The proposed Hammock Harbor boat storage and restaurant development near Hammock Hardware on A1A drew a legal appeal from residents who disputed the county’s interpretation allowing the re-development under existing zoning rules. But county commissioners saw nothing wrong with the project.
All Else
Palm Coast Lines Up Support from County and Cities for UNF’s MedNex Initiative in Town Center
Flagler County commissioners today unanimously endorsed a proposed UNF partnership with Palm Coast to create a medical hub in Town Center as the county’s top legislative priority for 2020.
Sheriff’s Deputy and Bunnell Police Officer Fall Violently Ill In Contact With Arrested Suspect’s Unknown Narcotic
The sheriff’s K-9 deputy Gibson Smith and the Bunnell Police Department’s Jennie Baker were briefly hospitalized after falling ill during an arrest of a known dealer of heroin and other drugs Saturday night.
From High School to $37,000-a-Year Firefighters: Flagler Hires 1st Three Recruits Out of FPC’s Fire Academy
Noah Dunaway, Dylan Cronk and Beau Kruithoff, all 18, are the very first Flagler County Fire Rescue recruits to be hired directly out of FPC’s fire academy. They were introduced to the Flagler County Commission this morning. They’ll be making $37,000 a year within weeks.
Monday Briefing: Diabetes’ Blue Flag, Amy Lukasik Elevated, Bunnell’s Homeless Shelter, Navy Bombing
The Bunnell City Commission holds a special meeting to comply with a Justice Department request, Amy Lukasik is named Flagler’s permanent tourism director, Maria Howell is back in court.
As Local News Outlets Shutter, Rural America Suffers Most
Amid the steady decline in local news, some states are considering stepping in to support the Fourth Estate. But critics worry that doing so might undermine the press’s role as a government watchdog.
Turtle Dedication and Founder’s Day Events Celebrate Palm Coast’s History
Ask most people about Garfield and they’ll describe the comic cartoon created by Jim Davis featuring an unforgettable orange cat who loves lasagna. But in Palm Coast, it’s a bit of a different story – one that dates back to the earliest days of the city. “I didn’t know that he had that connection here […]
Squalor, Despair and Girl’s Talk of Suicide Land 2 Parents in Jail on Felony Charges of Neglecting 5 Children
Betty Nicolicchia-Allen, 42, and Dennis Allen, 44. of Daytona North were jailed after authorities found their five young children in deplorable conditions in their house, which had been deeded to them years ago by Habitat for Humanity.
Questions of Ethics and Reimbursements After County Officials Appear on Commissioner Joe Mullins’s Radio Show
Flagler County Commissioner Joe Mullins offered to have county officials host and appear once a month on the weekly radio show he pays for, but the offer raised a series of protocol, policy and ethical implications.
Rymfire’s LaShakia Moore and iFlagler’s Erin Quinn Are Flagler District’s Top Administrators of the Year
LaShakia Moore, principal at Rymfire Elementary School was tapped as the top school administrator while iFlagler’s Erin Quinn was selected as Assistant Principal of the year.
Water Less With Seasonal Focus on Conservation To Sustain Water Supply
The St. Johns River Water Management District has launched a new year-long “Water Less” campaign to help raise awareness about water conservation and to communicate easy ways to integrate outdoor water conservation into our daily lives without sacrificing curb appeal.
Flagler County Veterans Day Ceremony Features Retired U.S. Army Brigadier General Ernest Audino
Flagler County residents are invited to gather with the Board of County Commissioners to honor the men and women who bravely served in the country’s military at the Veteran’s Day Ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday, November 11.
Weekend Briefing: ‘Spring Awakening,” First Friday, Hidden Treasures, Great Gatsby Gala, Stetson Opera, Farm to Table
The Agriculture Museum’s Farm to Table feast, City Rep’s “Spring Awakening,” a ton of concerts and recitals, First Friday in Flagler Beach, Spoonbills & Sprockets.
Don’t Leave Gender Equality or Definition to the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court’s ruling will have a drastic material impact on the millions of transgender people living in the United States. Allowing this discrimination to continue will threaten many more with unemployment and economic hardship.
School Safety Commission Calls for More Mental Health Funding in Second Major Report
A state commission tasked with making school-safety policy recommendations to the Florida Legislature approved a draft report on Thursday that will highlight a need for more mental health funding.
Hepatitis A Cases Still Climbing in Volusia But Flatten Out in Flagler
Florida had 56 new hepatitis A cases reported last week, bringing the total number of cases this year to 2,904 as of Oct. 26, according to the state Department of Health.
Justice Department Is Investigating Bunnell Government Over Closure of the Cold-Weather Homeless Shelter
The Sheltering Tree had operated Bunnell’s cold-weather shelter for 11 years out of 1st United Methodist Church on Pine Street until the Bunnell City Commission shut down the operation in July, refusing to approve a special zoning exception for it.
Forced Out or Not, Flagler Fire Chief Don Petito Is Looking to ‘Get the Hell Out’ in Fallout From Clash
Flagler County Fire Chief thought he was being forced out with an ultimatum until County Administrator Jerry Cameron said he’d misunderstood, but he’s looking to leave anyway in the wake of a clash with Chief Information Officer Jarrod Shupe during the Hurricane Dorian emergency.
