PALM COAST
Observer
FREE
ON NEWSSTANDS.
$79 / Y E A R
ON YOUR DRIVEWAY.
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 15, NO. 17
Three ways to support your local journalism: 1) scan the code, 2) call 386-447-9723, or 3) visit observerlocalnews.com/subscribe. THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2024
Lockdowns plague Flagler Schools ‘Swatting’ calls have rattled the district in its final days of the year. One copycat was arrested. PAGE 3A FLAGLER DUNES
Don’t tread on me Flagler County makes damaging beach dunes a misdemeanor punishable by $500 fine. PAGE 2A
Congrats, grads! Faces of the future: your graduating seniors from Flagler County schools PAGES 1B-8B
INSIDE COME TOGETHER
Ormond Beach, Hunter’s Ridge and Flagler County work toward a lawsuit resolution. PAGE 4A
NEW APARTMENTS
Palm Coast Council approves 264-unit apartment complex across from Imagine School PAGE 2A
SCHOOL INSURANCE
With insurance rates going up, School Board agrees to provide employee health care center PAGE 5A
CHANNELING TV
The Dance Method’s 2024 ‘TV Guide’ showcase PAGE 12A
Diego Costa is ranked No. 1 in the Flagler Palm Coast High School Class of 2024, receiving a Summa Cum Laude medal. He is enrolled in the IB program, participated Bridge Club, Leo Club and Future Problem Solvers. Costa will be attending University of Florida and hopes to become a paleontologist. Courtesy photo
HONOR DUE
Law enforcement agencies honor fallen in annual service PAGE 11A
TOP PICKLEBALLERS Two Flagler County Florida Pickleball League teams advance to nationals PAGE 10B
Cronk rules!
FPC star wins state shot gold silver in discus. PAGE 9B
Renner endorses Sam Greco to succeed him in District 19 seat
BOYS OF SPRING
Matanzas ends drills with Blue and White scrimmage PAGE 10B Sam Greco
INDEX
Calendar.................... PAGE 11A Comics ...................... PAGE 11B Cops Corner............... PAGE 6A Letters.......................PAGE 10A Public Notices...........PAGE 12B Sports......................... PAGE 9B Real Estate................. PAGE 9A Veterans....................PAGE 10A
FPC athlete Colby Cronk wins the 4A State Championship track and field meet in shot put with a 19.22 meter throw. Photo by Michele Meyers
Florida House Speaker Paul Renner has endorsed candidate Sam Greco to succeed him for the Florida House District 19 seat, representing both Flagler and St. Johns counties. Greco served as an active-duty JAG officer in the United States Navy from 2019-2024 and has transitioned to the Navy Reserves since. Greco is running for the Florida House of Representatives “to fight back against the liberals who want to ... turn Florida into California,” a press release said. He is a pro-life, pro-Second Amendment and profreedom conservative, he said. Greco’s Republican opponents are Darryl Boyer, Matthew Kent Nellans and James St. George. Thomas Morley is running as a Democrat.