66. VCSO: Pot grow operation discovered after Deltona house fire; occupant arrested

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Maybe it was the full moon. Whatever the reason, one of the most bizarre scenes in the last 20 years took place on the track at Daytona International Speedway during the final stage of the Sprint Unlimited: The pace car caught fire.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- A Florida native has been selected as New Smyrna Beach’s next fire chief.
The City Commission is expected to confirm Greg Anglin to lead the department at its next regular meeting, Tuesday, April 28, in City Hall Commission Chambers, 210 Sams Ave.
“We received 42 applications from around the country including many very strong candidates,” New Smyrna Beach City Manager Pam Brangaccio told Headline Surfer®. “The interview panel and I feel Chief Anglin has the expertise and leadership skills to fit well internally with the department and in our community.”
OAK HILL, Fla. -- It took 18 firefighters from Volusia County, New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater and Brevard County a couple hours to full extinguish a two-story wood-framed home at 212 Gaines St., early on this Wednesday afternoon that left a family homeless.
An adult female was in the home at the time, but was able to get escape the flames without any injuries, but the house was completely destroyed by the fire, which was visible to responding firefighters.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- In thinking of NASCAR beat writers and analysts names like ESPN's Bob Pockrass, the Daytona Beach News-Journal's Godwin Kelly and the AP's Jenna Fryer come to mind.
Whether doing a feature profile on a driver, reporting on penalties handed out following a race or even daily tweets on any number of subjects, these three come to mind.
On the television side, analysts and reporters like Dr. Jerry Punch, Jaimie Little and even Alan Bestwick who switched to IndyCar Racing with ESPN come to mind.
ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Orlando Magic signed free agent guard Ben Gordon, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced July 11, and per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“Ben (Gordon) brings valuable experience to our team,” Hennigan said of the signing. “His competitiveness and ability to score and stretch the floor adds versatility to our backcourt and overall roster. We are excited to welcome Ben to the Orlando Magic family.”
ORANGE CITY, Fla. -- A 70-year-old pro-life supporter from Deltona was reportedly kicked out of the Planet Fitness in Orange City twice for wearing T-shirts with anti-abortion messages that drew complaints from several other patrons, according to a story published in November by WFTV in Orlando.
Among the slogans on the T-shirts worn by Mike Amoroso and deemed offensive by some at the workout facility: "Abortion Stops a Beating Heart" and "Pray to End Abortion."
DELTONA, Fla. -- Deputies gave an assist to investigators in Hillsborough County two days before Thanksgiving after a group of theft suspects drove a stolen U-Haul truck full of stolen appliances from Tampa to a residence in Deltona, according to a spokesman for Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson.
Hillsborough deputies investigating a break-in at 13523 Staghorn Road near Citrus Park determined that appliances taken from the home had been moved to Avon Park in a stolen U-Haul truck.
DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, Fla. -- Traffic homicide investigators to this day aren't sure why a St. Augustine motorist was driving at speeds of up to 110 mph on April 25, when he crashed his Toyota hatchback leading to a fiery explosion and his death.
The driver crossed into the northbound lanes, struck a curb and became airborne -- then collided with a light pole 13 feet above ground. This led to a fiery explosion with the driver inside.