Volusia News Now

EDGEWATER -- This little upstart Internet newspaper as some people call it has certainly grown and come of age in its almost five years of existence. And it shows with the recent awards Henry Frederick, its editor and publisher, received in the Florida Press Club's 2012 journalism contest.

ORLANDO -- Questions arise. As the days wind down in 2012, we need to look at why the election turned out the way it did. Republicans will have to figure out why Romnet lost.

DEBARY -- This isa time of reflection for the Republican Party. A month has passed since Barack Obama wa selected to a second term in the White House, and many Republicans are still asking each other what went wrong.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Police confirmed through a press release that a man was shot to death Saturday. The press release, dated Dec. 1, was sent to Headline Surfer 5:42 p.m. Sunday after Headline Surfer complained it was excluded from the original release given to other media outlets when the news was breaking and wrote a story about it.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- A 23-year-old man was shot to death in the 600 block of Verdell Street near South Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard at 6:49 p.m. Saturday, according to a story published in the Daytona Beach News-Journal. Headline Surfer was unable to reach anyone in the Daytona Beach Police Department to provide information about the shooting.

Headline Surfer video and photo by Sera Frederick / Bob Tolley is the guest for the 24/7 Internet newspaper's newsmaker show, 'The Sunday Conversation,' which you can watch by clicking the video. Shown at left is Jim Hathaway, grand marshal for Saturday's NSB Christmas Parade and recipient of a private party at the mayor's restaurant with public monies used to pay up-front costs.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Citizen watchdog Bob Tolley says in Headline Surfer's online newsmaker show, The Sunday Conversation, that a private party for retired City Commissioner Jim Hathaway held at Mayor Adam Barringer's SoNapa Grille and paid with taxpayer money is an affront to the public trust.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- In the wake of City Manager Pam Brangaccio's interview with the Daytona Beach News-Journal in which she glossed over the the private party at Mayor Adam Barringer's restaurant for retired Commissioner Jim Hathaway with the use of taxpayer money, Headline Surfer sent her follow-up questions which she responded with continued evasiveness, especially as to the legal and ethical implications.

Headline Surfer photos by Henry Frederick / VCSO deputies take a woman into custody just after 4 p.m. on SR 44 near Old Mission Road after her ex-husband reported her as being suicidal. A little girl in the SUV was held off to the side by deputies who gave her a toy badge and a Happy Meal from the nearby McDonald's. A Sheriff's oficial said he could not confirm if the woman and the girl wih her were related.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Volusia County Sheriff's deputies pulled a 34-year-old woman from her stopped SUV during the height of early evening commuter traffic on State Road 44 just west of the intersection of Old Mission Road that brought vehicular traffic to a crawl in all four directions for about 20 minutes.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Votran bus routes throughout Volusia County could be impacted by parades this weekend and next weekend, including the Saturday afternoon Christmas parade in New Smyrna Beach, county officials said.

“We’ve tried to ensure as little disruption to service as safely possible,” Votran General Manager Steven Sherrer said. “To minimize the inconvenience, we’ve tried to gather as much parade information as possible to share with our riders.”

County spokeswoman Michelle Coats said most parades are scheduled for two hours. Parade route streets close an hour ahead of the parade. Some side streets may be closed.