2011 Top Stories

Photos for Headline Surfer / Robert Fortner, a Republican state committeeman from DeLand, cheers during Mitt Romney's acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in Tampa.

TAMPA -- Robert Fortner, a GOP state committeeman from DeLand, liked what he heard from Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney in his acceptance speech at the convention.

The impressions of Volusia County Republicans who attended the convention comes in No. 50 in Headline Surfer's countdown of the top 100 local stories of 2012.

"He gave us what we wanted to hear," the 68-year-old retired custom automotive car and boat manufacturer said on his way back to his hotel. "He had a job to do to accept the nomination and he delivered. He was very positive for the country's future."

Pool video by Cental Florida News 13 / Headline Surfer / Ann Romney, wife of Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, reads to children at Inspirations Learning Center in Daytona Beach during her visit on Oct. 25. 

DAYTONA BEACH -- Ann Romney visited a beachside school this morning.

Headline Surfer video produced by Multimedia Editor Serafina Frederick / Jesse Jackson speaks at Allen AME Church in New Smyrna Beach on Oct. 31, in support of President Obama's re-election.

NEW SMRNA BEACH -- The Rev. Jesse Jackson brought his brand of speechmaking to the Alen Chapel AME Church in New Smyrna Beach the night after Halloween in support of President Obama's re-election campaign.

Headline Surfer photo by Henry Frederick / The 100 block of the North Causeway in New Smyrna Beach is proposed for a 202-unit development that includes workforce housing, something nearby neighbors in the upscale Venezia neighborhood want no part of.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- It's known as NIMBY or "not in my backyard."

That was the message of some 250 New Smyrna Beach residents in September to a development on the North Causeway that includes workforce units or affordable housing for families making between $20,000 to $40,000 annually. 

Residents attending a special meeting at the Brannon Center called for by the project's developers want no part of the 239-unit apartment complex Causeway Landings.

Headline Surfer photos by Henry Frederick / Hotelier Wayne Heller drew a crowd of supporters in April in his quest to bring the Delta Queen to New Smyrna Beach, but city officials were less than enthusiastic.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Wayne Heller, owner of the Riverview Hotel pleaded with city officials to allow him to relocate the historic Delta Queen here from Chattanooga, Tenn. "as soon as possible."

"She's a real amazing vessel," Heller said of the 88-room converted water hotel during the citizens' comment portion of tonight's City Commission meeting. "We urge you to ask your staff to put together a short-term lease as soon as possible."

A New Smyrna Beach family's Staffordshire Terrier, similar to one shown here in this Wikipedia photo, was under a brief quarantine after nipping a baby girl on the ear when she touched an inoperable tumor on its paw.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- An 8-year-old family dog, a Staffordshire Terrier named "Guinness," who nipped on a 1-year-old baby's ear that caused a small abrasion after she touched a painful tumor on its paw, was quarantined for a week before being returned to its family in October.

The quarantine comes in at No. 57 in Headline Surfer's countdown of the top 100 local stories of 2012.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Some 200 strong led by Allen Chapel AME Church pastor Lorenzo Laws marched, prayed and sang -- all in respect to the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the national holiday.

Headline Surfer photos by Henry Frederick / Nicole and Mike Kirkland of Edgewater with their 1-year-old son, Nolan, dressed as a shark, take in the annual New Smyrna Beach Halloween Parade.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Nolan Kirkland of Edgewater didn't win any trophies for his costume at the 2012 Halloween Parade, but his costume certainly was an eyecatcher. The 1-year-old Edgewater baby was dressed as a shark.

And how appropriate considering New Smyrna Beach's South Jetty is known for its shark bites among the surfing crowd.

The Halloween parade comes in at No. 59 in Headline Surfer's countdown of the top 100 stories of 2012.

Headline Surfer videos by Multimedia Editor Serafina Frederick / Students perform skits and dress in ethnic costumes during a foreign language festival at New Smyrna Beach High School back in January.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Spanish teacher Rosa Galliano sees speaking a second language as one of the most important assets for high school students to have as they grow up in a 21st century world.