Today:: showers likely and slight chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70s. Chance of rain 70 percent. Tonight: Cooler. Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers. Lows in the lower 50s. Details here.
Today’s document from the National Archives and the Astronomy Picture of the Day.
Today’s tides: at the beaches, at the Intracoastal Waterway.
Drought Index: 184
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day: billion.
The Live Community Calendar
Today’s jail bookings.
Today’s Briefing: Quick Links
- First Light
- In Flagler and Palm Coast
- Flagler Jail Bookings and Last 24 Hours of Incident Reports
- Flagler Beach A1A Construction Updates
- US 1-Old Dixie Highway Roundabout Construction Updates
- Announcements
- In State Government
- In Coming Days in Flagler, Palm Coast and Beyond
- Fact-Checking the Knaves
- Palm Coast Construction and Development
- Cultural Coda
“Between the end of the cold war and the beginning of the global war on terror, Americans dragged themselves, bloody and bruised, from one political skirmish to the next. They fought over guns, abortion, religion, gay rights, and the environment. They fought in the schools, the courts, the press, and the university. They fought with words, and they fought over words. They fought by tooth and by nail and by hook and by crook and they believed they were fighting for the meaning of America, but, really, they were fighting for raw political power.”
–Jill Lepore, from “These Truths: A History of the United States” (2018).
Previously:
Note: all government meetings noticed below are free and open to the public unless otherwise indicated. Many can be heard or seen live through each agency’s website.
The Sheriff’s daily incident reports and jail bookings are posted here.
The Flagler County Commission meets at 9 a.m. at the Government Services Building, Bunnell. The board will consider taking out a $2.1 million loan to pay for a controversial new software for its bookkeeping services.
Road closure: The Florida Department of Transportation will be closing Old Dixie Highway and County Road 325 at U.S. 1 on Monday night from about 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. The closure is needed to allow the contractor to make improvements to the crossover at the temporary intersection. U.S. 1 will remain open in both directions.
A Community Health Fair is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. at Hidden Trails Community Center, 6108 Mahogany Blvd. Bunnell. Flagler County Fire Rescue, in partnership with Flagler County Social Services, Florida Health in Flagler County, and Flagler County Emergency Management will be available to share information on a variety of community services. Additionally, we will be providing no cost: Flu Shots, Diabetic Screenings (glucose and A1C), Registration for ALERTFlagler, Emergency Notifications, Registration for the Emergency/Disaster Special Needs Sheltering Program.
COMMUNITY INPUT SOUGHT ON HEALTH ISSUES (closes March 15): Flagler county residents are being asked to speak up and voice their opinion on a variety of health-related topics through an online survey. The input from the community will be used to create health improvement plans to address community concerns and improve quality of life. The survey is online here countyhealthsurvey.com and is available in English and Spanish. Results of the survey provide the foundation of Community Health Needs Assessments, which are a collection of data used to inform communities and develop goals to improve health outcomes. Once the assessments are complete, they will be used to create three-year Community Health Improvement Plans for both Volusia and Flagler counties. The assessments are being conducted in collaboration with the Florida Department of Health in Flagler and Volusia counties, Flagler Cares, local hospitals and Volusia and Flagler county government. Residents, employers and community partners are encouraged to share this link and ask others to take the survey as well. The survey will close February 28, 2019. Please take the survey here.
Blood Donations: The Big Red Bus will be at the following locations this week (schedule your donation by going to the website and entering a Palm Coast zip code, then locating one of the venues below):
- Monday: Plantation Bay Golf and Country Club, 200 Plantation Bay Drive, Ormond Beach, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Tuesday: AT&T Store at Target Shopping Center on SR100, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- Tuesday: Aldi, 5095 SR100, Palm Coast, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday: Palm Coast Data Building 3, 2 Commerce Boulevard, Palm Coast, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Building 1 from 12:30 to 3 p.m.
- Thursday: Portuguese Club, 1200 Palm Harbor Parkway, Palm Coast, 1 to 6 p.m.
