Eric Cooley, 43, serves on three Flagler Beach advisory boards and has been a near-permanent presence at city commission meetings, speaking for business and echoing McGrew, who may not run again.
All Else
Evidence Was Illegally Obtained, But Judge Rules It Admissible In Dykes Child-Sex Case
The defense’s attempt to suppress illegally obtained evidence against Paul Dykes, the Palm Coast man accused of raping a child, fell to an exception to the Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate oneself.
2 Men Shot on Seamanship Trail in Seminole Woods; Sheriff Looking For Woman of Interest
Two men were critically wounded in a shooting involving “a lot” of gunshots after midnight this morning outside 28 Seamaship Trail, Sheriff Rick Staly said from the scene.
Monday Briefing: Paul Dykes Trial, Staly-McDonald-Hansen Town Hall, Emergency Radios, Fantastique
Sheriff Staly, Commissioner Hansen and School Board member McDonald jointly appear in a town hall, Paul Dykes goes on trial on child-rape charges, the county commission talks emergency communications.
Where Buying Marijuana is Legal, But There’s Nowhere to Smoke It
Even where it’s legal to sell it, it’s typically illegal to smoke or ingest the drug in dispensaries, bars, restaurants, city parks and public streets. Why?
The 34th Annual Palm Coast Yacht Club Holiday Boat Parade Set For Dec. 16
Mayor Milissa Holland will serve as Grand Marshall for this year’s Holiday Boat Parade, which in 2016 drew a record 33 boats along the Intracoastal.
A Man For All Seasons, Sisco Deen Is Flagler County Veteran Of the Year
Recognized at today’s county ceremony marking Veterans Day, Sisco Deen served two decades in various branches of the military, including during the Vietnam War, and is the long-time archivist of the Flagler County Historical Society.
Veterans Weekend Briefing: Other Desert Cities, Plaza Suite, Creekside Festival, Veterans’ Time, Bolton, Berlioz and Roth
It’s Veterans Weekend, with Creekside Festival at Princess Place, two great plays, John Bolton at GOP’s dinner, a fundraiser foir the Flagler Beach Museum, Berlioz and Faure and Philip Roth.
Flagler Beach And Troubled Golf Course Aim For Reset But Still At Odds Over “Bad Business”
The president of the troubled Ocean Palms Golf Course promised city government to be more hands-on, but the two sides remain at odds over how much compensation is owed.
Matanzas High Student Fabricates Gun Incident, But School’s “Security Status” Was Not Changed
A Matanzas High School student’s fabrication of a gun sighting on campus around noon today led to a localized lockdown in the school’s parking lot, car searches and a lot of police activity on campus.
In City Rep Theatre’s “Other Desert Cities,” A Recognizable Family At War With Itself
The Jon Robin Baitz play opening Friday at Palm Coast’s City Rep Theatre explores in darkly comic tenors a family’s reverberations through Vietnam, the Iraq war and the present.
Thursday Briefing: Flagler Beach’s Troubled Golf Club, Sailing Central Park, Evening at Whitney, Nabokov’s Trains
The Flagler Beach City Commission tries to break an impasse over troubled management of Ocean Palm golf course, a new club has mini-cail boats in Palm Coast’s Central Park, Nabokov on trains.
Hidden Lakes Opposition Muted as Palm Coast Council Approves Rezoning For Potential Apartments
The rezoning opens the way for what could be a 136-unit apartment complex off Old Kings Road near State Road 100, with a gas station also slated the nearby corner.
A Bit Soggy Still, Princess Place Re-Opens Segments In Time For Creekside Festival
The majority of the trails will remain closed until further notice due to flooding, but the two-day Creekside Festival is on with live music, food, crafts and play zones.
Appeals Court Rejects Patrick Hannon Stay, Will Be 26th Executed On Gov. Scott’s Watch
A federal appeals court rejected Hannon’s claim that a new state death-penalty requirements relating to the unanimity of juries should be applied to his case. He murdered two men in 1991.
Palm Coast Opioid Dealer’s Arrest Points Only To Fractional, Street-Level Source of Crisis
Palm Coast’s Joseph Colon, 34, has been in and out of jail and prison over drug dealing for years, but his arrest on heroin and fentanyl trafficking charges masks the much broader, more legal source of the crisis.
Wednesday Briefing: Chief Bovino Goes FBI, Giving Store Luncheon, Public Safety Council, Property Taxes
The Sheriff’s Office’s Paul Bovino will go to the FBI Academy, Flagler County Volunteer Services host a lunch for the Giving Store, mass shootings need not be inevitable.
