Former Sheriff Jim Manfre, who completed his term in 2016, offers his side of the history of the acquisition of and subsequent issues with the potentially sick Sheriff’s Operations Center.
All Else
The Lord Before the Storms: Flagler Emergency Management Chief Wants Awareness, Not Fear
Jonathan Lord, Flagler County’s new emergency management chief, has been putting his vast state and local experience to work in preparation for hurricane season.
Billionaire Investor Jeff Greene Becomes 5th Florida Democrat In Race For Governor
Greene, 63, who lives in Palm Beach two doors down from President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 2010.
Questioning War Is No Disrespect to Veterans. It’s a Civic Duty.
Americans remain unconcerned about wars the U.S. is currently fighting (at last count, we’re bombing at least 7 countries) though they foot the bill both in tax dollars and lives.
Tuesday Briefing: Chess on the Porch, Sportsfishing Club, Code of Conduct, Sewer Plant Opening, Road Closure
The school board talks Code of Conduct and surplus property, Palm Coast basks in a new sewer plant, chess at the Humidor, Florida Park Drive road closure.
Flagler Sheriff’s Budget For 2018-19 Would Go Up $3.8 Million, Largest In Over a Decade
The surge is driven by another increase in sheriff’s deputies, and would bring the total number of new deputies to 22 in two years. The county commission is not objecting.
Homeless Man Accused of Child Abuse and Assault Against 5 Children at Public Park
Matthew Edward Marro, A 22-year-old homeless man, faces 10 felony counts following a confrontation with children at a Bunnell park Sunday.
More Rehash Than Clarity As Flagler’s Expert Addresses Sheriff’s Possibly Sick Building
County government in a workshop with an engineering expert could not tell the sheriff or his employees how soon there may be answers on reported health issues at the Sheriff’s Operations Center.
Domestic Violence’s Overlooked Damage: Concussion And Brain Injury
Survivors of domestic violence may be suffering largely in silence from the same traumatic brain injuries, memory loss and PTSD seen in veterans and athletes.
Palm Coast’s Epic Theatres Briefly Evacuated After Burnt-Smell Report
Epic Theatres in Palm Coast’s Town Center was briefly evacuated Saturday evening after a report of a burning odor in the area of the box office.
Monday Briefing: Tascarella v. Flagler, Customary Beach Use, Congressional District 6 Forum
Three Democrats and three Republicans for the congressional district seat that includes Flagler appear at a St. Augustine forum, the Flagler County Commission adopts a customary use of beaches ordinance.
Legalizing Recreational Pot Key Issue For Florida Democrats’ Gubernatorial Candidates
John Morgan calls recreational weed a make-or-break issue for Democratic candidates seeking to replace outgoing Republican Gov. Rick Scott.
Tammy Almond Charged With Manslaughter in Shooting Death of Darryl Wilson, 56
Tammy Almond, 43, of 12 East Palm Street in Bunnell, was charged with manslaughter with a firearm in the shooting death of Darryl Wilson at a North Bacher Street house.
Life In Prison For William Schwarz, Drunk Driver Who Killed Kathy and Carl Boos in Flagler Beach
The sentence against William Schwarz was extraordinarily harsh, but also driven by his very lengthy record of drunk driving and other criminal arrests.
In Her Own Words: Flagler Sheriff’s Detective Reveals Anguish and Fears Over Sick
Building in Plea For Urgency
An internal sheriff’s investigation uncovers a three-page letter Detective Annie Conrad wrote Sheriff Rick Staly, urging that employees’ concerns of a potentially sick building be taken seriously.
Flagler Property Values Rise 7.5%, Best Since Recession, But Government Revenue Faces Shock
Higher values ease pressure on government revenue but a potential increase in the homestead exemption would reduce revenue by millions, absent tax hikes.
Weekend Briefing: First Friday in Flagler Beach, Synchronized Swimming Show, LGBT Pride
Flagler Beach’s increasingly popular First Fridays, assuming there’s no rain, the Synchro Belles put on a show, Flagler Volunteer Services put on a hurricane prep presentation.
Florida Prisons Proposal To Cut Visitation Hours In Half Draws Outrage and Pleas
Visits help cut recidivism and keep families close, as recognized even by state law, but Florida prison officials are looking to cut costs.
