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United Way Women's Initiative of Volusia County to hold champagne social event Wednesday in Ormond Beach

ORMOND BEACH -- The United Way Women's Initiative of Volusia County will hold its champagne social event 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Molto Bella Boutique, 140 N. Nova Road. It will include champagne and chocolate.

Admission is the donation of a silent auction item with 20% of all sales from the event to be donated to the Women's Initiative.

History making: New Smyrna Beach PD has first father-son cop duo

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Like father, like son: For the first time in the history of the police department, the City of New Smyrna Beach has two generations of police officers.

When deciding which police department he wanted to work for, Shawn Adkins, son of NSBPD Investigator David Atkins, said it was an easy decision: “My Dad has been really successful at this agency and I have always felt like it was part of my family.”

Final standings: Coke Zero 400 from Daytona International Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH -- With his thrilling victory in the crash-marred Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola under the lights Saturday at Daytona International Speedway, 5-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson remains atop the season standings.

Edgewater Fourth of July fireworks a blast

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Headline Surfer videos and photos by Henry Frederick / More than 10,000-plus enjoyerd the Edgewater fireworks. 
EDGEWATER -- The night skies were lit up along the Southeast Volusia coastline by a spectacular fireworks show in Edgewater to celenrate the Fourth of July.
Orlando Magic sign 2nd overall NBA pick Victor Oladipo
City
Henry Frederick Sun, 07/07/2013 - 23:53
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Victor Oladipo, shown here in summer pro league, signs with Orlando Magic / Headline SurferPhoto for Headline Surfer / Victor Oladipo was in action Sunday in the Southwest Airlines Orlando Pro Summer League opener at the Amway Center, scoring 18 points with seven assists, six rebounds, five steals and two 3-pointers in the Magic’s 95-88 defeat of the Boston Celtics. The Magic are hoping the Oladipo, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, can transition from college shooting guard to NBA point guard.

ORLANDO -- The Orlando Magic have signed rookie guard Victor Oladipo, who was drafted second overall by the team in the 2013 NSBA draft, General Manager Rob Hennigan has announced.

Breaking news: 30-year-old man downs in Ormond Beach surf

Lacator map on drowning victim in Ormond Beach / Headline SurferHeadline Surfer graphic / A man drowned mid-day Saturday in the ocean ocean in the vicinity of the 600  in the 600 block of South Atlantic Avenue, in Ormond Beach, as shown in this locator map.

ORMOND BEACH -- The Fourth of July weekend has taken a tragic turn in Ormond Beach with a report that a 30-year-old man drowned earlier today in the waters off Ormond Beach.

The victim, whose name was not released was pulled to shore just before noon and treated on scene before transport to Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center in Daytona Beach where he was pronounced dead a short time later, Volusia County sheriff's dispatch Sgt. Mike Chilcot told Headline Surfer.

NASCAR Garage Cam: Pre-Coke Zero 400 racing hype at Daytona International Speedway

YouTube video / for Headline Surfer / NASCAR garage cam at Daytona International Speedway.

DAYTONA BEACH -- NASCAR is pulling out all the stops for the fans at Daytona International Speedway prior to tonight's Coke Zero 400 race from Daytona International Speedway.

Kyle Busch has pole, Matt Kenseth on front row too for tonight's Coke Zero 400 at Daytona

Kyle Busch wins pole for Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway / Headline SurferTodd Warshaw/Getty Images / DIS / Headline Surfer / Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, poses with the pole award after finishing the fastest during qualifying Friday for the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway.

DAYTONA BEACH – Toyota dominated Friday’s Coke Zero 400 qualifying with Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch take the pole and teammate Matt Kenseth joining him up front on the outside for tonight's 160-lap, 400-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway.

494. Former Oak Hill Mayor Donna Jane Bennett dies in 2009, a decade after exiting political stage

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Headline Surfer Top 500 Stories anniversary banner / Headline Surfer

Photo for Headline Surfer / Donna Jane Bennett, mayor of Oak Hill from 1992-'99, died 10 years after her tenure as mayor.

OAK HILL -- Though she was mayor of Oak Hill for the better part of the 1990s, not much has been chronicled the on the relatively short life of former Mayor Donna Jane Bennett, who died unexpectedly in 2009. She was 57.

Bennett's passing comes in at No. 494 in Headline Surfer's Top 500 countdown as part off its 5th anniversary coverage.

Family and friends paid their final respects to the life-long Oak Hill resident in a May 19 service at the First Baptist Church, with the Rev. Emerson Bolton, Sr., officiating.

Bennett died three days earlier at Florida Hospital Ormond Memorial. The circumstances that led to her passing were kept private.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Fourth of July: Remember those in armed forces who fight or died doing so 'for our freedom'

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Florida Gov. Rick Scott in Naples on meaning of Fourth of July / Headline SurferPhoto for Headline Surfer / Gov. Rick Scott reflects on meaning of holiday.

NAPLES -- Gov. Rick Scott released the following statement Wednesday from Naples on the eve of the nation's independence celebration: “Ann and I join all Floridians in celebrating our freedom as Americans and remembering our country’s great heritage this 4th of July holiday."

Scott continued: "As we spend Independence Day with our family, we are reminded of those who cannot do the same because they have paid the ultimate price for our freedom. This week, we honor those who have served in the past and are serving our country at home and abroad today."