- April 26, 2024
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+ Children playing with fire may be responsible for weekend fire
An 11-year-old Palm Coast girl may be facing an arson charge in connection with a Saturday evening fire that began in a wooded lot in Palm Coast.
Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies, along with the Palm Coast Fire Department, responded to a fire in a wooded vacant lot across the street from 123 Pine Grove Drive around 6:42 p.m.
Deputies reported the blaze was about 15-feet in diameter with flames estimated at 20 feet high.
Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire and the State Fire Marshal was notified. Deputies said the father of the Palm Coast girl believed his daughter may have started the fire with a lighter taken from his garage. The youngster set the fire with other neighborhood children, according to deputies.
“We appreciate this girl’s father getting involved by letting us know what may have happened,” said Flagler County Sheriff Jim Manfre. “Our hope is that this child and the other children involved will get counseling on the dangers of their actions.”
+ Jobless rate at 10.3%
Unemployment dropped to 10.3% in Flagler County, according to the latest numbers released by the Center for Business Excellence.
Nonagricultural employment in the Palm Coast metro area (Flagler County) was 20,000 in February 2013. Total nonagricultural employment was up 200 jobs (+1.0%) over the year. Statewide, employment increased by 1.9% over the same time period.
• Three of the 10 major industries gained jobs over the year, led by professional and business services (+300 jobs); leisure and hospitality (+200 jobs); and mining, logging, and construction (+100 jobs).
• Manufacturing, information, other services, and government (-100 jobs each) lost jobs over the year.
• Education and health services and financial activities remained unchanged over the year.
• Professional and business services (+15.0%); mining, logging, and construction (+12.5%); and leisure and hospitality (+6.7%) employment grew faster in the Palm Coast metro area than in the state.
• The Palm Coast metro area had the highest employment growth rate in professional and business services (+15.0%) for all metro areas in Florida.
+ Rock 'n' Rib Fest announces entertainment lineup
The entertainment lineup for Palm Coast’s Rock 'n’ Rib Festival held Friday, April 12, and Saturday, April 13 is a little bit country and a little bit rock 'n' roll.
In addition to the headlining Eagles tribute band “The Long Run” Saturday night, this year’s Rock N’ Rib will host seven acts in Round 1 of the $100,000 Texaco Country Showdown Friday night and Saturday.
For the full lineup, see www.PalmCoastObserver.com.
Area professionals invited to Domestic Violence Summit
State Attorney R.J. Larizza is sponsoring an event 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, April 5, at Calvary Christian Center, 1687 W. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach.
The 2013 Circuit 7 Domestic Violence Summit is a free event designed for law enforcement and other professionals working with victims of domestic violence. Speakers include Larizza, Assistant State Attorney Michele Simonsen, Director of Programs for the Domestic Abuse Council Darlene Wolfson and Tania Schmidt-Alpers, this year’s recipient of the Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Award Winner for her years of representation of domestic violence victims.
+ Correction
Mentor meetings for the Flagler County School District will be held 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 8 and 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. April 11.