Marineland’s Latest Adventure Rededicates Iconic Arch to Memories Past and Future
Marineland’s arches are stamped in the memory of the town and its millions of visitors through the years, and today one of the iconic arches was reopened and dedicated.
Flagler’s and DSC’s Education Chiefs Talk Bunkers, Breweries, Graduation and Jobs
Superintendent Jim Tager, Flagler Technical Institute Director Renee Stauffacher, and Daytona State College President Tom LoBasso were the featured speakers an education breakfast.
Thursday Briefing: Flagler’s Education Leaders, African-American Mentoring Program, Marineland Arch
Flagler County Superintendent Jim Tager and DSC’s Tom LoBasso and FTI’s Renee Stauffacher at Common Ground breakfast, African American Mentors and their students are recognized.
County’s Reply To Sheriff on Sick Building: We’ll Get Back To You On That
The Flagler County administration in an unsigned statement said the county was hiring an engineer to further study the sheriff’s potentially sick operations center.
John Ward’s Insult To Puerto Ricans
John Ward is a GOP candidate for the congressional that includes Flagler. He doesn’t think Puerto Rican storm refugees–American citizens, all–should register to vote in Florida. He’s wrong.
Just 3 Applicants For Palm Coast Council’s Nobile Seat; All 3 To Be Interviewed Tuesday
Charles Johnson, a retired Sea Ray Boats employee, attorney Vincent Lyon and Robert Thomasey, a retired electrician, are the three applicants to fill out the six months remaining on Steven Nobile’s term.
Wednesday Briefing: Horseshoe Pitching Champs, Pickleball Open Court, Emerson Quartet’s Bach
Bob Flanagan and Steve Hoffman take horseshow tourney, give pickleball a try, longshot Republican gubernatorial candidates Bruce Nathan and Bob White debate.
Calling It an Unsafe “Albatross,” Sheriff Demands Immediate Relocation Out of Sick Building For Dozens of Employees
Unequivocally referring to the Operations Center as a sick building, Sheriff Rick Staly made the demand for alternate space to County Administrator Craig Coffey, who pushed to buy the old hospital in 2013 and convert it.
Flagler Jail Deputy Who’d Reported to Work Drunk Is Fired Over Obscene Gesture at Bar
Mark Sousa was fired and detention deputy Laura Gadson disciplined for posting an image of Sousa on Instagram flipping the bird at a bar the night his suspension had been revealed.
County Defends $284,000 Tourism Website Deal and Commissioners Are Mollified
County Administrator Craig Coffey and tourism officials put commissioners’ questions about the expense of a website to rest with 75 minutes of details and only a few straw men.
Tuesday Briefing: Graduation Time, County Defends Tourism Website, Palm Coast Shortlists Council Candidates
FPC and Matanzas have their graduation ceremonies at the Ocean Center, Palm Coast short-lists candidates for the appointment to a council seat, the county administration defends its expensive tourism website.
Yes, You May Smoke It: Judge Rules Florida’s Ban on Smoking Medical Marijuana Unconstitutional
Judge Karen Gievers found that a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2016 gives eligible patients the right to smoke the treatment in private.
Voices From the Grave
Maj. Sullivan Ballou’s Last Letter to His Wife
Maj. Sullivan Ballou’s letter to his wife, written a week before he was killed at Bull Run in 1861, is one of the great eulogies of sorrow and divided duty to nation and family. As a memorial to the victims of war, who include survivors, especially civilians, the letter has few equals.
Flagler Government Spent $1 Million on 3 Websites Since 2010, Wants $300,000 More In Next 4 Years
Flagler County government wants to spend $284,000 on a tourism website over the next four years. It has already spent $1 million on three websites in the past nine.
Palm Coast’s Melody Ann Stuffle, 49, in Apparent Suicide By Gunshot
Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies responded to an apparent suicide by gunshot on Lancelot Drive in Palm Coast early Thursday morning.
Sales Tax ‘Holiday’ For Disaster-Preparedness Supplies Set For June 1-7 Across Florida
Expanded from three days last year, the tax holiday has drawn added attention after Florida experienced hurricanes in 2016 and 2017 after a decade’s calm.
