It was not the friendliest of negotiations with Martin Murphy, the New York planner whose demands had rubbed some commissioners the wrong way.
All Else
Independence Days Briefing: Fireworks, The Flagler Beach Parade, Choral Arts Society Concert, Sportsfishing
Yes, it’s days, not day: celebrations begin Tuesday, stretch through Wednesday with fireworks in Town Center and in Flagler Beach plus all sorts of associated events.
Agonizing Over Tax Increase, Indecisive County Commission Defers To Administrator
County taxes are going up no matter what, but most county commissioners, some of them in election season, have been unable to give the county administrator more than vague direction on the budget.
Monday Briefing: Campaign Signs on Trucks, County Taxes, Bunnell’s Demanding Candidate, Palm Coast Tech Assessment
The Flagler County Commission takes on those trucks that park on county property to advertise candidates, the Bunnell commission decides whether its manager candidate is worth $90,000.
Man Shoots and Kills German Shepherd in Palm Coast’s W-Section, Says In Self-Defense
A 5-year-old German Shepherd mix called Caroline is dead from a gunshot to the head after allegedly attacking a man and his puppy on Westchester Lane in Palm Coast this morning.
Shooting and Pistol-Whipping Over “Disrespect” in Target Parking Lot Land Man in Jail
Christopher Quijano, 19, allegedly pistol-whipped a man and fired a round after the man told Quijano he was being disrespectful to his (Quijano’s) girlfriend.
Unlocked And Loaded: Families Confront Dementia And Guns
The epidemic of gun violence that kills 96 people a day is focused on mental illness. But a little-known problem is what to do about firearms in homes of aging Americans with dementia.
Zero Tolerance: Here’s What It’s Like to Work at a Shelter for Immigrant Kids
A window into a system pushed into overdrive, straining to serve traumatized kids amid the uncertainty of America’s immigration system.
Flagler Beach Commissioner Eric Cooley Arrested on Domestic Violence Charge
Flagler Beach City Commissioner Eric Cooley was arrested on a domestic violence charge Friday evening at the 7-Eleven store he owns on South Oceanshore Boulevard.
Woman Faces Felony Charge In Case of Palm Coast Teen Missing 8 Months
The arrest of Kindra Dixon is the latest twist in the disappearance and recovery eight months later of Palm Coast teen Samantha Posella.
‘No Breach’ Says CEO of Exactis, Palm Coast Company at Heart of Reported Massive Data Leak of Personal Information
Palm Coast-based Exactis CEO Steve Hardigree spoke with FlaglerLive of the data breach that exposed 340 million records, saying nothing actually leaked.
Burglary on Parkview Drive Triggers Search and Code Red in P Section
The house at 10 Parkview Drive was the target of a burglary early Friday afternoon, triggering a search for two men and a Code Red for P Section residents.
DeSantis and Putnam Battle To Out-Trump Each Other In Televised Debate
Adam Putnam and Ron DeSantis focused more on national topics than challenges facing the next Florida governor in their debate broadcast on Fox.
Weekend Briefing: Scenic A1A, Lifeguard Certification, Bandshell’s ZZ Top Tribute,
Democrats and Republicans hold competing state summits, a lifeguard certification class at Frieda Zamba pool, Creature from the Black Lagoon in Marineland.
There’s Always Room For a Confederate Statue in a Lake County Government Building
A bronze statue of the Confederate general will be relocated from the National Statuary Hall in Washington to a museum housed in the same building as the Lake County Sheriff’s Office
A Dagger in the Heart of Unions, Workers and Democracy: Behind the Janus Ruling
Their end game is to overturn a fundamental premise of majority rule, and lock in place permanent Constitutional changes to bar any limits on oligarchical rule.
For 21-Year-Old Who Brutalized Dog, 270 Days in Jail, 5 Years’ Probation, Lifetime Felon
Brenden Geary, 21, left an 11-lb Yorkshire terrier unconscious after brutalizing her at a W-Section Palm Coast home in Palm Coast last March.
