- December 14, 2025
+ Motorcycle rider killed on Matanzas Woods
Anthony D. Rogers, 19, was killed at about 2:30 a.m. Saturday, April 7, when he crashed his motorcycle on Matanzas Woods Parkway.
The passenger on the bike, Lauren Kashtan, 17, sustained serious injuries and was transported to Florida Hospital Flagler.
Relatives of both teens were notified by the Florida Highway Patrol.
According to the report, the motorcycle was traveling westbound on Matanzas Woods Parkway. It failed to negotiate a curve and crashed into a palm tree before coming to a final rest in the ditch.
+ Biker cut off on U.S. 1, in critical condition
A 49-year-old Palm Coast man was in critical condition Friday, April 6, after he slammed into the driver’s side of a car on U.S. 1, according to a release by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The motorcyclist was travelling northbound in the left lane on U.S. 1 around 9:30 a.m. Richard Deeves, 88, of Palm Coast, was stopped facing westbound in the left-turn lane on Matanzas Woods Parkway at the intersection of U.S. 1.
Deeves began to cross Matanzas Woods. The man on the motorcycle, who was wearing a helmet, attempted to stop but struck the driver’s side of Deeves’ Dodge Neon.
The biker, whose name is not released because his relatives had not been notified, was ejected from his 2010 Harley-Davidson and sustained major injuries, according to the report.
+ Firehouse Subs donates $10,000 for training
Flagler County Fire Marshall Bob Growick applied for a competitive grant administered by Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, and the county was informed last week that it received a $10,000 grant to pay for fire extinguisher training material and a trailer to contain and haul the equipment.
In the past, the demonstrations were done using department funds. The training package will eliminate the need for extra fire extinguishers and pans.
Flagler County Fire Rescue Chief Don Petito said the equipment will assist in the department’s ability to conduct the extinguisher training.
“Having a fire extinguisher handy is good,” Petito said. “Knowing how to use it safely in an emergency is better. This grant will help us provide training to the community.”
+ Pennsylvania teen arrested for faking kidnapping
Robert Geroux,19, of Pennsylvania, was arrested April 7 for tampering with or destroying evidence and for a felony charge of making a false report of being abducted two days earlier from a Pennsylvania shopping mall.
He was released from the Flagler County Inmate Facility after posting $5,000 bail.
Deputies said Geroux approached them around April 7 at Old Kings Road North and Celico Way, claiming to have been abducted at gunpoint at an ATM.
He said the man ordered him to drive south to Florida, stopping at ATMs along the way until they ran out of gas. Then, near Graham Swamp, on Colbert Lane, the man allegedly took his laptop and wallet and walked into the woods, threatening to kill the teen if he left the car.
After several minutes, Geroux hitchhiked to a gas station on Old Kings Road, he told deputies.
An extensive search in the Graham Swamp area then began for the abductor. Volusia County Sheriff’s Office Air One conducted an aerial search, and Flagler County Sheriff’s K-9 units searched the ground.
Eventually, deputies discovered the teen had been reported missing Thursday, April 5, by his mother. The teen later admitted to investigators that he had set fire to his wallet and clothes as part of the faked abduction.
“There was an extensive amount of manpower that was called into service as a result of this man’s reckless actions,” said Flagler County Sheriff Donald Fleming. “This resulted in unnecessary expenses that impacted two law enforcement agencies.”
+ Carver Center online auction opens for bidding
The second-annual online auction to raise money for the George Washington Carver Community Center in Bunnell will run until May 17.
There are 58 items currently listed for auction, including kayak tours, dog training and restaurant gift certificates.
“We’ve got a lot of great stuff, and I hope everyone will bid high and bid often,” said Barbara Revels, who chairs the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners and leads Carver Center fundraising efforts.
Last year, the auction raised more than $5,000.
County Commissioner George Hanns announced at the same meeting that $6,000 has already been contributed to the Wounded Warrior Project through a fundraising walk scheduled in May.
To see the full list of items and to bid, visit www.CarverFoundation.com/auction.
+ Flagler ambulances get a jolt of technology
Flagler County Fire Rescue landed a $485,000 Federal Firefighters Assistance Grant for 15 new heart monitors/defibrillators to be placed in county ambulances.
“The new heart monitors will have the latest technology and more advanced options to assist with treatment in the field,” Flagler County Fire/Rescue Chief Don Petito said. “The units will interface with Florida Hospital Flagler and transmit information via Bluetooth technology. The new heart monitors will (also) outperform the existing monitors.”
The total cost of the equipment is $607,860, with the grant paying for 80%.
+ Corrections
Joe Mayer is the county community services director.
Delays in the permitting process, not inspections, were the source of frustration for Farley’s owners. Also, it was not “thousands” for the architect, but “a” thousand.
+ Public Meetings
Palm Coast City Council — the next regular meeting is 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 17, at Palm Coast Community Center.
Flagler County Board of County Commissioners — the next County Commission workshop is 9 a.m. Monday, April 16, at the Emergency Operations Center.
• The next town hall meeting with County Commissioner Nate McLaughlin is 6 p.m. Thursday, April 26, at Hidden Trails Community Center, at 6108 Mahogany Blvd. in Daytona North.
Flagler County Economic Opportunity Council — the next regular meeting is 10:30 a.m. May 2, at the Government Services Building.
Flagler County School Board — the next regular meeting and workshop is 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 17, at the Government Services Building.
