Courtesy photo by Jim Hogue photos / A strong offensive game from Chris Perez was no enough Saturday for the Stetson Hatters to keep their college basketball hopes alive for a post-season berth.

SPARTANBURG, SC – Chris Perez scored a game-high 23 for the Stetson Hatters of DeLand, but it wasn't enough to overcome USC Upstate with four players in double digits and an abrupt end to the basketball season.   

DELAND -- The Volusia County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death this morning of an 81-year-old Ormond Beach man who apprently fell into the Norris Dead River, a tributary of the St. Johns River, at the Highland Park Fish Camp.

A witness called 9-1-1 at 7:07 a.m. to report that Richard Bass had fallen off a dock and disappeared into the water.

Deputies and rescue personnel from Volusia County Fire Services arrived on scene and helped search for the victim who was found at approximately 7:57 a.m.

DELAND -- Due to high water levels in the St. Johns River associated with recent rains, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is asking boaters to stay off populated areas of the river until the waters recede.

Primarily affected are populated portions in Volusia, Seminole and Orange counties. Most areas in Brevard County are rural and wooded and will not be negatively affected. However, problems could arise in the canal systems of lakes Poinsett and Washington.

Although water levels have not yet reached flood stage, officials feel they probably will in some areas. Once flood stage is reached, emergency idle speed, no wake zones go into effect automatically in portions of the river. The locations of these mandatory emergency idle speed, no wake zones and flood stages can be found online at www.srh.noaa.gov/serfc/index.php.

Alleged battery occurred during house party with alcohol

A domestic violence arrest of Volusia County Deputy Michael W. Scott is detailed in a charging affidavit, which you can read by clicking the attachments below.

Deputy Kyle Bainbridge wrote in his report of the 11:27 p.m. Saturday incident that the wife said her husband's actions were not his usual behavior and she was scared for her life, stating: "I don't want to die tonight."

DELAND -- A 56-year-old off-duty Volusia County deputy was arrested overnight Saturday after pushing his wife of seven years to the ground because he believed she was flirting with a younger man during a party that included alcohol at their DeLand house, an arrest report obtained by NSBNews.net shows.

Courtesy photo / William Paul Hill, who was shot and killed Sunday by Lake County deputies near DeLand, served 14 months in prison for dealing cocaine before his release in May 2003, as shown in his Florida Deparment of Corrections mugshot.

DELAND -- A 45-year-old ex-con wanted on suspicion of domestic battery with his wife was shot and killed this afternoon by Lake County Sheriff's deputies after emerging from a home near DeLand with a handgun he pulled out from behind.

William Paul Hill continued walking toward the deputies despite their demand that he drop the weapon and they opened fire on him. The gunman's wife had told deputies the day before that he went on a rampage while high on drugs, destroying furniture and making it clear he was not going back to prison. Deputies found seven long guns and 450 rounds of ammunition there, but learned from the battered spouse that two handguns were missing.

"They ordered him to show his hands at which time he reached back and had the gun out," Lake County Sheriff's Lt. John Herrell told NSBNews.net. "The deputies were in fear for their lives and shots were fired and he fell."

Herrell said he couldn't comment how many of the five deputies fired their guns

DELAND -- The Friends of the Library will sell hardcover books and paperbacks in the DeLand Regional Library auditorium from 9:30 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9; and 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10.

A pre-sale will be open for viewing at 3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, and buyers can purchase books at pre-sale prices from 4 - 7:15 p.m.

Hardbacks will be sold for $1 each, large paperbacks for 50 cents, and small paperbacks and magazines for 25 cents.

DELAND -- The School District of Volusia County will hold a union negotiation meeting with the Volusia Teachers Organization at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, July 27.

The meeting will be held in the 2nd floor conference room at the DeLand Administrative Complex, 200 N. Clara Avenue, DeLand.