'Crazy' Eddie Colosimo and his outspokenness could resonate with voters, too

Photos for Headline Surfer® / Meet the candidates for mayor of Holly Hill in the Tuesday primary as shown here from left to right: John Penny, Chris Via and Eddie Colosimo.

HOLLY HILL --It's experience in John Penny or youth in Chris Via that appear to be the best choices for voters in choosing their next mayor in today's primary.

Penny, 50, married with two children and a veteran Holly Hill commissioner, has the pedigree and experience in municipal governance, while Via, just 24, has the youthful exuberance and enthusiasm that could reverberate throughout this small city that struggles sometimes in the shadow of its neighbor to the both in Ormond Beach or to the south in Daytona Beach.

A third option is mayoral candidate "Crazy" Eddie Colosimo, a 72-year-old Vietnam vet and biker with the self-described nickname who has been an outspoken critic of municipal politics over the last couple of years. 

HOLLY HILL -- A woman rescue from a retention pond where she was seen floating and apparently unconscious was rescued by bystanders Tuesday, but she died a half hour after she was transported by ambulance to Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center.

Photo for Headline Surfer® /

HOLLY HILL -- The City Commission voted unanimously to spend $27,000 to buy three new police vehicles to replace those aging in its fleet.

The funding comes from the city's reserves and was approved at the June 24 meeting of the commission. 

Photos for Headline Surfer®

HOLLY HILL -- What sparked a fight that led to a man's death after he was pushed through a plate glass window outside Brown's Billiards over the weekend is a mystery as three men accused of second-degree murder remain held without bail at the Volusia County Branch Jail.

"The reason the fight is unknown and currently under investigation," Holly Hill Police Chief Mark Barker told Headline Surfer® Wednesday.

HOLLY HILL -- It's party-hearty tonight at the Second Street Farmers Market where a rum festival has been underwritten by $1,400 in CRA taxpayer monies.

The "Real McCoy Rum Festival runs from 4 to 8 p.m., featuring rum and seafood vendors, reggae and calypso entertainment. The guest attraction is the "Pepper Pots" Steel drum band.

"The CRA funding was for a mailing to let the citizens know we're having this rum event," City Manager Jim McCroskey said earlier this afternoon.

Photo for Headline Surfer / Mark Barker, Holly Hill's top cop, is gearing up for the city's annual spring clean-up program.

HOLLY HILL -- Police Chief Mark Barker wants city residents to mark their calendars for Saturday, April 20: That's the date for the city's annual community "Spring Clean-Up."

Barker said the event "provides residents with an opportunity to get ready for summer by sprucing up their home and neighborhood as we work to protect and beautify the environment."

Prosecutor: Victim killed in 'ambush' shoot-out

Jerry Crew was found guilty of second-degree murder in the April 16, 2011, shooting death of 19-year-old Donnell Ellis Jr., even though he didn't pull the trigger. Ellis was actually killed when he and Crews lured a drug dealer and two associates into a motel room with the intention of robbing them and shots were fired.

DAYTONA BEACH -- After a lasting four days, a Volusia County jury deliberated for three hours Thursday before finding 56-year-old Jerry Roy Crew of Holly Hill guilty of second-degree felony murder and robbery, offenses that could net him a sentence of up to life in prison.

35-year-old killed instantly by two rounds to head from .22-caliber Ruger rifle

HOLLY HILL -- Police Chief Mark Barker shook his head in disgust in describing what set off 55-year-old Thomas Mathew Hahn Jr. to the point where he allegedly retrieved a .22-caliber Ruger rifle and blasted away at housemate Robert Gray until he lay dead in the living room of the residence they shared with two others.

When cops arrived, they found 35-year-old Gray dead on the floor of Hahn's living room in the 800 block of May Avenue just before 10:30 p.m. Tuesday while Hahn sat in a chair near the body.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Votran bus routes throughout Volusia County could be impacted by parades this weekend and next weekend, including the Saturday afternoon Christmas parade in New Smyrna Beach, county officials said.

“We’ve tried to ensure as little disruption to service as safely possible,” Votran General Manager Steven Sherrer said. “To minimize the inconvenience, we’ve tried to gather as much parade information as possible to share with our riders.”

County spokeswoman Michelle Coats said most parades are scheduled for two hours. Parade route streets close an hour ahead of the parade. Some side streets may be closed.