HISTORIC CITY NEWS
Historic City News has been published daily since March 2000. Reporting local news for St Augustine and St Johns County Florida, Historic City News is the county's only free press. Our mission is to hold public figures accountable to the public.
Local Historic City News reporters learned that officers with the St Augustine Beach Police Department encountered ex-sheriff David B Shoar driving alone near Pope Road at A1A Beach Boulevard at about 9:00 p.m. on Friday after he failed to stop at a red traffic light.
Historic City News was notified by Bill Dudley, Chairman of the Veterans Council of St Johns County, that on Thursday evening, November 23, 2023, St Augustine lost one of the Council’s founding members, Sgt Major Ray Quinn, US Army (Retired). Quinn, who previously served as Chairman, was totally immersed in the organization’s non-profit operations, currently serving as the Vice Chair.
Michael Gold, Founder
HISTORIC CITY NEWS
St Augustine, FL
This weekend, my high school graduating class celebrated our 50th-year reunion with a Yellow Jackets football game. We stormed past Palatka, to complete a perfect regular season. We also enjoyed a dinner at the St Augustine Shrine Club and a potluck lunch Sunday at Faver Dykes State Park.
Communications Director Melissa Wissel reported to Historic City News that Wade Giddens has been appointed Deputy Director of the St Augustine Utilities Department by City Manager, David Birchim. Giddens, formerly the Utility Field Operations Manager, will report to the department director, Stephen Slaughter, P.E.
As many Historic City News readers predicted following the ouster of former St Johns County Administrator Hunter Conrad, Joy Andrews, the Deputy Assistant County Administrator for the last seven years, has been selected to continue in her position permanently. She has been serving as Interim County Administrator since July 2023.
The Office of State Attorney R. J. Larizza released to Historic City News another session of his community outreach video newsletter for Florida’s Seventh Judicial Circuit. Haley Harrison reported that Larizza’s on-camera message focuses on the ways the office has amplified its presence and resources dedicated to domestic violence cases.
According to Public Affairs specialist Joey Pellegrino, an exciting event is scheduled to take place tomorrow morning. St Johns County officials will be celebrating the start of a significant renovation and expansion project for the Vilano Beach Oceanfront Park. This much-anticipated endeavor is set to last for four months and has been allocated a budget of $1.8 million. The aim of this project is to provide the community with a revitalized outdoor recreation area, fostering a sense of unity among its residents.
St Johns County’s only taxing authority to remain “off the tax rolls” while operating the Northeast Florida Regional Airport reported to Historic City News that the airport administration has implemented a morale booster for members of the airport’s maintenance crew.