In-person jury trials in Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia counties are suspended until further notice due to an upsurge in coronavirus, according to the Seventh Judicial Circuit. Attorneys received an e-mail saying coronavirus rates exceeded 10 percent in the three counties. A re-evaluation will take place next Friday. In-person trials will take place in Flagler, the fourth county in the circuit.
The appearance by the head of Flagler County’s shelter for victims of abuse on a controversial radio infomercial show hosted by a Flagler County commissioner has Flagler Beach commissioners looking at withdrawing support of the facility. Mayor Suzie Johnston brought up the issue at last week’s Flagler Beach Commission meeting. She was upset over the Family Life Center’s director being on the show hosted by County Commissioner Joe Mullins and is talking about withdrawing the city’s support. Mullins has been critical of the city on a variety of issues. A couple of city commissioners agreed that the center, one of a number of groups that get money from the city, should be supportive of the commission. The Center director Trish Giaccone was recently on the show to talk about the non-profit that runs the county’s only shelter for victims of abuse.
Putnam County Commission holds first reading of an ordinance today providing additional protection for the county’s historic statues and markers. The ordinance goes back to last year when a group led by a couple of local college students and some black leaders, protested the Confederate memorial on the Putnam County Courthouse lawn. The commission said if they could raise the estimated $250,000 needed to move the statue the issue would be reviewed. The group didn’t come up with the money. A number of people protested moving the monument and raised concerns over any moving of historical marker. Both groups are expected at today’s meeting.
A ceremony dedicating a legacy garden in honor of the late Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad is today at 5:30 p.m. at Putnam Community Medical Center. Dr. Ahmad, who imigrated from Pakistan, served the Putnam County community for more than 45 years. He died in 2020.
A case of road rage in Flagler County could have turned deadly and Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly is reminding people to stay calm in such situations. The incident Thursday afternoon occurred at the Island Walk Shopping Center in Palm Coast when a FedEx driver found his way blocked by a vehicle idling in the middle of the road. The two drivers ended up in a verbal argument and the FedEx driver says the other man pulled a gun on him. Flagler deputies were called to the scene but the other driver had already left. Derek Leon Wilson, 53, of Palm Coast, was spotted by a public service officer and stopped. He told deputies he had a weapon in the vehicle and they found ha 9 mm handgun for which he had a valid concealed carry permit. Wilson was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, third-degree felony. He was ordered to surrender his firearms to the sheriff’s custody, not to have contact with the alleged victim and booked into the Flagler County Jail. Wilson posted $15,000 bond the next day.
An ankle monitor led Putnam County Sheriff’s deputies to a man accused by his ex-girlfriend of kidnapping her early Sunday morning. Daniel Jason Smith, 39, is charged with kidnapping-false imprisonment after he allegedly kept the victim in his car and forcefully prevented her from getting out three times. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the two met in Interlachen and the victim willingly went with him in his car. However, she said Smith became paranoid and talked about “people and helicopters being after him. She tried to get out but he wouldn’t let her go. She was able to get out when the two were at Putnam Community Medical Center and employees saw what was happening. Smith who had an anchor monitor on was found to also have an active warrant for his arrest. He was tracked down to a gas station on State Road 19 in Palatka and arrested.
Flagler College’s baseball coach Dave Barnett has been elected to the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Barnett just finished his 34th season at the St. Augustine-based college. Barnett, who played professionally in the Expos farm system, has a 982-791 overall record, the 24th all-time in NCAA Division II.
Conservative activist Scott Presler will be at Azalea City Brewing in Palatka tonight, sponsored by the Putnam Republican Club Executive Board. A food truck will be on site from 4:45 to 6 p.m. Presler will be on hand from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Azalea City Brewing is at 120 South Seventh Street, the old Coca-Cola building.
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In-person jury trials in Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia counties are suspended until further notice due to an upsurge in coronavirus, according to the Seventh Judicial Circuit. Attorneys received an e-mail saying coronavirus rates exceeded 10 percent in the three counties. A re-evaluation will take place next Friday. In-person trials will take place in Flagler, the fourth county in the circuit.
The appearance by the head of Flagler County’s shelter for victims of abuse on a controversial radio infomercial show hosted by a Flagler County commissioner has Flagler Beach commissioners looking at withdrawing support of the facility. Mayor Suzie Johnston brought up the issue at last week’s Flagler Beach Commission meeting. She was upset over the Family Life Center’s director being on the show hosted by County Commissioner Joe Mullins and is talking about withdrawing the city’s support. Mullins has been critical of the city on a variety of issues. A couple of city commissioners agreed that the center, one of a number of groups that get money from the city, should be supportive of the commission. The Center director Trish Giaccone was recently on the show to talk about the non-profit that runs the county’s only shelter for victims of abuse.
Putnam County Commission holds first reading of an ordinance today providing additional protection for the county’s historic statues and markers. The ordinance goes back to last year when a group led by a couple of local college students and some black leaders, protested the Confederate memorial on the Putnam County Courthouse lawn. The commission said if they could raise the estimated $250,000 needed to move the statue the issue would be reviewed. The group didn’t come up with the money. A number of people protested moving the monument and raised concerns over any moving of historical marker. Both groups are expected at today’s meeting.
A ceremony dedicating a legacy garden in honor of the late Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad is today at 5:30 p.m. at Putnam Community Medical Center. Dr. Ahmad, who imigrated from Pakistan, served the Putnam County community for more than 45 years. He died in 2020.
A case of road rage in Flagler County could have turned deadly and Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly is reminding people to stay calm in such situations. The incident Thursday afternoon occurred at the Island Walk Shopping Center in Palm Coast when a FedEx driver found his way blocked by a vehicle idling in the middle of the road. The two drivers ended up in a verbal argument and the FedEx driver says the other man pulled a gun on him. Flagler deputies were called to the scene but the other driver had already left. Derek Leon Wilson, 53, of Palm Coast, was spotted by a public service officer and stopped. He told deputies he had a weapon in the vehicle and they found ha 9 mm handgun for which he had a valid concealed carry permit. Wilson was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, third-degree felony. He was ordered to surrender his firearms to the sheriff’s custody, not to have contact with the alleged victim and booked into the Flagler County Jail. Wilson posted $15,000 bond the next day.
An ankle monitor led Putnam County Sheriff’s deputies to a man accused by his ex-girlfriend of kidnapping her early Sunday morning. Daniel Jason Smith, 39, is charged with kidnapping-false imprisonment after he allegedly kept the victim in his car and forcefully prevented her from getting out three times. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the two met in Interlachen and the victim willingly went with him in his car. However, she said Smith became paranoid and talked about “people and helicopters being after him. She tried to get out but he wouldn’t let her go. She was able to get out when the two were at Putnam Community Medical Center and employees saw what was happening. Smith who had an anchor monitor on was found to also have an active warrant for his arrest. He was tracked down to a gas station on State Road 19 in Palatka and arrested.
Flagler College’s baseball coach Dave Barnett has been elected to the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Barnett just finished his 34th season at the St. Augustine-based college. Barnett, who played professionally in the Expos farm system, has a 982-791 overall record, the 24th all-time in NCAA Division II.
Conservative activist Scott Presler will be at Azalea City Brewing in Palatka tonight, sponsored by the Putnam Republican Club Executive Board. A food truck will be on site from 4:45 to 6 p.m. Presler will be on hand from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Azalea City Brewing is at 120 South Seventh Street, the old Coca-Cola building.
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