Briefs

Rene Laso arrested for stabbing two people at bar

In the early hours of May 24, Rene Laso was arrested by Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after a confrontation with a woman and her boyfriend outside Smiles bar.

“This case could easily have turned into something much more tragic,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “Alcohol, arguing and weapons are a recipe for disaster. Thankfully the injuries the victims sustained do not appear life-threatening and we hope they can make a full recovery. I understand all of this started because Laso was looking for a date, well, now he has one — with the judge.”

Armed Georgia fugitive arrested in Flagler on multiple charges

Jason O’Kelly was arrested on May 18 on drug and firearm possession charges after Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies received a tip about an armed man in a vehicle.

“This is another great example of resident’s ‘seeing something, saying something,’ which helps keep our community safe,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “Flagler County is not the place to hide if you are a fugitive.”

Road rage incident between motorcyclist and vehicle leads to battery and arrest

William Markert was arrested by Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies on May 20. He was the aggressor in a road rage incident with a motorcyclist on Ponce Deleon Drive in Palm Coast, according to the FCSO. A bystander’s cell phone video aided police in the investigation.

“Incidents like this are easily avoidable by not losing your temper,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “Taking action yourself does not stop drivers from driving badly but often escalates the situation. Road rage often leads to is crashes, battery, aggravated assaults, and arrests. I’m glad this situation didn’t escalate to anything worse. If you see someone doing something illegal on the road or driving in an unsafe matter, don’t take it upon yourself to correct the situation, call us and we will take care of it. Don’t engage in road rage!”

Kiwanis Club names 2021 Law Enforcement Officers of the Year

The Flagler Palm Coast Kiwanis Club held its annual Law Enforcement Officer Appreciation Luncheon and awards ceremony on May 12. Sheriff Rick Staly was the guest speaker and gave an update on the Sheriff’s Office, new District 2 offices and the more than 48% crime reduction in Flagler County since 2017.

During the awards ceremony, the Kiwanis Club recognized law enforcement officers of the year for Flagler County. Deputy First Class Crista Rainey was named Law Enforce-

We don 't know them all But we owe them all.

A day of remembrance for those who have laid down their lives to protect our freedom. MEMORIAL DAY MAY 31, 2021

EMERGENCY: 9-1-1 NON-EMERGENCY: 386-313-4911 FLAGLERSHERIFF.COM

SHERIFF RICK STALY

357038-1 Crista Rainey

ment Officer of the Year for the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office after being nominated by Staly. Officer Dan Tobin was named Law Enforcement Officer of the Year for the Bunnell Police Department and was joined by his chief, Tom Foster. Officer Evan Scherr was named Law Enforcement Officer of the Year for the Flagler Beach Police Department and was joined by his chief, Matthew Doughney.

Rainey began her career with the FCSO in 2015 and is part of the Community Policing Division. She was selected for this award for her proactive approach to policing and her ability to stay calm in the midst of chaos. The training she’s received was perfectly displayed during one “routine” traffic stop in March that resulted in the arrest of an armed fugitive wanted for murder in Georgia. DFC Rainey’s track record of proactive enforcement, combined with her positive attitude are commendable and deserving of recognition.

“DFC Rainey is a prime example of proactive policing and her abilities to remain cool, calm and collected in high stress situations and is a great asset to the FCSO,” Staly said.

County celebrates EMS staff

Nothing shed light on the important role that Emergency Medical Services staff undertake in “Caring for Our Communities” – the theme of the 2021 EMS Week – like the coronavirus pandemic did.

“(It) has given people a small glimpse of the vital role of EMS professionals,” said Interim Fire Chief Joe King on May 17 as he addressed the Board of County Commissioners.

King wrapped his arm around the shoulder of Community Paramedic Caryn Prather as he talked about the sacrifice and dedication of his department.

“We also recognize the need to make sure people understand that EMS isn’t just defined by lights and sirens or ambulance rides,” King said. “First responders are much more than that.”

He gave Prather’s shoulder a squeeze.

“It’s the paramedic who makes sure an elderly patient’s cat is fed while she’s in the hospital. It’s the department that assists with, or steps up, to run testing and vaccination sites. It’s the firefighter who holds a child’s hand on the way to the hospital so they aren’t scared,” King said. “It’s the crew that fights for a victim’s life at the end of long, sleepless night. It’s the emergency medical professionals who care for our communities, day in and day out.”

Prather choked back her tears while speaking of how proud she is of Flagler County Fire Rescue.

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RED PAGES

Sports 14 Business 15 YOUR NEIGHBORS

Get over it

Angelica Medina and Mariah Kish.

Azam Abdusattarov and Mason Cangialosi. Sofia Azevedo, who said she stole the cars from her brother, made her bridge with Sarah Valko, who brought a toy skateboarder from home to add to the bridge.

