- December 16, 2025
+ Flagler County officials urge caution with yard fires
With drought conditions worsening, Flagler County fire officials have reminded homeowners to exercise caution when burning leaves and other materials in their yards.
Grass clippings, leaves, tree limbs and palm fronds can be burned under the following conditions. The fire must be:
• 8 feet or less in diameter, or in a burn barrel; larger fires require a permit from the Florida Forest Service.
• 50 feet from a paved public road access.
• 25 feet from your home and 150 feet from other occupied structures.
Also, fires cannot be started until after 9 a.m. and must be out an hour before sundown.
It is illegal to burn household garbage, including paper products, treated lumber, plastics, rubber materials, tires, pesticides, paint and aerosol containers.
Fire Rescue Chief Don Petito advises residents to clean their gutters, remove dried landscaping and trim low-hanging tree branches.
+ 94-year-old missing Palm Coast woman found
Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies were searching for a 94-year-old Palm Coast woman who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease and had wandered away from her home Monday, Feb. 6, on Woodfield Drive, in Palm Coast.
Louise Ross had not been seen since 10 a.m., but deputies located her behind her home, on a trail in a wooded area, around 1:48 p.m.
Area residents may have seen or heard a helicopter in the area. Flagler County’s Fireflight assisted in the search by flying over the W-section of Palm Coast.
+ Palm Coast hotel evacuated on precautionary measure
Guests at the Holiday Inn, located at 200 Flagler Plaza Drive, were evacuated Saturday after the fire sprinklers flooded the first and second floors shortly before 2 p.m., according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. Firefighters did not find a fire.
Deputies said hotel staff relocated all guests from the hotel to another in the area while the building was checked.
+ Man beaten, robbed at European Village
Flagler County Sheriff’s detectives are investigating the Feb. 2 attack on a Palm Coast man at his European Village apartment, by a man whom he befriended.
The 60-year-old victim was knocked unconscious after he and his assailant entered the apartment unit on Palm Harbor Parkway. Detectives said the victim suffered multiple facial and head injuries, including a large gash to his head that was likely caused by a heavy object.
Deputies found a pool of partially dried blood on the floor near the victim’s bed. He was transported to Florida Hospital Flagler where he received more than 50 staples and stitches.
After regaining consciousness, the victim said his wallet and his prescription medications were missing. The prescription for oxycodone had been filled earlier Feb. 2.
Anyone with information is asked to call 313-4911.
+ Correction
Missing persons advocate Frank Micari was assisted by his friend, Chuck Coulter.
