Local News Now

NSBNEWS.net photo by Henry Frederick. This group of friends bundled up warm Sunday night with heavy coats, scarves and hats to combat the mid-30s temperatures in this 10:45 p.m. photo taken at Denny's on State Road 44. From left to right are Jimmy Reeves, 19; Haleigh Smith, 19; Molly Smith, 16, Breque Bonner, 18; Lsra Luedeker, 20; and Matt McGrew, 22.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The National Weather Service in Melbourne has issued a wind-chill advisory until 9 a.m. Monday, with overnight temperatures expected to fall below freezing and into the 20s for Volusia County.

Dec. 31, 2009: Louis J. Muni and Jessica L. Long, Edgewater.

Courtesy photos/Wikipedia. Far left, a red tail hawk carries a snake up to a place for a forthcoming meal. At near left, a red tail hawk looks for rodents.

Each day, as I drive the rural roads on the way home, I usually see one or more red-tailed hawks on any given day.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- A 67-year-old woman was walking through the parking lot at the Publix in the New Smyrna Beach Regional Shopping Center just before 2 p.m. Saturday when a woman jumped out of a sport utility vehicle, snatched her purse, jumped back in and drove off, New Smyrna Beach police said.

Rosa B. Green, 76, of New Smyrna Beach, a homemaker, died Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009.

Lawrence Reome, 81, of Oak Hill, a native of Malone, N.Y., died Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009.

Sheri Lynn Howell, 34, of Edgewater, a day auditor, died Saturday, Dec. 26, 2009.

James Wilson, 84, of New Smyrna Beach, a former engineer, died Saturday, Dec. 26, 2009.

Rose A. Lancaster, 64, of New Smyrna Beach, a travel/tour agent for Rose's Tours, Edgewater, died Friday, Dec, 25, 2009.

NSBNEWS.net photo by Sera Frederick. Carol Hargy has returned to her nearly $80,000 job as the city of New Smyrna Beach's personnel director, two days after her resignation was final.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- She's baaaaack.

Carol Hargy, New Smyrna Beach's personnel director, has returned to her job, two days after her resignation was final.

"I realized going back into private industry wasn't worth it, even though I could have made a lot more money," Hargy said, having returned four days before Christmas.

EDGEWATER -- A tanker truck carrying diesel fuel veered off Interstate 95, just south of Edgewater on Sunday afternoon, forcing the Florida Highway Patrol to shut down a brief stretch of the inside lane heading north, which snarled traffic.

Courtesy photo/Facebook.

Jonathan R. Novenski Jr., of Edgewater, a student at Daytona State College, who enjoyed surfing and was known to family and friends as "Jonny," will be remembered at a service Tuesday, a week after he died unexpectedly.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Visiting for family and friends of Jonathan R. Novenski, Jr. "Jonny", 18, of Edgewater, who died unexpectedly Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009, will be held  from 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, December 29, 2009, with a celebration of his life at 6 p.m. at the Baldwin Brothers Cremation Society, 1 N. Causeway, New Smyrna Beach.

Keith W. Reed, 51, of New Smyrna Beach, married with four children, who was in the aquaculture industry farming clams and loved spending time on the water, fishing and crabbing, died Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009.

As a small business owner for more than 30 years, I understand that as Central Florida’s businesses and families tighten their belts in the economic downturn, it is vital to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent sensibly.

That is why I have cosponsored, introduced and helped to pass legislation that makes the federal government more fiscally responsible and accountable to its citizens. But I want to hear from you on this important issue. Please take our fiscal responsibility survey below and share your thoughts.