Judge Bryan A. Feigenbaum discusses Veteran Court services at a DSC event, three commissioners are sworn-in in Bunnell, the Legislature takes up guns in church and Amendment 4, restoring felons’ right to vote.
All Else
Florida House Unanimously Approves Plan That Would Permanently Add a County Judge in Flagler
The Florida House on Thursday unanimously approved a plan to add two new county judges, one of them in Flagler, where County Judge Melissa Distler’s workload has long been among the heaviest in the state.
Felons’ Right To Vote and Paul Renner’s Cynical End Run Around Amendment 4
Paul Renner, Flagler’s GOP representative and future Speaker of the House, is being dishonest and disingenuous in his defense of a bill that would make felons’ right to vote dependent on paying back all financial obligations.
FPC Student Charged With Threatening School Shooting Was Twice Charged With Raping Young Children
James G. Cooke III, the 17-year-old Flagler Palm Coast High School student charged on Thursday night with a felony for allegedly making a video SnapChat threat of shooting up an unspecified school, was twice before charged with raping children, according to arrest records.
Mayor Holland Exults In City’s Innovation Centered Renaissance In State of the
City Address
Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland’s State of the City Address this afternoon at the Palm Coast Community Center was to focus on the city’s renewed energy, its innovative district in Town Center, and an unscripted introduction of new City Manager Matt Morton.
Mayor Milissa Holland’s 2019 State of the City Address: ‘We Are One Palm Coast’
The full text of Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland’s State of the City Address, presented at the Palm Coast Community Center Friday. The theme of the address is “One Palm Coast.”
Citing ‘Corruption’ Potential, Sheriff Turns Over Investigation of Tourism Director Matt Dunn to FDLE as Lukasik Takes Over Division
The Sheriff’s Office requested that the criminal investigation of Flagler Tourism Director Matt Dunn be conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Amy Lukasik, the tourism bureau’s marketing director, is taking over Dunn’s duties for now.
Snapchat Video Threatening a School Shooting Leads to 17-Year-Old FPC Student’s Arrest
A 17-year-old Flagler Palm Coast High School student was arrested just before midnight Thursday after a Snapchat video sent under the name “Jimmy Boy,” showing ammunition and a message–“I’m ready to shoot up the school”–was detected by a county resident and traced back to the student.
Weekend Briefing: Culture Club, State of the City, County Fair and Rockin Rib Fest, Turtlefest, Cheer at the Pier
The Flagler County Fair all weekend, Rockin Ribfest on Friday, Mayor Holland delivers Palm Coast’s State of the City, “Tick Tick Boom” at City Repertory Theatre, Turtlefest and Cheer at the Pier in Flagler Beach, and plenty more.
Flagler Tourism Director Matt Dunn Is Suspended; County Seeking Criminal Investigation
Matt Dunn, Flagler County government’s tourism director for the past five years, was placed on paid administrative leave this morning pending the outcome of a criminal or administrative investigation. Dunn’s future with the county appears tenuous.
12-Year-Old Girl Pulls Out Small Knife When Boy Refuses To Move From Her Seat
A knife incident involving a 12-year-old student at Buddy Taylor Middle School broke a nearly seven-week lull in school-safety incidents Wednesday morning. No one was hurt.
Thursday Briefing: Classroom to Careers Symposium, Social Media Marketing, Daytona Tortugas Opener
The Flagler County school district hosts the 5th annual Classroom to Careers symposium at Flagler Palm Coast High School, Indivisible Flagler has a protest scheduled on Palm Coast Parkway in case the Mueller report isn’t released, the Daytona Tortugas open their season.
Palm Coast Councilman Jack Howell To Homelessness Task Force: ‘It Needs To Be Done My Way.’
Palm Coast Council member Jack Howell attacked the homelessness task force in charge of drawing up goals to address the issue, but did not himself provide any goals. A gap of mis-perceptions between public and agencies addressing homeless issues is making concrete solutions more difficult.