Flagler County Walks Away From $35 Million In Beach-Repair Money: “It’s Them Abandoning Us”
Flagler county officials put the blame squarely on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers when they explain why they walked away from $35 million, and why county and state dollars must step in as replacement.
Tuesday Briefing: Apartments on Old Kings, $1.2 Million Auditorium Renovation, Don O’Brien Is 58, Sanctuary Cities
The Palm Coast council considers rezoning a segment along Old Kings Road for apartments, the Flagler Auditorium finally looks ready to move with a $1.2 million renovation of bathrooms and office space, the Legislature takes on sanctuary cities.
KKK Fliers Targeting Jews Dropped in Front of Flagler Beach Homes, Latest in Multi-City
Rash From Same Hate Group
The KKK flier attacks Jews and warns of “white extinction,” and is from the same group that’s been dropping fliers in Florida, North Carolina and Virginia since the Charlottesville rally of white supremacists.
Suspect In Custody After Pursuit Shuts Down Portions of Belle Terre and Disrupting School Busing
A high-speed chase that went into Quail Hollow turned into an extensive search on foot and by air in Palm Coast’s Z-Section as a suspected car thief ran into the woods this afternoon just before 3 p.m.
FEMA Impostors Reported in Nearby Communities
Flagler County Emergency Management is warning residents that individuals misrepresenting themselves as FEMA staff have been reported in neighboring communities. The Federal Emergency Management Agency requires all of its employees to wear a lanyard with their FEMA badges prominently displayed when making formal contact with the public. “It has come to my attention that individuals […]
House Tax Bill: Penalty For No Health Coverage Stays, Medical-Cost Deduction Goes
The medical deduction, originally created in World War II, is available only to taxpayers whose expenses are above 10 percent of their adjusted gross income.
Monday Briefing: 8 New Jobs at County Public Works, ACLU Meeting, Florida Forever, Child Marriages
Flagler County government’s public works division is adding many jobs, the tourism division continues its drunken-sailor sprees, child marriages in Florida.
Truck Terror Attacks May Be a Sign of ISIS Weakness, But They’re Very Hard to Stop
As ISIS loses territory on the battlefield, lone-actor assaults are expected to increase. The question for cities is what more can be done to protect against such attacks.
L’Darius Smith, 21, Acquitted of Molesting 2 Step-Sisters; Jury Finds Guilt on Minor Charge
Palm Coast’s L’Darius Smith could have faced 15 years in prison on accusations he molested girls age 8 and 9 but was essentially acquitted.
A New, Not Much Improved A1A in Flagler Beach: Median, 30MPH, Drainage, But No Added Protection
The state transportation department presented details of the summer construction of A1A from South 9th to South 22nd streets. The project got mixed reviews from Flagler Beach residents.
Weekend Briefing: FreedomFest At County Airport, Plaza Suite, First Friday in Flagler Beach, Intracoastal Cleanup
It’s FreedomFest with military planes, a jet-truck and other displays at the county airport, FPC thespians stage one act-plays, cyclists all over Flagler, cleaning up the Intracoastal.
Gary R. St. Peter, 67, Is Killed, Another Man Injured As Their Mustang Overturns Off A1A Near Surf Club
Gary Robert St. Peter was killed and David Zlokas, 64, injured when their car careened off State Road A1A, within a few feet of the Surf Club condominiums, at 10 p.m. tonight.
Can Gov. Scott Appoint 3 Justices On Last Days in Office? Supreme Court Takes On Potential Constitutional Crisis
The three justices, who face a mandatory retirement age, are part of what is widely considered a liberal bloc, which now holds a slim 4-3 majority.
Accused of Molesting 2 Girls When He Was 15 and 16, a 21-Year-Old Winks and Plays To Camera
Now 21, L’Darius Smith was 15 or 16 when he allegedly molested two girls, 8 and 9, he was living with as siblings in Palm Coast five years ago. He did not act as if he were on trial today.
New RaceTrac Gas Station Coming To Old Kings and SR100, Apartment Complex Eyed
Hidden Lakes residents spoke in opposition to a zoning change allowing a 136-unit apartment complex at Old Kings Road just north of Kings Pointe.
Thursday Briefing: A1A Reconstruction Open House, FPC Thespians, Nancy Soderberg, Palm Coast Yacht Club
The State Transportation Department unveils its plan for rebuilding SRA1A in Flagler Beach, Democratic hopeful Nancy Soderberg speaks in Palm Coast, plays staged at FPC and Flagler Playhouse.
