Local News Now

Photo for Headline Surfer® /

DELAND, Fla. -- A 27-year-old sky diver suffered injuries to his head and legs during what was decribed as a "hard fall" Monday morning at DeLand airport, municipal cops said.

The injured jumper in the 11 a.m. incident that brought out police and firefighters was identified as Matthew Serwanski of DeLand.

"The initial information is that Mr. Serwanski made a hard landing and suffered a head injury and injuries to his legs," DeLand PD Sgt. Chris Estes told Headline Surfer®. "He was flown to Halifax in Daytona for treatment."

Two sky divers have died in separate jumps so far this year at the airport where Skydive DeLand is located.

Agency: Office of Beach Safety Ocean Rescue (Former Beach Patrol)
Annual Budget: $7.2 million
No. of Sworn Personnel: 81
No. of Lifeguards:
Age of Lifeguards:
Age 16:
Age 17:
18 and older:
Editor's Note: Waiting on Volusia County government to fill in the blanks

HeadlineSurfer.com YouTube download / video by Indianapolis Star Sports /

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The last time Scott Dixon captured the pole in 2008, he won the Indianapolis 500. Here in 2015, in the 99th running of the Indy 500, Dixon again has the pole the pole in 2008, Scott Dixon has the pole for Sunday's 99th running of the running of the open-wheel race, the single-greatest racing event globally.

Here is the line-up of the Indy 500 Verizon IndyCar Series event on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with rank, car number in parentheses, driver, chassis-engine, time and speed in parentheses:

1. (9) Scott Dixon, Chevrolet, 02:38.7579 (226.760)

2. (1) Will Power, Chevrolet, 02:39.0458 (226.350)

3. (22) Simon Pagenaud, Chevrolet, 02:39.1900 (226.145)

4. (10) Tony Kanaan, Chevrolet, 02:39.6428 (225.503)

5. (3) Helio Castroneves, Chevrolet, 02:39.6439 (225.502)

Photo for HeadlineSurfer.com /

PALATKA, Fla. -- Lois "Darlene" Laibl-Crowe, 56, of Palatka, who previously worked at the Helen Keller National Center in 2001, has been appointed by Gov. Rick Scott to the Florida Coordinating Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

Laibl-Crowe's appointment, which took effect April 7, runs through July 31, 2016. She was the program coordinator for the Florida Deaf Blind Association from 2011 to 2014. The Putnam County resident graduated from Palatka South HS in 1976.

Photos for Headlime Surfer® /

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Three months after suffering a broken leg and foot in the Feb. 21 Xfinity race at Daytona International Speedway that forced Kyle Busch to missthe next day's Daytona 500 and half a dozen subsequent races, the driver was finally back to racing over the weekend.

But Speedway officials here had yet to say anything about the promised safer barrier improvements pledged following the accident.

An email sent on May 12 by Headline Surfer® to Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III and to track spokesman Andrew Booth went unanswered. However, the Speedway finally addressed the issue through a published story Monday in the Daytona Beach News-Journal stating work would begin that day on installing safer barriers in the location where Busch was injured.

Here is what News-Journal columnist Ken Willis reported in a story headlined, "DIS: Work begins on safety initiatives in wake of Busch crash:

Photo for Headline Surfer® /

DELTONA, Fla. -- Volusia County Sheriff’s deputies have located a 14-year-old girl and reunited her with her Deltona family, an agency spokesman said.

Julia T. Burk was last seen around 10:30 p.m. Monday at her family’s house on Cherokee Pride Trail, before she was reported missing this morning, but there was good news after all for the 5 foot-3 teen.

"Julia was located safe and sound just a few minutes after we put out the news alert," Sheriff's spokesman Andrew Gant told Headline Surfer® this afternoon.

"Julia was located safe and sound just a few minutes after we put out the news alert," Sheriff's spokesman Andrew Gant told Headline Surfer® this afternoon.

Photo for Headline Surfer® /

DELTONA, Fla. -- Volusia County Sheriff’s deputies are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing and possibly endangered 14-year-old Deltona girl who was last seen at her home Monday night, an agency spokesman said.

Julia T. Burk was last seen around 10:30 p.m. at her family’s house on Cherokee Pride Trail.

"She is believed to be on foot," Sheriff's spokesman Andrew Gant told Headline Surfer®. "Her clothing description is unknown. Her family reported her missing at about 6 a.m. Tuesday after waking up and discovering she was gone."

Headline Surfer videos and photos /

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Volusia County Councilman Joshua Wagner clearly understands his votes in three separate ordinances to further restrict beach driving onthe World's Most Famous Beach® was not popular with constituents, but what he believes was best for business.