Grade: A

New Smyrna Beach's fourth annual Balloon and SkyFest was a monumental success and has become the signature event for the coastal city with lots of family fun and certainly a crowd pleaser with the array of aerial displays. There was something for everyone at the New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport, from balloon rides, to air shows and carnival rides.

There were a lot of educational displays as well. This was a tremendous draw for balloon and air show enthusiasts near and far.

Courtesy photo /

PORT ORANGE -- A 57-year-old man who allegedly threatened adult family members with an axe before barricading himself in a bedroom with a knife, was taken into custody after Port Orange police stormed the house on Hawks Ridge Road, an agency spokesman said.

Police responded to a 9-1-1 call at 11:45 a.m. to the residence about a domestic situation involving a man armed with a knife. After a police negotiator was unable to get the man to surrender on his own and nearby residents were safely evacuated, the police department's emergency response team -- similar to SWAT-- stormed the house at 749 Hawks Ridge Road just after 4 p.m. Elbert Hale was taken into custody without further incident.

DAYTONA BEACH SHORES -- Even as the Supreme Court sits to later declare unconstitutional Obama’s attempt to push socialized medicine down America’s throat, our president undertook a new and even greater effort to expand his power. Barack Obama re-issued an expanded version of an executive order entitled “National Defense Resources Preparedness” which would enable him to proclaim himself dictator at his own whim.

By Ellen Darden

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Is there no end to hypocrisy when it comes to the argument about legal voters being required to show legitimate identification in order to exercise this important right? To get a library card, board a plane, cash a check, drive a vehicle, buy a bottle of wine and in many other ordinary life events, we are required to produce picture identification.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Fire Chief Dave McCallister is being honored with the Volusia League of Cities' Distinguished Service Award for 2012.

McCallister was recommended by the VLOC nominating committee and voted in by the organization's executive committee.

This award is presented to outstanding individuals who have made their community, and Volusia County as a whole, a better place to live.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Florida and the nation are waiting on the 6 p.m. press conference by special prosecutor Angela Corey on whether she will file criminal charges against George Zimmerman in the Feb. 26 gunshot slaying of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. NSBNews.net will have local reaction from citizens, legal experts and the attorney for Trayvon's parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin.

NSBNews.net is likely the smallest media outlet to interview the grieving parents in person (the video/story package can be found here on our home page). NSBNews.net is rounding out its multi-media coverage of the weekend college student march from Daytona Beach to Sanford as well as sidebar stories on a Sanford police car sprayed with gunfire earlier this week across the street from the gated community where Trayvon lost his life and mini profiles on Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and retired Miami Heat star Alonzo Mourning from an earlier rally in Miami.

By Peter Mallory

EDITOR'S NOTE: Peter Mallory will return with his award-winning blog, "The Right Side," in a couple of weeks. He is recovering from illness.

Grade: A

Gov. Rick Scott appointed Jacksonville area State Attorney Angela Corey as special prosecutor to head the state's investigation into the Feb. 26 shooting death of Trayvon Martin.

The governor also announced that Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll will oversee a task force to study the merits of the "Stand Your Ground" law, which Sanford police cited as the reason George Zimmerman wasn't charged in the killing of the 17-year-old Miami boy.

Media and race baiting deplorable

Grade: F