Sheriff Still Investigating Even After Woman Missing 8 Months Turns Up
Palm Coast’s Samantha Posella revealed herself to a West palm Beach police officer Tuesday after going missing eight months, but the case is not closed.
Thursday Briefing: Future of Water, Animal Cruelty Sentencing, Flagler Beach Audit, Heat Index Up to 105
The Chamber’s Common Ground breakfast focuses on the future of water, Brenden Geary is sentenced on an animal cruelty conviction, the heat index is expected to reach 106.
Flagler School District Scores a B For 7th Year In a Row, Ranks 32nd Out of 67
Only Indian Trails Middle School scored an A while Old Kings and Rymfire elementaries dropped a grade. Other schools maintained last year’s grades.
More Than 100 New Laws Take Effect Sunday, as Does $88 Billion Budget
New laws expanding education vouchers, prohibiting marriage for anyone younger than 18, and placing Florida on permanent daylight saving time–if Congress approves–all go into effect.
Palm Coast Man Faces Rape Charge, Allegedly ‘Testing’ If Girlfriend Had Been Unfaithful
D’Marcus Boyd, a 24-year-old Palm Coast resident, is at the Flagler County jail on $127,500 bond on accusations that he broke into a P-Section house and raped his girlfriend.
Wednesday Briefing: Heat Index Up to 106, Stewart Marchman Foundation, Compassionate Friends
Watch out for that heat, the African American Entrepreneurs Club gets the county’s economic development board’s sponsorship, Stewart Marchman Foundation’s annual gala.
Balking at Proposed Tax Increase, County Commissioners Offer Alternatives Outside of Public Meeting
Flagler County commissioners want to cut a proposed budget increase but didn’t do so at a workshop, and plan to offer their suggestions outside of budget workshops.
Supreme Court Orders Flagler’s Judge Scott DuPont Removed in Unanimous Decision
Scott DuPont, who’d served on Flagler’s and Putnam’s civil benches since 2010, was investigated for improprieties on and off the bench.
Being Separated From My Child Nearly Destroyed Me
The administration’s policy of separating families is torture, and Trump’s executive order to incarcerate families together doesn’t solve the crisis.
In the Hammock, Boyfriend Shoots Girlfriend In the Ear During Argument Over Chinese Food
George Virgin, a 65-year-old resident of 11 North Shady Lane in the Hammock, faces a second-degree felony charge over the shooting.
Tuesday Briefing: NAACP Candidate Forum, Youth Baseball, Heat Index 101 to 105, Juvenile Justice Study
The NAACP holds one of its famed candidates’ forum at the African American Cultural Society, a study on juvenile justice in Florida is released.
Sea Ray Boats’ Palm Coast Plant Shutting Down in Major Blow to 440 Workers
Palm Coast’s Sea Ray Boats plant, one of the top five employers in the county, with some 440 employees, is shutting down as Brunswick corp. abandons the yacht line.
Bunnell Votes 3-2 To Hire Martin Murphy as Manager, a Planner From New York
The divided vote to hire Martin Murphy reflected the mayor’s wish for a second round of interviews and another commissioner hoping for a different candidate.
Samantha Posella of Palm Coast Now Missing 8 Months, Sheriff Names “Persons of Interest”
Flagler sheriff’s detectives are worried that Samatha Posella, 17 when she disappeared, may have been the victim of a crime. Two Palm Coast residents are persons of interest.
Monday Briefing: Flagler County Taxes, Bunnell Manager Pick, CR205 Road Closure, Indivisible
The Flagler County Commission meets to discuss next year’s likely increase in proeprty taxes, the Bunnell commission meets to possibly choose a new manager, County Road 205 closes for construction.
For a 6-Year-Old Snared in the Immigration Maze, Lifeline in a Memorized Phone Number
As the U.S. attempts to reunite migrant families, children will bear the burden of helping to identify who and where their parents are. One 6-year-old girl has an advantage.
Once a Jail Commander, 23-Year Sheriff’s Employee Is Demoted to Deputy Over Chronic Flaws
Tammy Stakes last September was a commander making over $80,000 a year. She was demoted to deputy over a series of supervisory failures and missteps.
