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Chief Deputy Mike Coffin among 6 finalists for chief in scandal-ridden NSBPD in wake of evidence room thefts
Newspaper Section
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Mike Coffin, the chief deputy of Volusia County, is among six finalists for chief of the scandal-ridden New Smyrna Beach Police Department, still reeling in the wake of the evidence room thefts that have also resulted in four top cops in the past two years.
Mike Coffin, among the two local candidates along with retired South Daytona Police Chief Bill Hall, is considered a frontrunner and certainly the favorite in terms of overall experience and credibility, as far as New Smyrna Beach's newly-elected top leader is concerned.
"Yes, I would have to put Mike Coffin in the category of a favorite -- absolutely," Mayor Jim Hathaway told Headline Surfer® over the weekend.
Musical Chairs: Newly-elected and retiring judges requires shifting of assignments in 7th judicial circuit
Newspaper Section
Photos for Headline Surfer® / Circuit Judges R. Michael Hutcheson, Shawn L. Briese, Robert K. Rouse, Jr., and Terry LaRue are retiring at year's end.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - With seven new judges -- six elected and one appointed -- along with several retirements at year's end, the 7th Judicial Circuit, which comprises Volusia, Flagler, Putnam and St. Johns counties, will see judges in new assignments in January like a game of musical chairs except where they land has been determined by the chief judge.
Circuit Judges R. Michael Hutcheson, Shawn L. Briese, Robert K. Rouse Jr., and Terry LaRue are retiring at year's end. Circuit Judge Thomas Portuallo and Volusia County Court Judge Peter McGlashan are leaving as the result of this year's election.
99. Gov. Rick Scott appoints James Edwards of Altamonte Springs to Daytona appeals court
Newspaper Section
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Gov. Rick Scott in November appointed private attorney James A. Edwards of Altamonte Springs to a seat on the 5th District Court of Appeal, filling a position that was created by the Florida Legislature earlier this year.
99. CRA Director Kevin Fall puts onus on NSB city manager in 2009 resignation after being stopped for speeding, booze
Newspaper Section
Volusia County has had more than its fair share of scandals over the years. Headline Surfer® has ranked what it believes are the Top 100 most-shocking, talked-about county scandals.
Headline Surfer® photosCRA Director Kevin Fall doesn't address the Nov. 14, 2009, motor vehicle stop in his resignation for which he was issued tickets charging him with driving with an open container of alcohol, speeding and driving without insurance, but he refers instead to not being allowed to perform his intended duties over the past four months -- an indirect reference to what he believed was micro-managing by the interim city manager.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Then-Interim City Manager Pamela Brangaccio had her first scandal to deal with as 2009 was winding down: Then-CRA Director Kevin Fall quit after an embarrassing traffic stop made headlines rather than enter a counseling program. He even blamed her for his troubles.
Disgusted with instances of police overkill
EDGEWATER, Fla. -- I have been, to put it nicely, disenchanted with our justice system for some time now, but currently I am just plain disgusted with what is going on today.
98. Ex-Flagler Ave kingpin Robert Lott serves as bouncer as taps flow for Rotary fundraiser
Newspaper Section
Headline Surfer® photos / Robert Lott sucks down a beer while manning the door at the Brannon Center Aug. 28, at the Brannon Center for Rotarians holding a fundraiser where alcohol was the big draw.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Robert Lott was still wearing the same ratty clothes, though he went out of his way to show off his new plastic shoes when the internet newspaper showed up to take photos in August of the "Cheeseburger in Paradise" fundraiser at the Brannon Center.
Conflict of interest: Daytona Beach News-Journal justifies Kaney-led Waverly investigation because of advertising
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Let's be real about this: The Daytona Beach News-Journal justifies the Waverly Media investigation led by outside counsel Jonathan Kaney, Jr., for one reason, and one reason only: Its bottom line in advertising revenue. The advertising the county does with Halifax Media, the ownership of the News-Journal, is the dirty little secret Volusia County keeps under wraps.
NSBPD accreditation process promoted in press release but evidence room thefts & revolving door of chiefs omitted
Newspaper Section
Acting Police Chief Donna Lavallee may be all smiles regarding steps towards accreditation in the New Smyrna Beach PD, but all is not hunky dory despite a PR statement from City Hall.NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Amid the backdrop of the continuing fallout of the theft of items from the New Smyrna Beach Police Department uncovered two years ago and a revolving door of top cops in the interim, the office of City Manager Pamela Brangaccio put out a press release Friday announcing the police agency was moving towards accreditation.
Christmas Day Multimedia Coverage: New Smyrna Beach Christmas Parade
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla -- We will publish our video coverage of the New Smyrna Bech Christmas Parade on Christmas Day as part of kurt multimedia holiday coverage. This was out sixth year of covering the parade, which is one of the biggest and most festive in New Smyrna Beach.