- March 28, 2024
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+ City releases report on sidewalk progress
A full list of sidewalks currently under construction or to be developed in Palm Coast, along with costs and timelines corresponding to each, has been compiled and released to the public.
The project plans include four major sidewalk designs, totaling nearly 11 miles of newly constructed pathways. See www.palmcoastobserver.com for the full breakdown.
+ Feed Flagler raises $7,680 for pantries
Flagler County Commissioner Milissa Holland presented checks totaling $7,680 Wednesday, March 26, to the Flagler Food Pantry and Grace Tabernacle Ministries.
The money was raised from the Feed Flagler Thanksgiving meal provided in November, at 10 locations throughout the county. According to Rev. Charles Silano, of Grace Tabernacle Ministries, the money will help his organization purchase about 20 tons of food.
+ 88-year-old injured in five-car crash
An 88-year-old woman was placed in critical condition Sunday afternoon following a five-car pile-up at the Hammock Dunes toll bridge, according to state troopers.
Wilma Hopler, 88, was stopped at the toll plaza on Palm Coast Parkway when Kenneth Norton, 56, neared the stopped cars at a high rate of speed. Norton stopped too late and slammed into Hopler, causing a domino-effect crash.
Charges are pending a blood test on Norton, according to the report. Hopler endured critical injuries.
+ Public Meetings
Palm Coast City Council — the next regular workshop is 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 12, at City Offices.
Flagler County Board of County Commissioners — the next workshop is 9 a.m. Monday, April 11, at the Emergency Operations Center.
Flagler County School Board — the next regular meeting is 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 19, at Government Services Building.
+ School considers Bulldog Drive design
Renovations to Bulldog Drive have been in the works for about 1.5 years, according to Superintendent Janet Valentine.
A city-sponsored improvement project, renovations could be conducted at no cost to the school district, she said. In order to improve traffic flow and drainage on Town Center and Flagler Palm Coast High School grounds, staff recommended a plan including a four-lane roadway, with curb and gutter, a cement sidewalk on the east side of the street, a 10-foot multi-use path on the high school side, a 24-foot raised landscape median and ponds. Still in the design stages, the projected design, right-of-way and construction costs are more than $4.7 million.
+ Board approves United Healthcare for 2011-2012
Choosing a healthcare provider for the 2011-2012 school year has been a “long, exhausting and frustrating” process, according to School Board member Colleen Conklin.
When it comes to provider preference, Flagler teachers are divided — 52% want to stay with the current United Healthcare plan, while 48% want to return to Florida Healthcare/Blue Cross Blue Shield, according to a survey conduced by the district Insurance Committee.
After 30-plus minutes of teachers, healthcare workers and community members taking the podium in board chambers to express support for either provider, School Board member Andy Dance motioned to approve United Healthcare as the district’s primary health insurance carrier.
“This is probably one of the tougher decisions we’ve come to,” he said, “… (but) I think we need to give them another year.” Board Member Trevor Tucker seconded, and the motion was carried four to one. Colleen Conklin opposed.
“I’m sure you’ll be there for us,” Board Chairwoman Sue Dickinson told United Healthcare representatives. “You have heard our concerns … We do know you’re there for us.”
+ Four jailed for stalking felonies, weapons charges
Within two days, four arrests were made for threats and aggravated stalking, according to deputy affidavits.
The first arrest, April 1, William R. Johnson, was made at 300 Shady Oaks Lane for “cyberstalking via email the petitioner of an injunction.”
The second arrest, April 1, Michael J. Ordakowski, was for writing and/or electronically composing through text message threats of death or bodily harm to the victim and his family. Within 90 minutes, the defendant allegedly sent more than 20 text messages threatening the defendant with descriptions of his gun collection.
The third arrest, April 2, James L. Stipes, charged the defendant with repeatedly following, harassing and/or cyberstalking with threats of injury or death. The defendant was arrested outside of his residence on County Road 80, according to reports, in possession of a .12-gauage shotgun.
The fourth arrest, April 2, Steven E. Barneski, was for aggravated stalking after injunction, tampering with victim/witness and domestic battery. The arrest was made at Beach Village. Barneski was transported the Flagler County Inmate Facility without incident.
Ordakowski was charged with a bond of $50,000.
+ T-bone crash sends 81-year-old to hospital
A Palm Coast man was airlifted to Halifax Health Medical Center Friday after being hit by a tractor-trailer at the intersection of county roads 305 and 302, according to state troopers. Merl Arbogast, 81, was traveling on County Road 302 when he intersected the path of a southbound Peterbilt tractor-trailer, resulting in a T-bone collision. The driver of the truck, Robert Jordan, 58, of Alabama, was not injured. Arbogast suffered serious injuries.
+ Flagler Health Department ranked 17th of 67 in Florida
The 2011 National County Health Rankings was released Wednesday, March 30, and Flagler County’s health department was ranked 17th out of 67 counties, down from last year’s ranking of No. 13. For a full list of results, go to www.county healthrankings.org/florida/flagler.
— Compiled by Mike Cavaliere, [email protected]