Ormond Beach

Freddie Lee Giddemns Jr. of Palm Coast will  spend the next 25 years in prison for a brutal prescription drug robbery of an Ormond Beach pharmacy last September. The minimum-mandatory sentence handed down would keep him behind bars until the age of 57.

DAYTONA BEACH -- A 32-year-old Palm Coast man convicted at trial in May of sticking a gun in the face of a phamacy tech in Ormond Beach for painkillers and other prescription drugs was sentenced Tuesday to 30 years in prison that requires him to serve a mandatory minimum of 25 years behind bars.

DELAND -- In a surprising development today, Carl Persis resigned from his seat on the county council representing greater Ormond Beach, effective June 28, so he can continue his campaign for the office of Volusia County chair.

Because he's in the state's Deferred Retirement Option Program for early retirees from his tenure as principal with the Volusia County School District, he was required to have at least six months of separation from any other public service job, including elective office.

"I positioned myself for the 24/7 responsibilities for the chair's position by ending my service with Volusia County schools after 35 years," Persis said in a statement released by Volusia County government this afternoon.

ORMOND BEACH -- The Volusia County Sheriff's Office is investigating a shooting here in the overnight hours that sent a motorist to the the hospitsal with two gunshots.

The 48-year-old victim had just driven away from a store in Ormond Beach when he was shot twice in his car near 1336 Par Ave. at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The man was transported to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach where he is currently in surgery. A female in his car was uninjured.

About five minutes later deputies found a van that matched the description of the suspect vehicle given by eyewitnesses to the shooting.

"With the assistance of the Daytona Beach Police Department and a Sheriff's Office helicopter, the van was tracked as it drove recklessly through a residential area until it finally crashed a 421 Whitney St. in Daytona Beach," Sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught said.

ORMOND BEACH -- The body of a man with "obvious signs of trauma" was found early this morning outside a residence at 788 Buena Vista Ave. and is being treated as a suspicious death, Ormond Beach police said.

Here is a synopsis of what led homicide investigators to the home at 12:40 a.m. as described by Ormond Beach police spokesman Lt. Kenny Hayes at 4:45 on this Friday morning: "Ormond Beach Police were dispatched to this location after a 9-1-1 call was placed by a female resident reporting a suspicious person in her yard. Two Ormond Beach police officers arrived and began checking the area."

Hayes continued, "They quickly discovered an unresponsive man lying in the side yard of the home. He was deceased and had obvious signs of trauma to his body. Investigators have determined that the man lived in an upstairs back apartment at the home. Family members are being notified and the victim’s identity will likely be released later this morning."

Dear Volusia County Chairman Frank Bruno: Thank you for allowing public discourse on the recent ECHO grants given by the county for land purchases. As I stated at the hearing, Volusia Tax Reform has had issues with land purchases made under both the Volusia Forever and ECHO programs based primarily on the disconnect between historical taxable assessed values and final purchase prices.

ORMOND BEACH -- A 24-year-old man was killed early this morning on U.S. 1 after he lost control of a 2006 Lamborghini while speeding, crossed the median and struck a steel pole resulting in the vehicle bursting into flames with him pinned inside, Ormond Beach police said.

A passenger, 40-year-old Vanessa Bain, escaped with minor injuries in the 3:44 a.m. accident. Police did not indicate if she or the young man or someone else was the owner of the high-priced sports car.
200 Block N. US-1, Ormond Beach Fl.

DELAND -- The Volusia County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death this morning of an 81-year-old Ormond Beach man who apprently fell into the Norris Dead River, a tributary of the St. Johns River, at the Highland Park Fish Camp.

A witness called 9-1-1 at 7:07 a.m. to report that Richard Bass had fallen off a dock and disappeared into the water.

Deputies and rescue personnel from Volusia County Fire Services arrived on scene and helped search for the victim who was found at approximately 7:57 a.m.

NSBNews.net photo by Sera Frederick / Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi introduces Mitt Romney and his wife, Ann, to 2,500 supporters in Ormond Beach on Sunday evening.

ORMOND BEACH -- State Attorney General Pam Bondi was here Sunday night to support Mitt Romney at the big rally, but where were other Sunshine State Republican office holders? NSB News reached out to the offices of U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, Congressman John Mica, Congresswoman Sandy Adams and Gov. Rick Scott.

Both the Rubio and Scott camps said they were remaining nuetral -- at least for the time being.

Frontrunner calls Gingrich 'Washington insider'

NSBNews.net photo by Henry Frederick / Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi claps as Mitt Romney fires up the crowd in Ormond Beach on Sunday night.

ORMOND BEACH -- Like clockwork, Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney arrived at 6 p.m. to a raucous crowd 2,500 supporters with an opening question: "Are you ready to send Barack Obama home to Chicago?" The crowd roared with a yes.

"This is a decision point for this country," Romney said, adding Obama represents big government while he supports one that is small and simple. "If I'm president of the United States, we'll get rid of Obamacare," Romney said, drawing an even bigger roar.