- April 19, 2024
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Sheriff Rick Staly joined “Deputy Uncle Sam” from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 17 on traffic enforcement duty. Deputy Greg Nunziato dressed as Uncle Sam one day before Tax Day to remind drivers to obey traffic laws, and Nunziato and Staly tracked speeders by radar near Cypress Point Parkway and Palm Coast Parkway, according to a Flagler County Sheriff's Office news release.
At one point, Nunziato signaled to Staly that a driver had violated the posted speed. Staly initiated a traffic stop, but let the driver off with a warning.
"We take traffic enforcement very seriously, but we also like to keep things interesting," Staly said. "Having Uncle Sam running radar on a main road forced a lot of cars to slow down. I encourage everyone to obey traffic laws so that you don’t spend your tax refund on traffic citations."
Flagler County residents can discard unused and expired medications at locations in Palm Coast and Flagler Beach on Saturday, April 29, during National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.
The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes prescription as well as over-the-counter medications, according to news releases from the Flagler County Sheriff's Office and the Flagler Beach Police Department.
National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day collection will be at these=:
The event is organized by the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration, and sites will be staffed by Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies in Palm Coast and by Flagler Beach Police Department officers in Flagler Beach.
No personal information is required for residents to drop off medication.
Last spring, more than 423 pounds of unwanted medication was dropped off in Flagler County for this event, according to the Sheriff's Office news release.
The Florida Historical Society has paid homage to Flagler County in print, as well as through public radio and television as the county celebrates its centennial this year, according to a Flagler County government news release.
Dr. Ben Brotemarkle — executive director of the Florida Historical Society and host of the weekly public radio program and the public television series, both named “Florida Frontiers” — visited Flagler County to interview local residents and historians, including Flagler County Attorney Al Hadeed, as well as Centennial Committee Chairman Carl Laundrie and and Vice-chairman Sisco Deen, among others.
“We’re very happy to be part of the Flagler County centennial,” Brotemarkle said at the premiere viewing of the television production held at the Flagler Auditorium earlier this week.
It airs at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 7, on the WUCF-TV public television station.
Brotemarkle hosted both radio and television programs, and wrote a piece titled “Taking a look back at the Bulow Plantation, Mala Compra” that ran in “Florida Today” on April 12, and is available at myfloridahistory.org. The Florida Frontiers radio program is embedded in the centennial web page, www.flaglercounty.org/centennial.
“It is an incredible honor that the state would recognize our unique history and capture it in a documentary for public TV,” Hadeed said.
The main Flagler County Centennial Celebration event will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 29 at the Government Services Complex at 1769 E. Moody Blvd. in Bunnell. Activities include: classic car show, photo contest, music, Kids’ Zone, food trucks, historic re-enactments and re-enactors and more. Everything is free, except for the food trucks.
For additional information, go to flaglercounty.org/centennial.
Conditions are getting drier in Flagler County, and taking a few precautions now can go a long way to protect homes from the brush fires common this time of year, according to a Flagler County government news release.
“Research and science have proven that taking a couple of simple action steps can reduce the risk to your home and property,” Flagler County Fire Rescue Chief Don Petito said in the news release. “A fire cannot burn without fuel, so the idea is to clear the area around your house of things that can burn.”
The rule of thumb accepted by a variety of fire prevention agencies, including the National Fire Protection Association, is that all flammables within 30 feet of a structure should be removed. This includes stacks of firewood, portable propane tanks and dead, dry vegetation.
Additionally, homeowners should clear roofs, eaves, gutters, wood decks and patios of leaves, needles and other debris. Do not store things under decks or porches, and consider using rocks or gravel in those areas instead grass or mulch.
“Wood-driven fires, like brushfires, create embers that can be carried quite far,” Deputy Fire Chief Joe King said. “They seem to find their way to the same nooks and crannies where leaves tend to accumulate, so keep these areas clear of this debris.”
Currently, there is no burn ban in Flagler County.
“Please be careful with barbecue coals, and don’t toss cigarette butts out of car windows,” Petito said. “You can help us keep everyone in the county safe.”
For more information, go to flaglercounty.org/firewise.
