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Father's Day bittersweet for New Smyrna Beach cop with son's birth only to endure his passing 21 months later


NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Father's Day is bittersweet for Mark Severance, a New Smyrna Beach police officer and retired Marine.
"Father's Day (June 15,1986) our son, 'Kyle David Severance,' was born at the Naval Hospital, Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, NC," the elder Severance wrote on his Facebook page.

496. Topless woman holds up DeLand traffic

DeLAND -- Motorists in the vicinity of a well-travelled certainly got an eyeful on a mid-April morning five years ago, when traffic flow was interrupted by a woman walking around topless, DeLand cops said.
Police received a number of calls about the 30-year-old woman's state of undress at the intersection South Orange and West Euclid avenues during the mid-morning hours of April 18, 2008.
Police received a number of calls about the 30-year-old woman's state of undress at the intersection South Orange and West Euclid avenues during the mid-morning hours of April 18, 2008.

495. Biketoberfest 2011 in New Smyrna Beach a bust

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Biketoberfest 2011 was quieter than a lawn mower on the first night of the four-day weekend at what was soon to be an extinct Pub 44. Just after midnight there were three Harleys in the parking lot and one bicycle.
2010's Biketoberfest recession was 2011's depression, at least through the first 24 hours at what for the last couple of decades or so has been the ground zero in Southeast Volusia for bikers, babes and booze.

Beach Patrol Jeep eye candy on hard sands


NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The bright red Jeep Wrangler 4 x 4 driven by a Beach Patrol cop was like eye candy with its sleek features as it drove up and down the beach Saturday in the vicinity of the Flagler Boardwalk and beach ramp.
Gone, at least for the day, were the bigger white pick-up trucks as the sporty Jeep made its presence felt on the packed beach, one of only three such vehicles in the fleet, each at a cost of $27,100 purchased last year.
Still, this particular Jeep got the attention of beach goers.

The real impacts of Common Core to Volusia County schools and why News-Journal should have looked further before promoting it
DAYTONA BEACH -- It would be nice to know the truth on a matter of such importance as education. Unfortunately, anyone who read a recent Daytona News-Journal article, "Local educators embrace Common Core standards," would have been disappointed.

Halifax Health better choice to partner with Bert Fish
EDGEWATER -- Our local hospital is once again considering two proposals it says it needs to maintain the facility now and in the future. One continues the tax-supported situation we currently have and is from Halifax Hospital. The other is from for-profit HMA. Everyone has an opinion about our hospital, which includes me.

Gov. Scott and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University bring international aircraft manufacturer to Daytona Beach

DAYTONA BEACH -- Today at the 50th Annual International Paris Air Show, Gov. Rick Scott and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University officials announced that its president, John Johnson, and Diamond Aircraft Industries' CEO and owner Christian Dries, signed a partnership agreement that will establish the global manufacturer's presence at the Daytona Beach campus.

Pastor to speak in New Smyrna Beach on Christian practice in native communist Cuba

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Visiting Cuban Pastor Humberto Berillo will be the featured speaker as the United Church of Christ in New Smyrna Beach continues its Community Forum Series with an inside look at how Christianity is practiced in the communist country.

Florida Highway Patrol: Orlando man falls asleep at wheel of new Dodge Caravan; crashes into neighbor's garage

ORLANDO -- A 28-year-old man smashed his new Dodge Caravan into his neighbor's garage while apparently asleep at the wheel just after 3 this morning, the Florida Highway Patrol reported.
And he wasn't even intoxicated.
Trooper Charles Lewis responded to a 9-1-1 call at 3:07 a.m. at 1506 Lando Lane, where a van had smashed into the closed garage. The 2013 Dodge Caravan was driven by Joshua Carver, who told the trooper he fell asleep at the wheel, and was subsequently charged with careless driving in the Orange County neighborhood.