Potential Ballot Proposals Include Older Retirement Age For Judges, Ending Death Penalty, Restoring Bright Futures
the Florida Constitution Revision Commission have filed 64 proposals, but a measure needs support from 22 of the 37 commission members to make it to the 2018 election ballot.
Accused of Brutalizing Pregnant Ex, Palm Coast Man Sought Voodoo To Induce Miscarriage
Patrick Leroy, a 29-year-old resident of Shady Lane in Palm Coast, faces nine charges stemming from incidents in which he allegedly threatened to kill his ex-girlfriend and harm her 4-year-old son.
How 2nd Grader at Old Kings Got Whole School District and 2 Other Counties To Go Green
Students boycotted the use of plastic trays on the way to convincing the administration to adopt more eco-friendly, biodegradable paperboard lunch trays that don’t harm oceans, as plastics do.
Sheriff Tamps Down Rumors and Quackery of Antifa Apocalypse in Palm Coast This Weekend
Conspiracy theorists have been in overdrive, inventing the coming of violent protests, even in Palm Coast, designed to overthrow Trump this weekend. The rumors are false.
Wednesday Briefing: Dia de los Muertos, Auditorium’s Holiday Extravaganza, Philip Levine, Elephant Warriors
The Auditorium kicks off its new season with an evening open house, students at Old Kings Elementary introduce environmentally friendly dining room trays, warriors protecting elephants.
Gargiulo Foundation Committing to $100,000 Sculpture Garden in Palm Coast’s Town Center
The Gargiulo Art Foundation is proposing to put up a sculpture garden in Town Center, an echo of the Palm Coast Arts Foundation’s own plans for art in public places.
Obamacare Enrollment Opens Wednesday For 5th Year: 5 Things You Should Know
Despite the efforts of President Donald Trump and the Republican-led Congress, the Affordable Care Act is still the law of the land. But there are changes.
In Rare Rejection of Plea Deal, Judge Wants Prison For Woman In Molestation Case
Palm Coast’s Maria Howell, accused of molesting a teen, was ready to plead to 10 years’ probation, but Judge Dennis Craig rejected the plea, asking for prison time.
Sheriff Deploys Skeletal Traffic Unit To Chase After Speeders on Halloween
The Halloween detail is focusing on speeding and aggressive driving as deputies and detectives also visit 21 sex offenders banned from handing out candy.
Uncertainty On Generators at Nursing Homes After Governor’s Order Is Invalidated
Gov. Rick Scott’s administration appealed the order to the 1st District Court of Appeal and claims the rules remain in effect during the appeal.
Tuesday Briefing: Halloween Chill, Cultural Arts Grants, Maria Howell Plea, FEMA Deadline, Twain and Money
The Palm Coast Council awards $30,000 in cultural grants to 11 organizations, Maria Howell pleads over an accusation of molesting a teen on an Epic date, Hall of Terror and movie night.
Flagler Beach’s Golf Course Closed Again, Its Fate Uncertain, As Dispute With City Leads To Impasse
Golf course management and Flagler Beach government are at serious odds over money owed (by both sides) in a dispute that has the city talking about re-advertising for new management.
At State Conference, Democrats Mostly In Lockstep Begin to Line Up For Governor’s Race
There were few differences in the responses from former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham of Tallahassee, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum and Winter Park businessman Chris King.
Palm Coast Manager Jim Landon Sells Home, Bought in 2009, For $103,000 Profit
Landon sold the 2,600-square-foot house on Palm Coast’s Edge Place for $388,000, a price 36 percent above that paid in 2009, a significant profit for a city where property values are still well below their pre-crash peak.
Lawmakers Moving To Put a Leash On
Bogus Service Dogs As Abuses Proliferate
Though Florida two years ago tightened some service dog regulations, it’s still easy to acquire or pass off any animal as a service animal. Other states are working to tighten their laws.
County Road 13 Re-Construction Nears Completion $1 Million Under Budget
The project, started in May, was paid for through a pair of state grants totaling $3.6 million. Money not used returns to the state, to be awarded on other projects.
Verdego’s T.J. McNitt Appointed 21st Member of Florida Hospital Flagler Foundation
McNitt was born and raised in Flagler County and is the owner Verdego Landscaping Company. He cares deeply about the community and becoming a Foundation board member is his first step into community service.