St. Augustine News

Historic City News was notified today by Kevin Kelshaw with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office that three male subjects are wanted in connection with a burglary at Gate Trading Post in the 2700 block of A1A North that occurred early this morning.

Deputies responded to the business shortly after 5:00 a.m. after an employee arriving for work discovered the break in and the store ransacked.

http://historiccity.com/2008/09/05/north-beach-trading-post-burglarized

According to reports from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office received by Historic City News this evening, a 22-year old St. Johns County man has been arrested this afternoon on charges stemming from a home invasion robbery that occurred last December.

Violent Crimes Unit detectives arrested the suspect, identified as Micah Jon Oja-Dunaway, 22, 207 N. Matanzas Blvd., on a charge of home invasion robbery with a weapon following the issuance of an arrest warrant today.

http://historiccity.com/2008/09/05/arrest-made-in-home-invasion-robbery

A 39-year old St. Johns County man was arrested on charges of aggravated battery, kidnapping, and grand theft last week in connection with the beating of a Flagler County woman a little over a month ago according to a report received by Historic City News this afternoon.

Kevin Kelshaw, Media Relations Officer with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, says that Special Victims Unit detectives arrested the suspect, identified as Sean Jeffrey Holley, 22 Florida Ave., last week as a principal to the crime. During a subsequent interview he allegedly implicated another individual.

http://historiccity.com/2008/09/04/arrest-made-in-kidnapping-and-beating/

St. Augustine Mayor Joseph Boles was easily re-elected Tuesday. Boles defeated former City Commissioner Bill Lennon, 64, and former street performer Roger Jolley, 56.

Now that things are drying out, music is really picking up. It has the makings of a busy fall.

With all precincts reporting, St. Augustine lawyer R.J. Larizza beat incumbent John Tanner in the race for state attorney for the 7th Circuit.

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- Three homeless people were hurt -- two hospitalized in critical condition -- after they were beaten by three juveniles on Monday night, according to the St.

Harvard professor says "one-two punch" of medical issues, job loss taking toll. ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla.

After Tuesday’s victory by Mark Miner, Historic City News contacted the Commissioner Elect for his thoughts on the campaign and his future role as a commissioner.

Miner was successful in ousting one-term Commissioner Ben Rich from his seat in District 3; despite the fact that Rich, together with Ken Bryan, were ubiquitous throughout the past several months.

Miner’s opponent was the first candidate to register for re-election, reportedly to stifle individuals and groups who Rich said were publicly criticizing his actions in office for political reasons.

After complaining to Supervisor of Elections Penny Halyburton, Rich decided to become an “announced” candidate re-election, opening his campaign account on 3/9/2007, ostensibly to enable certain electioneering laws to apply that might hinder some of Rich’s most vocal detractors.

http://historiccity.com/2008/08/30/miners-reaction-to-winning-election

In a short noticed meeting that some speculated was bound to happen, three St. Johns County Commissioners – Ron Sanchez, Tom Manuel and Ben Rich, each joined together to place a charter government proposal back on the November ballot.

Many of the speakers in attendance — which included several former county commissioners, a noted state legislator, long time residents and the former Clerk of Court, pleaded with the current commission to accept the overwhelming defeat of the proposed charter government; which only Tuesday was voted down by over 15,000 St. Johns County voters.

http://historiccity.com/2008/08/29/commission-ignores-voters-charter-to-reappear

Jay Humphreys, Communications Director of the Visitors and Convention Bureau has asked Historic City News to remind our readers that this Saturday night, visitors to St. Augustine will find a special sense of excitement and fun along San Marco Avenue when the monthly Uptown Saturday Night sparkles to life.

From 5 p.m. until 9 p.m., the galleries, antique shops and unique stores between Ripley’s Believe It of Not! Museum and the Mission of Nombre de Dios in St. Augustine’s San Marco Shopping District will remain open. Not only does this last-Saturday-of-the-month event offer great shopping opportunities, it creates a party-like atmosphere with meet-the-artists, book signings, live music, refreshments and other special events.

http://historiccity.com/2008/08/28/san-marco-merchants-uptown-saturday-night

Historic City News contributed photo

Historic City News was informed that St. Johns County continues in the recovery stage following the severe weather brought last week by Tropical Storm Fay. In total, Fay dumped an estimated 9-12 inches of rain in St. Johns County and caused over one million dollars in damage to individual residences and businesses.

St. Johns County staff, including Emergency Management, Parks & Recreation, Engineering, Risk Management and the Property Appraiser’s Office worked closely with FEMA Damage Assessment Teams on Monday to survey the impact from Tropical Storm Fay. The time required to complete these assessments is increased because of the continued growth in many previously rural parts of the county. The FEMA Teams will submit their findings to their regional office for review. St. Johns County will be notified upon completion of the review whether the County meets the threshold for federal assistance.

http://historiccity.com/2008/08/27/st-johns-county-recovers-from-fay

Photo credit: Historic City News photographer Kerry McGuire

Roger Jolley is making another run for the St. Augustine City Commission — this time as Mayor. He made it clear to me in our interview this afternoon for Historic City News that he takes this race very seriously and thinks he can win.