- Sunday: Two Camino Office Complex, Hammock Dunes, 85 Avenue de la Mer, Palm Coast, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Sunday: Epic Theaters, 1185 Central Avenue, Palm Coast, 1 to 6 p.m.
Jail Bookings and Last 24 Hours' Incidents in Flagler, Palm Coast, Flagler Beach, Bunnell
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| Jail Bookings, June 19-22 Sheriff's night shift incident reports, June 21 Sheriff's day shift incident reports, June 21 Flagler Beach's night shift incident reports, June 21 Flagler Beach's day shift incident reports, June 21 Bunnell police's night shift incident reports, June 21 Bunnell police's day shift incident reports, June 21 |
Flagler Beach Is Open For Business: A1A Construction Update:
FlaglerLive is providing weekly updates to year-long construction on and near State Road A1A in Flagler Beach as the Florida Department of Transportation rebuilds a 1.5-mile segment from South 9th Street to South 22nd Street, and builds a sea wall at the north end of town. These updates are provided through DOT or local officials. If you have any relevant information or images, you’re welcome to email them to the editor here.
Segment 2: South 22nd to South 9th Street: A significant detour on State Road (S.R.) A1A in Flagler Beach is set to start Tuesday, Feb 26, as construction continues on a project to protect the road from erosion and future storm events. The work is part of a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) project to construct improvements along three sections of S.R. A1A in Flagler County. A temporary traffic repair has been in place since the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew in late 2016.
Fast Facts:
- Southbound traffic on S.R. A1A will be detoured onto a local road, South Central Avenue, between South 7th Street and South 23rd Street.
- Northbound traffic will remain on S.R. A1A.
- The detour will be in place throughout the reconstruction.
- Access to all businesses and homes will be maintained.
- Access will also be available using side streets.
- For those with driveways only on S.R. A1A, access will be available from northbound S.R. A1A.
Since this is a popular destination for tourists and visitors, drivers are asked to obey the posted speed limits on both S.R. A1A and Central Avenue, and to be alert for pedestrians and bicyclists in the area. Due to safety concerns, bicyclists and foot traffic are urged to stay in designated, safe areas throughout the project.
Segment 3: North 18th Street to Osprey Drive: The contractor continues to bring in sand and prepare for installation of the new buried seawall. Residents may have noticed the contractor installing forms near North 18th Street. This is not the seawall itself. These forms will be used to guide the drill and form the new concrete shafts of the wall. These shafts will be about 36 feet deep. The contractor is expected to move its drilling equipment onto the work site this week. This movement is likely to require short stoppages of traffic using flagging operations along A1A.
Dune Walkovers:
The contractor will continue to remove dune walkovers as needed to accommodate construction of the buried seawall. The affected dune walkovers include both public and private walkovers between North 18th Street and Osprey Drive. By contract, all affected dune walkovers will be reconstructed once work is complete to their pre-construction condition. The contractor is carefully removing and storing separately the existing materials for each walkover. Photographs also are being taken to document existing conditions and will be used to assist with reconstruction.
Please note that the walkovers must remain closed during construction for safety reasons.
The project team has announced that reconstruction of the walkovers is tentatively scheduled to begin in fall 2019. This timeframe is based on the current work schedule. Please note the schedule may be affected by weather or unforeseen circumstances.
The contractor has 300 days to complete the work.
Caution! Flagler Beach police and and Sherriff’s deputies are actively monitoring speed and writing tickets. “I got a warning on north section of A1A before construction actually began so I keep to the 25 limit, but still getting tailgated by cars wanting to go faster,” a reader tells us.