Matanzas Student, 17, Faces Felony Charge after Racist Threats of Violence on Another Student for “Snitching”
The 17-year-old student took a video of himself making the threats and ridiculing a sheriff’s deputy’s presence at the alleged victim’s home at the same time, as he drove by.
Thursday Briefing: Turtle Hospital Fundraiser Nets $7,000, Hall of Terror, Sean Kennard’s Piano Studio
The annual Taste of the Fun Coast fund-raiser for Whitney Lab’s turtle hospital raises $7,000 in three hours, the Halloween Hall of Terror continues at Station 21 in Palm Coast, a Stetson faculty concert.
More Questions from Court Ruling Pointing to Allowances for Felons Who Can’t Pay All Obligations Before Voting
Florida Secretary of State Laurel Lee has sent a memo to county elections supervisors with direction about complying with a federal judge’s ruling on felons’ voting rights — but questions remain about how the state will move forward.
Rare Look at Minefield of Self-Representation as Judge Perkins Defends Decision to Deny Murder Suspect’s 6th Amendment Right
Circuit Judge Terence Perkins for the second time in five weeks on Tuesday defended his decision to deny Joseph Bova the right to represent himself during his trial on a first-degree murder charge at the end of September. Bova was found guilty and Perkins sentenced him to life in prison. The case is on appeal.
Sheriff Lists Sex Offenders’ No-Go Homes and Increases Patrols on Halloween’s ‘Operation Witch Way’
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office provided a list of the 28 registered sex offenders with prohibitions on participation in Halloween, and cautioned about increased patrols to check for speed, aggressive driving and drunk drivers over the next two nights.
Wednesday Briefing: Hall of Terror, University Board of Governors, Naturalist John Serrao, Alice Munro
The university system’s Board of Governors votes on UNF’s plans for Palm Coast, Palm Coast Fire Station 21 transforms into a Hall of Terror for Halloween, Alice Munro’s happy shades.
DeSantis Criticizes Proposal to Raise Minimum Wage to $15, Saying It’ll Hurt Restaurant Owners
Florida For A Fair Wage is seeking voter support to increase the state’s minimum wage to $10 an hour on Sept. 30, 2021 and increase it by $1 each year until it hits $15 an hour on Sept. 30, 2026.
Truck Ban Among Proposals to Calm Florida Park Drive Traffic, But Don’t Expect License Plate Reader Enforcement
Florida Park Drive may soon see a heavy-truck ban and other traffic calming measures as the Palm Coast City Council prepares to ratify the most substantial changes addressing residents’ concerns about the road in years. But contrary to this morning’s council discussion, License Plate Readers will not be part of the enforcement.
Turning Down Plea Offer, Michael Cummings Will Be Tried Nov. 18 on Wife’s Murder
Michael Cummings is accused of murdering his ex-wife at the house they shared on Point Pleasant Drive in Palm Coast in November 2018. Faith Cummings, 44, was found bludgeoned and asphyxiated.
Tuesday Briefing: Colon in Court, Taste of the Fun Coast, Florida Park Drive, Affordable Housing
Flagler County government and the Housing and Homelessness Task Force host a free and open forum, the Palm Coast council talks Florida Park Drive again, Taste of the Fun Coast at Hammock Beach.
Flagler County’s Economic Development Farce Is Wasting Millions of Taxpayer Dollars to Beat Its Own Drum
Since Flagler County government created the $450,000-a-year economic development department, the county has added 10,000 jobs, but only a few dozen as a result of the department’s involvement.
Appeals Court Upholds Attempted Murder Conviction of Jonathan Canales, Who’s Serving Life Term
Jonathan Canales, now 32, was convicted of shooting his live-in girlfriend and the mother of three young children in the neck in their Daytona North trailer in 2014. His appeal focused on his prior acts of domestic violence toward the victim, saying thay should not have been admitted at trial.
Danielle Anderson’s Dual Role as Flagler GOP Operative and News-Journal Correspondent
The News-Journal has defended Danielle Anderson’s dual roles as a correspondent and as president of the Flagler County Republican Club by saying she does not cover political stories. But last week she covered Sen. Rick Scott’s visit to Flagler, without a disclaimer.
Monday Briefing: National First Responders Day, Bunnell Annexations, Stamp and Coin Club, Rushdie’s Quichotte
The Lakeside-By-the-Sea community recognizes its first responders with a thank you lunch at Fire Station 41 in the Hammock, the Bunnell commission will consider several voluntary annexations and land use issues, Biden is in Florida.
Florida’s Parental Consent Abortion Bill Is Intended to Shame and Scare Pregnant Girls
“We’re stridently noisily pro-choice creatures,” conservative writer Nancy Smith says. “You know why? Because we remember what it was like to grow up in towns and cities without Roe V. Wade. We were there, eyes wide open.”