Jolley’s opponents, current Mayor Joe Boles and former Commissioner Bill Lennon, have been making the circuit, speaking at public functions and have had campaign signs up for the past few weeks.

Frankly, today was the first time I saw a Roger Jolley sign but the candidate himself was out on Ponce de Leon Boulevard waving it near the Prosperity Bank polling location, so, I took the opportunity to find out a bit more about the candidate whose past campaigns have been very aggressive — but this time, not so much.

http://historiccity.com/2008/08/26/still-campaigning-through-the-day

Photo credit: Historic City News press photo

Beginning at about 7:00 PM tonight, the public will be able to follow the unofficial election results from the Supervisor of Elections office on her website at www.sjcvotes.us.

After the polls close this evening, the various precincts will begin the process of electronically downloading the results of ballots cast at their locations. This information will be tabulated by the Supervisor of Elections Office together with preliminary counts of absentee and early voting ballots.

Vicky Oakes, Assistant Supervisor of Elections, spoke with Historic City News this morning and provided helpful information about voting statistics currently available on the Supervisor’s website as well as the information to look for later this evening about today’s election.

http://historiccity.com/2008/08/26/wealth-of-info-online-about-today%e2%80%99s-election

Photo credit: Historic City News photographer Kerry McGuire

Historic City News has learned in an initial report from Sgt. Charles Mulligan this morning that two 17 year old juveniles are being booked at The Department of Juvenile Justice Facility adjacent to the county jail on Lewis Speedway.

The arrests are in connection with this morning’s aggravated battery and attempted robbery with a weapon against possible transients in an incident that reportedly occurred near SR 312; west of CBL Drive.

http://historiccity.com/2008/08/26/transient-robberies-and-batteries-reported

Photo credit: Historic City News photographer Kerry McGuire

The St. Johns County Public Library System and Flagler College Radio WFCF are pleased to host Grammy Nominee John McCutcheon in a FREE concert at Flagler Auditorium on Saturday, September 6, at 7:00 pm. according to an announcement received by Historic City News this morning

For nearly 35 years John McCutcheon has filled the air with songs – songs written for children as well as their parents, and songs that sing the wonders of the world. He’s mastered banjo, guitar, fiddle, autoharp and hammer dulcimer, to the point that Johnny Cash has called him “the most impressive instrumentalist I’ve ever heard.”

http://historiccity.com/2008/08/26/john-mccutcheon-returns-for-free-concert

Photo credit: Historic City News photographer Kerry McGuire

Cindy Hollingsworth informed Historic City News on behalf of the Airport Authority that the following conditions exist as of 5:00 p.m. this evening.

The airport will reopen at 5:00 p.m. tonight. The Tower will remain closed until 7:00 a.m. Saturday morning. We still have a lot of standing water so please be carefully and use good judgment.

http://historiccity.com/2008/08/22/reopening-of-st-augustine-airport

State Attorney John Tanner had the 7th Circuit Court issue a warrant today for the arrest of Tropical Storm Fay alleging that “with willful intent and malice aforethought” Fay has destroyed literally hundreds of his political campaign signs — signs which Tanner warned were not to be tampered with or vandalized.

Tanner previously posted a bounty of $1000.00 USD for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone vandalizing his political signs — rewards for turning in vandals of other candidate’s signs were only worth half as much; $500.00 USD. It has not been confirmed, but it is believed from a reliable source, that because none of the local law enforcement community appears to support Tanner’s bid for re-election, Dog “The Bounty Hunter” Chapman has been flown in to locate the fugitive Fay.

http://historiccity.com/2008/08/22/tanner-issues-warrant-for-ts-fay

For any idiot who is not smart enough to understand or is shocked or offended by this humorous political satire, the story is a parody of recent events and actions of several political candidates. If you feel we should not write such editorial commentary, may I suggest you build a bridge and get over it.

Craig Maguire of St. Augustine, chairman of a political group that recently mailed anti-charter fliers to St. Johns County voters, said Wednesday that he'd overlooked registering the organization with the Supervisor of Elections Office, which is required by law.

http://historiccity.com/2008/08/21/historic-district-strategic-plan-meeting/

Facilities Planning and Construction Division has announced to Historic City News a public meeting concerning PROJECT: MP-330, St. Augustine Historic District Strategic Plan.

The purpose is to review the strategic plan visioning process findings and to introduce the consultant phase of the work to be done.

DATE: Wendesday, August 27, 2008 TIME: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM PLACE: St. Augustine City Hall 75 King Street Alcazar Room, 1st Floor St. Augustine, Florida