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Body found in Halifax River over weekend identified as that of homeless man

Coutesy photo/Volusia jail mug. Luis Carino, a 52, year-old homeless man whose body was found in the Halifax River after he fell or jumped from the International Speedway Bridge over the weekend was identified today.

DAYTONA BEACH — A homeless man who either jumped or fell to his death from the International Speedway Bridge over the weekend was identified today as 52-year-old Luis Carino.

Reported first by NSBNEWS.net: County Manager Jim Dinneen proposes new fiscal budget that requires $16 million less in spending

Newspaper Section

Courtesy photo. County Manager James Dinneen has proposed a $617.7 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year that relies on the rollback rate for taxing purposes.

DELAND -- Volusia County Manager Jim Dinneen has presented the Volusia County Council with a $617.7 million proposed overall budget to fund the operations of county government for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. The proposed budget calls for a general fund property tax rate of $5.44 per $1,000 of taxable property value – equal to the rollback rate. The rollback tax rate produces the same amount of revenue as the current budget year.

WELE radio owner F. Douglas Wilhite of Ormond Beach, arrested on multiple counts of engaging in sex acts with a teenage boy

Courtesy photo/Volusia Branch Jail mug. F. Douglas Wilhite, 56, of Ormond Beach and owner of WELE radio, was arrested today on multiple counts of of engaging in sex acts with a teenage boy, according to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.

ORMOND BEACH -- F. Douglas Wilhite, 56, of Ormond Beach and the owner of WELE-AM radio, was arrested today on an arrest warrant charging him with multiple counts of sex acts with a teenage boy.

Orange Avenue Bridge in Daytona Beach closed due to malfunction

DAYTONA BEACH -- The Memorial Bridge, commonly known as the Orange Avenue bridge, in Daytona Beach closed to through traffic at 2:30 p.m. today following a malfunction in an electric motor. It will be closed until further notice, said Pat Kuehn, a Volusia County spokeswoman.

"A crew from Volusia County’s Road and Bridge Division opened the bridge manually to permit boat traffic until the bridge is repaired," Kuehn said. "Parts have been ordered, and the bridge will be repaired after they arrive."

Kiwanis volunteer Ray Hallstrom remembered for 'good works'

Newspaper Section

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Raymond B. Hallstrom, better known as "Ray" among his colleagues and friends in the Kiwanis Club of Southeast Volusia, will be remembered for his "good works" as the longtime secretary of the club, having died on June 30, at the Hospice Care Center in Edgewater. He was 64.

Pam Brangaccio hired as 'interim' city manager after initial salary request of $132,500 shot down

Newspaper Section

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Less than 24 hours after the New Smyrna Beach City Commission rejected a starting salary request of $132,500 from Pam Brangaccio to be the next city manager, she countered with an offer Thursday through an emissary to serve as interim city manager for six months with a $10,000 monthly salary, plus $1,500 in housing paid for by the city as well as $100 weekly for car allowance.