Thursday Briefing: Heat Index to 103, School Board and Flagler Beach Commission Talk Money, Citrus Numbers

The State Department of Transportation’s seawall project at the north end of Flagler Beach hit a new milestone: the buried seawall columns have been completed. The big, huge boring machine that’s clanked over the city’s skyline for months is being disassembled. (© FlaglerLive)

Today: Partly cloudy. Showers with thunderstorms likely in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 90s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80 percent. Heat index readings 99 to 103. Tonight: Partly cloudy. Chance of showers and slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the lower 70s. South winds 5 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.
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: 72
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day: lionize.
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

“I dare say you have met with that species of old women, so frequent in all country towns, who, seeming to have outlived the common enjoyments of life, and outworn the ordinary sources of excitement, seek fresh stimulus in scenes of distress, and appear to take a morbid pleasure in beholding the varieties of human suffering, and misery. One of the most noted characters in the village was an old beldame of this description. Granny Gordon, so she was familiarly denominated, was the rib of the village Vulcan, and the din of her eternal tongue, was only equalled by the ringing of her husband’s anvil. Thin and withered away in person and redolent with snuff, she bore no small resemblance to a newly exhumed mummy, and to all appearance promised to last as long as one of those ancient dames of Egypt. Not a death, a burial, a fit of sickness, a casualty, nor any of the common calamities of life ever occurred in the vicinity, but Granny Gordon made it her especial business to be present. Wrapped in an old scarlet cloak–hat hideous cloak! the thought of it makes me shudder–she might be seen hovering about the dwelling of the sick. Watching her opportunity, she would make her way into the patient’s chamber, and disturb his repose with long dismal stories and ill-boding predictions; and if turned from the house, which was not unfrequently the case, she would depart, muttering threats and abuse.”

–Nathaniel Hawthorne, from “The Haunted Quack,” in from “The Philosopher,” in “Tales and Sketches” (Library of America).

Previously:

In Flagler and Palm Coast:

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 The Flagler County School Board meets in a budget workshop on its general fund and capital funds at 11 a.m. in training room 3 on the third floor of the Government Services Building, Bunnell.

The Flagler Beach City Commission meets at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 105 South Second Street. The commission will be discussing setting a proposed tax rate for next year, which the city administration is setting at 6.5 mills, from 5.3 mills this year. The Beverly Beach town government is considering contracting with Flagler Beach instead of WastePro for garbage pick-up.

An F/A-18C Super Hornet like the ones used in bombing runs on a range in the Ocala National Forest. (Shawn J. Stewart/US Navy) — An F/A-18C Super Hornet like the ones used in bombing runs on a range in the Ocala National Forest. Click on the image for larger view. (Shawn J. Stewart/US Navy)

Navy Bombing in the Ocala National Forest: Navy training schedules indicate that inert and live bombing will take place at the Pinecastle Range Complex located in the Ocala National Forest this week. Bombings at times can be heard in Flagler-Palm Coast. The bombings are scheduled as follows:

Thursday: 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. – LIVE/Inert
Friday: 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. – LIVE/Inert
Saturday: 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. – LIVE/Inert
Sunday: 6:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. – LIVE/Inert

During bombing periods wildlife may be temporarily displaced. Use extra caution when driving through the Ocala National forest and surrounding areas. Secure any items around your residence that could attract wildlife. Always be mindful of larger animals including black bears and practice bearwise measures. The telephone number for noise complaints is 1-800-874-5059, Fleet Area Control and Surveillance Facility, Jacksonville, Fla. For additional information, call (904) 542-5588.

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):

Wednesday: The Windsor, 50 Town Court, Palm Coast, 1 to 6 p.m.
Friday: Starbucks in the Target shopping Center, State Road 100, Palm Coast, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday: Starbucks at 250 Palm Coast Parkway, Island Walk, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday: Starbucks at 250 Palm Coast Parkway, Island Walk, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Jail Bookings and Last 24 Hours' Incidents in Flagler, Palm Coast, Flagler Beach, Bunnell


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
Previous and archived reports

Sources: Flagler County Sheriff's Office, Flagler Beach Police Department, Bunnell Police Department. This is Flagler County's only comprehensive, one-stop compilation of all local law enforcement's daily day and night shift commanders' reports.

