Local News Now

Headline Surfer photo by Henry Frederick / A man in a heavy jacket walks by the Boot Hill Saloon on Main Street in Daytona Beach as shown here.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Gloves and a scarf may be the preferred accessories with today's start of Bike Week because of the chilly weather over the next few days.

Today's high in Daytona Beach is expected to peak at 67 degrees with winds of 5 to 15 mph and gusts of up to 20 mph.

Tonight will see the temperature dropping to 48 degrees. Saturday looks a little better with a high of 70 and overnight temperature of 54 with diminishing winds of 5 to 10 mph.

Photo for Headline Surfer /

• Read more about Daytona 500 images: Trevor Bayne caught up in wreck

Scant details on circumstances in press release 

A bicyclist was struck by a motor vehicle in the 200 block of Ridgewood Avenue (US 1) in Edgewater.

EDGEWATER -- A 57-year-old bicyclist is in critical condition this morning at Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach as a result of being struck by a motor vehicle Tuesday night in the southbound lanes of US 1, Edgewater police said in a press release.

The bicyclist in the 7 p.m. incident was identified as Paul L. Alty, an Edgewater resident. Police didn't release details on vehicle involved nor did the release the name of the driver. Police also did not say if it was a hit-and-run or some other circumstance.

Headline Surfer Editor/Publisher Henry Frederick interviews Dist. 27 State Rep. David Santiago, R-Deltona, at Daytona International Speedway on his bill that benefits the speedway through tax breaks for a major expansion.

DAYTONA BEACH -- David Santiago is sponsoring what could be the most important bill of his tenure since winning his district 27 Statehouse seat in the November elections with a proposal to give tax breaks to Daytona International Speedway for a major expansion project that would bring the 1959 super speedway well into the 21st century, including onsite parking, restaurants, escalators and other amenities.

Democrat Phil Giorno, shown at far left, wasn't on the ballot in replacing Dennis Mulder who withdrew midway through the campaign for dist. 27 state representative. Regardless, Republican David Santiago, shown below, easily won the election.

DELTONA -- Phil Giorno had enough headaches as chairman of the Volusia County Democratic Executive Committee when he stepped in to run for the district 27 state representative seat for Dennis Mulder who had to resign because of a family illness.

Because of the timing, though, Mulder's name remained on the ballot per state election laws.

NEW SMYRNA BREACH -- The New Smyrna Beach High School 'Cudas had lots of reasons to be happy during the 2011-'12 school year homecoming game. The football team won big time and Dallas Macdermant and Shanleigh O'dell were named king and queen, respectively.

By Tim Hamby

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- I have been trying to improve communication between the Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority and stakeholders in our area and wish to include the media in my efforts. I have been sending out periodic updates, typically just prior to or immediately following, our regularly scheduled board meetings.

In these emailed letters, I have been providing summaries of critical issues, including, when appropriate, creative pieces; budgets; copies of agreements; etc.