St. Augustine Commissioners Greenlight Initial Phase of Homeless Day Shelter

St. Augustine commissioners have taken a significant step towards establishing a homeless day shelter in the city. The shelter will provide essential services such as food, showers, and resources to individuals experiencing homelessness. The approval came on Monday, when commissioners agreed to exchange a piece of city-owned land for the property where the shelter will be constructed. The chosen location for the shelter is at the intersection of State Road 207 and South Dixie Highway. The idea of a day center for the homeless was initially discussed during the first of several public meetings between the city and community members…

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St. Johns County Fire Rescue Seeks Candidates for Full-Time Positions

St. Johns County Fire Rescue (SJCFR) is currently hiring full-time firefighter/EMTs and firefighter/paramedics. The starting pay for firefighter/EMTs is $49,816, while firefighter/paramedics begin at $59,616. These salaries already include overtime and incentives. SJCFR is staffed by 400 personnel, and in 2022, they responded to a total of 61,373 service calls, with 75% of those calls being EMS related. Employees at SJCFR have the opportunity to be part of various specialized teams, such as Urban Search and Rescue, Hazardous Materials, Aircraft Rescue Firefighting, Marine Rescue, and Wildland Firefighting. SJCFR is known for being a progressive and professional fire rescue department that…

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New Home Project for At-Risk Veterans Nearing Completion in St. Johns County

A new housing project called Patriot Place is set to be completed in St. Johns County, offering affordable housing for at-risk and homeless veterans. The project was made possible through a partnership between MountainStar Partners and the St. Johns Housing Partnership (SJHP), along with support from St. Johns County, the City of St. Augustine, and Flagler Health+. The construction of Patriot Place, which consists of six one-bedroom apartments, took five years to complete. The apartments will be 630 square feet each, and veterans will pay approximately 30 percent of the market rate, with the remaining balance subsidized through SJHP fundraising.…

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Competency Motion Filed for Man Charged in Deputy Death

The attorney representing Virjilio Aguilar-Mendez, filed a motion implying that her client may lack the competency required to stand trial. The accusations relate to an incident that resulted in the tragic death of a St. Johns County deputy. The motion suggests that the defendant’s mental state should be evaluated to determine if he is capable of understanding the nature of the charges against him and if he is able to assist in his own defense. Virjilio Aguilar-Mendez was arrested and charged with resisting arrest with violence and felony murder, after a struggle between him and Sgt. Michael Kunovich caused the deputy to…

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