Local News Now

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- All nine candidates for elective office in New Smyrna Beach will participate in this morning's public debates at the Hidden Lakes Golf Club, 35 Fairgreen Ave. There is ample parking and plenty of seating available.

The format is as follows:

9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Zone 2 city commissioner: Palmer Wilson, Stephen Sather and incumbent Jack Grasty.

10:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Zone 1 city commissioner: Frank Dalton Jr., Judy Reiker and incumbent Randy Richenberg.

11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mayor: Marilee Walters, Adam Barringer and incumbent Sally Mackay.

NSBNEWS.net photo by Henry Frederick. 'Cudas quarterback A.J. Granger was thrilled with his team's performance with a convincing win at home against the Wellington Wolverines, 36-7.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The New Smyrna Beach High 'Cudas started the preseason strong with a blistering 36-7 win over the Wellington Wolverines.

The outcome might have been even greater had a long touchdown run by Freddie Horn not been called back late in the fourth quarter on a penalty.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Few doubt that Harley-Davidson is the king of the road when it comes to motorcycles. The same can be said for New Smyrna Beach police motors officer Chris Salomone, who competed last weekend in the Great Lakes Training Seminar at Ontario College in Ontario, Canada.

Courtesy photos/New Smyrna Beach Police Department. New Smyrna Beach Police motors officer Chris Salomone finished second overall among 83 police motorcycle officers from the U.S. and Canada at the Great Lakes Training Seminar at Ontario College in Ontario, Canada. He finished first overall in the windshield division.  These photos were taken locally prior to the training competition.

By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Few doubt that Harley-Davidson is the king of the road when it comes to motorcycles. The same can be said for New Smyrna Beach police motors officer Chris Salomone, who competed last weekend in the Great Lakes Training Seminar at Ontario College in Ontario, Canada.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Saturday's planned debates for the mayor and two city commission seats have been moved to the Hidden Lakes Golf Club to address parking, seating and traffic limitations.

The program gets under way at 9 a.m. in the Hidden Lakes' Greenview Room, which seats up to 200 people. Hidden Lakes is located at 35 Fairgreen Ave.

Audrey B. Bowen, 85, of New Smyrna Beach and Osteen, a bus driver for Seminole County School District for 15 years before her retirement, who enjoyed spending time with her dog "Little Jon," died Tuesday, August 25, 2009.

James George Knighton, 41, of New Smyrna Beach, who owned and operated Knighton Air Care, Inc. of New Smyrna Beach for 11 years and loved spending time with his boys and his wife of 15 years, Kathleen, died Sunday, August 23, 2009.

Emma A.Morin, 78, who recently celebrated her 59th wedding anniversary with her spouse, Marcel G. Morin, died Sunday, August 23, 2009.

Courtesy photos/Volusia Jail mugs. A Volusia County grand jury handed up two indictments today in two high-profile murder cases. Joseph Edward Jordan, 39, far right, was charged with first-degree murder and robbery in the June 29, hog-tied beating death of his Edgewater roommate, 50-year-old Keith Cope. In a separate case, the grand jury returned first-degree murder indictments against Ronald Roscoe, far left, and Tarod Weaver, both 21, in the July 20, shooting death of 13-year-old Lloyd Robinson Jr. of Daytona Beach.

EDGEWATER -- He was hogtied and left for dead. And that's exactly what happened to 50-year-old Keith Cope. He died two weeks later at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach. A Volusia Grand jury earlier today returned an indictment of first-degree murder and robbery against his roommate, 39-year-old Joseph Edward Jordan, said Assistant State Attorney Christopher Kelly on behalf of State Attorney R.J. Larizza.

EDGEWATER -- The city is warning residents to ignore blue flyers passed around neighborhoods questioning the quality of the city's water quality.

The flyers are misleading because people have to look at the fine print to realize they do not represent the city of Edgewater, said Brenda Dewees, director of city's Environmental Services Department.

"City of Edgewater employees are not delivering these door hangers," she stressed in a news release.

Dewees believes the messages are being marketed buy a private entity looking to generate business.

Courtesy photo. Recently retired Stetson University President H. Douglas Lee, of DeLand, died earlier today. He was 66.

The following was written by Stetson University in announcing the death of its president:

DELAND -- Dr. H. Douglas Lee, DeLand, who recently retired after 22 years as president of Stetson University, died early this morning at Florida Hospital-DeLand of complications following surgery. He was 66.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Today is the final day to register to vote in the Sept. 22 primary races for mayor and two city commission seats, according to the Volusia County Board of Elections.

City residents who are not registered may do so by going to the Department of Motor Vehicles (in the K-mart plaza on State Road 44), the New Smyrna Beach Public Library (1001 S. Dixie Freeway) or at the Volusia County Board of Elections Office in DeLand (125 W. New York Ave., DeLand). For more information on registering for the primary, please call the Supervisor of Elections at (386) 736-5930.