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Kem McNair's surfing gull of New Smyrna Beach: 'Nature never ceases to amaze me'

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Kem McNair surfer dude series / Headline Surfer®
First in a year-long series of feature stories published on the final Sunday of each month on the adventures of surfer dude Kem McNair, who has surfed the waves of New Smyrna Beach for more than half a century, chronicling the creatures of the land, sea and air along the way.
Surfer Kem McNair captures Seagull riding surf on camera in New Smyrna Beach, FL / Headline Surfer®
Video by Kem McNair / for publication by HeadlineSurfer.com /
A juvenile seagull bodysurfing a wave at the inlet in the South Jetty of NewSmyrna Beach inlet on Nov. 24, 2011.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- "This was no accident! I saw him swim up the whitewater, turn at the top and drop in on the wave and ride it all the way to the beach, while using his wings to turn right, then left in the whitewater. I could not believe my eyes."

Chip Ganassi Racing wins 53rd Rolex 24 at Daytona in dramatic fashion

 

Chip Ganassi Racing crosses finish line to win Rolex 24 at Daytona / Headline Surfer®DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Chip Ganassi Racing proved its endurance with the big win in the 2015 Rolex 24 at Daytona -- the sixth checkered flag for the renowned racing team's ownership. 

Scott Dixon wheeled the No. 02 Riley-Ford DP to a 1.333-second win over the No. 5 Action Express Racing Corvette DP of Sebastien Bourdais, after a last-minute caution and miscalculation in switching drivers for the runner-up team sealed the win.

Speedway's investment in state legislators' campaigns paves way for expected receipt of $90M in taxpayer subsidies

DAYTONA BEACH — Daytona International Speedway is a step closer to securing up to $90 million in state sales-tax incentives over the next three decades, thanks to its investment in the re-election campaigns of state legislators who will vote on approval.

The Speedway is vying for funding under under a program that rewards sports organizations for major improvements through sales tax payments.

People traffic at Daytona International Speedway nil with rain expected to continue with Saturday's start of Rolex 24 Henry Frederick Fri, 01/23/2015 - 20:05

Hazardous Weather Outlook: Band of showers pushing through with heavy winds

Rolex 24 at Daytona: Michael Shank Racing Liguier has pole in race of endurance

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Jerry Markland / Getty Images / For Headline Surfer® /
The No. 60 Michael Shank Racing Ligier will start the 2015 Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona from pole position.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Michael Shank Racing will kick off its new era by starting the 53rd Rolex 24 at Daytona from the pole position, following a quick lap by Ozz Negri in qualifying for the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship season-opener.

Oak Hill city staffer calls it a day after decade of service

Jeany Gozalez leaves Oak Hill / Headline Surfer®OAK HILL, Fla. -- In tiny Oak Hill, where there are less employees than the fingers on one hand, Jeany Gonzalez has quietly gone about her tasks as an administrative assistant at City Hall. But after a decade on the job, Gonzalez, has called it a day for good.

Kissimmee cops: Argument escalated into gunfire that left a 24-year-old man dead outside a restaurant Sunday night Henry Frederick Wed, 01/21/2015 - 11:41
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Scene of fatal shooting in Kissimmee / Headline Surfer®Locator of deadly shooting in Kissimmee / Headline Surfer®Juan Carlos Quiles, 24, of Kissimmee, murdered Sunday / Headline Surfer®Photos for Headline Surfer® /
Juan Carlos Quiles of Kissimmee, shown here, was gunned down Sunday night outside an eatery.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Just what led to a double shooting outside the El Cibuco Restaurant, that left a 24-year-old man dead and a 30-year-old woman injured remains a mystery, Kissimmee cops said.

Here is a synopsis of what was released by Kissimmee police: The shooting happened around 9:40 p.m. Sunday outside the restaurant in the 2200 block of Fortune Road. When officers arrived, they found a man dead from a single bullet wound.

Kissimmee News Brief

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City of Kissimmee Presents Ruby Award to Orange Bowl Lanes

KISSIMMEE -- As part of its economic development retention efforts, the City of Kissimmee continues to recognize companies that have been in business, within the City limits, for more than 40 years.

As such, during the Dec. 16 City Commission meeting, a Ruby Award was presented to Orange Bowl Lanes, a company that opened in the City of Kissimmee in 1960. Orange Bowl Lanes, located on Vine Street, is a popular 12-lane bowling center and is home to third- and fourth-generation league bowlers. Children who grew up with the youth league continue to play as adults and have brought their children, and now even their grandchildren to participate in leagues. Orange Bowl Lanes Sunday night league has been taking place for 50 years.

Video ReWind: Dale Jr.'s 2014 Daytona 500 win from in-car cam

Video by NASCAR / For Headliner Surfer® / A view of the finish of the 2014 Daytona 500 from inside-the-car cam of winning driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Here's an entirely different view of Dale Earnhardt, Jr's woin in the 2014 Daytona 500: from the inside-the-car cam in the closing laps of the race.

Rolex 24 at Daytona this weekend all about the cars

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Video by Lanky Turtle / For use by Headline Surfer® /
2015 Rolex 24 Friday Roar Testing on Jan. 16 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Bech, Florida. Chip Ganassi Racing will be force to be reckoned with as shown with one of itd race cars here belowon the track earlier this month.

Chip Ganassi Racing a major player at Rolex 24 at Daytona / Headline Surfer®DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Keeping true to its name as the sanctioning body of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, the International Motor Sports Association will spotlight a robust contingent of international drivers, teams and manufacturers on the world stage for the 53rd Rolex 24 at Daytona on Saturday and Sunday.

What's that translate to? It's all about the race cars. It's about endurance. 

Global television coverage of the Rolex 24 will be available in more than 300 million homes across more than 130 countries. In addition to television coverage, IMSA TV on IMSA.com will offer worldwide streaming of TUDOR Championship qualifying, as well as the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge season-opening BMW Performance 200 on Friday.