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DAYTONA BEACH -- ESPN is reporting that a deal has been worked out that would guarantee Danica Patrick a start in the Daytona 500 and provide her with spots for much of the Sprint Cup schedule.
By Stan Escudero DAYTONA BEACH SHORES -- Concluding a primary campaign which had become increasingly vicious and personal, Mitt Romney swept aside Newt Gingrich’s challenge and easily re-established himself as the front runner in the race for the GOP presidential nomination with 46.4% of the vote in the Sunshine State.
EDGEWATER -- I saw a recent report from ABC News' Diane Sawyer that I found troubling: Our 4 million miles of roads ranks us 20th in the world behind places like Malaysia due to deterioration and poor maintenance. How sad is that?
I was a bit taken aback that someone even had done a ranking of road conditions in the countries of the world, but was not terribly surprised to hear this country wasn’t doing very well. Most states I have been in have many poor roads causing accidents due to pot holes, narrow shoulders, fraying asphalt and other factors.
When sung right, the National Anthem, hearing the Nationa Anthem sends chills down the spine like the playing of "Taps." Steven Tyler's rendition before the AFC Championship game between the Baltimore Ravens and the New England Patriots was a disgrace and I'm praying there won't be a repeat of that before Sunday's Superbowl.
ORANGE CITY -- A Volusia County deputy was airlifted to Halifax Health Medical Center after his cruiser was struck by another motorist just before 6 this morning on Graves Avenue and an hour later, a motorist was killed in yet another accident on Ohio Avenue, according to initial reports from the Florida Highway Patrol.
The deputy was northbound on 17-92 when a southbound car turning left on Graves Avenue struck his driver's-side door. His injuries are not considered life threatening, but he was airlefted by the Sheriff's Air-One helicopter just to be on the safe side. The deputy's name wasn't immediately available.
DELAND -- The Volusia County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death this morning of an 81-year-old Ormond Beach man who apprently fell into the Norris Dead River, a tributary of the St. Johns River, at the Highland Park Fish Camp.
A witness called 9-1-1 at 7:07 a.m. to report that Richard Bass had fallen off a dock and disappeared into the water.
Deputies and rescue personnel from Volusia County Fire Services arrived on scene and helped search for the victim who was found at approximately 7:57 a.m.
Taunton (Mass.) Daily Gazette/City Editor/nearly 2 years
* 5-day series with entire newsroom staff, "Safety in our schools." 1st place enterprise reporting/public service, 2006 New England Press Assn.
* 3-day investigative series "Pipeline Hell" with reporter on a shady developer. 1st place environmental reporting, 2005 New England Press Assn.
* Series "Pipeline Hell" investigative journalism award, small dailies, 2005 Suburban Newspapers of America. Daytona Beach News-Journal/Staff Writer/8 years
* Society of Professional Journalists, Florida Chapter, 2004, 2nd place/large newspapers, Investigative Reporting, "Silent Cries" (3-day series on child homicides).
* Florida Society of Newspaper Editors, 2004, honorable mention, investigative "Silent Cries."
* Society of Professional Journalists, Florida Chapter, 2004, breaking news, hon. mention/large newspapers, "Community mourns death of longtime area educator."
* Society of Professional Journalists, Florida Chapter, 2003, 1st place/large newspapers, Front Page Sports Reporting "Lawsuit monopoly justifies splitting up NASCAR."
* Society of Professional Journalists, Florida Chapter, 2003, 2nd place/large newspapers, breaking news "The execution of Aileen Wuornos."
* Florida Press Club, 2003, 2nd place, excellence in general news writing, "Property takeover may change boardwalk," "Unusual cases re-ignite legal arguments on Miranda rights," and "Word on the street: Few police."
* Florida Society of Newspaper Editors, 2003, 3rd place, sports, "Lawsuit: Monopoly justifies splitting up NASCAR."
* Society of Professional Journalists, Florida Chapter, 2002, 3rd place/large newspapers, breaking news, "(Trull) Brothers on trial."
* Florida Press Club, 2002, 3rd place, excellence in general news writing, "Spring Break: Collision Course," "Lawsuit: Monopoly justifies splitting up NASCAR," and "Behavior nets police chief two-week unpaid suspension."
* Society of Professional Journalists, Florida Chapter, 1998, 2nd place/large newspapers, breaking news "Little boy: He shot and killed my friend."
* Society of Professional Journalists, Florida Chapter, 2004, honorable mention/large newspapers, James K. Batten Award for public service project: "Spring Hill."
The (Nyack, N.Y.) Rockland Journal News/Staff Writer/8 years
* New York State Associated Press, 1992, Spot News honorable mention, "Two charged in gas station slaying.
Florida Press Club
IRE (Investigative Reporters & Editors)
National Society of Professional Journalists
North-Central Florida chapter Society of Professional Journalists
Ed Pankonin, the treasurer and board member of the Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority, resigned. He and George Richford, who earlier resigned, were the two dissenting board members in action taken by the other five SVAA board members to fire Nicole Carni as director last month.
Supposedly, the letter fron Pankonin was written to Volusia County Manager Frank Bruno. The News-Journal had a story about it today. They had a reporter at the County Council meeting Thursday. I was in bed sick with bronchitis, though I did get out to an open house Thursday by the Sheriff's House in Oak Hill.
