Robert Lott stands with a golden shovel for the recent groundbreaking of the Hampton Inn on Flagler Avenue, the same street where once he had his financial services business and the Observer.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Robert Lott was once the kingpin of bustling Flagler Avenue with his standing as president of the chamber of commerce, board member of the Southeast Volusia Hospital Taxing District, owner of Lott Financial Services and of the weekly Observer newspaper. Those days are long gone.

Courtesy photo / Darin Leutbecker was charged Thursday with armed robbery and other felonies in an alleged boat jacking of a New Smyrna Beach man the day before .

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A Brevard County man was charged earlier today with armed robbery for an alleged boat jcking on a New Smyrna Beach man on Wednesday, the Volusia County Sheriff's Odffice said.

The victim had told deputies that during a struggle he believed he had cut the would-be robber across the neck with a pocketknife. He also said his attacker had an oriental symbol tattooed across a finger and that the man had earlier told him that he was from Titusville.

NSBNEWS.NET FINAL TRIBUTE IN PHOTOS, VIDEOS & WORDS

"It's so wonderful seeing everyone -- so many people from the community." -- Kino Fernandez, 16, son of the late Frederick "Fico" Fernandez, at a paddle out memorial service on the beach Saturday attended by 2,000-plus.

Who foots the bill? Why it's the taxpayers, silly

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Everyone made money in the failed Adventists-Bert Fish hospital merger. Everyone that is, except the taxpayers of Southeast Volusia.

Promise of temporary bridge appeases 250 New Smyrna Beach residents

 NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick / The 200-foot-span concrete bridge built 44 years ago over Turnbull Bay would cost $4 million to replace. The concrete bridge was closed last month because of structural deficiencies following an inspection. At a meeting Tuesday night at the Brannon Center, officials agreed on a temporary measure to ease the hardship on area residents.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Finances are tight at the city and county levels, but 250 residents packing the Brannon Center tonight were adamant that the expected two-year wait for a new $4 million Turnbull Bay Bridge and a 6-mile detour wwere not acceptable. After some heated discussion, officials agreed to pay $200,000 for a temporary span to go 3 feet above the corrupted bridge which could be in place in as little as three months. It's a big if, though, assuming the pylons are sound.

Credit: Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR
Jeff Gordon, driver of the No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet, comes to the finish line to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AdvoCare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sept. 6 in Hampton, Ga.

Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR
Jeff Gordon celebrates in Victory Lane holding up three fingers representing three wins in 2011 after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AdvoCare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sept. 6 in Hampton, Ga.

Jeff Gordon: Victory No. 85 Adds To Legend

Big sendoff on the beach for Frederick 'Fico' Fernandez

 NSBNews.net photo / Friends pay their final respects Saturday on the beach for New Smyrna Beach High School teacher Frederick "Fico" Fernandez, killed in a surfing accident a week earlier in the surf. 

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Debra Fernandez and her three children were joined by more than a thousand friends in a memorial sendoff Saturday for her 55-year-old husband, Frederick "Fico" Fernandez, tragically killed in a freak surfing accident in the swollen waves of post-Hurricane Irene.

"He was a dedicated man who took care of us," she said. "He really lived and loved life to the fullest."

EDITOR'S NOTE: NSBNews.net will have a complete story on the service later today, including a half dozen videos and close to a hundred photos.