Local News Now

National Weather Service issues a flood warning for NSB, other nearby cities

Newspaper Section

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MELBOURNE HAS ISSUED A

* FLOOD WARNING FOR..VOLUSIA COUNTY IN FLORIDA...THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...NEW SMYRNA BEACH...PORT ORANGE...PIERSON...OSTEEN...ORMOND BEACH...ORANGE CITY...DELTONA...DE LEON SPRINGS...DE LAND...DAYTONA BEACH...

* UNTIL 1030 PM EDT.

Former Oak Hill Mayor Donna Jane Bennett dies

Newspaper Section

Courtesy photo. Donna Jane Bennett, mayor of Oak Hill from 1992-'99, died Saturday.

Former Oak Hill Mayor OAK HILL -- A funeral service was held earlier today for former Oak Hill Mayor Donna Jane Bennett, who died Saturday. She was 57.

Bennett was mayor from 1992-'99, according to Oak Hill officials.

A funeral service was held 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church, Oak Hill, with the Rev. Emerson Bolton, Sr., officiating.

Pet Society donates $14K for surgical unit at Edgewater Animal Shelter

Newspaper Section

EDGEWATER -- City Council member Gigi Bennington informed her colleagues earlier tonight that the Pet Society, a group of private volunteers, raised and donated $14,000 to benefit the surgical unit at the city's animal shelter.

Bennington's announcement came during a discussion of a revised animal control ordiance that has more teeth in it in terms of enforcement.

Beach Patrol: Warm waters may be factor in weekend shark-bite attacks in NSB surf

Newspaper Section

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- With a third shark-bite attack reported this weekend in the surf off the South Jetty, the Volusia Beach Patrol has a plausible increase for the flurry of activity: warmer waters.

"Last weekend, the water temperature was between 67 and 68, but this weekend it was 73 to 74 degrees," said Beach Patrol Capt. Scott Petersohn, the agency's spokesman.

Not only does the warmer weather mean more active bait fish, which create a feeding frenzy for the 5- and 6-foot sharks that feed on them, but also more humans enjoying the surf.

NSB cops: Man shot in city's west side; gunman on the loose, but accomplice charged

Newspaper Section

(Updated 6:11 a.m. to include accomplice)

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Police were looking for a gunman Sunday night believed responsible for shooting a 37-year-old man on the city's west side, who underwent surgery at Bert Fish Medical Center for a gunshot wound to his left shin.

Marcus Peterson, 37, was shot at least once in a confrontation at 554 Josie St., about a block from Ronnoc Lane. Police responding to the 6:34 p.m. shooting, found the bleeding victim, who was expected to survive, police Sgt. Valerie Joyce said.

Florida Highway Patrol: NSB man dead; two others seriously hurt in car crash on S.R. 415

Newspaper Section

DELTONA -- A 48-year-old New Smyrna Beach man was killed Saturday afternoon on State Road 415 after the driver of the car he was in lost control of the vehicle and collided nearly head-on with an Edgewater motorist, the Florida Highway Patrol reported.

Keith Hall, 48, died in the 1:15 p.m. crash after being ejected. The driver, Doreen Hall, 45, and the other motorist, Kenneth Davis, 55, of Edgewater, were taken to Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach. Dorren Hall was in critical condition and Davis was in serious condition.

Beach Patrol: Two men bitten by sharks in NSB surf

Newspaper Section

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Two men were bitten within 10 minutes of each other Saturday morning near the South Jetty, becoming the third and fourth bite victims of the year, the Volusia County Beach Patrol said.

The first victim, a 55-year-old Sanford man, sustained a small bite on his right hand about 9:20 a.m., and was briefly treated at Bert Fish Medical Center and released.

The second surfer, a 49-year-old Southeast Volusia resident, had a more serious bite to his foot that required surgery at Bert Fish Medical Center later in the day. He was expected to make a full recovery.

PAL 10-and-under girls team of NSB wins state championship

NSBNEWS.net video by Sera Frederick / New Smyrna Beach police officer David Adkins introduced the Police Athletic League 10-and-under girls basketball team to the City Commission on Tuesday night. The girls recently won the Florida PAL championship.

Christopher Trull back in prison for absconding

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Christopher Trull is back in prison, where he belongs, according to the prosecutor who presided over the sensational murder trial for which he was found to be the least culpable among his three brothers in the slayings of two Maryland Spring Breakers and the near killing of a third a decade ago.