Andy Dance Re-Elected To Flagler School Board Without Opposition; Others Must Slog It Out
Andy Dance was re-elected to a fourth term. A school board and a Palm Coast council race will be decided in August, others won’t be decided until November.
Felony Child Neglect Charges For Two Palm Coast Men Accused of Drug-Dealing
Two Palm Coast men arrested in three days saw their drug-dealing charges complicated by felony child-neglect charges involving children ages 1 and 2.
School Board Rejects $2.5 Million Bid For Palm Coast Parkway Property It Bought For $3.5 Million
The $2.5 million offer was $500,000 higher than the best appraisal of the property. The board split 2-2 on the offer from Michael Collard Properties, who’d offered $1.8 million last year.
Weekend Briefing: Qualifying Window Closes, Jazz at Salvo, Amateur Radio, Social Justice Conference
National Amateur Radio Field Day at the Hammock Community Center, Bethune Cookman University hosts an education and social justice conference, Jazz at Salvo Art House, World Cup Watch Party in Palm Coast.
U.S. Supreme Court Ruling On Web Retailers Could Boost Florida’s Sales Tax Revenue
A 5-4 ruling upheld a law that allowed the state to apply its sales tax to major online retailers, even if they had no physical presence in the state.
First McDonald, Now Abby Romaine Will Challenge Hansen For County Commission
Abby Romaine, who ran for the seat in 2012 as an independent, is challenging County Commissioner Greg Hansen in the August Republican primary.
Flagler County Passes Precedent-Setting Ordinance Protecting Public Use of Private Beaches, But Its Future Is Uncertain
Flagler’s customary-use ordinance forbids the walling off of private sections of beaches, though a new state law allows just such segregation from public use. Flagler expects its ordinance to be challenged.
Caution About Possible Phone Scam Targeting Military Families in Tricare
Officials are cautioning about a possible phone scam involving Tricare, the military health care program for active and retired service members, but there are no reports of scamming in Flagler.
Critics Assail Scott Policy Shift That Would Reduce Eligibility Window For Medicaid
The majority of the 39,000 people impacted by the change would be seniors and people with disabilities. But Gov. Scott wants the shift to save nearly $100 million.
Thursday Briefing: Senior Self-Defense, World’s Largest Swim Lesson, Heat Index Up to 109, Dante Mobley
Beware, the heat index is set to rise to 109 in the afternoon in parts of Flagler, Lunch ‘N Learn is about senior self-defense, Dante Mobley is back in court on a probation violation.
Dennis McDonald Files to Run Against Greg Hansen as Sheriff’s Building Fuses Explosive Campaign Issue
Dennis McDonald will challenge County Commissioner Greg Hansen as an independent, with the mess surrounding the Sheriff’s Operations Center leading his decision to run.
Ambulance Fees Going Up 48% as Flagler Fire Rescue Makes Pitch For Big Budget Increase
Flagler County’s fire department is asking for a substantial budget increase to raise pay and buy $1.5 million worth of equipment, and the county approved huge increases in emergency transportation fees.
We Get It. Trump Is Awful. But Standard-Issue Democrats Are Not an Alternative.
The neoliberal establishment that runs the Democratic Party party holds fast to the very policies that are making it shrink into oblivion, argues John Atcheson.
Wednesday Briefing: Heat Index 100 to 104, Live Bombing, Portugal v. Morocco
Palm Coast’s Portuguese community mobilizes at 8 a.m. as Portugal faces Morocco at the World Cup, a day of extreme heat, Boris Berezovsky plays Chopin.
Palm Harbor Charter School Will Shut Down Oct. 31 From Chronically Poor Performance
The Palm Coast charter school becomes the third in six years to shut its doors. Irregularities and poor student performance led the district to pressure Palm Harbor to close.
Bunnell Manager Interviews: Some Drop Out, Some Stand Out Some Evoke Testy Memories
The Bunnell commission interviewed ex-Bunnell Manager Lyndon Bonner and Martin Murphy Monday, and began taking up positions on narrowing the list of four remaining candidates.