Rebuilding Captain’s BBQ in Place Is ‘Off the Table,’ But Decision On New Lease and Location Is Delayed
Flagler County government is not willing to repair the existing Captain’s BBQ restaurant at its own expense. Rather, it is favoring building a new structure at Captain’s expense, but not necessarily on Captain’s more expansive terms.
House Prepared To Raise Threshold For Felony Shoplifting From $300 to $1,000
Efforts to raise the threshold amount for the first time since 1986 have stalled in the Legislature in the past. This year’s proposal (HB 589) has steadily moved forward in the House, as criminal-justice reform advocates say there is momentum to pass such measures.
Wednesday Briefing: Captain’s at Bing’s Landing, Flagler County Fair, Alonzo Bush Appeal
A much-anticipated workshop on a proposed expansion of Captain’s BBQ at Bing’s Landing is scheduled at 8 a.m., the Flagler County Fair kicks off, a St. Johns murderer appeals his case.
At Drug Court Graduation, Captors Become Heroes, and a City Manager Tells Of the Shooting That Made Him an ‘Orphan’
Flagler County Drug Court graduated four participants after a grueling process, and Alvin Jackson, the Bunnell city manager, who was the keynote speaker, described how his mother shot his father in self-defense.
Tuesday Briefing: Equal Pay Day, Homelessness Task Force, Free STD/HIV Testing, Chess and Cigars, Red-Light Cameras
Today is Equal Pay Day, Flagler’s homelessness and housing task force meets, the Health Department is providing free HIV and STD testing, yet another attempt to ban red-light cameras is heard in legislative committee.
Flagler Watches as Vacation-Rental Bill That Would Eliminate Local Or Homeowner Association Regulations Advances
The House bill approved today would eliminate local control and all grandfather clauses in vacation-rental rules, including those in Flagler and Flagler Beach, but Flagler officials say they’ll prevail in the end.
Monday Briefing: Steven Edwin Jones, Sheriff’s Evidence Storage, Beverly Beach Swearing In, Vacation Rentals Debated
Frieda Zamba Pool opens for the season, the Flagler County Commission reconsiders a request for storage for the sheriff, remembering Steven Edwin Jones, a swearing-in at beverly Beach Town Hall.
Flagler Health Department Issues Caution After Emu Tests Positive For Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus
Last week, an emu kept as a pet in Flagler County tested positive for Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus, a mosquito-borne alphavirus, first recognized in humans in 1938.
Flagler Sportfishing Club to Host 23rd Annual Spring Classic Fishing Tournament Fundraiser
Flagler Sportfishing Club will host its 23rdAnnual Spring Classic Tournament on April 26 and 27. Over 120 anglers will be vying for over $8,000 in cash prizes and merchandise to catch Redfish, Trout and Flounder. Proceeds from the Annual Tournament benefit the local chapter of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Chapter 86.
‘A Pileup of Inequities’: Why People of Color Are Hit Hardest by Homelessness
Disparities, researchers say, are the result of centuries of discrimination in housing, criminal justice, child welfare and education. Cities and counties are beginning to take a hard look at how entrenched policy has served to perpetuate homelessness in black and brown communities.
Palm Coast’s Disappearing Canopy
Development in Palm Coast is back at a pace not seen since before the Great Recession. Lots are getting leveled, canopies lost. New homes are great., but must 11,000 square foot lots be entirely leveled to make room for 2,000 square foot homes? It’s not either or.
Flagler Beach Will Loosen Its Mural Rules, Allowing Businesses to Advertise Products Through Art
Flagler Beach is moving toward loosening its mural rules to allow for greater expression and even a little bit of extra advertising, all thanks to raining donuts on the wall outside Swillerbees, the craft donut and coffee shop on North Central Avenue.
