PALM COAST
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 15, NO. 27
Flagler Fish Co. to expand 5A
FREE ON NEWSSTANDS | THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2024
Flagler Schools terrorist was how old? 11-year-old Virginia boy arrested for calls that shut down schools locally — and around the country. PAGE 3A
Inmate escaped from hospital After recapture, FSCO to begin review of how inmate escaped. PAGE 6A INSIDE AI IN SCHOOLS
Flagler Schools dives into AI initiative. Superintendent calls for ‘safety rails’ for students. PAGE 4A
A OR B FOR ALL
Flagler County School District receives B grade; all nine schools attain A or B grades PAGE 4A
HAGSTROM IN HALL
Flagler Palm Coast weightlifting coach Duane Hagstrom named to FACA Hall of Fame PAGE 9B
OLYMPICS AT HOME
Brian McMillan never competed in the Olympics himself. But don’t tell his son. PAGE 8B
SUMMER CONCERTS Palm Coast’s new concert series kicks of with country band Southern Chaos PAGE 1B
FOOTBALL PRIMER
Newcomers and most improved players to watch in local high schools PAGE 7B
League of their own First-time women’s soccer coach Ramtin Amiri led his team to a league championship. PAGE 6B The Royal Palms SC women’s team players Madison Bost (left) and Caitlynn Lewis (right) run drills at the Indian Trails Soccer Complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
AFFORDABILITY?
Palm Coast’s comprehensive plan includes ‘life-stage housing’ PAGE 2A
INDEX
Business..................... PAGE 5A Calendar..................... PAGE 2B Comics ....................... PAGE 5B Cops Corner............... PAGE 6A The Fine Arts.............. PAGE 4B Letters.......................PAGE 10A McMillan....................PAGE 10A Public Notices...........PAGE 10B Sports......................... PAGE 6B Real Estate................. PAGE 9B Veteran......................PAGE 10A
ELECTIONS2024
ELECTIONS2024
School Board candidates polite, positive at forum
Flagler County candidates discuss smart growth
The four candidates debated issues in three different forums on consecutive nights. BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR
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What impressed Travis and Leigh Anne Sundell the most about the July 29 Focus on Flagler Youth Coalition’s Flagler County School Board candidate forum was the civility among the four candidates. “Sometimes you come to these and they’re more arguments than a forum,” Travis Sundell said. “We got to hear where they stand without the negativity,” Leigh Anne Sundell added.
Want to read the full Election Two of the five School Guide?
Board seats are up for grabs in the Aug. 20 primary. Both seats will be occupied by new members (current members Colleen Conklin and Cheryl Massaro are retiring in November). Janie Ruddy is running against Derek Barrs for the District 3 seat. Ruddy, a former Teacher of the Year at Rymfire Elementary School, has 13 years of teaching experience and is currently the director of Professional Learning for n2y, which distributes special education software, curriculum and learning tools. Barrs, a former Florida Highway Patrol chief, has 33 years of experience in law enforceSEE SCHOOL PAGE 8A
SCAN HERE
The forum, hosted by NAACP, was one of two held at the African American Cultural Center on July 30. SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER
Flagler County’s commission candidates got a chance to tell voters their thoughts at a local political forum, but not many attendees were able to ask candidates their questions during the forum. The Flagler County branch of the NAACP hosted two back-to-back forums on July 30 at the African American Cultural Center, one for Fla-
gler County Commission candidates and one for Flagler School Board candidates. Three of the five Flagler County Commission seats are up for election in August and November. Commissioner Andy Dance is the only commissioner running for reelection, while Commissioners Donald O’Brien and David Sullivan have decided to step down from their seats, leaving the district 3 and 5 seats up for grabs. Not all the commission candidates were in attendance, though candidates from all three district seats were invited. Both candidates for the district 1 seat — Dance and opponent Fernando SEE COUNTY PAGE 8A