NHC expects the weather system they’re calling a “tropical disturbance” to move over the Bahamas today and turn into Tropical Storm Humberto either later today or overnight, then head for a path up or near the Florida coast.
All Else
Weekend Briefing: Museum Fund-Raiser, James Taylor in Court, Film Festival, Anna Maria Soprano
The Flagler Beach Museum hosts a fundraiser at Oceanside Beach Bar and Grille, Meshuggah Nuns” at the Daytona Playhouse, the Florida Film Academy’s inaugural International Student Film Festival.
From Social Security to Medicare to Great Public Works: America’s Socialism in Action
The GOP hopes the S-word will scare you, but great public works projects underpinned by socialist funding principles transformed this country for the better, as did socialist programs like Social Security and Medicare.
Flagler Schools Require Only One Hurricane Make-Up Day, Leaving Thanksgiving Week Off Intact
The Flagler School district’s extension of the school day by a few minutes a few years ago builds up enough time in the schedule to create a surplus from which the district can then account for hurricane days. A third day will convert a teacher work day into a hurricane make up day.
Thursday Briefing: “Meshuggah Nuns,” $1.4 Million Water and Sewer Improvements, Charter Review
The Flagler Beach City Commission is set to approve four separate water and sewer improvement projects for close to $1.4 million, “Meshuggah Nuns” at the Daytona Playhouse, sea oats along A1A.
Obscenities Aside, Kimberle Weeks Appeal May Come Down to Judge’s Baffling Decree on ‘Public Meetings’ Definition
Circuit Judge Margaret Hudson refused to allow a definition of “public meetings” during ex-Elections Supervisor Kim Weeks’s trial last year even though both defense and prosecution wanted a definition, which went to the heart of the case. That’s now a central plank in Weeks’s appeal.
Wednesday Briefing: String Orchestra Open House, Palm Coast Budget Hearing, Suicide Awareness Walk
The Flagler Youth Orchestra holds its annual open house ahead of its 15th season at Indian Trails Middle School, the Palm Coast council holds the first of two budget hearings, Mario Vargas Llosa on New York after 9/11.
Palm Coast and Flagler Rally For the Bahamas, With Caution To Ensure Efforts Aren’t Wasted
Palm Coast businesses and individuals such as Shane Bonner are leading herculean efforts to help hurricane-shattered Bahamas. The Red Cross’s Rebecca DeLorenzo cautions against uncoordinated efforts that could lead supplies never delivered to their intended recipients.
Vaping-Related Illnesses and Deaths Rise, as Do Calls for More Stringent Regulations
E-cigarettes devices heat liquid into an aerosol that is inhaled into the lungs. The liquid can contain nicotine, flavorings and other ingredients. The liquid can also include marijuana.
Defense Tries to ‘Smear’ Victim in Case of HIV-Infected Man Accused of Raping 16 Year Old
Victor Williams, 42, of Palm Coast, is accused of drugging and raping a 16-year-old boy. His defense’s strategy is to portray the boy as promiscuous and not credible, in hopes of lessening the charges against Williams, who faces life in prison if convicted.
Tuesday Briefing: Intracoastal Waterway Cleanup, Tammy Almond in Court, Apollo’s 50th, Stetson Recital
Palm Coast’s 12th Annual Intracoastal Waterway Cleanup, Tammy Almond,, who’s accused of manslaughter, is in a pre-trial hearing, Tammara Phillips, flute, Kristie Born, piano, in concert at Stetson.
In Wake of Measles Outbreak, A State Ends Religious Exemption for Vaccinations
New York has eliminated religious exemptions by law. Florida is a religious-exemption state, as well as a medical-exemption state. and Flagler County in 2017 had the second-highest proportion of kindergarten students in the state with an exemption, most of them for religious reasons.
Monday Briefing: Heat Index to 104, Victor Williams in Court, Grand Reserve Growth, Cancellations
Grand Reserve in Bunnell, the city’s and one of Flagler’s fastest-growing subdivision, plats for 117 new single-family residential lots, Victor Williams, the man accused of sex with an autistic child, is in court for various motions, a few cancellations resulting from Dorian.
What America Could Learn From Canada
Better health care, longer lives, a better standard of living, more overall well-being: Canada is becoming a model for what Americans aspired to but keep seeing eroded in their own lives.
William E. Carden, 37, Is Killed in Single-Vehicle Crash at Palm Coast Parkway Exit Off I-95
illiam Earl Carden, a 37-year-old resident of Palm Coast, formerly of Lake Worth, was killed early Saturday morning when his car overturned at the Palm Coast Parkway exit with I-95.
