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1. Gunshot slaying of Trayvon Martin in Sanford top Florida story of 2012

Florida Top 10 of 2012 / Headline Surfer

 Trayvon Martin / Headline SurferSANFORD -- Before the mass murders in Aurora, Colo., and Newtown, Conn., no gun-related slaying created such a national uproar than that of unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin who crossed paths with gun-toting neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman. It's the No. 1 story in Headline Surfer's ranking of the Top 10 Florida stories of 2012.

New Smyrna Beach cops sick dog on petty criminal who allegedly robbed a woman and then tried to get away

Eddie Selph, suspected armed robber / Headline SurferLocation of armed robbery in NSB / Headline SurferA woman was robbed at gunpoint of cash and prescriptions at 218 N. Dixie Freeway in New Smyrna Beach just after 11 p.m. as shown in this locator map.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A 26-year-old petty criminal robbed a woman of cash and medicine at gunpoint Wednesday night, but he couldn't outrun the long arm of the law even after ditching his getaway car, New Smyrna Beach cops said.

Eddie Selph was taken down by a K-9 dog and arrested after a brief chase through a wooded area and charged with armed robbery. Here is a synopsis of what happened in the 11:09 p.m. pursuit as described by Sgt. Valerie Joyce: Regina Krouse, 36, told cops she had been robbed at gunpoint of cash and prescriptions at 218 N. Dixie Freeway.

Joyce Cusack passes gavel to elected County Chair Jason Davis: 'It's your show'

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Volusia County Chair Jason Davis sworn in / Headline SurferPhoto by Pat Kuehn for Headline Surfer / Circuit Judge William Parsons issues the oath of office to Volusia County Chair Jason Davis on Thursday morning.

DELAND -- Today was about respect and Jason Davis stood tall as he and most of his new colleagues were sworn in to office by Circuit Judge William Parsons before a packed house in the renamed Frank T. Bruno Council Chamber.

Bruno, term-limited after eight years as Volusia County's first elected chair was there in name only, though his former campaign manager Mike Jiloty was in the gallery, two months removed from a crushing defest to Republican Dorothy Hukill for a state senate seat.

Today was all about the new chair -- Jason Paul Davis, a 50-year-old combat veteran and one-time local radio producer who defied the odds and knocked off two of the biggest political heavyweights Volusia has seen in the last decade.

New Smyrna Beach's Jackie Herchek: 'Rock and champion' of Bert Fish community has died

Chaired SE Volusia hospital authority board in wake of merger lawsuit scandal

Jackie Hercheck of New Smyrna Beach / Headline SurferJan. 27, 1937 - Jan. 8, 2013

Headline Surfer photo by Henry Frederick / Jacqueline "Jackie" Herchek, is shown here in 2011, outside Circuit Judge Richard Graham's courtroom in Daytona Beach during the civil trial against Bert Fish Hospital's authority merger. She was briefly the board chairwoman after the suit and continued to serve as a board member until her passing Tuesday. 

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A memorial service will be held Monday at the Coronado United Methodist Church for Jacqueline (Jackie) Kay Herchek, of New Smyrna Beach, former board chairwoman of the Southeast Volusia Hospital Authority, who died four days ago of complications from a brain aneurysm. She was 75.

Three-day Thunder testing at Daytona ends with definitive answer: 'Gen 6' race cars are fast

Dale Earnhardt, Jr: 'With this car we have a chance to do something great'

Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Daytona Testing / Headline SurferThe back of Dale Earnhardt Jr's new Gen 6 car / Headline Surfer

Photos by Tom Pennington/Getty Images for NASCAR / Publication in Headline Surfer / Dale Earnhardt, Jr., the No. 88 Chevrolet during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Preseason Thunder testing Saturday at Daytona International Speedway. Check out the video for highlight's of the 'big one' with Friday's multi-car crash.
Editor's Note: See what Earnhardt had to say about the new race cars in a video press clip inside this story.

DAYTONA BEACH -- With the big crash sandwiched in between on day 2, the three-day Preseason Thunder Test at Daytona International Speedway that ended this afternoon provided an exciting glimpse into what NASCAR fans can expect from the "Gen 6" race cars at Budweiser Speedweeks culminating with the Feb. 24 running of the Daytona 500: Speed, baby! Pure unadulterated speed!

County Council at-large member Joyce Cusack: Now the time to take critical look at CRAs

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The Sunday Conversation / Headline Surfer 

Video produced by Multimedia Editor Serafina Frederick / County Council at-large member Joyce Cusack answers tough questions in Headline Surfer's online newsmaker show, 'The Sunday Conversation.'

County Council member Joyce Cusack with Henry Frederick / Headline SurferDELAND -- County Council at-large member Joyce Cusack believes the time is at hand for she and her colleagues to take a critical look at how CRAs are being managed by the cities before and if any new agreements are struck as the current ones begin to sunset.

Realtor Bill Roe of New Smyrna Beach Headline Surfer's 'Citizen of the Year'

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Citizen of the Year / Headline Surfer 

Honorable Mention: Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson

Bill Roe of Ocean Properties in NSB Top Citizen / Headline SurferVolusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson hon. mention top citizen / Headline SurferNEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Bill Roe, proprietor of Ocean Properties, the premier Realtor in New Smyrna Beach, is Headline Surfer's choice as the 2012 "Citizen of the Year" for his patriotic spirit and loyalty to God, country and overall standing in the community.

Honorable mention for this year-end award is Sheriff Ben Johnson who handled himself with class and distinction in his successful re-election as Volusia County's top cop.

NSB Mayor Adam Barringer 'Newsmaker of the Year' for scandal, favoritism and bad language

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Newsmaker of the Year / Headline Surfer

Honorable mention: Former Flagler Avenue financial kingpin Robert Lott

NSB Mayor Adam Barring 2012 Newsmaker of the Year / Headline SurferRobert Lott, 2012 Hon. Mention Newsmaker of the Year / Headlin SurferNEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Mayor Adam Barringer is Headline Surfer's 2012 "Newsmaker of the Year" for being embroiled in a second scandal involving allegations of using his elected position for financial gain with his private business holdings, the latest resulting in an ethics complaint file with the state. He also appointed a friend to the planning board who admitted in court to buying cocaine from an undercover police officer, voted $20,000 in CRA taxpayer funding for a boyhood friend to fix up his bar and cursed out a rookie cop who wouldn't let him drive through a closed side street before the start of the Christmas parade -- a cop who served in combat in Iraq.