Memorial Weekend Briefing: Last Day of School, Historical Society Lunch, Lifeguard Classes, Patriotic Jax
Three days of lifeguard certification classes, Scenic A1A Committee meeting, Jacksonville Symphony plays to the armed forces, history talks at Bunnell’s Holden House.
Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison, F-Section Arsonist Leaves Judge Craig Puzzled By ‘Senselessness’
Circuit Judge Dennis Craig spoke heartfully and at length of the senselessness of 29-year-old Vitaly Tsabak’s burning of a family home before sentencing him to what proved to be a remarkably lenient 20-year term.
Yet Another Storm Brews With Heavy Rains–and Hurricane Season on Horizon
A massive storm over the Yucatan Peninsula may drench Florida over Memorial Day weekend, days before the start of another hurricane season.
Man Injured In Single-Vehicle Rollover on U.S. 1 Just South of White Eagle Lounge
An older man was injured and entrapped shortly before noon today when his vehicle rolled over and ended on its roof on U.S. 1’s southbound lanes just sough of the White Eagle Lounge.
Thursday Briefing: Flagler Beach PD’s Liz Williams Swears-Out, Talent Show, Beach Privatization
Liz Williams retires after 23 years on the Flagler Beach police force, most of them as a detective, the Spotlight on Flagler Youth takes center stage at the Auditorium, FHF officials address the economic development board.
To Protect Public Use of Private Beachfronts, Flagler Calls on Memories of
Long-Timers’ Customs
To ward off a new state law potentially allowing private property owners to fence off beach sands, the Flagler County Commission is enacting an ordinance to preserve public use and forbid fencing.
With Pastor Silano In Charge, Opioid ‘Task Force’ Attempts to Take Shape Free Of Candidate’s Hazier Motives
An “opioid task force” created in the shadow of County Commission candidate Joe Mullins’s campaign held its first meeting, with glimmers of potential substance on its future agenda.
Incident on Brewster Lane Triggers Chase of 2 Suspicious Individuals By Air and Ground
A possible burglary on Brewster Lane early this afternoon triggered a search of two young individuals by ground and air, and the delay of the release of walking students from Indian Trails Middle School.
Wednesday Briefing: Chamber Music Camp Recital, Compassionate Friends, 6th Grade Oscars
Flagler Youth Orchestra students are in performance in the annual Chamber Music Camp Recital, Compassionate Friends meet, Belle Terre Elementary’s 6th Grade Oscars.
Teens-In-Flight Marks 10 Years, New Home and Expanded Mission at Flagler Airport
Teens-In-Flight, the 10-year-old non-profit that gives children of fallen soldiers a path to flying, marked the opening of its new home at Flagler Airport this afternoon.
Adding To Recent Woes, Embry-Riddle Training Plane Loses a Door Over Flagler
A Diamond DA-42, a twin-engine plane manufactured in 2016, was flying over the south end of the county when it lost the door in a near-repeat of a 2013 incident.
Brushing Aside 1st Amendment Claim, Appeals Court Uphold Florida Ban on a Prison Magazine
Florida alone among 50 states bans Prison Legal News. Paul Wright, the publisher of the magazine, intends to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Shirley “Bird” Blanton, 1928-2018
Shirley “Bird” Blanton, 89, of St. Augustine, Florida went to her heavenly home to be her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on May 20, 2018.
Flagler Fire Services Get Boost and 8th Ambulance With Heritage-Preserving Transfer of Bunnell Fire Station
Bunnell’s Fire Department no longer exists, but a Bunnell fire station lives on, improved, under county auspices, with better response times and expanded countywide services.
Tuesday Briefing: Donating to Emergency Responders, Campaign Event Focuses on Opioids, School Board Procedures
A $3,000 donation for Flagler Beach Police and Flagler County Emergency Services, a candidate for the county commission talks opioids, the Flagler County School Board considers its own procedures.
Palm Coast’s Opelka Wins Pro Tennis Title in France, 2nd on Circuit
Opelka previously defeated former Top 10 player Ernests Gulbis in the semifinals, and now has a lot of momentum heading into French Open qualifying.