See Also:
- In Flagler Beach, A1A Shops and Restaurants Hope Their ‘Open For Business’ Signs Are Louder Than Road Construction
- $22.4 Million A1A Rebuilding and Sea Wall Construction in Flagler Beach Starts in January
- A New, Not Much Improved A1A in Flagler Beach: Median, 30MPH, Drainage, But No Added Protection
- Council Endorses Raising Flagler’s Tourism Tax to 5% to Pay For Beach Repairs
- FDOT’s Regional Construction Page
(DOT)
U.S. 1 and Old Dixie Highway Roundabout Construction Updates:
FlaglerLive is providing weekly updates to the planned 15-month, $4.1 million construction of a roundabout at U.S. 1 and Old Dixie Highway. The project started in late January and is scheduled for completion by spring 2020.
The Florida Department of Transportation will be closing Old Dixie Highway and C.R. 325 at U.S. 1 on Monday night, March 4, from about 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. The closure is needed to allow the contractor to make improvements to the crossover at the temporary intersection. U.S. 1 will remain open in both directions.
More details here.
See Also:
- Roundabout Construction on US1 and Old Dixie Begins: Be Prepared For Traffic Shifts and Single Lanes
- Roundabout Construction at U.S. 1 and Old Dixie Begins in Weeks; Expect Detours
- Strident Opposition to Roundabout at US1 and Old Dixie Even As Another Crash Results In Critical Injury
- FDOT’s Project Page
Sheriff Hosts Ceremony of Appreciation for all Involved in Missing Person Rickey Wheeler’s Recovery: Last week Sheriff Rick Staly recognized over 130 first responders and volunteers who spent five days and nights in September 2018 searching for missing and endangered child Rickey Wheeler. Seventeen-year-old Rickey Wheeler was reported missing on Friday, September 21st . Members of the FCSO were joined by neighboring agencies to search tirelessly to find Rickey for five days. The search was successful and Rickey was reunited with his family. Members of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office were in attendance at the awards ceremony on Thursday morning along with Putnam County Sheriff Gator DeLoach, St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar, and their command staff. Bloodhound K9s involved in the search, from St. Johns and Putnam Counties, were also present. K9 Putnam, who located Rickey, was gifted a bone from Sheriff Staly. “We can count on the agencies here today anytime we need them and we appreciate their partnership,” Sheriff Staly said at the awards ceremony. “The support from our neighboring Sheriff’s Offices, local Fire Departments and so many volunteers played an integral role in finding Rickey alive. Without the help and support of our fellow first responders, this story could have had a different outcome.” Also recognized during the ceremony were members of the Flagler County CERT and REACT teams, Palm Coast Fire Department, Flagler County Fire Rescue and Fire Police, Flagler County Department of Children and Families, FCSO C.O.P.s, the FCSO Mounted Posse, Flagler County Emergency Management, and Flagler County Fire Flight.
In Florida and in State Government:
Note: Some proceedings below can be followed live on the Florida Channel. Most legislative proceedings can be followed through the Senate or House websites.
‘FRACKING’ BAN CONSIDERED: The Senate Agriculture Committee will take up a bill (SPB 7064) aimed at prohibiting the controversial oil- and gas-drilling technique known as “fracking.” (Monday, 1 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
PLASTIC STRAWS DEBATED: The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee will consider a proposal (SB 588), filed by Sen. Travis Hutson, R-St. Augustine, that would prevent cities and counties from regulating how restaurants and other establishments distribute plastic straws to customers. (Monday, 1 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
DRONE USE CONSIDERED: The Senate Criminal Justice Committee will take up a bill (SB 766), filed by Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, that would expand the circumstances in which law-enforcement agencies can use aerial drones. The bill would allow drones for such things as assisting in crowd control or traffic management. (Monday, 1 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
PREEXISTING CONDITIONS TARGETED: The Senate Health Policy Committee will consider a proposal (SB 322), filed by Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, that would seek to ensure patients with preexisting conditions would have access to health coverage. The bill would create a contingency in case the federal Affordable Care Act is struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court or is repealed by Congress. In such a circumstance, the bill would require each health insurer in Florida to offer at least one major-medical insurance policy that could not limit or deny coverage based on patients’ preexisting conditions. (Monday, 1 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
