Local News Now

DELAND -- Stetson University has again been recognized for its academic excellence by being included in the 2011 revised and updated edition of The Fiske Guide to Colleges, which is in bookstore shelves.

Stetson is one of eight Florida colleges and universities and more than 300 nationwide included in this year's guide. Publishers of the Fiske Guide say they include "the country's best and most interesting colleges and universities." An overview for each school is given, covering subjects including student body, academics, social life and financial aid.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Two surfers were bitten by sharks Friday morning near the South Jetty, bringing to four the number of such attacks so far this year, the Volusia County Beach Patrol confirmed.

Courtesy photos / NSBPD

If you recognize the men in each of these surveillance photos, then you are asked to please call the New Smyrna Beach police at 424-2248. They are wanted by police in the Aug. 3 beating and robbery of a city man.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A 41-year-old city man was beaten and robbed early last month resulting in treatment at Bert Fish Medical Center for head injuries and police are asking the public's help in capturing his three attackers whose images were captured on surveillance video from a local business.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach (FL-24), will continue her "Congress on Your Corner" program Saturday morning at the New Smyrna Beach Farmers' Market, 110 Canal St.

"Congress on Your Corner" is Kosmas' community outreach program developed to help her stay in touch with constituents throughout Florida's 24th Congressional District. She will be at the Farmers' Market from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The crew from Lane Construction began the most challenging aspect of the 2010 Daytona Repave on Thursday morning - putting new asphalt on the steep 31-degree high banks of Daytona International Speedway. Workers paved the drainage layer in Turns 3 and 4, the first of four layers that will make up the 2.5-mile tri-oval.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The City of New Smyrna Beach and Waste Pro are sponsoring a city-wide cleanup on Sept. 18-19.

For the convenience of the residents, Waste Pro will provide dumpsters at various locations. The dumpsters will be designated lawn and tree debris, and bulk items and appliances. The dumpsters will be monitored and replaced as needed.

Courtesy photos/NSBPD.

Chad Michael Johnson, 38, of New Smyrna Beach, is being held at the Volusia County Branch Jail on an armed burglary charge.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A 38-year-old city man was arrested Tuesday on armed burglary charges after he was caught stealing copper from the former New Smyrna Beach High School, New Smyrna Beach police said.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Authors Steven Noll and David Tegeder will give an illustrated talk about their book, “Ditch of Dreams: The Cross Florida Barge Canal and the Struggle for Florida’s Future,” at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, at the New Smyrna Beach Regional Library.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Several thousand people descended on Flagler Avenue for Thursday's third annual NSB Shrimp and Seafood Festival and nobody had a bigger smile than Matt Clancy, of the family-owned Clancy's Restaurant and Cantina.

"Look at all of these people -- this is incredible,"Clancy said, as people rubbed elbows inside the popular Tex-Mex style eatery, with even more on the outside patio and on the front and east sides of the building.

Flagler Avenue, New Smyrna Beach's quarter mile stretch to the beach, had so many people milling around, it looked like a giant ant colony.

But several candidates or their signs could be seen in the sea of people, including Sharon Luebbers, running for School Board district 3 and Ellen Darden for County Council, district 3.

NSBNEWS.net photo by Henry Frederick.

The crowds were inside and outside. Consumption of alcoholic beverages was allowed outside for this event, but moving forward, the City Commission voted unanimously the week before to end sidewalk sales and consumption of alcohol.

Still, police reported no major issues with crowd control or drinking.

NSBNEWS.net photos by Sera Frederick.