St. Augustine’s Flagler Hospital Planning Medical Inroad in AdventHealth’s Palm Coast Backyard, on Matanzas Woods Parkway
Flagler Hospital–now Flagler Health Plus–has a contract to buy 4 acres on Matanzas Woods Parkway, where it would build a small medical-village type development, down the road from AdventHealth’s planned stand-alone emergency room.
Palm Coast Teen Pleads Guilty to Lesser Felony Charge in Child Molestation Case, No Prison Time
Jose David Zayas, 18, of Palm Coast, was charged of molesting a family member after confessing to hundreds of assaults over many years. He faced up to 15 years in prison, but will serve five years on probation after pleading guilty to a third-degree felony child abuse charge.
Economy Adds 130,000 Jobs, Extending Streak to 107 Months, Keeping Unemployment at 3.7%
Job growth has averaged 158,000 a month this year, below the average monthly gain of 223,000 in 2018. August’s employment gain was helped by the federal government’s hiring of 25,000 temporary census workers in preparation for the 2020 census.
Flagler and Florida Shift to Dorian Assistance Mode; Hurricane Season May Have Other Ideas
State emergency response workers were advised that, based on meteorological forecasts, they should expect to be back within six weeks.
County Emergency Management Ends Alert; Rising Waters Briefly a Concern in Flagler Beach
Rising waters from the Intracoastal in Flagler Beach were again a concern with high tide this evening, with reports of flooded streets and yards and water nearing homes.
Hurricane Dorian Closures and Reopenings In Flagler-Palm Coast
Hurricane Dorian closures in schools, government, courts and other sectors in Flagler County, Palm Coast, Flagler Beach and Bunnell. The rolling list of closures will be updated as needed.
Hurricane Dorian in Pictures and Video, Flagler Edition
Hurricane Dorian has monopolized lives in Palm Coast and Flagler County. Here’s a rough visual draft of the emergency as it has unfolded over the past few days in various parts of Flagler.
Hurricane Dorian: Fuel, Telecommunications and Other Emergency Measures In Place
Comprehensive outline of measures in place or readied for deployment across Florida in preparation for Hurricane Dorian, according to state emergency officials and the governor’s office.
Hurricane Dorian, Day By Day
Hurricane Dorian: an archival record of the storm’s path day by day as it impacted Flagler County and Palm Coast, with sequenced National Hurricane Center maps of the cone of uncertainty.
Here’s What You Can Do With Yourself, Dorian
Hurricane Dorian’s fortunate shift away from the Florida peninsula must have at least something to do with the collective obscenities Floridians worn out from three years of hurricanes cussed its way, creating their own defiant weather system.
Florida Is Not Planning One-Way Evacuation Traffic on Highways, But Tolls Will Be Lifted
Since one-way traffic for evacuations could interfered with Hurricane Dorian safety preparations, the so-called “contraflow” approach is not being considered for now.
Hurricane Dorian: Sandbag Locations In Palm Coast, Bunnell, Flagler Beach and the County
Sandbag locations in Palm Coast, Bunnell, Flagler County in preparation for Hurricane Dorian. Most of the locations are self-serve.
Dorian Day Weekend Briefing: Hurricane Prep
Nothing else matters this weekend: it’s about hurricane-safety preparations as Dorian heads for somewhere on the east coast, with Flagler well within the cone of uncertainties.
Flagler County’s Own Prevail Exclusively as Nominating Commission Sends 6 Names
for County Judge to DeSantis
The recommended candidates for Flagler County judge are Alexander Alvarez, Craig Atack, Kip Miller, Scott Spradley, Andrea Totten and Alicia Washington. They were short-listed by the Judicial Nominating Commission, their names now before Gov. Ron DeSantis, who will make the appointment.
Opelka Injures His Back and Falls In 2nd Round at U.S. Open
Reilly Opelka injured his back-during his second-round U.S. Open match and wasn’t ever able to get into a groove, falling in straight sets to Dominik Koepfer.
With No Chance of Appointment, Jim Manfre’s Pledge to Run for Judge in 2 Years Still Sways Nominating Commission’s Questions
Former Sheriff Jim Manfre’s candidacy for county judge was dead on arrival at interviews for the job Wednesday, but he still managed to influence the process by advocating for a Flagler choice.
Thursday Briefing: High Anxiety, Heat Index to 102, Economic Development, Rep. Waltz at KALS
Rep. Mike Waltz visits KALK, a company at the Flagler County Airport responsible for emergency disaster response, the chamber’s Common Ground breakfast focuses on economic development, schools host open houses.
Interviews for Flagler County Judge: Several Convincing Choices, A Few Odd and Startling Ones
After 24 interviews by a nominating commission, several Flagler County based candidates for Flagler County judge stood out for the short-list that will go to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who’ll make the appointment later this year.
