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DAYTONA BEACH -- Sharon Hanson has waited seven long years for her mother's accused killer to stand trial, and thanks to a circuit judge's ruling Wednesday that the accused is now competent to stand trial, that could happen as early as next month.

"Our loved one is gone, yet we have no closure to this senseless crime," Hanson wrote to Judge J. David Walsh regarding the Feb. 6, 2002, shooting death of her 75-year-old mother, Rose Crank.

July 2, 2009: William W. Duke and Alicia M. Kaminski, of New Smyrna Beach.

PIERSON -- A 34-year-old Pierson man is the third victim this week of a rattlesnake bite, authorities said.

The unidentified man was flown to Halifax Medical Center on Tuesday after he was bitten in the the lower left calf.

The victim went to Volusia County Fire Services Station 44 in Pierson at 9:36 a.m., according to Volusia County Fire Services spokeswoman Pat Kuehn said.

"He said he had been bitten by a diamondback rattler," Kuehn said, adding after he was tended to by paramedics there, he was airlifted to Halifax and reported in stable condition.

Holly A. Haeger, 59, of Edgewater, a legal secretary, died Tuesday, July 30, 2009.

DAYTONA BEACH -- A report of smoke in the cockpit forced a Spirit Airlines jet carrying 128 passengers to land Tuesday afternoon at Daytona Beach International Airport on Tuesday afternoon after smoke was reported in the cockpit and cabin, according to airport officials.

The passengers were taken to Haslifax Medical Center for smoke inhalation after the plane landed safely at 1:25 p.m., airport officialsd said.

The flight from Chicago was bound for Fort Lauderdale when smoke was discovered. The cause of the smoke is under investigation.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Volusia County Marine Science Center rehabilitation team members are planning the release of a sub-adult loggerhead sea turtle, called Cluster, at 11 a.m. Tuesday, weather permitting. The beachside release will be at Canaveral National Seashore, 7611 S. Atlantic Ave., New Smyrna Beach.

Parking is available by the administration building. The release will be on the beach beyond the boardwalk.

PORT ORANGE -- Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach, is urging Volusia County residents who are still recovering from May flooding to apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance before the July 27 deadline.

FEMA may help eligible applicants pay for uninsured or underinsured home repairs, temporary housing, personal property and other serious unmet disaster-related needs through its grant programs.

DELAND -- The State of Florida will increase vehicle registration fees Sept. 1, but residents whose birthdays are before Dec. 1 can beat the rate increase by renewing early, says Pat Kuehn, a Volusia County spokeswoman.

Residents whose birthdays are:
● on or before Aug. 31 can renew at the current rate by Aug. 31;
● in September can renew early at the current rate by Aug. 31;
● in October can renew early at the current rate between July 1 and Aug. 31; or
● in November can renew early at the current rate between Aug. 1 and 31.

PORT ORANGE -- A precautionary boil-water notice remains in effect for
385 homes in the Spruce Creek Fly-in subdivision west of Port Orange, according to Volusia County officials.

Utilities crews shut off water to the homes from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Tuesday,, so Spruce Creek Fly-in public works staff could install a stormwater line on Roscoe Turner Trail. The water was shut off the same time frame Wednesday, as the installation project continued.