Local News Now

Power restored to 3,000 NSB customers from fast-moving thunderstorm

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NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Power was restored to 3,000 customers by 6 p.m.Thursday, less than an hour after a fast-moving thunderstorm knocked out electrical service on North Dixie Freeway, Pioneer Trail, Bay Drive and the Islesboro area, a field operator for the Utilities Commission of New Smyrna Beach confirmed.

Fast-moving storm knocks out power in NSB

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NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A fast-moving thunderstorm knocked out power through parts of the city just after 5 p.m. By 6 p.m. power had returned to parts of North Dixie Freeway. A voice-recording for the Utilities Commission lists affected areas as Pioneer Trail, Williams Road, Bay Drive and the Islesboro area. The recording does not include North Dixie Freeway, which also lost power. NSBNEWS.net can't provide information beyond this because nobody can be reached at the Utilities Commission.

The Utilities Commission Web site at 6 p.m. listed "no outages" but Commissioner Buz Reynolds said that was obviously in error and he could only direct NSBNEWS.net to the recording.

As of 6 p.m. power was restored to the the North Dixie Freeway area, but NSBNEWS.net can't confirm whether the other affected areas have been addressed as of 7 p.m.

City agrees to pay $20K in legal fees to NSB Shadow attorney with no admission of wrongdoing

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NSBNEWS.net videos by Sera Frederick.

The City of New Smyrna Beach has settled a lawsuit with Bill of Rights, Inc., also known as NSB Shadow, by agreeing to pay $20,000 in attorney's fees to Edward "George" Beasley. The first video shows NSB resident Bill Koleszar doing the Shadow's bidding publicly. The second video shows the City Commission rejecting the settlement request three weeks earlier, which at that time stood at $30,000.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The former city attorney sent out an e-mail Monday clarifying the city's position regarding a $20,000 lawsuit settlement he's receiving in "attorney's fees" in his representation of the city's chief Web site nemesis: NSB Shadow.

Congresswoman Kosmas votes to give Coast Guard resources to continue fighting BP oil spill

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WASHINGTON, DC -  Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach (FL-24) has voted to allow the Coast Guard to obtain advances from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund to underwrite federal response activities to the BP/Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.

Memorial Day Boat Tragedy: 9-1-1 calls

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NSBNEWS.net adio production by Sera Frederick.

NSBNEWS.net obtained copies of the 9-1-1 calls made in the aftermath of the Memorial Day boat crash near Disappearing Island that resulted in three deaths. NSBNEWS.net decided to wait until a week after the funerals to post the calls out of respect for the victims' families. Warning: The dialogue is graphic, but NSBNEWS.net believes the calls are important to illustrate the gravity of the tragic incident.

Water main break in Edgewater repaired; boil water notice in effect for two dozen businesses and homes

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Courtesy photo/Edgewater Fire Services.

An early Thursday watermain break at the corner of Park Avenue and U.S. 1 in Edgewater has been repaired. In the meantime, "boil water" notices have gone out to about 25 affected businesses and homes, according to Edgewater Fire Services. Here is a snapshot of the scene.

EDGEWATER -- A water-line break at the corner of Park Avenue and U.S. 1 (South Ridgewood Avenue) has been repaired and water service restored to those affected, said Jill Danigel, spokeswoman for Edgewater Fire Services.

NSB commission gives green light for Flagler Avenue hotel after 3 1/2-year battle

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NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick.

David Swentor, at right, developer of the $15 million Hampton Inn & Suites, nearly holds his breath as the City Commission votes 4-1 Tuesday night to approve the sale of two parcels of city-owned land. With him is attorney Skip Storch.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The 3 1/2-year battle over a hotel on Flagler Avenue is over with tonight's near unanimous City Commission approval with James Hathaway casting the lone dissenting vote.

Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas: Be prepared for hurricane season

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Editor's Note: This June 4 message was sent out to media by Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas D-New Smyrna Beach (Fl-24):

June 1 marked the beginning of Florida’s annual hurricane season, which lasts through November. This year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
(http://email.capitolhillnewsonline.com) has projected that the Atlantic will experience an “active-to-extremely-active” season, with between 14 and 23 named tropical systems, including eight to 14
hurricanes with the possibility of three to seven of those developing into major hurricanes.

NSB police detective urges people to be on alert for mail fraud

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NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Want to prevent mail fraud or other similar issues? New Smyrna Beach police Detective Tony Ford suggests you consider reviewing the attached IC3 alert.

"I do get calls almost daily from someone stating they received a check in the mail or by courier to compensate them for being a shopper or for something for sale," Ford said, adding he believes the attached alert contains very beneficial information "to know (how) to better protect themselves from these fraudsters."

Obituary/funeral notice for Memorial Day boat-crash victims Cy Holley, daughter Madison Holley and her unborn baby

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Editor's Note: Here is the obituary and notice for Madison Holley, 19, and her unborn son, who were killed, along with her father, Cy Holley, 46, in the Memorial Day boat crash near Disappearing Island in New Smyrna Beach:

A Funeral Mass for Madison Alexander Holley, her son, Carter Ace Simons and her father, Cy Holley, who died tragically on Monday, May 31, 2010, will be held Saturday, June 5th at 10:00am at St. Peter Catholic Church, 359 W. New York Ave. in Deland, FL with Fr. Tom Connery officiating.