Obamacare Premiums Will Fall 4% and Number of Insurers Will Increase By a Third
The news comes despite the Trump administration’s persistent attempts to undermine the Affordable Care Act, which created the market with the goal of providing comprehensive health coverage at affordable prices and reducing the number of Americans without health insurance.
Superintendents Don’t Want Big Pay Increase To Go Directly To Teachers, But to a Pot They Would Control
Four superintendents advising lawmakers say Gov. DeSantis’s proposed $603 million teacher-compensation plan should go into the “base student allocation” — a pot of money districts can use with more flexibility.
From Boutique Owner to HR Boss: Palm Coast Government’s Debbie Streichsbier
For Palm Coast government human resources director Debbie Streichsbier, joining the city nearly five years ago as a Compensation Analyst marked the beginning of her journey in local government.
As Florida Grows, Low-Impact Development Could Offer Protection for Waterways
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension is working with local communities to educate and encourage sustainable water runoff solutions amidst Florida’s rapid growth. Low-impact development (LID) is a design approach for real estate developers to manage future stormwater runoff needs. When used effectively, rain gardens, permeable pavement, rain harvesting […]
Jury Finds Victor Williams, 43, Guilty of Lesser Charge In Case of Sex and Drugs With Boy, 16
Victor Williams of Palm Coast faces up to 15 years in prison. He would have faced life in prison on the more serious charge. The five-day trial hinged on whether Williams had impaired the boy with alcohol and Xanax when they had sex.
Ethics Commission Blisters McDonald’s “Complete Disregard for Law,” Imposing $4,000 Fine and Public Reprimand
The Florida Ethics Commission voted 4-3 to impose a $4,000 fine on former Flagler Commission candidate Dennis McDonald, $6,000 less than the ethics commission advocate had recommended.
How Dredging 550,000 Cubic Yards of Ocean Sand Will Change Flagler Beach’s Dunes
A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project will dump darker dredged sand on 2.6 miles of beach to rebuild Flagler Beach’s dunes starting next spring, and stretching to the end of the year.
Weekend Briefing: “Spring Awakening,” Ethics Commission, Holler-Ween, FPC’s One-Act Plays, Turtle Sculpture
City Repertory’s “Spring Awakening,” Blues Night in Town Center, Halloween events at the Agricultural Museum and the public library, FPC’s one-act plays, a new turtle sculpture unveiling.
DeSantis Backs Letting College Athletes Cash In on Endorsements as Bills Are Filed to Scrap Prohibitions
Four bills have been filed for the 2020 session, two by Republicans and two by Democrats that seek to allow college athletes to be compensated through endorsement deals that use their names, images and likenesses.
Victor Williams’s Odd Defense: The 16-Year-Old Boy Was Drugged When They Had Sex, But Not Impaired
Victor Williams, 43, says he never drugged the 16-year-old boy he had sex with at his house, and that all acts were consensual. The boy’s account differs, but a pharmacologist says there was little evidence of impairment.
Teen Spirit and Lust Defy Conventions in City Rep’s “Spring Awakening,” the Tony Award Musical
“Spring Awakening,” a tale of adolescent sexual angst and libido-denial at Palm Coast’s City Repertory Theatre starting this weekend, became a rock musical in 2006 by folkie rocker Duncan Sheik and won eight Tony Awards.
Flagler Beach Commission Set to Impose Steep Increase in Water and Sewer Rates for 5th Year in a Row
The city is proposing a 12.5 percent increase for water and sewer rates and a 12.8 percent increase in the stormwater fee. That’s after water and sewer rates went up 25 percent this year, 34 percent the previous year, 20 percent in 2017 and 13 percent in 2016.
Thursday Briefing: Judge Graham’s Power, Victor Williams Trial, Sea Rise, Utility Rates in Flagler Beach
The Flagler Beach City Commission again considers aggressive panhandling, the Volusia County Bar hosts cocktails and a dinner honoring Hon. Richard S. Graham, The Free Quit Smoking Now program meets.
China Plays the NBA
The obvious prioritization of commercial ties with a government that’s attacking demonstrators in Hong Kong and putting millions of ethnic Uyghurs in concentration camps is a damning statement about what the league — and the economic system it operates in — truly values.
Accused Rapist of a 16-Year-Old Boy, and Jury, Witness Mother’s Wrath and Anguish as Trial Takes a Turn
The defense of Victor Williams, 43, will have a difficult time recovering from the testimony of the mother of the boy he is accused of raping, and a from a key detail the prosecution showed the jury through a picture today, and that goes to the heart of the trial’s questions.
Palm Coast Yacht Club Raises $4,500 For Children in Foster Care
The Palm Coast Yacht Club’s fifth annual community fundraiser on October 20, 2019, raised $4,500 for The GAL7 (Guardian ad Litem) Foundation, advocating for the needs of children in foster care within Florida’s Judicial Circuit Seven. Since The GAL7 Foundation was incorporated in 2014, it has disbursed an average of $27,000 per year for children […]
Behind Collapse of Furniture Company Deal With Flagler Government, Disarray, Misrepresentations and Premature Boasts
The collapse of a deal between a furniture-assembling company and Flagler County government is the latest setback for an economic development department with a checkered eight-year history and signal failures.