Latest news with #flagpole
Fox News
3 days ago
- General
- Fox News
Disabled veteran fights homeowners association lawsuit over flagpole in Florida yard
Print Close By Sarah Rumpf-Whitten Published May 30, 2025 A disabled veteran in Volusia County, Florida, is at the center of a heated dispute with his homeowners association (HOA) over a flagpole installed in his yard. According to Fox News affiliate WOFL-TV, the Countryside Villas PUD3 HOA has filed a lawsuit against the unnamed veteran, claiming he failed to obtain the required approval before erecting the permanent structure. Despite the legal friction, community support for the veteran has surged, with neighbors speaking out against what they see as harassment and unnecessary litigation. "Leave the veteran alone. He hasn't done anything wrong," Frank Johnson, a veteran himself, told the outlet. "He's called me crying that they're harassing him and bullying him. He's served this country. He's paid his dues. They wanted to get him on a flagpole and some weeds in the lawn. It's pathetic. It's really pathetic." ASSOCIATED PRESS MOVES TO DISMISS DEFAMATION CLAIM FROM VETERAN WHO DEFEATED CNN IN COURT The HOA maintains that its actions are grounded in procedural compliance. In a letter sent to the veteran, the association emphasized that it was not denying his right to fly the American flag, but rather enforcing a policy requiring prior approval for permanent flagpoles. The letter noted that the veteran's military service does not exempt him from these rules. The situation only escalated when the veteran refused to remove the flagpole, accruing $1,000 in fines. The HOA responded by initiating a lawsuit for $8,000 and threatening to place a lien on his property. Orlando Law Managing Partner Jennifer Englert told WOFL-TV that this action may not be legally defensible. Englert explained that Florida statute says as long as the flagpole is under 20 feet, a homeowner can have a flagpole on their property, even if the HOA has rules against it. "Why are you fighting about something that you know you have to allow? That is very clear," she said. MARYLAND SCHOOL SUSPENDS MARINE HOPEFUL AFTER AMERICAN FLAG LAW CONTROVERSY Concerned neighbors and a caregiver have come forward to condemn the HOA's tactics, describing them as bullying and deeply disrespectful to someone who served the country. Margaret Murphy, a resident who attended HOA meetings, took the issue to State Sen. Tom Wright, expressing in a letter that her own father's legacy as a Pearl Harbor survivor compelled her to act. "My father was a survivor in Pearl Harbor. He would be rolling over in his grave if I didn't say something," she told the outlet. In a statement to WOFL-TV, The Countryside PUD Unit III-B HOA, Inc. Board of Directors said that they never told the veteran homeowner that the "flagpole/flag was prohibited." "Factually, this has never been about a flag or a flagpole. The resident was told via multiple correspondences that he absolutely can have them. The situation boils down to that he failed to submit an ARC application, which is required for flagpoles by the HOA. That rule has been in place since 1990," they said. "The resident was given multiple opportunities to remedy the situation including assistance from the American Legion and the Elks. He also was given an opportunity at a hearing that he never showed up for. Florida Statute makes it clear that an HOA resident also needs to follow the governing documents which he has failed to do. This situation is no different than any other architectural guidelines in our docs. As a result, a fine was imposed, and he failed to pay the fine." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for September. Fox News Digital has reached out to The Countryside PUD Unit III-B HOA, Inc. Board of Directors for comment. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten is a U.S. Writer at Fox News Digital. Since joining in 2021, she's covered high-stakes criminal justice—from the Menendez brothers' resentencing, where Judge Jesic slashed their life-without-parole terms to 50-years-to-life (making them parole-eligible), to the assassination attempts on President Donald Trump's life and shifting immigration enforcement, including her reporting on South Florida's illegal-immigration crisis, covering unprecedented migrant crossings from the Bahamas and ensuing enforcement operations. Beyond those beats, she reports on crime, politics, business, lifestyle, world news, and more—delivering both breaking updates and in-depth analysis across Fox News Digital. You can follow her on Twitter and LinkedIn. Print Close URL
Times of Oman
22-05-2025
- Times of Oman
Muscat celebrates Flag raising at the tallest flagpole in the Sultanate
Muscat: Muscat Governorate celebrated the inauguration of the tallest flagpole in the Sultanate of Oman 126 meters, under the patronage of His Excellency Sayyid Saud bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Governor of Muscat, and in the presence of His Excellency Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Hamidi, Chairman of Muscat Municipality. Muscat Municipality said: 'It is expected that Al Khuwair Square will become a prominent landmark in Muscat Governorate, with its sustainable and environmentally friendly elements, inspired by Omani identity. It will also be an ideal destination for recreation and practicing outdoor sports activities, as it contains modern facilities that meet the aspirations of the community.' The project spans an area of more than 21,000 square meters and, in addition to the towering flagpole, features various recreational facilities, including landscaped green spaces of 9000 square meters, with 57 type of trees, dedicated walking and cycling paths, an open-air art and handicraft exhibition, a skateboarding area, and a sports zone. The site is also equipped with public amenities such as restrooms and a parking lot with 107 spaces.
Times of Oman
19-05-2025
- General
- Times of Oman
Oman's tallest flagpole to be inaugurated soon
Muscat : The tallest flagpole in the Sultanate of Oman will be inaugurated on Friday, May 23, 2025, announced Muscat Municipality. The tallest flagpole will be inaugurated in Al Khuwair Square in the Ministries District, covering an area of more than 18,000 square metres, and reaching a height of 126 metres. The flagpole has been constructed of iron using 135 tonnes of steel. The outer diameter of the flagpole at the base is 2,800 mm, while the diameter at its highest point is 900 mm. The Omani flag measures 18 metres in length and 31.5 metres in width. The flagpole is also equipped with an aircraft warning lighting system.
CTV News
09-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Nova Scotia Health expands STI self-testing kits to include HIV screening
Nova Scotia's provincial flag flies on a flagpole in Ottawa on June 30, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