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.

Last Updated: July 1

Protecting Turtles

Now that turtle nesting season has started in the Flagler Beach area, local Turtle Patrol volunteers are checking the beach within the project limits every day to locate any new nests. In Segment 3, north of North 18th Street, work cannot begin until the beach is checked. If a nest is discovered, the nest will be marked, and work will not be allowed within 10 feet of the nest, as specified in the environmental permits issued for this project.

The Turtle Patrol also is monitoring the beach in the project limits of Segment 1, from South 25th Street to South 22nd Street, where plans call for dune revetment involving additional sand and plants.

July 4 Holiday Work Break:

The contractor will not be working on any of the three segments from July 4 through July 7. Work will resume on Monday, July 8, and will occur six days a week.

Segment 1 South 25th Street to South 22nd Street):

The contractor has placed most of the plants in this section. No planting is scheduled to occur over the next two weeks.

Segment 2 (South 22nd Street to South 9th Street):

Work next week will take place Monday – Wednesday and will include removal of the old water main between South 13th Street and South 20th Street. French drain construction is expected over the next few weeks near South 10th Street, and between South 15th and South 16 streets.

Sidewalk installation is expected between South 14th and South 16th streets, with grading for new sidewalk occurring between South 16th and South 17th streets.

The contractor is also preparing to place lime rock base on the southern end of the project.

Segment 3 (North 18th Street to Osprey Drive) Project Update:

The contractor continues to drill piles for the secant wall, and form and pour the concrete cap over the wall. Drilling is expected to be finished within the next two weeks, with cap construction finishing a few weeks later. Crews also continue to place sand over the new wall and form the dunes.

See Also:

The proposed roundabout at the intersection of Old Dixie Highway and U.S. 1 is intended to drastically reduce the number of severe crashes at one of the county's most dangerous intersections. Two other such roundabouts are proposed for other dangerous intersections in Flagler. Click on the image for larger view. (DOT) — The proposed roundabout at the intersection of Old Dixie Highway and U.S. 1 is intended to drastically reduce the number of severe crashes at one of the county’s most dangerous intersections. Two other such roundabouts are proposed for other dangerous intersections in Flagler. Click on the image for larger view.
(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:

I-95 Construction, Repaving: Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m., single lane closures on NB I-95 from north of Palm Coast Parkway to the St. Johns County line. Monday – Friday, 9 p.m. – 7 a.m., double lane closures on NB I-95 from north of Palm Coast Parkway to the St. Johns County line.

See this week’s full Interstate Construction Report for Flagler, Volusia and St. Johns here.

Announcements/Press Releases:

None.

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.

‘TANF’ PROGRAM ON TABLE: The Social Services Estimating Conference will consider caseloads and expenditures in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, program. (Thursday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

CAMPUS SAFETY DISCUSSED: The Association of Florida Colleges will start a two-day symposium on campus safety. Topics are expected to include lessons learned from Hurricane Michael and Broward College’s response to last year’s mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. (Thursday, 9:30 a.m., Palm Beach State College, Palm Beach Gardens Campus, 3160 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens.)

SUPREME COURT RELEASES OPINIONS: The Florida Supreme Court is scheduled to release its weekly opinions. This will be the final regular opinion release before the court takes its annual summer break. (Thursday, 11 a.m.)

CITRUS NUMBERS UPDATED: The final citrus forecast for Florida’s 2018-2019 growing season will be announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Thursday, noon.)

—-Compiled by the News Service of Florida and FlaglerLive

In Coming Days in Palm Coast, Flagler and the Occasional Beyond:

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A Twitter List by PierreTristam

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 June 28, 2019, with a link to the full week in review here.

Click to access week-in-review-june-28-2019-development.pdf

Cultural Coda

J. S. Bach’s Organ Concerto After Johann Ernst, BWV 592