Flagler’s Improved Health Ranking Masks Poor Access to Care and Persistent Obesity and Smoking
Flagler’s health ranking jumped to 9th best in Florida, from 14th last year, in the latest rankings, but the jump masks continuing problems with access to primary and mental health physicians, continuing obesity, smoking and sexually transmitted diseases.
Weekend Briefing: Masonic Cemetery Clean-Up, Library Book Sale, Daytona Solisti Concert Series, Vietnam Vets Casino Night
A community clean-up at the Masonic Cemetery off Old Kings Road, a big book sale at the library in Palm Coast, an all Mozart program by Daytona Solisti, Vietnam Veterans Day ‘Welcome Home’ Casino Night.
Bunnell Panics as Emerging Options for Sheriff’s New Operations Building Include Palm Coast Library Site and Town Center
Without evidence, Bunnell officials fear talk of moving the sheriff’s operations center out of the city is a first step toward moving the county seat to Palm Coast, and see the move as illegal.
It’s All About ‘Alignment’ Between Schools, Colleges and Jobs, Local Education Leaders Tell Flagler Businesses
The Flagler Chamber of Commerce roughly once a year devotes one of its Common Ground breakfasts to spotlight local education’s major players, as it did this morning at Palm Coast’s Hilton Garden Inn.
Flagler Claims School Funding Formula Has Unfairly Penalized the District for Years. A Controversial Bill Could Change That.
Flagler was receiving $300 less per student than the average $7,200 per-student share because of the so-called District Cost Differential, which takes a complicated set of “amenities” into account to divvy up state education dollars.
Thursday Briefing: Flagler Beach Rotary’s Gift to Open Doors, Education Common Ground, Debating Murals, Drug Court
The Chamber’s Common Ground Breakfast focuses on education, the Flagler Beach Rotary donates $6,250 to Open Door Re-Entry and Recovery Ministries of Bunnell, Bunnell’s Alvin Jackson is the keynote speaker at Drug Court graduation.
Suicides of 2 Parkland Students in a Week Have Lawmakers Questioning Schools’ Mental Health Funding
Two suicides in the span of a week involving student survivors of the Parkland school shooting have sparked a new question at the Florida Capitol: How much mental-health money should the state provide to schools?
8 Arrested, 10 Sought, All On Felony Charges in Latest Sweep of Suspected Drug Dealers in Flagler-Palm Coast
All 18 individuals are accused of selling or trafficking drugs, including heroin, fentanyl, prescription drugs, cocaine and synthetic cathinone, or so-called bath salts, a relatively new entrant in the bazaar of drug dealing and abuse.
Australian Singer-Songwriter Kylie Sackley Will Perform at Palm Coast Songwriters Festival in May
Tickets are on sale now to the Palm Coast Songwriters Festival. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Daytona State College Foundation and the Palm Coast Arts Foundation. Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at the Palm Coast Arts Foundation stage.
Wednesday Briefing: Flagler Reads Together on Apollo 11, Humane Society Fundraiser, DSC Spring Job Fair, FCAL Poetry Call
The Flagler Humane Society holds a fund-raiser, Apollo 11’s 50th anniversary is the focus of a Flagler Reads Together discussion, Daytona State hosts its spring job fair in Daytona Beach.
Rymfire Elementary Teacher Travis Holloway Arrested a 4th Time Days After State Reprimand and Probation Order
Rymfire Elementary School teacher Travis Holloway, 39, had just been issued a written reprimand and placed on probation for a year by a state disciplinary board when he was arrested for drunk driving in Palm Coast Friday.
Palm Coast Mayor Hails ‘Striking’ 10-Ft. Sculpture as Inaugural Symbol of Town Center’s Creative Future
Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland dedicated the first of five sculptures that will form a sculpture garden in Central Park, all privately paid for and donated to the city as a cultural component of Palm Coast’s emerging Innovation District.
Nearly $300,000 in Grants Help Continue Sheriff’s Domestic Violence Initiative and Victim Advocacy
The grant renewals, just secured, underwrite the cost of an investigator, an analyst dedicated to domestic violence investigations and almost three victim advocates, and additional grants will pay for SWAT members’ helmets.