‘AOB’ BACK AT SENATE COMMITTEE: The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee will take up a bill (SB 122), filed by Chairman Doug Broxson, R-Gulf Breeze, that would address the controversial insurance practice known as assignment of benefits. In assignment of benefits, homeowners in need of repairs sign over benefits to contractors, who ultimately pursue payments from insurance companies. Insurers contend that the practice has become riddled with fraud and litigation, while plaintiffs’ attorneys and other groups say it helps make sure claims are properly paid. (Monday, 3:30 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN DISCUSSED: The Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee will receive a presentation about violence against women. (Monday, 3:30 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
OVERDOSE PROSECUTIONS AT ISSUE: The Senate Judiciary Committee will consider a proposal (SB 530), filed by Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, that would make a series of changes related to prosecutions when people overdose on drugs or alcohol. For example, it would provide immunity for some offenses to people who give alcohol to underage drinkers and then seek medical assistance when those drinkers experience an alcohol overdose. (Monday, 3:30 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
—-Compiled by the News Service of Florida and FlaglerLive
In Coming Days in Palm Coast, Flagler and the Occasional Beyond:
Keep Up with Donald Trump’s attacks on the press through the ACLU’s running tab here.
Keep Up with mass shootings in a running database here.
Palm Coast Construction and Development Progress Reports
Here’s a summary of the latest city developments as of March 1, 2019, with a link to the full week in review here.
Click to access week-in-review-march-1-2019-developments.pdf
Cultural Coda
Mozart: Symphony No. 29 in A major, K.201, Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra
Previous Codas:
- Nina Simone: Good Bait
- Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody
- FPC Jazz Band, 2019 District MPA, Love is Here to Stay
- Johann Sebastian Bach: Triosonata in C Minor BWV 526, Katja Sager, organ
- J.S. Bach: Trio Sonata in E-Flat Major, BWV 525, Doug Marshall, Organ
- Willie Nelson and His Sons Discuss Growing up on Tour and Performing as a Family
- Sulkhan Tsintsadze: Miniatures for String Quartet
- Joseph Marx: Trio-Phantasie (1914)
- George Antheil: Violin Sonata Nr. 2
- Elgar’s Serenade for Strings, Op. 20
- Vaughan Williams: Rhosymedre (US Marine Band)
- Maurice Ravel: La Valse
- George Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue, Maja Babyszka, piano
- Abel Carlevaro: Tamboriles
- Leonora Spangenberger (13) plays Heitor Villa Lobos’s Etude No 9
- Michel Sardou: Le France
- Smetana: Má Vlast / Kubelík Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
- Leontyne Price: the Interview
- Florence Price’s Fantaisie Negre, Performed by Elijah Stevens
- Jean Sibelius, Tapiola: Schlosstheater Schönbrunn, Orchestra of the Slovak Philharmony
Pogo says
@In Florida and in State Government:
‘FRACKING’ BAN CONSIDERED: The Senate Agriculture Committee will take up a bill (SPB 7064) aimed at prohibiting the controversial oil- and gas-drilling technique known as “fracking.” (Monday, 1 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
The above should have read, oily Republicans never rest. C’mon now, wake up – pay attention:
Kill the Fake “Fracking Ban” in the Senate
“We need your help to kill a bad bill that claims to address the dangers of fracking, but leaves Floridians at risk!
Senator Albritton (R-Bartow) and the Senate Agriculture committee filed a fake “fracking ban” that attempts to ban hydraulic fracturing in Florida, but still allows other risky fracking-like techniques.
However, a good bill that bans all forms of fracking and fracking-like operations has already been filed by Senator Montford (SB 314) and was unanimously approved by the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee, which Senator Albritton also sits on…”
“…Unfortunately, SPB7064 would not ban matrix acidizing and loopholes in the bill may not even effectively ban hydraulic fracturing…”
https://medium.com/the-policy-team-conservancy-of-southwest-florida/kill-the-fake-fracking-ban-in-the-senate-397d06863775