By JOE COPENHAVER
By Dr. L. DURHAMDAYTONA BEACH -- Professional sports fans today, at least in the wake of the recent comments made by Seattle Seahawks defensive back Richard Sherman, seem to be cut from a very different mold from fans back in the 1960s and '70s.
Editor's Note: Here is the weekly message from Congressman Ron DeSantis, the Republican from St. Augustine, representing the 6th district that includes greater Daytona Beach...
Washington DC -- On Tuesday the President delivered his State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress.
DAYTONA BEACH -- This Super Bowl Sunday already is a day stacking up with lots of news. The two most significant news developments are an "open letter" to Gov. Scott on pervasive corruption in Volusia County government involving Councilwoman Deborah Denys in the removal of Palmer Wilson from the SEV ad authority and an exclusive interview with Ramara Garrett and Jim Sotolongo. They are the principals in Waverly Media who are accused of mortgage fraud in federal court.
DAYTONA BEACH -- We're on the clock to Super Bowl XLVIII between the Seahawks and the Broncos. This one is unusual in that there are two polarizing figures for which I challenge you to pick your poison: Peyton Manning of Denver or Richard Sherman of Seattle.
With these two on opposite sides of the ball, the game should be anything but a snoozer. The stakes are high for these gridiron warriors who don't have to deal with the frozen tundra of New Jersey with a break in the weather, but maybe a few blocked off bridges as Gov. Christie has been accused of causing those big traffic jams. It's worse than the traffic coming out of Daytona International Speedway after the Daytona 500.
Headline Surfer® inset photo / DAYTONA BEACH -- One of the remaining defendants about to go to trial in the alleged Volusia mortgage fraud case has asked a federal judge to consider polling jurors individually or even consideration for a change of venue a because of incessant coverage in the Daytona Beach News-Journal that her attorney asserts has crossed the line with "inflammatory and adverse articles published in print and on the Internet."
Photo for Headline Surfer® / James Sotolongo and Ramara Garrett and his longtime live-in girlfriend, Ramara Garrett, parents of a 9-month-old baby, are among four defendants accused of mortgage fraud involving seven homes in Volusia County valued at $13 million, according to a federal grand jury indictment. The other two accused are Christopher Mencis and Stephanie Musselwhite, shown in the inset.ORLANDO -- A federal judge rejected -- at least for the time being -- a guilty plea for James Fidel Sotolongo that would have capped his prison sentence at five years in a deal negotiated with the U.S. Attorney's Office that had him copping to only one of 13 counts in a grand jury indictment.
DAYTONA BEACH -- Today is a milestone -- Feb. 4, 2014 -- as I am now 52 years old. I have as much energy now as I had at 22 when I graduated from college. I have accomplished quite a bit, but there is so much more I want to do in my life's journey.
My Christian faith is my guide, my instincts sharpened by past decisions -- good or bad -- in helping me meet challenges foreseen and unforeseen for such is the uncertainty in life. People often ask me why I'm always pushing the envelope. Why I'm constantly challenging the status quo. My response: Because I can. Why should I let others set it for me when I can chart my own course on my terms.
