Although Florida did not officially ratify the amendment until May 1969, nearly 49 years later, next year marks the 100th anniversary of the formal ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.  Historic City News research shows that many Southern states did not support the suffrage movement.

Due to strong public interest in the structure located at 91 Coquina Avenue, a property recently purchased by the City of St. Augustine, the city will host an open house on Monday, June 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  The purpose of this event is provide access to the property to interested parties so they may inspect and preview the structure and ask questions of city staff while on site.

After a week of public relations misery, several Historic City News readers, including a group of members of the Saint Augustine Tea Party, are showing their support for Florida Representative Mike Hill (R) who has visited and spoken to their members as well as members of the Ladies Memorial Association of St Augustine, Inc.

Eddie Creamer, St. Johns County Property Appraiser, announced to Historic City News this week that his office has provided the June 1st estimates of the 2019 tax roll to St. Johns County Taxing Authorities.

With the arrival of hurricane season this Saturday, June 1, the St Johns River Water Management District Communications Office spokesman Teresa Monson informed Historic City News that the District is more than ready for the worst Mother Nature may dish up this storm season.

After a lot of patronizing from the St Augustine City Manager’s office, Historic City News learned today that crow will be eaten as the City admits that there is no “historic preservation plan” that they will employ that offsets the potential liability of the nearly 75-year-old wood-frame termite trap acquired as part of the Coquina Avenue land grab earlier this year.

A new county administrator is in the offing for St Johns County, a trend observed in other local governments in northeast Florida.  Palm Coast said goodbye to Jim Landon, the City of Bunnell has a new city manager, and the Flagler County Board of Commissioners replaced their county administrator with Jerry Cameron; a former assistant county administrator under Wanchick.

The time to sink or swim has come for 69-year-old Michael David Wanchick, the often-controversial St Johns County administrator hired July 30, 2007.  The current effective term of the county administrator’s Professional Services Agreement expires on January 1, 2020.