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DAYTONA BEACH -- As much as city politicians and affluent movers and shakers with access to taxpayer-funded advertising for promotion of their works are splashed on the front pages of the Daytona Beach Neews-Journal, there is the ugly relality that continues to plague the municipipality, but relegated to the inside pages with little reporting emphasis: Daytona Beach has rampant unemployment, a deteriorating infrastructure, a visible corridor of homeless and mentally ill street walkers, panhandlers and prostitutes.

DAYTONA BEACH SHORES -- It is in the nature of critical negotiations, especially those with a deadline, that no deal can ever be reached until the last possible moment. This is primarily because neither side can be sure that they have reached the other side� s bottom line until just before time runs out.

EDGEWATER -- Over the Chtistmas holiday, my cousin and I were discussing the “Fiscal Cliff” and how disgusted we are with the lack of cooperation between political parties and she made a comment that I think is the crux of the whole situation: “If the founding Fathers and composers of the Constitution did not compromise, we would still be bowing to the Queen of England.”

Adam Royce Duke, shown at far left with his sister Danielle on his Facebook page, was struck and killed by a train in Edgewater in June. A remembrance photo of him with a nephew placed on his profile page, describes him as "Son, Brother, Friend."

EDGEWATER -- A man killed after slipping on the railroad tracks while throwing rocks at a train on June 12 has been identified by cops as 24-year-old Adam Royce Duke.

And a local family remembering the loss of a father now come to grips with the loss of his son, a young man with a life filled with possibilities. It coms in as No. 79 in Headline Surfer's countdown of the top 100 local stories of 2012.

Photo for Headline Surfer / This shot taken from the rafters of the New Smyrna Beach High School gymnasium on Dec. 12, will be used for a new poster to help high school students throughout Central Florida learn about the importance of organ and tissue donation.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Some 350 students, along with a few teachers and administrators, formed the No. 8 inside the high school gym in December to symbolize the number of lives that could be saved from the organs of someone who has died.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Future Hall of Famer and occasional New Smyrna Beach resident Johnny Damon was picked up by the Cleveland Indians for the 2012 MLB season, his sixth team.

The outfielder/DH played the previous season for the Tampa Rays where he batted .261 with 16 HRs and 73 RBIs in 150 games. He's played on two World Series championship teams -- the Boston Red Sox in 2004, and the New York Yankees in 2009.

Damon's new team is No. 77 in Headline Surfer's countdown of the top 100 local teams of 2012.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Here are the Top 10 ways to positively change your day. 1. Don’t blame others for making you unhappy.