OAK HILL -- One and all are welcomed to purchase a 'Pick up chicken dinner' with all of the fixings at the VIA Hall, 126 East Halifax Ave. The $8 fee benefits the Oak Hill Trust.
Headliner Surfer locator map / The Lil' Champ Store, 2460 Ocean Shore Blvd., in Ormond Beach, was the scene of a robbery attempt thwarted by the store clerk who met potentially deadly force with with that of his own four years ago.ORMOND BEACH -- A would-be robber armed with a knife picked on the wrong store clerk who pulled out a knife of his own and called the criminal's bluff.
The event occurred at 5:54 a.m. back on Jan. 19, 2009, at the Lil' Champ Food Store, 2460 Ocean Shore Blvd., Ormond Beach. It comes in at No. 493 in Headline Surfer's fifth anniversary countdown of the top 500 stories.
Here is a synopsis of what happened as reported by the Volusia County Sheriff's Office: The suspect came into the store brandishing a knife and demanding money. But he was startled when the clerk lunged at him with a knife of his own and the suspect fled empty handed.
Photos for Headline Surfer / Engine 53 is housed in Station 53 on Industrial Park Road in New Smyrna Beach. The city's largest fire truck was purchased in 2010 at a cost of nearly half a million bucks.NEW SMYRNA BEACH - Christmas came a few weeks earlier for the New Smyrna Beach Fire Department in 2010 with the arrival of a 2010 Pierce Arrow XT, but the price was pretty steep: $402,500, complete with plaque of city officials affixed to it.
The wallet-lighting purchase comes in at No. 492 in Headline Surfer's fifth anniversary countdown of the top 500 stories.
APOPKA -- A toddler was struck and killed Wednesday afternoon by a 16-year-old relative who didn't know she was behind the SUV he backed up in the family driveway in the 300 block of Avalone Drive, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
While backing the 2000 Ford, the boy struck the 2-year-old with the left rear tire, running her over in the process, a trooper reported. the Florida Highway Patrol said.
The victim, Amararis Martinez, was rushed by paramedics to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando where she succumbed to critical head injuries less than an hour after the 3:20 p.m. accident, FHP spokeswoman Sgt. Kim Montes said.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- For thousands of years, people harvested their own seeds to perpetuate healthy crops. That time-honored tradition subsided in the 19th century, when seeds were packaged in small envelopes and sold through shops and catalogs.
Return to your roots by learning how to collect and store seeds during a free presentation at the New Smyrna Beach Regional Library. Master Gardener Vivian Bowden will explain how to collect, dry, contain and plant seeds for your garden at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6.
Photo for Headline Surfer / Guitarist Gladius brings his unique guitar playing talents to the New Smyrna Beach Regional Public Library. NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Atlanta guitarist and composer Gladius will give a free performance at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 31, in the New Smyrna Beach Regional Library auditorium, 1001 S. Dixie Freeway.
Photos for Headline Surfer / Trayvon Martyin through the years.SANFORD -- You've seen the photo of Trayvon Martin in the grey hoodie. Here are some other photos of the 17-year-old Miami boy you may no have seen through the years of his life cut short by a bullet in a brief encounter with neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, acquitted at trial of second-degree murder and a lesser included charge of manslaughter.
Headline Surfer photo by Henry Frederick / The blinking light at State Roadd 44 and Sugar Mill Drive will soon be replaced with a regular traffic light. The signal light qill cost $61,000, along with a $5 million resurfacing of the four-lane road, all paid for by the Florida Department of Transportation,NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The intersection of State Road 44 and Sugar Mill Drive soon will be safer for motorists with a new traffic signal to be installed in Auguest, a city official said.
“The new traffic signal is a result of a State traffic impact analysis to improve safety at the intersection – particularly the southbound left turn lane for Sugar Mill Drive motorists,” said Kyle Fegley, a city engineer.
Photo for Headline Surfer / Barbara Balzer, a former instructor at Daytona State College in its dental hygiene program, is the newest addition to Kilman Dental.NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Bsrbara Balzer has a million-dollar smile, which may explain why Dr. Joseph Kilman is pleased to announce the registered dental hygienist has joined his dental hygiene staff.
“Barbara has excellent credentials and a great deal of experience to treat our patients with the best hygiene care possible,” Kilman said. “We’re all excited to welcome her to Kilman Dental.”
Balzer, who has a master’s of health science degree, is a former instructor at Daytona State College in its dental hygiene program. She also spends time volunteering at the Good Samaritan clinic in Orange City.
SANFORD -- People have repeatedly asked me my opinion about the not guilty verdict in the George Zimmerman trial, especially since I was among the reporters who covered it, having reported on the case almost from the onset, including the interview I had with Trayvon Martin's parents in Miami. I will get into it in my upcoming book, "Creepy Ass Cracker," which will hit bookstores in October.
