Local News Now

Courtesy photo/VCBJ.

Matheu Laurrell, 26, was arrested Wednesday on car burglary charges and armed robbery with a knife in an Edgewater purse snatching. He's also been named a "person of interest" in the purse snatching of an elderly woman in New Smyrna Beach outside the Walgreens pharmacy two days earlier, according to Edgewater police.

EDGEWATER -- The man seen on a surveillance video outsdide the New Smyrna Beach Walgreens pharmacy after Monday's alleged purse snatching of a 77-year-old woman, has confessed to that crime as well as a second purse snatching and a car break-in Edgewater police said.

Courtesy photo/Central Florida News 13

Casey Erickson, 18, of Wisconsin, was stung on one of his fingers by a 1-foot stingray while fishing with his father Monday at Dunes Park in New Smyrna Beach.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- An 18-year-old Wisconsin visitor was stung on the hand Monday by a 1-foot stingray while fishing with his father at the Smyrna Dunes Park, but the bite was not serious, the Volusia County Beach Patrol said.

WASHINGTON D.C. -- Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach (FL-24), as part of her efforts to promote fiscal responsibility in Washington, voted Tuesday to block the scheduled 2011 pay raise for Members of Congress.

Coutesy photo.

The man in this surveillance photo outside the Walgreens pharmacy on State Road 44 is wanted by New Smyrna Beach police in the purse snatching of a 77-year-old woman.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH --A man snatched the purse of a 77-year-old woman Monday afternoon in the parking lot of the Walgreens pharmacy on State Road 44 and ran off. 

The victim, Jeanette Bishop, was not injured in the 1:52 p.m. incident outside the Walgreens, 1352 S.R. 44, police said.

NSBNEWS.net video by Sera Frederick.

Lyndsey Broughman and Ashley Smith, both 22 and New Smyrna Beach residents, who work at NSB's Pub 44, cheer the Denver Broncos' first round selection of Tim Tebow, the Heisman-winning quarterback from the University of Florida, chosen 25th overall  in the 2010 NFL Draft.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- It was the cheer heard round New Smyrna Beach. Well, OK, maybe not that loud, but Pub 44 co-workers Lyndsey Broughman and Ashley Smith were pretty excited about the Denver Broncos' first round selection of Tim Tebow, the Heisman-winning quarterback of the Florida Gators, chosen 25th overal in the 2010 NFL Draft.

OAK HILL -- The City Commission will discuss the possibility of establishing a budget task force, look at drafting a public records policy and consider an ordinance regulating yard sales.

The commission is also expected to go over specific terms for salary levels for the position of police chief with the recent elevation of Acting Police Chief Diane Young to permanent police chief.

NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick.

Oak Hill Police Chief Diane Young, second from right, greets off-duty police officer Brandy Sutherlin's wife, Christina, Saturday night while he's filling out a report, at left. At far right is Sgt. Mike Ihnken. Young arrived in the parking lot where a bunch of cop cars were gathered at a gas station across from the New Smyrna Speedway after Sutherlin shot at a Ford pick-up truck that had done a 180 turn on State Road 44 and drove straight toward his vehicle. The two vehicles had been involved in a scrape minutes earlier on Interstate 95 in New Smyrna Beach. No injuries were reported and the other vehicle fled.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- An off-duty Oak Hill cop driving south on I-95 with his wife was clipped by a black Ford pick-up truck that resulted in the officer firing a shot at the other vehicle after the two left the interstate for State Road 44 and the other vehicle made a sudden turn and drove straight toward his car.

Courtesy photo/Central Florida News 13

This alligator was captured and killed near the Edgewater City Hall on Riverside Drive on Friday.

EDGEWATER -- A 10-foot alligator was captured and killed by a gaming hunter Friday afternoon after it was spotted near the entrance to the Edgewater City Hall and where narby children play, city officials said.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A 74-year-old woman passenger was thrown from a three-wheeled motorcycle and killed Friday afternoon on U.S. 1, near Arts Center Avenue, after the rider veered to avoid a construction cone.

Glenda Gene Dubon was pronounced dead at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach after her initial transport to nearby Bert Fish Medical Center in New Smyrna Beach with critical injuries following the 2:37 p.m. accident.

NSBNEWS.net photos and video by Jeanette DiCara.

A fire Friday night destroyed the Animal Clinic of Edgewater on South Ridgewood Avenue, but nearly three dozen animals were safely evacuated and no persons were hurt. At left, an unidentified woman kisses a dog that was safely rescued. Below,  flames roll through the roof and thick, black smoke fills the air in the 5:05 p.m. fire.

EDGEWATER -- The Animal Clinic of Edgewater on South Ridgewod Avenue went up in flames Friday night, but all 30 animals inside were safely evacuated as were the staff, Edgewater Fire Rescue officials said.

A discarded cigarette behind the building is believed responsible for igniting the 5:05 blaze that destroyed the clinic at 2305 S. Ridgewood Ave., with flames shooting through the rook and sending thick smoke into the evening air.