Photos by Brian McMillan

Paintbrushes, popsicle sticks and toy cars turned the media center at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School into a city of bridges last month.

Seventeen students from Christine De Mata’s class were devising ways of crossing the toy cars from table to table without letting any fall. De Mata, who has been a teacher for 12 years, was peppered with questions such as “Do you have any egg cartons for the paint?” and “Can we use the hot glue?” The students learned about engineering and did their own research to come up with their designs. It was a welcome return to hands-on learning after the pandemic canceled some of De Mata’s plans.

The next project was to build volcanoes — another of DeMata’s favorites. “We didn’t get to blow anything up last year,” she said.

–BRIAN MCMILLAN

Elijah Rivera-Jackson.

Jason Robinson and Jesus Martinez-Cruz.

Rhiana Butkiewicz from Indian Trails Middle School.

Photos by Jake Montgomery Faith Liebel from Flagler Online.

Belle Terre Elementary Assistant Principal Katrina Feola and Josh Crews Writing Projects Coordinator Abbey Cooke pose with Shah Hahm, Manaia West, Jaden Jones and Vincent Brown.

10th-annual Josh Crews Writing Project has been published

Write On!

The Josh Crews Writing Project celebrated its 10th anniversary on Wednesday, May 19, at the Wadsworth Elementary School cafeteria. This is the ninth anthology of student work, bringing the total students past 1,000, according to Abbey Cooke, the district coordinator for the program.

— JAKE MONTGOMERY

C.J. Ives from Belle Terre Elementary.

Better Hearing & Speech Month

When passion meets science

Happy Better Hearing and Speech Month! At Palm Coast Hearing Center, we are passionate about educating Palm Coast residents on the importance of hearing health. One of the simple ways we can do this is by sharing who we are and the types of problems we help our patients solve. This past year held many challenges and changes, including a period of involuntary closure due to the COVID pandemic. In August of 2020 Palm Coast Hearing Center re-opened under new ownership, but with the same friendly faces and some new ones! Our new owner and Clinical Director is Dr. Indira Alvarez, who has over 13 years of experience in treating patients with hearing loss. She is joined by Heather Curry, who has been serving the Palm Coast community for over 15 years as a Hearing Aid Specialist and Dr. Dominique Botta.

WHAT IS A DOCTOR OF AUDIOLOGY AND HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT?

Audiologists are health-care professionals who provide patient-centered care in evaluating, diagnosing, treating and managing hearing, balance, and auditory disorders for people of all ages. From newborn hearing screenings, to fitting hearing aids, to testing balance, our services are needed throughout the lifespan.

Our new Clinical Director, Dr. Alvarez, has a variety of experience among different settings, including Bay Pines VA Hospital, All Children’s Hospital and as a Clinical Supervisor for the University of South Florida. She is the only Tinnitus Practitioner’s Association certified provider in central east Florida and a member of American Tinnitus Association .

WHAT TRAINING IS REQUIRED TO BE AN AUDIOLOGIST?

Since our change of ownership, we have noticed patients expressing curiosity in what an Audiologist (Au.D) is, and how our office is now different than before. An audiologist requires a doctoral level degree and four additional years of education after receiving a bachelor’s degree. That’s 8 years of school! Adding audiology specialists to the practice has elevated the standard of care our patients receive, expanded the services we provide, and improved our already legendary commitment to service. We now accept all insurances and have lowered the fee schedule to better serve our community.

Audiologists truly never stop learning! As you can imagine, technology continues to evolve, which means audiology does too. Staying up to date on best practice includes being informed on the latest research, testing procedures, and advancements in hearing aid technology. Our audiologists and specialists complete copious continuing education credits every year to stay abreast of the latest diagnostic and treatment advances.

In addition to graduating from an accredited doctoral program, our audiologists must complete a clinical residency, pass a national exam and are required to hold state licensure.

WHAT SERVICES DO AUDIOLOGISTS PROVIDE?

Our audiologists are trained and equipped to perform a wide variety of services. Listed below are some of the many services we perform: • Comprehensive hearing assessments • Wax removal • Verification and validation of hearing aids (making sure they are working as they should) • Evaluating and providing treatment options for tinnitus (extraneous noises in the ears) • Assessing and diagnosing auditory conditions such as: auditory processing disorder, auditory neuropathy, hyperacusis (sensitivity to sound), and misophonia (hatred of specific sounds) • Evaluating vertigo, dizziness, and balance disorders • Selection and fitting of hearing aids

The goal at Palm Coast Hearing Center is always to provide patient-centered care that is backed by evidence-based practice. The objective is not to sell, but rather to improve an individual’s quality of life. There is a -SCIENCE and SKILL that goes into picking the right technology for you or a loved one. So with all the changes, we look forward to serving this community in the way it deserves. Call us today to find out how we can help! 386270-0421