Local News Now
ORLANDO, Fla -- Pledging to his GOP colleagues that he would be a "conservative voice" for the party, Tony Ledbetter, chairman of the Republican Executive Committee of Volusia County, was elected Congressional District 6 chairman for the Republican Party of Florida at its annual meeting this weekend at the Rosen Centre Hotel.
Frank Hechman doesn't see a 'negative' in kids exposed to New Year's Eve drinking crowd

DAYTONA BEACH -- Frank Hechman, the elder statesman of the Beachside Neighborhood Watch was more jovial than acerbic in giving his reaction to the New Year's Eve beach ball drop and the huge crowd.
Disgust too mild a word for our 'leaders' in Washington with the Fiscal Cliff
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- What we witnessed in Washington, DC, over the past few weeks – both in the posturing, unseriousness and sheer disregard for the duties that our elected representatives, including both Congress and the White House, were voted by the American people to handle responsibly –was as despicable as anything I have ever witnessed in federal government.
New Year's Eve on Canal: The scenic look of a winter wonderland minus the snow

Headline Surfer photos by Henry Frederick / Canal Street in New Smyrna Beach, is shown here on New Year's Eve just after 10 p.m.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- With the bars on Flagler Avenue playing host to the New Year's Eve festivities, the city's other heavily invested CRA street was as dead as a door knob, a far cry from the hustle and bustle during traditional business hours.
Bar patrons take the party outside with New Smyrna Beach cops MIA at peak of New Year's Eve celebration on Flagler


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NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Jennifer Collier got an eyeful when she took 6-year-old daughter, Ella, to the New Year's Eve fireworks celebration on Flagler Avenue where countless people among the crowd of 2,000 were drinking right out in the open.

Volusia County's first homicide of the New Year was reported in the 900 block of South Parsons Avenue outside DeLand as shown here.DELAND -- Sheriff's investigators have identified Tuesday night's shotgun slaying victim as 25-year-old Antwan Harris of Deltona.
As reported first by Headline Surfer, investigators are dealing with Volusia County's first reported murder of 2013, where the victim was dropped off late Tuesday at Florida Hospital Hospital-DeLand where he died less than an 40 minutes later, an agency spokesman said.
Breaking Volusia County News: Man shot to death outside DeLand city limits
Victim is Volusia County's first reported homicide of 2013
Volusia County's first homicide of the New Year was reported in the 900 block of South Parsons Avenue outside DeLand as shown here.DELAND -- Sheriff's investigators have are investigating what appears to be Volusia County's first reported murder of 2013, after a shotgun victim was dropped off late Tuesday at Florida Hospital Hospital-DeLand where he died less than an 40 minutes later, an agency spokesman said.
The victim was described only as an adult male, and though authorities know his identity, they're not releasing any further information until his family is first notified.
VCSO spokesman: 20-year-old DeBary man killed in Deltona motorcycle crash
Preliminary investigation: Speeding may have been a factor in fatality
The map shows the location of the 12:30 p.m. Tuesday Deltona fatality.DELTONA -- A 20-year-old DeBary man became Volusia County's first highway fatality of the new year when he lost control of his motorcyle on DeBary Avenue near the intersection of Providence Boulevard and struck a stop sign before crashing the bike, a Sheriff's spokesman said.
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