Local News Now

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.

ORANGE CITY -- A Volusia County deputy was airlifted to Halifax Health Medical Center after his cruiser was struck by another motorist just before 6 this morning on Graves Avenue and an hour later, a motorist was killed in yet another accident on Ohio Avenue, according to initial reports from the Florida Highway Patrol.

The deputy was northbound on 17-92 when a southbound car turning left on Graves Avenue struck his driver's-side door. His injuries are not considered life threatening, but he was airlefted by the Sheriff's Air-One helicopter just to be on the safe side. The deputy's name wasn't immediately available.

When sung right, the National Anthem, hearing the Nationa Anthem sends chills down the spine like the playing of "Taps." Steven Tyler's rendition before the AFC Championship game between the Baltimore Ravens and the New England Patriots was a disgrace and I'm praying there won't be a repeat of that before Sunday's Superbowl.

EDGEWATER -- I saw a recent report from ABC News' Diane Sawyer that I found troubling: Our 4 million miles of roads ranks us 20th in the world behind places like Malaysia due to deterioration and poor maintenance. How sad is that?

I was a bit taken aback that someone even had done a ranking of road conditions in the countries of the world, but was not terribly surprised to hear this country wasn’t doing very well. Most states I have been in have many poor roads causing accidents due to pot holes, narrow shoulders, fraying asphalt and other factors.

By Stan Escudero

DAYTONA BEACH SHORES -- Concluding a primary campaign which had become increasingly vicious and personal, Mitt Romney swept aside Newt Gingrich’s challenge and easily re-established himself as the front runner in the race for the GOP presidential nomination with 46.4% of the vote in the Sunshine State.

DAYTONA BEACH -- ESPN is reporting that a deal has been worked out that would guarantee Danica Patrick a start in the Daytona 500 and provide her with spots for much of the Sprint Cup schedule.

Greater New Smyrna Beach included in new redistricting plan

NEW SYRNA BEACH -- Following the introduction of a compromise redistricting plan scheduled for final passage in the Florida House and Senate this week, Representative Sandy Adams announced she will declare her candidacy for the new District 7, based in Seminole County and including parts of Orange and Volusia counties.

“I strongly believe in public service and working to make our nation’s economy stronger and more secure," Adams said Monday.

PIERSON, Fla  -- The Volusia County Sheriff's Office arrested a 25-year-old man early Monday morning on a first-degree murder warrant for Saturday night's shooting death in Seville.

NSBNews.net photo by Sera Frederick / George Richford, a controversial figure on the Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority, has resigned in the wake of the scandal involving the taxing agency's fired director, Nicole Carni.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The fallout from scandals with New Smyrna Beach's two special taxing authorities continues with the sudden resignation of George Richford from the board of the Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority.

Richford's letter to Volusia County Council member Joyce Cusack was short and to the point: "Please accept my resignation, effective immediately from the SVAA Board. Thank you for the appointment."

A ruling by Circuit Judge William Parsons, chief judge of the 7th judicial circuit, denied condemned death row murderer Jerone Hunter, shown here, a chance at having his death sentences set aside for his role in the 2004 Deltona Xbox murders of six people in a Telford Lane home, the largest mass murder case in Volusia County's history.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Mass murderer Jerone Hunter is not getting off Florida's death row anytime soon, if ever, after a circuit judge's ruling Wednesday that he failed to prove ineffective assistance of counsel at his capital murder trial six years ago.