The Flagler Beach Police Department and the Flagler Beach 7-Eleven store have partnered to host “Doughnuts with Doughney” on at 8-10 a.m. Monday, May 15, according to a news release from the Flagler Beach Police Department.
The Flagler Beach 7-Eleven convenience store is located at 408 S. Oceanshore Blvd.
"Doughnuts with Doughney" is similar to “Coffee with a Cop,” giving the public an opportunity to meet and speak openly with Flagler Beach Police Chief Matthew Doughney about issues and/or concerns in Flagler Beach.
“During the first four months of 2017, our city has been impacted by some high-profile special events like Bike Week and Spring Break, and we welcome our citizens' feedback on how these events went from their perspective,” Doughney said in the news release. Topics of discussion can range from speeding complaints to sea dune parking concerns, Doughney said in the news release.
Sheriff Rick Staly is one of only 30 sheriffs in the United States selected to attend the National Sheriffs’ Institute (NSI) in Aurora, Colorado, according to a news release from the Flagler County Sheriff's Office.
Staly will attend the NSI from April 24th through April 28th and is the first Flagler County Sheriff invited to attend NSI in the FCSO's 100-year history. Only one other Sheriff from Florida was invited to attend. The NSI is the only executive leadership program developed specifically for county sheriffs. Sheriff S
“I’m honored to be chosen to attend the National Sheriffs’ Institute and represent Flagler County and Florida Sheriffs at this prestigious class,” Staly said in the news release.
The NSI selects up to 30 first-term sheriffs from across the country to attend the institute and only offers the program twice per year.
There are more than 3,000 sheriffs in the United States. The program is funded entirely by the federal government at no cost to local taxpayers, including travel, lodging and meals.
Flagler County Fire Rescue and FireFlight flight operations were inspected recently by the Bureau of Emergency Medical Oversight and the Federal Aviation Administration, respectively, and both were found to have “no deficiencies," according to a news release from the Flagler County government.
The Florida State Department of Health Division of Emergency Medical Services conducted its Compliance Monitoring Site Survey on March 30. The inspection included a review of the following records: paramedic licensure and training; narcotic storage and usage; medical director licensure; protocols and policies; equipment and supplies on all vehicles, including the helicopter; and, compliance with the Emergency Medical Service Tracking and Reporting System (EMSTARS).
“Your vehicles and service records were outstanding,” wrote State Department of Health Emergency Medical Services Administrator Steve McCoy in a letter to Deputy Chief Joe King. “Also, please extend my sincere gratitude to your staff for their assistance and for the overall contribution to your service and community. Your continued support of emergency medical services is deeply appreciated.”
Emergency Medical Services Medical Director Kristin McCabe-Kline, who is also Chief of Staff at Florida Hospital Flagler, also sent a note to Chief Don Petito.
“Strong work,” she wrote. “I appreciate your expertise and leadership.”
The FAA Maintenance Inspector performed a three-hour inspection on the Flagler County Fire Rescue Flight Operations on April 12 and also found with “no deficiencies.”
“(Pilot) Todd Whaley also completed his Part 135 (certification), a five-hour aural and flight check with two FAA inspectors,” said Flagler County Flight Operations Chief Dana Morris.
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater and the Florida Department of Financial Services invite the public to attend Operation S.A.F.E., Be Scam Smart, a free workshop for seniors, their families and caregivers, according to a news release from the city of Palm Coast government.
The workshop will be offered 10-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 2, at Palm Coast City Hall Community Wing at 160 Lake Ave., and again 10-11:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 3, at the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Operations Center at 901 E. Moody Blvd. in Bunnell.
The local workshops are being offered in partnership with the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office and the city of Palm Coast. There is no need to sign up in advance.
The workshops will provide information on how to spot fraudulent behavior, common scams that target seniors and how to fight identity theft. Be Scam Smart workshops are open to seniors, their family and caregivers to help inform, empower and protect seniors from financial scams and fraud.
The Be Scam Smart workshop is part of the Department of Financial Services’ Operation S.A.F.E. (Stop Adult Financial Exploitation) as part of CFO Atwater’s On Guard for Seniors initiative.
For more information, contact Sgt. Michael Lutz of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office at [email protected] or 386-586-2623.
