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.
Wayne Larson, St. Johns County Director of Public Affairs, confirmed for Historic City News this afternoon that St Johns County Administrator Hunter Conrad has resigned — despite just being given a $30,000 annual salary bump.
The City of St Augustine, the largest surviving municipal government within St Johns County, has reorganized after the retirement of former City Manager John P Reagan, who turned 61 years old on February 2nd. As Historic City News reporters reviewed the documents associated with the inevitable “deck shuffle” that only happens after someone is removed from the organizational chart at a high level of management — a manager, assistant manager, department head, director, or similar — we find that the new city government looks a lot like the old city government.
The St Johns County Clerk of Court reviewed for the County Commission last week the statutes regarding mental health services under the Baker Act and the Marchman Act. Historic City News reviewed a summary of items also presented during the regular commission meeting, as reported by the St Johns County Civic Roundtable. Clerk Brandon Patty emphasized that his office keeps confidential all personal information concerning recipients of mental health services..
On May 28, 1998, John Patrick Regan, who had been the Senior Environmental Engineer for the City of Gainesville for roughly ten years, was newly hired to fill the position of Utilities Director for the City of St Augustine. After 25 years of service, this Friday, June 2, 2023, will be his last day as City Manager; the position he has held since July 1, 2010. He turned 61 years old on February 2nd.
Late Friday afternoon, local Historic City News reporters learned that, during a hearing before the Honorable Lee Smith at the St Johns County courthouse in St Augustine, 37-year-old defendant Crystal Lane Smith, the mother of Aiden Fucci, pled guilty to tampering with evidence in the murder of Tristyn Bailey.
Historic City News was informed that 73-year-old Sylvia Ann McGinnis Martin of St Augustine, unexpectedly passed away on April 28, 2023, due to an auto accident that also took the life of her husband Jason Martin, and sister Sandra Conners. Her son, Willie Erke, her sister Sally Parmentier, and her parents Arthur and Thelma McGinnis preceded her in death.
It is with great sadness that Historic City News reports the unexpected passing of Sandra Louise Conners on April 28, 2023. She was born on January 9, 1958, in Rockford, Illinois to Arthur and Thelma McGinnis, and will forever be remembered by her loved ones and those whose lives she touched.
Community Hospice and Palliative Care Foundation representative Michelle Cardinal invited local Historic City News subscribers to tip their hats and celebrate the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby at St Augustine’s Tringali Barn tomorrow, Saturday, May 6, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with food, fashion, and fun.