Wednesday Briefing: Interviews For County Judge, Parks and Recreation, Facing Grief, Handmaid’s Tale
A judicial nominating commission interviews 24 candidates for Flagler County judge all day at the county courthouse, the county parks and recreation board meets, Blue Power and Facing Grief Together.
Serial Scheming Couple Targeting and Defrauding Older Victims in Palm Coast’s Box-Store Parking Lots
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is warning of the scheme, staged by an older black couple at the expense of at least three Palm Coast victims since spring, usually in the parking lot of large shopping centers. They have yet to be found.
Tuesday Briefing: Heat Index to 103, AdventHealth’s Little League Hearts, Opioid Task Force, Appetizers With Anna
Concluding discussions on next year’s budget at Palm Coast council and Flagler Beach AdventHealth’s donation of AED devices to Palm Coast Little League, commission, Anna Crawford welcomes parents.
Palm Coast’s Rising Opelka Scores 1st U.S. Open Win, Upsetting World’s 11th Best Player
Reilly Opelka, the former Indian Trails Middle School student who is rocketing to tennis stardom more every day, scored the biggest upset of the first day of the U.S. Open Monday.
Palm Coast Pursuing Felony Charges Against Ex-Palm Harbor Golf GM Over Alleged Thefts
Tim Spangler, the former general manager of the Palm Coast-owned Palm Harbor Golf Course, faces two felony charges of fraud following an investigation into allegations he was taking payments for private lessons on city time.
Search for Bodies Will Continue at Dozier Reform School, Site of 55 Graves So Far
Forensic experts are gearing up to conduct a high-tech sweep of the grounds at a notorious Northwest Florida reform school where survivors remain convinced bodies of long-lost boys are still concealed.
Travis E. Stewart, 56, Is Killed, Woman, 53, Critically Injured in Motorcycle Crash on Belle Terre and Ponce DeLeon
A motorcycle crash with a pick-up truck at Ponce deLeon Drive and Belle Terre Parkway in Palm Coast left one rider dead and one in critical condition late Sunday evening.
Monday Briefing: Heat Index to 103, ERA Ratification, St. Johns River Forum, Stamp and Coin
Rep. Paul Renner is among the hosts of a forum on the importance of the St. Johns River, the Florida National Organization still press for ERA ratification, the Flagler Stamp and Coin club meets.
See Something, Say Something? 3 Flagler School Board Members Say Not If It’s Cancer.
Opposition to the Flagler Health Department’s proposal to offer the HPV vaccine in schools is driven by three board members echoing the rhetoric of vaccine denialism though various irrational pretexts.
Affordable Housing Push
Challenges Single-Family Zoning
Cities and states facing rising rents, stagnant household incomes and a tight housing supply are beginning to rethink, restrict and in places end zoning that favors single-family homes.
Flagler Health Department Chief Calls School Board Member ‘Anti-Science’ in Vaccine Clash
Flagler Health Department Administrator Robert Snyder in a live show on WNZF today accused School Board member Maria Barbosa of being “anti-science” and “anti-vaccines,” in a discussion on making the HPV vaccine available to students in schools.
Just 9 Days Into New School Year, FPC Student, 14, Faces Felony For Threats to Kill
The boy allegedly made the threats to kill in voice and text exchanges with another boy, 13, over Instagram on Thursday. Both were at home. No threats were directed toward any school.
Gary Ray Bowles, a Serial Killer, Is Executed for 1994 Murder in Jacksonville
Gary Ray Bowles, who was convicted of the 1994 murder of a Jacksonville man who was hit in the head with a concrete block and strangled, was executed by lethal injection shortly before 11 p.m. Thursday night.
Weekend Briefing: Surf for Autism, Hammock Harbor, Rick Shaefer’s Refugees, Farmers’ Markets
Surf for Autism is slated for Saturday in Flagler Beach, the Scenic A1A Pride Committee gets a look at the revised Hammock Harbor redevelopment proposal, Rick Shaefer opens an exhibit.
Flagler Schools Quietly Dropped Controversial “Social Sentinel” Surveillance to Pilot More Targeted Alert System
The Flagler school district dropped the $18,000-a-year Social Sentinel surveillance system in April and replaced it with an entirely different approach, called CrisisGo, a crisis-management system accessible to faculty, staff and students.
Opioid-Related Deaths Decline By 34% in Flagler’s 3-County District in 1st Part of 2018
The decline is far more pronounced in the Flagler region than in the state, strongly suggesting that the introduction of front-line life-saving measures, combined with stricter state rules on prescription drugs, is having an effect.
Thursday Briefing: Heat Index to 102, Tiger Bay Wine Tasting, Transgender Inmate Case, FYO Recruits
The Flagler Tiger Club hosts a community wine tasting, Gary Ray Bowles is scheduled to be executed, the Flagler Youth Orchestra performs in elementary schools, the case of a transgender inmate is heard in court.
