Photo for Headline Surfer / NSBNews.net

DAYTONA BEACH -- The head of the Halifax Area Advertising Authority welcomed tourism executive Jeffrey Hentz who began his has duties today as the new president and chief executive officer of the Daytona Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"We are excited to have Jeff join and lead our tourism marketing team," said Sean Belgrade, chairman of the Halifax Area Advertising Authority, which oversees the Daytona Beach area's tourism marketing efforts. "This is the start of an exciting era for the Daytona Beach area."

James Seagrave and his apparent girlfriend, Kelly Nemoto were found dead inside a mobile home Thursday afternoon after a lengthy standoff with a Hillsborough SWAT team. Seagrave was the prime suspect in the March 31 fatal shooting of Tom Walsh, the manager of the Mainstreet Grill restaurant during a botched robbery.

DELAND -- The man believed responsible for murdering the manager of the Mainstreet Grill on New York Avenue in March was found dead in a mobile home today in Hillsborough County after a standoff with a SWAT team, authorities said.

James Seagraves, a convicted felon, shot and killed the manager, Tom Walsh, during a bothed robbery on March 31. The 29-year-old suspect had just been released from prison March 2, after serving a two-year term for an armed robbery in Marion County.

The standoff ended just after 6 p.m. in Gibsonton, a rural unincorporated community in Hillsborough County. The SWAT team entered the mobile home where Seagraves had barricaded himself after tear gas cleared and found his body and that of a woman presumed to be his girlfriend, Kayla Nemoto, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Detective Larry McKinnon said. How they died has not yet been released.

Headline Surfer / NSBNews.net photo by Sera Frederick /

PONCE INLET -- The business agent for the Teamsters Local 385 said he's optimistic a new contract will be hammered out between the union and the town for the small police force.

"We're going to request negotiations sometime in June," said Robert Walker, who has been the union's business agent the better part of 15 months. "I met the new chief in April and we had a good discussion. I feel good about getting a new contract in place for the officers."

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- I had a musician friend of mine who is a blues musician ( he won’t play any other style of music no matter how much you pay him) send me this memo. It is adorable and so true. Musicians and non-musicians will laugh and enjoy. My wife Ann is an excellent vocalist. She has performed with me in concert all over the world. I kid her all the time about not being able to “sing the blues.”

EDGEWATER -- Police are withholding the name of a man struck and killed overnight Thursday, while he was crossing the road in the vicinity of the 300 block of North Ridgewood Avenue, while they make every effort to contact family members.

Here is a synopsis of what happened as described by Edgewater cop C. Anderson in the 12:04 a.m. incident i a press release: "A white male was discovered in the roadway by a patrolling police officer. The male had just been struck by a vehicle as he crossed the roadway."

EDGEWATER -- If we could read First Lady Michelle Obama's mind, this would probably be what she is thinking: "Please! Please! Vote for my Husband!

"When he is re-elected I will be able to go on trips like I did in the past. Like my trip to Spain, where we stayed at a 5-star three-story hotel at the cost of $2,500 per night, with 70 Secret Service men keeping a watchful eye.

Headline Surfer / NSBNews.net file photo

Should City Commissioner Lynne Plaskett opt to run again for her zone 4 seat, she'll have competition.  Qualifying papers have been taken out by Patrick Casserly. Click the PDF attachment for details on his filing.