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Thanksgiving Day: Internet newspaper's Central Florida Politician of the year: Volusia Councilwoman Joyce Cusack

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- She was born in the segregated "Westside" community of New Smyrna Beach; she and her family barred from swimming, sunbathing or surfing at the World's Most Famous Beach® in Daytona or even the beaches in New Smyrna, Ponce Inlet, the Shores or Ormond, for that matter.

Message from County Chair Jason Davis: Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for support

Volusia County Chair Jason Davis is an American combat-wounded vet / Henry FrederickThis special column commemorating was written exclusively for HeadlineSurfer.com by Volusia County Chair Jason Davis, a combat-wounded veteran, who lives in Pierson.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- I thank you all for your support. When was the last time someone actually said and meant that?

Well, I will tell you, and I really do mean it.

Since my election, I have always looked to those who elected me for their opinions, and possible solutions to some of the complex discussions and issues we have had to take on.

Thanksgiving Day blessings with elderly mom and her confidence in doing crossword puzzles with a pen

EDGEWATER, Fla. -- This morning via emails my cousin and I were discussing what we are thankful for this Thanksgiving. At our ages we have many departed souls that we miss dearly and wish we were celebrating with here right now. But alas the older we get the less earthly relatives and friends we have and that’s sad.

VCSO: 8 juveniles arrested in Deltona robbery of pizza deliveryman

Pizza deliveryman robbed locator in Deltona / Headline Surfer®Headline Surfer® graphic /
An empty house was the apparent location for the robbery of a Papa John's pizza deliveryman by eight teenage boys as  shown in this locator map, according to the Volusioa County Flagler Sheriff's Office.

DELTONA, Fla. -- Volusia County sheriff’s deputies tracked down and arrested eight juveniles in connection with the Wednesday afternoon robbery of a pizza delivery driver in Deltona, an agency spokesman said.

Deputies responded around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday after the driver, Colton Reisner, of a local Papa John's, said he was robbed at a house at 1037 Abagail Drive.

Reisner didn’t report any weapons used in the robbery, or any money stolen. He said some of the teens snuck up and threw a blanket or sheet over his head when he knocked on the front door, then took off with pizza, chicken wings and soda. The house was vacant.

Happy Thanksgiving weekend from our home in Sanford, Florida, to yours around the world via HeadlineSurfer.com

Henry & Sera Frederick with yorkie "Napoleon" in Sanford, FL / Headline Surfer®SANFORD, Fla. -- It has been a great Thanksgiving weekend here in Central Florida, though a little on the cooler side. But it sure beats that snowstorm my family and friends got hammered with in the Northeast.

My wife, Serafina, and I had Thanksgiving with her mom and two siblings and their families in nearby Lake Mary, here in Seminole County. 

494. Mark I. Johnson, former longtime SE Volusia newspaper reporter, known for photo skills, too

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Top 500 Newsmakers of Central Florida / Headline Surfer®
Headline Surfer® is counting down its listing of the Top 500 Newsmakers in Central Florida all the way to No. 1.  

Mark I. Johnson, for New Smyrna Beach-area reporter No. 494 among top 500 newsmakers / Headline Surfer®Former reporter/photographer Mark I. Johnson in top 500 newsmakers / Headline Surfer®NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Mark I. Johnson wasn't flashy, but he was a workhorse newspaper reporter who got the job done covering the news for two print newspapers over three decades.

He also was pretty handy with a camera, often serving in both roles during a career that began in the late 1980s as a reporter for the New Smyrna Beach Observer and then for the Daytona Beach News-Journal until late last year when he became one of the casualties of continuing layoffs at the former metro.

While Johnson wasn't flashy reporter, a journalist of few words, he knew how to work the flash with his camera, often handling photo assignments for the main newspaper while working out of the the News-Journal's Canal Street bureau where he also filed stories for the regional section, the Daily Journal.

Daytona 200 bike race gets green flag for 2015 run at Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Daytona International Speedway has reached a sanction agreement with the American SportBike Racing Association to hold the 74th annual Daytona 200 motorcycle race in 2015 during Bike Week, track President Joie Chitwood announced today.

Teamsters nemesis: Daytona Beach Police Chief Michael Chitwood would have defused Ferguson situation early on

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Bob Walker / Headline Surfer®Ferguson liquor store burned & looted / Headline Surfer®Photos for Headline Surfer® /
Bob Walker, Business agent for the local Teamsters 385, (Headline Surfer® image shown in the inset) and a longtime critic of Daytona Beach Police Chief Michael Chitwood, believes the acerbic top cop could have handled the situation in Ferguson, MO, and maybe even have headed off the looting as shown in this snapshot of a liquor store vandalized by looters.
 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Retired homicide cop Bob Walker has never really gotten along with temperamental Daytona Beach Police Chief Michael Chitwood.

Walker, Teamsters 385 business agent, had actually returned to the DBPD several years back to help out with homicide cold cases, but was it wasn't long before he banned from the cop shop by Chitwood with the exception of his union rep. duties.

100. NSB environmentalist Barbara Herrin dies: Backed Jim Hathaway en route to 2012 County Council primary win

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Back in the 2012 election cycle, Jim Hathaway needed a strong endorsement while locked in a three-way primary battle for the district 3 seat on the County Council. So he called on environmentalist Barbara Herrin, a one-time candidate for the seat herself.