Woman seatbelts beer, not baby
Running red light could prove costly after four charges filed

A woman pulled over for allegedly running a red light had a 24-pack of beer strapped in with a seat belt but had a 16-month-old girl unrestrained in the back seat of her car with the toddler’s mother, authorities said.

St. Augustine man dies in Iraq

Sgt. Bryan Joseph Tutten, became the first St. Johns County native to die in a war-related incident in Iraq when he was killed Christmas day by a roadside bomb.

Tutten, a St. Augustine resident, was on his second tour of duty in Iraq, serving with the 82nd Airborne out of Fort Bragg, N.C. Tutten was a rifleman and squad leader of an infantry company with a wife and two small children.

New Parking Meters Offer Discounts for Locals

The City of St. Augustine installed a dozen new solar-powered parking meters around the Plaza de la Constitucion in December, a continuation of a program that eventually will put an end to free daytime parking downtown, said Mark Litzinger, city comptroller for the city.

At first glance, the meters seem to charge $1.50 an hour, but locals can get a price break with the Park Now Card. With this prepaid debit card, available at the Financial Office off Bridge Street, meters charge 50 cents an hour.

County Bans Pit Bull Adoption

If you want to own a pit bull or a pit bull mixed breed, don’t go to the St. Johns County Animal Control pet center, because they won’t let you adopt one.

And if the owner of a missing pit bull does not claim his dog after five days, the dog will be euthanized.

Flagler’s Club Unity Appeals Denial

Flagler College’s administration again denied the application of Club Unity, a group supporting acceptance of gay, lesbian and transsexual communities.

The rejection of the club came from Dean of Student Services Daniel Stewart, who said, “(The club’s) purpose does not fall within the realm of the mission of the college.”

Variations of the group have been trying to get approved since 2004.

Organizers sent an appeal to Flagler President Bill Abare, who said on Oct. 17 that he would bring it up again before the cabinet, who will vote on a recommendation.

Singin’ in the Rain

Fans flock to new Amphitheatre’s grand opening concert

More than 2,000 people attended the St. Augustine Amphitheatre’s grand open-ing, the Blackwater Sol Revue, on Sept. 2, despite rainy weather.

“We never had any thoughts of canceling,” said Jenai Master, sales and administration manager at the Amphitheatre. “We’re a rain-or-shine venue. A little bit of rain is never going to slow us down.”