Local News Now

The arrow points to the Papa Johns restaurant outside the DeLand city limits where an employee was robbed by a lone gunman.

DELAND -- The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the armed robbery of an employee of a North Woodland Boulevard pizzeria who had the night deposit cash on him when a gun was shoved in his face as he was getting into his vehicle.

Deputies arrived within 3 minutes of the 1:52 a.m. Saturday 9-1-1 call made by the victim outside the Papa Johns.

"Once there, deputies learned that an employee was getting into his car when a stranger emerged from an adjacent parking lot, thrust a gun through the passenger side window of the victim’s car, pointed the weapon at the victim and demanded his money," Sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson said. "The victim immediately complied and handed over a bag containing the cash for the night deposit."

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- I want to offer something that is rare in these contentious times: praise for and thanks to those who serve the public and community. This particular message of thanks is not directed to our first responders. They get lots of well-deserved praise.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Tony Stewart stayed clear of the carnage in tonight's Coke Zero 400 to take the checkered flag for his third NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory of the season.

"I don't even remeber what happened in the last lap," Stewart said, when asked about the multitude of wrecks including one on the final lap. "Anytime you win at Daytona it's special."

Fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr., who got caught up in the biggest pile-up, to finish 15th, said of the wreckfest, "I was getting shoved. It was pretty wild. We were all running into each other."

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- I didn’t know Peter Mallory well, but I did know of the relationship between him and Henry Frederick. The two of them gave this community a voice with NSBNEWS.net and for that that we are all thankful.

 Lest we forget the sacrifices it took to gain and retain our free country read below my comments. Then remember when voting that we need politicians who believe in those same original freedoms fought for so valiantly lo those many years ago.

Photo credit Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images / Kurt Busch celebrates in Victory Lane on Friday after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Subway Jalapeno 250 at Daytona International Speedway.

DAYTONA BEACH -- They call it the "Big One" and Friday's Subway Jalapeno 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway lived up to the billing with a crash on lap 66 that collected 15 cars. Kurt Busch escaped with some damage to later take the checkered flag in his battered No. 1 Chevrolet.

PORT ORANGE -- 236 years ago, our nation adopted the Declaration of Independence, thereby securing the many rights and freedoms that Americans through the generations have always enjoyed. We celebrate independence in recognition of the brave founders of our great Republic, who risked their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor in the pursuit of liberty.

Headline Surfer videos by Sera Frederick / All 392 graduating seniors, whose names were called to the stage to receive their diplomas are included in the 24/7 Internet newspaper's exclusive multimedia coverage of the NSBHS Class of 2012. More videos inside.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Principal Jim Tager and his devoted staff of teachers and counselors got together for one last hurrah with the seniors of the Class of 2012 before unleashing them onto a world unto their own to begin life's journey as young adults.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Every American has seen the film classic "Animal House" depicting life in a college fraternity.

The fraternity brothers were depicted as being totally without any redeeming qualities. They were totally lazy, irresponsible, undisciplined, destructive and any academic achievement was accidental and discouraged by the fraternity.

Nobody took the movie too seriously. However there has always been the lingering fear that there is a little bit of animal house in all fraternities. Over the years a few mishaps occurred which gave fraternities a bad name at MIT.