Local News Now

VCBJ mug / Edwin Wren, 19, is being held without bail at the Volusia County Branch Jail on charged with sexual battery of a child and aggravated child abuse, felonies that could net him life in prison if convicted.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A 9-month-old baby girl discovered Thursday afternoon to be bleeding profusely from physical trauma to her body was sexually assaulted, Volusia County Sheriff's investigators have concluded.

That night, investigators rounded up a 19-year-old man who had been left to watch the baby. Edwin Wren is being held without bond at the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach, facing charges of sexual battery on a person under the age of 12 and aggravated child abuse. Wren was living with the baby's parents, who sometimes left him to tend to the baby, according to the arrest report.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A 1-year-old child has been transported to Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach with non-life threatening injuries earlier in the day Thursday after a neighbor took possession of the child and called authorities.

"The Volusia County Sheriff's Office received information about an injured child in the New Smyrna Beach area and responded to begin an investigation," agency spokesman Brandon Haught said. "Investigators are interviewing family members and possible witnesses to determine how the child was injured."

NSBNews.net photo by Henry Frederick / New Smyrna Beach City Commissioner Judy Reiker is stoic after her unanimous appointment as vice mayor during Tuesday night's city commission meeting.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- With nearly two years as an elected commissioner under her belt, it was inevitable the ceremonial title of vice mayor would be bestowed upon Judy Reiker.

Besides, the other more seasoned commissioners had held the title already, among them Lynne Plaskett, Jack Grasty and Jim Hathaway.

It was Hathaway who made the motion to transfer the title from his name to Reiker's with Grasty seconding and Plaskett chiming in "absolutely."

Already with a near 30-year run in district, Canal Street to be part of new one

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- When it was revealed at an economic summit over the weekend that Canal Street would be included in a new CRA district along the US 1 corridor where blight is paramount, some officials were stunned while others were tightlipped.

What to do about blighted US 1 corridor will be discussed at Saturday session

NSBNews.net photo by Sera Frederick / The US 1 corridor in New Smyrna Beach, long in decline, will be discussed as part of an economic summit between New Smyrna Beach and Edgewater officials at New Smyrna Beach City Hall on Saturday. NSBNews.net will have complete coverage.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The cities of New Smyrna Beach and Edgewater are holding a joint economic summit Saturday in the City Commission chambers with a special presentation by Sean Snaith, Director with the Institute for Economic Competitiveness at the University of Central Florida.

About 60 people paid $25 each to attend the 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. summit, which includes overviews on economic development goals and plans by both cities.

EDGEWATER -- I was watching the coverage on the news about the recent tragic death of race driver Dan Wheldon thinking how ghoulish a society we’ve become. Yes, we all are stunned and saddened when these horrible things happen but we, also, demand faster cars in the races, more tricks during airplane shows and other such things that eventually lead to someone dying trying to entertain us.

By JIM HATHAWAY

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- This week I had the opportunity to interact with Southeast Volusia County’s younger generation on two occasions.

On Tuesday, New Smyrna Beach High School students from Teresa Tyson’s honors American history course came to city hall for a “mock” city commission meeting. Students sat in for each elected official and a number of city staffers. It was refreshing to see the young faces at the dais and among the crowd.

EDGEWATER -- Does it really make a difference? Is there any certain quality which would stand to a standard of strength? What difference would it make to just forget the all in all? How about the all? Does it stand on a premise of a certainty or is there really a difference? Should one care or just let it pass along the way? Undecided? Certainty or not should be the question!

DAYTONA BEACH -- Volusia County Beach Patrol Capt. Rich Gardner is being terminated in the wake of a sex scandal involving female employees working under him. The story was first reported earlier today by Clare Metz of WESH TV in Orlando and followed by a host of Central Florida media outlets including NSBNews.net, which will have a full report shortly.