Local News Now

Photo for Headline Surfer / At left is a poster announcing a contest seeking a new name for the City of Oak Hill with prizes for winning entries.

OAK HILL -- The poster says it all: Wanted! Motto for the City of Oak Hill.

"Obviously, we want to promote our city," Oak Hill Mayor Douglas Gibson told Headline Surfer, echoing the verbiage in the Old West wanted poster.

As he rightfully pointed out, Orlando has a great motto: The City Beautiful. And Daytona's is known around the globe: "The World's Most Famous Beach."

So why not Oak Hill?

"We have endless possibilities for a bright future for our city," said Gibson, elected in November. "A motto would be great."

Headline Surfer videos and photos / A black bear climbed up a tree in downtown New Smyrna Beach just before sunrise Saturday and didn't come down until after sunset. Headline Surfer has exclusive video.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The city by the sea is known for its shark bites and 'Cudas football, but black bears? One just happened to hang out in a tree at the corner of Magnolia and Canal streets all day Saturday until sunset when it climbed back down and scampered away.

Headline Surfer photos by Henry Frederick / These birds were seen recently in a small pond fountain across from the Edgewater City Hall.

EDGEWATER -- A gathering of exotic birds took a swim on a warm summer's day in a small  pond foutain across fthe street from the Edgewater City Hall on Riverside Drive.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Fifteen minutes after the City of Edgewater lights up the night sky on the Fourth of July with a spectacular fireworks show, the city of New Smyrna Beach will do the same. The fireworks shows in both cities will conclude the Souhtheast Volusia Advertising Authority's inaugual New Smyrna beachweeks.

Headline Surfer photos by Henry Frederick / The Intracoastal Waterway at Riverside Park and the Brannon Center in scenic New Smyrna Beach is the setting for Fishstock 2013.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Here's a look back at one of the more popular New Smyrna Beachweeks events, Fishstock.

Held May 23-26, it was the first of 10 New Smyrna Beachweeks events that culminates with fireworks shows on July 4 in New Smyrna Beach from the same locale and in Edgewater.

Headline Surfer video and photos / Though drug-sniffing dog Buddy has retired due to health issues, he still gets to see his former human partner Bruce Holcomb at home. 

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- New Smyrna Beach k9 cop Buddy took a bite out of crime many times over in his four years of service with canine partner Bruce Holcomb. 

But Buddy had to be retired last month and soon Holcomb will get a new four-legged partner.

Photos for Headline Surfer / The NSB Sand Art Festival and Seaside Fiesta  are just two of the myriad New Smyrna beachweeks activities that have proven successful as a tourism interest.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Whether it's local sculptor Rich Varano's beautiful sand castle, teens riding the surf or huge crowds jamming Flagler Avenue for a fiesta, the inaugural New Smyrna beachweeks has proven to be a monumental success. All that's needed to complete the tourism-driven event is fireworks and those are coming July 4th, in Edgewater, and for the first time in a longtime, New Smyrna Beach.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Community College Week, one of the nation’s leading publications focusing on higher education institutions that offer two-year associate degrees, has named Daytona State College among its list of Top 100 Associate Degree Producers.

Daytona State ranked 35th nationally in awarding the two-year associate degree, among some 5,000 public and private institutions. In addition, the college ranked 9th in the awarding of associate of science degrees in communication technologies, 19th in liberal arts and science degree awards, 45th in associate degree in nursing graduates, and 77th in the awarding of one-year college and vocational credit certificates.

DELAND -- The Volusia County Grand Jury returned an Indictment earlier today against against Brian McLane that accuses him of first-degree murder, a capital felony, in relation to the death of his Edgewater roommate on June 3.

The defendant and the victim, 71-year-old Richard Carton, were roommates in a mobile home. The victim was found dead of asphyxiation and/or suffocation.

McLane's indictment paves the way for the office of State Attorney R.J. Larizza to consider whether it will seek the death penalty at trial. LaRizza's office does not comment until a decision has beenmade inhouse whether to seek the death penalty or life in prison without parole.