SAMSULA -- A 55-acre fire that raged in the woods of Pioneer Trail left the unmistakable stench of smoke for days.
VCBJ mug /NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- When Monte Andrew Henkenberns was pulled over early Sunday in the 500 block of South Peninsula Avenue, it marked the fourth time he'd been arrested on a charge of driving under the influence.
ORLANDO -- This lockout-shortened season has to be the worst in the Dwight Howard era for Orlando Magic fans. They now have reason to cry foul heading into the playoffs
Photo for NSBNews.net/ Headline SurferNEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Perhaps the middle initial "A" in Alexandria A. Spradlin's name is symbolic of her academic achiement at New Smyrna Beach High School. After all, the senior has been named finalist in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship competition.
"New Smyrna Beach High School is pleased to announce that Alexandria A. Spradlin is a finalist," Principal Jim Tager said.
Spradlin is one of 14,400 semifinalists in the 57th annual National Merit Scholarship program. She is the daughter of Christina and Gregory Spradlin.
DELAND -- The regular meeting of the Volusia Growth Management Commission scheduled for Wednesday, April 25, has been canceled due to lack of substantive agenda items, the county said in a press release.
The next regular meeting of the Commission is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 23, 2012 in the County Council Chambers in DeLand.
EDGEWATER -- A sense of relief came over me with the arrest of George Zimmerman on the charge of second-degree murder in the Sanford shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. As much as the whole state of Florida is a tinderbox of dryness prone to fire, I was more and more feeling that this situation was also a tinderbox that was on the verge of exploding into violence.
EDGEWATER -- The bus full of high school band students I was chaperoning grew quiet so suddenly that it was eerie. When I looked up, I saw the bus driver stop just short of the railroad tracks and open the door to listen then looked all around.
Grade: A
New Smyrna Beach's fourth annual Balloon and SkyFest was a monumental success and has become the signature event for the coastal city with lots of family fun and certainly a crowd pleaser with the array of aerial displays. There was something for everyone at the New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport, from balloon rides, to air shows and carnival rides.
There were a lot of educational displays as well. This was a tremendous draw for balloon and air show enthusiasts near and far.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The sea water surface temperature at Ponce Inlet is 75 degrees. At the beginning of the week an unusual occurrence of clear water appeared is the surf and around the pier. Anglers could see the fish like they were fish in a fish tank. The only downside was that the fish could see the anglers just as well.
Courtesy photo /PORT ORANGE -- A 57-year-old man who allegedly threatened adult family members with an axe before barricading himself in a bedroom with a knife, was taken into custody after Port Orange police stormed the house on Hawks Ridge Road, an agency spokesman said.
Police responded to a 9-1-1 call at 11:45 a.m. to the residence about a domestic situation involving a man armed with a knife. After a police negotiator was unable to get the man to surrender on his own and nearby residents were safely evacuated, the police department's emergency response team -- similar to SWAT-- stormed the house at 749 Hawks Ridge Road just after 4 p.m. Elbert Hale was taken into custody without further incident.
