ORMOND BEACH
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
ROARING FUNDRAISER PAGE 12A
VOLUME 11, NO. 52
THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2023
McMillans Opposition to fuel farm proposal grows acquire Observer Tough Volusia sides with citizens against fuel terminal project on Hull Road in. PAGE 3A
loss
Seabreeze fights to the end in 14-6 loss to Spruce Creek
Photo by Lauren Newman
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OBSERVER STAFF
John Walsh and his brother Matt Walsh have sold the Palm Coast Observer and Ormond Beach Observer. The buyers may be familiar to readers: Former editor Brian McMillan and his wife, Hailey, will take over as co-owners, effective immediately. “I couldn’t be more comfortable, or more proud, with Brian and Hailey McMillan carrying the Observer forward,” said John Walsh, who will be retiring as co-owner and publisher. “We’ve built this together, and we know that quality local news will continue to serve our communities.” Seeing a need for hyper local news in Palm Coast, in 2010, John Walsh partnered with Matt Walsh and Lisa Walsh, co-owners of Sarasota-based Observer Media Group Inc., to start the Palm Coast Observer, with Brian McMillan as editor. The Ormond Beach Observer was founded in 2012. The newspapers went on to win dozens of awards as members of the Florida Press Association. Brian McMillan left the Observer in 2022. When the opportunity arose, the McMillans formed McMillan Ink LLC and bought the Observers this week. Hailey McMillan, 41, will continue as the newspaper’s awardwinning page designer. “I’m back because I believe in the mission of these newspapers,” said Brian McMillan, 43. “The Walshes have been gracious and wise mentors, and Hailey and I consider them to be family.” “It’s a sad day and a great day — sad because my wife and business partner, Lisa, and my brother, John, are sad to be selling the Palm Coast and Ormond Beach Observers. But it’s a great day because we could not be happier to have Brian and Hailey McMillan as the buyers,” Matt Walsh said. “Family and health circumstances made Lisa and me reach this tough decision to sell. But we do so with great pride in what John, Brian and our Palm Coast and Ormond Beach colleagues contributed to Palm Coast and Ormond Beach over the past 13 years of our ownership. “They helped make their communities better by keeping people informed and helped make the local economies better by helping local businesses promote their products and services — the essential roles of a local newspaper. “I know, because of Brian’s and Hailey’s talents and values, they will take the Observers and Observerlocalnews.com to new, higher and better levels,” Matt Walsh said.
Freddie Scott (27) receives the kick with the support of Denali Campbell (1) in the game against Spruce Creek.
Hurricane delays hearing for local land purchase
GIVING GARDENS
FDEP’s Florida Forever to consider 1,200-acre property at a later date. PAGE 5A
CAMPUS ARREST
Student-led organization provides fruits and vegetables to communities in need. PAGE 3B
Student arrested for bringing gun to school. PAGE 11A
PUT YOUR PHONES AWAY
School Board members want consequences for students who record, share fights to social media. PAGE 11A
SPORTS SIDELINES Seabreeze’s volleyball players take self-defense class; DSC hires first flag football coach. PAGE 6B
Preparing for Idalia
‘Horrible, horrific mistake’ ONLINE COVERAGE: Bunnell principal, teacher put on administrative leave as Flagler Schools investigates assemblies targeting African American students. Flagler Schools Interim Superintendent LaShakia Moore answers questions at a press conference Aug. 24.
TURTLE TRACKS Total nests: 1,509 New nests: 5 Hatched eggs: 52.9K Green nests: 253 Loggerhead nests: 1.2K Leatherback nests: 5 Kemp’s Ridley nests: 4 Nests in Ormond: 172 Nests in Ormond-by-the-Sea: 527
Didn’t get any sandbags this storm? The site at Nova Rec remains open.
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INDEX
Calendar..................... PAGE 2B Cops Corner............... PAGE 6A Letters.......................PAGE 12A Public Notices............ PAGE 8B Sports......................... PAGE 4B Real Estate..................PAGE 7B
Photo by Michele Meyers
Healthy beats Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
NASCAR driver Garrett Smithley joins Kevin Kyle, CEO of Germfree at Daytona State College’s Advanced Technical Institute.
AdventHealth promotes cardiac care and health screenings, donates AEDs to Seabreeze High.
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