Tuesday Briefing: Free Clinic Fund-Raiser, Internet Safety, Entrepreneur Night, Ndaba Mandela, FlaglerCares
A fund-raiser for the Free Clinic in the Hammock, a seminar on internet safety for parents, entrepreneur night at European Village, the Great Organists series and Mandela’s grandson at Stetson.
Judge Delays Sheriff’s Employees’ Compensation Hearings Over Sick Building, But Further Compromise Is Eluding Them
For the second time in four months, a judge agreed to postpone what was scheduled to be a set of final hearings in workers’ compensation claims of 35 Flagler County Sheriff’s employees who say their health was damaged while working at the Sheriff’s Operations Center in Bunnell.
Investigation Of Plantation Bay Plane Crash, With Joel Fallon and Josh Rosa Aboard, Ends Inconclusively
The investigation is ending inconclusively, but it sheds light on measures Josh Rosa took immediately before the crash that strongly suggest his skills and last-second maneuvers likely prevented the crash from being fatal to him and Joel Fallon.
Monday Briefing: Michael Stavris in Court, Turtle Trail, Stamp and Coin, Poetry Show Entries, Renner’s ‘Shared Savings’ Accounts
Rep. Paul Renner’s bill on health-cost savings is discussed, ex-cop Michael Stavris is arraigned on a probation violation, the Palm Coast Arts Foundation dedicates the third turtle in its Turtle Trail.
The Familiar Face of White Supremacy
The fad of not naming mass killers is deceptive and self-defeating, an act of cowardice that hides more than it wants to acknowledge. Brenton Tarrant, the killer of Christchurch, is an all–too familiar face.
Stetson Issues Explicit Defense of Free and Controversial Expression on Campus, Whatever the ‘Discomforts’
In the culmination of a year-and-a-half process, Stetson University this week issued a statement firmly in defense of academic freedom and free, diverse and controversial expression on campus.
For Use in Joints, Pipes or Bongs: Smokable Medical Pot Finally Hits Florida Market
In other states where medical marijuana has been legalized, smokable products comprise between 40 and 60 percent of sales. Florida voters in 2016 approved a constitutional amendment that broadly legalized medical marijuana.
In Rare Rejection of Its Own Staff’s Push, County Commission Rejects 54-Home Hammock Development
A Jacksonville developer wanted to rezone a 12-acre parcel at Jungle Hut Road and A1A and, to commissioners, cram in 54 homes. Commissioners, rejecting their own staff’s recommendation, said no.
Why the State Attorney Opted To Drop Sexual Assault Charge on Ex-Commissioner’s 20-Year-Old Son
Stephen Connor Brady, 20, was charged with statutory rape after an 18-year-old woman he knew accused him of assaulting her in November. The State Attorney’s Office dropped the charge when it found that inappropriate behavior may have been misinterpreted.
Flagler County Schools Collect 236 Awards at Florida Future Problem Solving Competition in Orlando
This has been another great year for Future Problem Solvers and Community Problem Solvers students in Flagler County schools. The following summary of results from the 2019 Florida FPS Affiliate Competition in Orlando this week shows just how seriously Flagler Schools takes FPS competition.
Weekend Briefing: Economic Development Town Hall, Motown Madness, Fire Rescue and Extension Open Houses, Strawberry Fest
City and county government leaders talk economic development, Motown Madness to raise money for Carver Gym, open houses at Salvo Art House, Flagler Fire Rescue and UF Extension, and so much more.
Family of 5 and Off-Duty Cop Hospitalized in 3-Vehicle Crash at Roundabout
Construction on U.S. 1
A family of five riding in one car and an off-duty law enforcement officer riding in the other were injured, some of them seriously, and sent to three different hospitals, one of them by air, after a three-vehicle crash in the construction zone for the coming roundabout at U.S. 1 and Old Dixie Highway.