Volusia News Now

Former Daytona Beach PD top cop and current Tallahassee police chief semi-finalist to lead New Smyrna Beach

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla -- Dennis Jones, one of the Sunshine State's top cops, wants to come home. The Tallahassee police chief and former Daytona Beach police chief is among seven semi-finalists to become New Smyrna Beach's next police chief.

St. Patrick's Day part of Main Street Bike Week scene

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Bike Week Irish T-shirts on sale / Headline SurferIrish-clad bikers / Headline SurferHeadline Surfer photos by Henry Frederick / St. Patrick's Day T-Shirts were being offerred for sale Sunday on the final day of Bike Week. A couple wih green headbands check out Main Street on their green crotch rocket motorcycle.
DAYTONA BEACH -- The final day of Bike Week on Main Street had a distinctively Irish flare with bikers awash in green.
From hats to T-shirts to beads, there was plenty of green.

Big Engine in concert at the Iron Horse Saloon

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Headline Surfer videos produced by Multimedia Editor Serafina Frederick / Big Engine in concert during Bike Week 2013 at the Iron Horse.

ORMOND BEACH -- As Bike Week 2013 comes to a close on the 10-day rally, Headline Surfer wants to give you this concert from the Iron Horse Saloon featuring the classic rock of Jacksonville-based "Big Engine."

Bike Week Racing: Pole sitter Cameron Beaubier takes checkered flag in Daytona 200 at the speedway

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Two women riders finish in Top 10

The Daytona 200 bike race at Daytona International Speedway / Headline SurferPhoto for Headline Surfer / Two bikes streak down the homestretch of Daytona International Speedway early on in the Daytona 200.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Graves Yamaha rider Cameron Beaubier delivered a dominating performance on Saturday at Daytona International Speedway leading leading all but seven of the 57 laps to take the checkered flag for the 72nd Daytona 200 AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike race.

Official Bike Week newspaper subscription-free online during 10-day rally

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News-Journal subscriber / Headline SurferDAYTONA BEACH -- More proof that the online digital payment requirement of the Daytona Beach News-Journal is not the cash cow for the print newspaper: Access was free during Bike Week as it was during Speedweeks.

Here's wondering if those subscribers paying the $9.95 monthly fee get a rebate cedit towards the next month's subscription? The way it works is you get five fee clicks per month and then id you want more access you have to pay the $9.95 monthly fee, unless of course,  have a full seven-day home delivery pribnt subscription, then digital access is free.

County Chair Jason Davis recaps Washington DC trip

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Video produced by Multimedia Editor Serafina Frederick / County Chair Jason Davis sat down with Headline Surfer in Port Orange during Bike Week to to talk about his recent trip to Washington D.C. where he met with congressional officials representing Volusia County on issues such as Sun Rail.

Pierson's Chipper Jones not returning to MLB to play for the NY Yankees or anyone else

Chipper Jones Chipper Jones, shown here in a photo from his website, was all smiles at the 2012 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Kansas City, Mo., hitting a single in the 6th inning.

PIERSON -- Coaxing Chipper Jones out of retirement from the Major Leagues and playing first base for the New York Yankees is nothing more than wishful thinking.

The Pierson native had been rumored to fill-in for injured All-Star first baseman Mark Texiera, but the former Atlanta Braves' infielder has no intention of returning to baseball and certainly not donning the pinstripes for the Bronx Bombers.

“I already know the answer,” Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman told the New York Daily News on Tuesday in Tampa, hoping against hope. “But I might as well throw it out there anyway.”

Jones, himself put a definitive end to any fanciful thoughts by Cashman or any other baseball suitors, tweeting: “Enough with the rumors! While I am flattered about the speculation of being enticed out of retirement, I'm happy with life as a bad golfer!”

FDLE: Agents looking for more possible victims of Orlando man accused of human trafficking of father and son

ORLANDO -- State law enforcers are asking the public's help in coming forward with any information on a 46-year-old Orlando man who may have solicited for sex of children or involvement of human trafficking beyond two alledged victims -- a father and son, following the suspect's arrest.

Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Miami Regional Operations Center Cyber/High-Tech Crimes squad arrested Donald W. Purviance, 46, of Orlando, on charges of solicitation of a parent, human trafficking, soliciting the procurement of a minor for prostitution and attempted lewd and lascivious battery.

The investigation began last year, following an anonymous tip, when Purviance lived in Biscayne Park, FDLE spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger said. She said Purviance moved to Orlando (20156 Quinlan St.) last September, and in February, allegedly solicited an undercover agent he thought was the parent of a 14-year-old son. 

"Purviance offered to pay $750 in exchange for sex with the father and the son," Plessinger said. "FDLE agents arrested Purviance in Sumter County on Monday without incident. Agents believe there could be additional victims."

Convicted arsonist arrested and charged in New Smyrna Beach blaze to vacant residence next door

Convicted New Smyrna Beach arsonist James Bates / Henry FrederickConvicted New Smyrna Beach arsonist James Bates allegedly sat in his yard chair, beer in one hand, cell phone in the other, while reporting an arson next door to an empty house after torching it, but waiting for flames to shoot through the roof.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- When a vacant house on Saxon Drive just south of New Smyrna Beach burst into flames early Wednesday morning, law enforcement and fire investigators quickly rolled into action. And while the investigation moved fast, it didn't have to go far.
 

In fact, it ended with the convicted arsonist who lives right next door -- the same man who called authorities in the first place to report the fire, a Volusia County Sheriff's official said.