search Advisory Panel’s First Meeting
School Board member Colleen Conklin’s decision to run for superintendent on at least seven occasions dominated discussions and concerns at the first meeting of the board-appointed Citizens Advisory Committee charged with drawing up a selection of top candidates from a list of 35.
School Board’s Trevor Tucker Asks For Expedited Attorney General Opinion on Conklin’s Superintendent Application
School Board member Trevor Tucker wants Attorney General Ashley Moody to shed clarity on the legal and ethical implications of Colleen Conklin’s “unprecedented” decision to apply for the superintendent’s post from her seat as a school board member.
Wednesday Briefing: Buddy Taylor’s Thespians, ‘The Sensational 60s’ at the Playhouse, Palm Coast Open
Buddy Taylor Middle School’s 22 winning thespians present a free performance, the Flagler Plahouse stages “The Fabulous 60s,” the Palm Coast Open continues.
Supreme Court Justices Skeptical of Recreational Pot and Assault Weapon Ban Proposals
Florida Supreme Court justices appeared critical Tuesday of proposed constitutional amendments aimed at preventing possession of assault-style weapons and allowing people to use recreational marijuana.
Colleen Conklin, Candidate for Superintendent, Takes Leave From School Board to Avoid Conflicts
School Board member Colleen Conklin said to avoid any appearance of conflict and reduce difficulties for her colleagues, she would step back from board duties until the appointment of the new superintendent on March 17.
Not Waiting on State Law, Palm Coast Will Ban Vaping Sales to Under-21 and Regulate Marketing
Palm Coast’s e-cigarettes and vaping regulation ordinance mirrors a proposal in the Legislature to ban vaping products to anyone younger than 21 and limit its visible marketing, but the city is not interested in waiting for legislative vagaries to sort themselves out.
County’s Own Advisory Board Members Slam Flagler Airport Director Roy Sieger at Meeting on Noise Problems
Airport Director Roy Sieger was strongly criticized by the head of the county’s own Airport Advisory Board at a workshop where commissioners learned that county government’s authority is severely limited when it comes to controlling noise at the Flagler Executive Airport.
Tuesday Briefing: Morley’s Litter Gitter, Superintendent Search, Vacation Rentals, Palm Coast Open
Adam Morley speaks about environmental stewardship at the Hammock Community Association, the Palm Coast Open tennis tourney continues, the superintendent search’s citizens advisory committee holds its first meeting.
Rubio Derides as ‘Publicity Stunt’ Banks’ Funding Halt to Vouchers Underwriting Anti-Gay Schools
An investigation found at least 156 Florida private schools that took state-funded scholarships had anti-gay views or policies, and 83 of the schools refused to admit LGBTQ students or could expel them if their sexual orientations or gender identities were disclosed.
Public Health Officials Offer Scant Details On U.S. Coronavirus Patients
Unlike the more detailed accounting of patients’ movements released during measles outbreaks, public health departments are not sharing precise timelines of people’s activities and locations in the days before they were diagnosed with the new coronavirus.
Girl Who Threatened to Kill FPC Teacher in Racist Screed Gets Probation, and Must Write Essay on Hate Speech
The 17-year-old former Flagler Palm Coast High School girl last December was found guilty of terrorist threats to kill her English teacher through racist-laced electronic messages with another student in December 2018.
Joe Mullins Again Blistered for Divisive Attacks, and Commission Again Refuses to Intervene
Flagler County Commissioner was again harshly criticized by residents at a County Commission meeting for claiming not to represent those who don’t support President Trump and bullying liberals on his social media account, but the commission refused to intervene.
County Opts to Sell Sheriff’s Plagued Operations Center, or Demolish It Absent a Buyer
Sell it as is, presumably in the next 90 days: that’s the consensus of the Flagler County Commission for the Sheriff’s Operations Center off of State Road 100 in Bunnell, the 27,000 square foot building evacuated a year and a half ago and swamped before and since in an environmental and political tangle that keeps blighting county government.
Monday Briefing: Palm Coast Open, Iowa Democratic Open, Sheriff’s Operations Center, Airport Noise, Cornelius Baker
The Palm Coast Open tennis tournament begins, the county commission discusses the future sheriff’s district office in Palm Coast and noise around the Flagler County airport, Cornelius Baker is in court on his death penalty phase trial, which is in question.
The Senate’s Make-Believe Trial of Donald Trump
In his 40 years as a lawyer, the author has never seen a trial flout the basic requirements for fairness so brazenly. In a real trial, any juror who admitted conspiring with the defendant would be unceremoniously ejected from the jury, for starters.
Catholic Leaders Promised Transparency About Child Abuse. In Florida and Elsewhere, They Haven’t Delivered.
After decades of shielding the identities of accused child abusers from the public, many Catholic leaders are now releasing lists of their names. But the lists are inconsistent, incomplete and omit key details.
AdventHealth Names Brent Davis Chief Financial Officer for the Central Florida Division – North Region
AdventHealth has selected Brent Davis to serve as vice president and chief financial officer for the company’s Central Florida Division – North Region, effective Feb. 3.
Flagler County Expands Opportunities for Pickleballers
The tennis court at Old Dixie Park were out of commission until the end of last month as the surface was prepared and repainted with additional markings to accommodate two regulation pickleball courts. This brings the number of Flagler County pickleball courts up to 11. “This will make the court a multiuse court – tennis […]
Friends of A1A Honor Bill McClure and Name Marge Rooyakkers President
Outgoing president of the organization, Bill McClure, was recognized for a decade of service to the Friends of A1A and presented with the annual volunteer service award.
School Board: Don’t Boot Out 4 Advisory Panel Citizens in Superintendent Search Because of Conklin’s Application
Stephen Furnari is one of the Conklin appointees to the Citizens Advisory Committee, and a representative of the ESE community. But he and three other Conklin appointees are being excluded from the committee now that Conklin is applying for superintendent.
Weekend Briefing: Mr. Pro Bono, Bunnell Retreat, Race of the Runways, Capitol Steps at the Auditorium, Linda Cole
Attorney Vincent Sullivan honored for pro bono work, the Bunnell City Commission takes a retreat for goal-setting, The Rotary Club of Flagler Beach hosts the annual Race of the Runways for Rotary, Linda Cole Sunday Jazz Rendezvous at Cue Note.
Colleen Conklin Applies for Flagler Superintendent in Bold But Risky Move After 20 Years as School Board Member
Colleen Conklin, at 20 years the longest-serving member of the Flagler County School Board, this afternoon applied to be the next superintendent, a move that triggers a series of ramifications and places her four colleagues in the odd position of deciding whether to be her boss.