Archive

Now in our 20th day since the launch of NSBNEWS.net, we have surpassed 10,000 hits. This is a testament to the thirst for news by the people of Southeast Volusia. And we are pleased to provide around the clock coverage seven days a week. This is a one-person operation so limitations are many, but the drive to succeed is limitless.
And the volunteer contributors we have really do care about the spirit of community journalism.

Many more are welcomed to join in our effort to provide comprehensive news coverage with emphasis on local news and how news everywhere else really hits home.

By controlling which drugs are allowed on the market, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has extorted a large toll in drug costs, drug availability and human life throughout our nation -- greater New Smyrna Beach no exception.
The FDA has greatly delayed the introduction of some useful drugs and totally eliminated the introduction of others.

It is estimated that 85 percent of the cost of drugs is caused by the FDA procedures.

These days, it seems everyone is an environmentalist. No one wants to breath bad air, drink polluted water or kill off all of the wildlife and plant life and despoil the planet. Where the argument comes in is how to protect the environment in the most sensible, cost effective way. Certainly here in Southeast Volusia, we have some of nature's greatest wonders -- from manatees to Mosquito Lagoon.

I believe that the principles of free market capitalism form the soundest basis for protecting the environment.

The country is in a recession. People are struggling to keep their homes out of foreclosure. Job layofs are a daily threat. Should it then really come as a surprise that the most fractured among us are children? The Columbine-type threats at New Smyrna Beach High School and a talked-about murder-suicide plot at DeLand Middle School really hit home.
Perhaps the two boys punished for making Columbine-type threats with scrawled messages on the bathroom walls were just looking for an easy way to scare school officials into canceling classes for a few days.

Individuals and Businesses in Southeast Volusia are starting to use Health Savings Accounts as a cost effective way to cover health care. This growth of HSA's was brought to my attention by Tod Perry an associate at Buddy Davenport’s State Farm Office who said that they had many such plans in place with individuals and businesses around New Smyrna Beach.
He said that the appearance of HAS's was led by individuals who were looking for the best way to take advantage of the new tax regulations that now allow individuals as well as companies to deduct health expenses.

Some of the greatest drama can be found not only network TV or the movies, but in real-life courtrooms. And there are few better at delivering that drama than New Smyrna Beach criminal attorney Bill Hathaway, who I have witnessed presenting several child molestations and one knife murder to juries with great skill and presence when he was a prosecutor.
I have been told that the State Attorney's Office often saved the big cases for him until he went into private practice as a criminal defense attorney several years back.