Volusia News Now

At left is a snapshot of the lead item in the Google news Directories early Saturday: Headline Surfer called into question legitimacy of attendance figures promoted by local print media in advance of the three-day New Smyrna Beach Balloon & Sky Fest. 

DAYTONA BEACH -- If there was any hope of the New Smyrna Beach Balloon & Sky Fest living up to the attendance hype in the Daytona Beach News-Journal, the opening Friday night cancellation puts the predicted 50,000 attendance figure to rest.

There's still a possibility that with gusting winds, the manned hot air balloons might not float their way down to the New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport during the exected 7 a.m. hour, if the winds are gusting.

The Friends Bank branch, 2222 State Road 44, New Smyrna Beach, is held up Friday by a lone robber shown here in a surveillance snapshot.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A lone man robbed the Friends Bank branch leading to a 9-1-1 call at 11:45 a.m. today, New Smyrna Beach police said, adding he had already run off when they arrived.

Police said the was given an undisclosed amount of money, but they did not say whether he displayed a weapon or implied he had one on him. They also didn't say whether he handed a teller a note or just asked for money.

Physical evidence was collected at the scene, police said, without explaining what that meant.

The overhead sign across International Speedway Boulevard adjacent to Daytona International Speedway is an example of significant wayfinding signage in the city that features the Great American Race -- the Daytona 500, and of course, the World's Most Famous Beach.

DAYTONA BEACH -- The city is seeking feedback on preliminary signage designs and list of venues for its wayfinding signage program, now in the second of three phases.

An open-house style meeting is 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 25, in the Rose Room at the Peabody Auditorium, 600 Auditorium Blvd.

More than 60 landmarks and destinations have been identified throughout Daytona Beach, said Susan Cerbone, spokeswoman or the municipality. She said landmarks include municipal buildings like courthouses and drivers’ license office, cultural venues; attractions and tourist destinations, shopping districts and parking lots.

The Calvary Christian Center, shown here in this locator map, is the setting for a violence summit.

ORMOND BEACH -- State Attorney R.J. Larizza will lead a distinguished panel of presenters at the 2013 Circuit 7 Domestic Violence Summit to be held Friday at the Calvary Christian Center, 1687 W. Granada Blvd.

Assistant State Attorney Michele Simonsen and Apopka Police Capt. Jerome Miller will join LaRizza in presenting a workshop, entitled "Effective Investigations/Evidence for Court," as part of the overall domestic violence summit.  

By Deb Denys

Headline Surfer photos by Henry Frederick /

Restoration of the former Badcock Building on Canal Street and US 1 in New Smyrna Beach is an example of the kind of worthwhile CRA project county officials want to see. Alcohol-fueled street parties on New Smyrna Beach's Flagler Avenue are the types of CRA abuses the county wants to see end. 

DAYTONA BEACH -- The County Council last week voted unanimously to continue the countywide discussion regarding Community Redevelopment Areas (CRAs) for an additional 60 days.

David Williams, 41, of Deltona, was arrested on burglary-related charges in conection with a residential burglary on Addison Street near Hemingway Drive in the vicinity of Addison Street and Hemingway Drive as shown in the locator map. 

DELTONA -- It was shortly after 4 in the morning morning when a resident spotted a suspicious sight -- two people walking down the street, pushing a shopping cart loaded with various items.

Promoted in September by Wisconsin parent company Utility Equipment Leasing Corp.

Photo for Headline Surfer / Utility Equipment Leasing Corporation Appoints Ron Starks as Service Mechanic for the Sanford, Florida Service Center Starks brings With more than 25 years of experience in utility equipment maintenance and dedication to customer service, Ron Starks has been promoted to service mechanic for Sanford-based Florida Service Center.

SANFORD -- Meet Ron Starks, promoted last September by the Waukesha, Wisc.-based Utility Equipment Leasing Corp., as service mechanic at its Sanford Service Center, serving the Southeast states of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi.

Starks was tasked with providing road service in addition to support at the Sanford Service Center.  He has more than 25 years experience in aerial equipment service throughout the Southeast, the latter 10 years providing primarily road service.