Local News Now

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The famous Rosewell Haunted Brick has been pulled as an attraction at the Night of the Paranormal, scheduled for Oct. 24 at the Museum of Arts & Science in Daytona Beach.

"Some things are best left alone," said event producer Charlie Carlson, of New Smyrna Beach.

The decision to pull the brick from the lobby exhibits was made jointly by the brick's owner and event officials.

"Because of the high level of para-normal activity connected with the brick recently, we decided to exercise an abundance of caution," Carlson said.

Michael Scott Kent, 50, of Oak Hill, a native of Falmouth, Mass., who retired from the Navy after 20 years of service, died Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009.

Cass Aylwin, 87, of New Smyrna Beach, a former registered nurse at Salem Hospital, Salem, Mass., died Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009.

Robert Barnes, 41, born and raised in New Smyrna Beach, died Friday, Oct. 9, 2009.

William R. "Red" Patterson, 73, of Edgewater, a retired mechanic who enjoyed fishing under the bridge with friends and spending time with his family, yard work and gardening, died Friday, Oct. 9, 2009.

 

#2 John Hagood City Manager $167,757.47* *fired 5 mths. into fiscal year, receiving full severance #4 Khalid Resheidat Public Works Director $121,905.86* *5 months as interim city mgr #220 Pam Brangaccio Interim City Manager $19,856.00* *on job 10 weeks #7 Liz Yancey Parks & Rec Director $109,609.37 #3 Ron Pagano Police Chief $123,646.95

#1 Frank Gummey City Attorney $216,117.70

The city says it is doing its best to hold the line on spending, but its own salary structure shows historic increases in salaries and benefits for 247 employees on the city payroll in the fiscal year that ended Sept 31.

For the first time in New Smyrna Beach's history, its highest paid employee passed the $200,000 threshold, with City Attorney Frank Gummey grossing $216,117.70.

Just seven years ago, nobody in city government grossed more than $80,000.

This year, the lowest salary among the Top 100 was $45,000 compared to $40,000 the year before. In fact , in 2009, 136 employees made at least $40,000.

NSBNEWS.net  launches its investigative report "Show me the money" with the following chart.

Complete list here

It looks like the deal with Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) for an $80 billion reduction in drug costs is a sivery bad deal. The deal was made with Bill Tauzin of PhRMA.

Tauzin, of course, is the former Republican congressman from Louisiana who chaired the Hose committee that regulates the pharmaceutical industry.

While in Congress, Tauzin, who co-authored the bill of Medicare Part D, was at the same time negotiating for a $2.5 million job with PhRMA. He was a Democrat for 16 years and was one of the co-founders of the House Blue Dog Coalition.

Courtesy photo/Edgewater police mug. Erik John Batty, 39, of Edgewater, was charged Monday with battery on a law enforcement offcer, after allegedly throwing a pillow at a police officer that may have contained communicable germs since he's known to have certain communicable diseases as evidenced in the photo.

EDGEWATER -- Throwing a pillow at a police officer during a disturbance call landed an Edgewater man in jail Sunday on battery charges since the man is known to have commuinicable diseases, police said.

Oct. 10, 2009: Darrell R. Coccagna Jr. and Tasha N. Cline, Edgewater.

Oct. 9, 2009: Michael A. Palmer and Angela M. Anastario, Edgewater.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The results of the last NSBNEWS.net InstaPoll are final. An overwhelming majorty said "no" to the question: Should the regional advertising authorities, including Southeast Volusia's be merged with Daytona?

Those who answered "yes" with the intent of pooling more resources for better marketing of the newly expanded Ocean Center accounted for 16 percent of the vote while the "no" votes totaled 84 percent.

There were 76 respondents.

NSBNEWS.net video by Sera Frederick. NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick. Photo I: City Commissioner candidate Judy Reiker talks with former City Manager John Hagood during the NSB Billfish Invitational. Photo II: Mayoral candidate Adam Barringer answers campaign questions from city residents. Photo III: One of the two dozen gorgeous boats pulls up to dock at Riverside Park. 

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Tina Pisula was all smiles when her husband, George, pulled up to the dock at Riverside Park aboard the "Double G" earlier today with two sailfish, a black fin tuna and a dolphin in the New Smyrna Beach Billfish Invitational.

Courtesy photo. State Rep. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, whose district includes Soujeast Volusia, announce today she hsas changed her mind about running for the congressional seat held by Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach.

PORT ORANGE -- State Rep. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, announced earlier today that she has abandoned her run to try and unseat Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach, and instead will focus on getting re-elected to her own seat next year.

NSBNEWS.net photo by Henry Frederick. Marilee Walters, a Flagler Avenue merchant who finished third in the Sept. 22 primary for mayor, said she's concerned about the spending practices of the New Smyrna Beach CRA.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Though she finished out of the running for mayor in last month's primary, Flagler Avenue merchant Marilee Walters said she's continuing her ant-tax message by questioning the spending practices of the city's Community Redevelopment Agency.