Local News Now

Key Words

DELTONA, Fla. -- Deltona firefighters and state fire marshals investigating a Dec. 3 house fire in Deltona discovered a marijuana grow operation inside, and the Volusia County Sheriff's Office arrested the man who lives there.

Read more about 66. VCSO: Pot grow operation discovered after Deltona house fire; occupant arrested

67. Couple with young children living with woman's corpse in Holly Hill given prison sentences; house demolished

Newspaper Section

Key Words

House of death in Holly Hill / Headline Surfer®

Photos for Headline Surfer® /

Nicole Scalise and Todd LaDuke, since sent to prison, squatted in a Holly Hill home for at least a month with their two young boys and the corpse of the homeowner, Tiffany Kain, (shown below) but told law enforcement they didn't know her boy was in a locked bedroom. They were arrested on Halloween 2013, when cops found the body, and the house was torn down in January 2014.

HOLLY HILL, Fla. -- Like a scene out of a horror movie, a Holly Hill married couple raised their 4- and 6-year-old boys in the same house with a corpse until Halloween 2013, when cops moved in with warrants for their arrests on drug charges -- at that time unaware the body was in the residence as well.

Read more about 67. Couple with young children living with woman's corpse in Holly Hill given prison sentences; house demolished

68. Danny Eslick triumphs in Daytona 200 sport bike race

Newspaper Section

Key Words

Dany Eslick, polesitter for 2014 Daytona 200 bike race, interviewed before winning it / Headline Surfer®

Headline Surfer® / YouTube download video by AMA Pro Racing /

Pole-winner Danny Eslick (Riders Discount/Triumph) is interviewed before the 2014 Daytona 200, and then proceeds to go on to race in a dominating way, by winning and giving Triumph its first Daytona 200 victory since Gary Nixon in 1967. Watch the entire race here.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Triumph rider Danny Eslick dominated the 73rd Daytona 200 AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike race at Daytona International Speedway, winning from the pole.

Read more about 68. Danny Eslick triumphs in Daytona 200 sport bike race

69. Melbourne teen finishes in top 5 of national spelling bee on ESPN

Newspaper Section

Key Words

Mry Horton of Melbourne finishes in top 5 in spelling bee on ESPN / Headline Surfer®

Photos for Headline Surfer® /

Mary Horton of West Melbourne, is interviewed by the Orlando Sentinel for her spelling expertise.

MELBOURNE, Fla. -- Mary Horton, 13, of West Melbourne, spelled her way into the finals of the National Spelling Bee on May 29, in National Harbor, Md., but she finished in a tie for fifth and when all was said and done, among the top 12 contestants overall after flubbing the word "aetites."

Still, though, the Orlando metro newspaper's shining example of smartness showed she could stand up to the pressures of the national spotlight with the spelling bee carried in prime time on ESPN with zany video vignettes of the participants, including Horton showcasing her tiger-striped painted fingernails and her photos of family members, plants and cats.

Read more about 69. Melbourne teen finishes in top 5 of national spelling bee on ESPN

As someone threatened on phone with being shot to death - murdered - Sanford cops can't or won't question accused?

Oak Hill Vice Mayor Jeff Bracy accused of making death threats to reporter / Headline Surfer® SANFORD, Fla. -- I was subjected to death threats over the phone from a Volusia County politician 40 miles away who wanted a story I had planned to publish deep-sixed or as he put it, "I'll drive over there to Sanford and hunt your mother (expletive) ass down and I will shoot you until you are no longer breathing -- until you are dead. Don't write that story. I mean it.

Read more about As someone threatened on phone with being shot to death - murdered - Sanford cops can't or won't question accused?

HeadlineSurfer.com Hall of Fame: Former Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas of New Smyrna Beach

Newspaper Section

HeadlineSurfer.com Hall of Fame

Key Words

This is an advance write-up announcing the iduction of Suzanne Kosmas into the Class of 2015 HeadlineSurfer.com Hall of Fame. A formal presentation will be published at a later date. The first official inductee is former Volusia County Chair Frank Bruno of Ponce Inlet. That segment will be published Sunday night.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Though she says her career in elected office is over, Suzanne Kosmas, perhaps the highest ranking Democrat ever from New Smyrna Beach -- first in the Florida Legislature and then Congress -- who could surprise people, if she has one more run in her in 2016, as some have suggested, including this media outlet.

In any event, Suzanne Kosmas, is among the 100 entrants in the inaugural Class of 2015 HeadlineSurfer.com Hall of Fame.

Read more about HeadlineSurfer.com Hall of Fame: Former Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas of New Smyrna Beach

Republicans have a sense of humor: Just ask Stan Lee

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Republicans like myself battle the stereotype that we have no sense of humor. That we are stuffed shirts.

Read more about Republicans have a sense of humor: Just ask Stan Lee

Volusia County Council to leave New Smyrna Beach CRAs alone - at least until mid-summer vote on controversial hotel Henry Frederick Fri, 04/17/2015 - 07:26

Newspaper Section

Beachside/Flagler Avenue

Flagler Ave ramp in NSB one of the busiest in Volusia County, Fla / Headline Surfer®

Headline Surfer® photos & videos /

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Volusia County Councilwoman Deb Denys won re-election to her district 3 seat in 2014, in part by pledging to convince her colleagues on the dais in DeLand to approve new Community Redevelopment Agencies for New Smyrna Beach and Edgewater.

And soon after the election, she did just that, getting CRA passages for both cities in 6-1 votes with only County Chair Jason Davis dissenting each time.

Read more about Volusia County Council to leave New Smyrna Beach CRAs alone - at least until mid-summer vote on controversial hotel

Daytona Gator Nation reaction to verdict: Ex-New England Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez guilty of 1st-degree murder

Newspaper Section