Local News Now

Headline Surfer photos by Henry Frederick / A woman dances while raising a beer in front of her pre-teen daughter during a New Year's Eve celebration on Main Street in Daytona Beach. CRA taxpayer money supported the bash with the dropping of a lighted beach ball.

DAYTONA BEACH -- With Daytona Beach's continual emphasis on economic development and dealing with the issue of blight, how does the city justify its use of CRA taxpayer-supported dollars for massive public drinking parties like the New Year's Eve bash held on Main Street?

Headline Surfer photos by Henry Frederick / Bob Tolley, shown at left at a New Smyrna Beach City Commission meeting, is a critic of Mayor Adam Barringer,  shown below.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Citizen watchdog Bob Tolley has filed a new round of ethics complaints with the state against Mayor Adam Barringer for his verbal tirade on a New Smyrna Beach cop who wouldn't let him cut through a barricaded side street before the city's Christmas parade.

To date, Tolley has filed four separate ethics complaints against city officials, beginning with the municipality's "private" retirement party back in November for former City Commissioner Jim Hathaway with up-front costs paid for with a city credit card. The retirement dinner was held at Barringer's beachside wine restaurant, SoNapa Grille.

But it's the treatment of the cop, Ralph Hunnefeld, a combat-tested veteran of the Iraq War, whom the mayor called a "pr-ck" that has Tolley, himself a Vietnam vet, up in arms.

And in a related story, New Smyrna Beach police have come under criticism for a series of traffic-related warnings the mayor has received with some questioning whether he is being given preferential treatment because of his status as the city's top elected official. Prior to becoming mayor in 2009, Barringer received several traffic-related citations, but only warnings since.

At left is a snapshot of the top-ranked news item in the Google News Directories for Daytona Beach at mid-morning Thursday.

DAYTONA BEACH -- A blog written exclusively for Headline Surfer by Volusia County Chair Jason Davis on his first 100 days in office is tops in the Google News Directories for Daytona Beach in the 10 o'clock hour.

Photo for Headline Surfer / This history behind this and other Port Orange historic structures is explained in a city program, 1 p.m. Friday at the City Adult Center Annex, 3738 Halifax Drive.

PORT ORANGE -- The community is invited to attend the 1 p.m. Friday "Port Orange History Lecture: Then and Now," featuring a photo tour of historic structures and landmarks from Port Orange’s past and what has replaced them today.

DEBARY -- The Ladies Networking Luncheon is scheduled 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, April 26, at the DeBary Golf & Country Club, 300 Plantation Club Drive.

The cost for the buffet-style-luncheon is $15 per person. To RSVP go to WestVolusiaRegionalChamber.org and for more information, please call Linda Butler at 386-532-1287.

Campaign encouraged by ICBA and Gateway, Intracoastal, Reunion and Surety

DAYTONA BEACH -- The Independent Community Bankers of America and the local community banks including Gateway, Intracoastal, Reunion and Surety, are kicking off ICBA Community Banking Month by encouraging small business owners and consumers to bank locally.

By doing so, customers will make a hometown investment they can be proud of because community banks put local deposits back to work right where it belongs-in the community.

Photo for Headline Surfer / The Saints and Sinners Cemetary in Oak Hill is among the oldest burial places in Florida with 130 internments on record, dating back to the 19th century.

OAK HILL -- Attention all saints and sinners: Your help is needed at the local cemeteries of the same name at 8 a.m. Saturday.

Photo for Headline Surfer / Mark Barker, Holly Hill's top cop, is gearing up for the city's annual spring clean-up program.

HOLLY HILL -- Police Chief Mark Barker wants city residents to mark their calendars for Saturday, April 20: That's the date for the city's annual community "Spring Clean-Up."

Barker said the event "provides residents with an opportunity to get ready for summer by sprucing up their home and neighborhood as we work to protect and beautify the environment."

Headline Surfer photo by Henry Frederick / The 2013 Daytona 500 was full of thrills as shown here, with the race won by Jimmie Johnson.

PORT ORANGE -- State Senator Dorothy Hukill was able to get her Bill 1394 relating to Motorsports Entertainment Complexes approved today by colleagues in the Commerce and Tourism Committee, a big step in gaining eventual sales tax incentives for a private $250 million modernization of Daytona International Speedway.