Local News Now

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Robert Lott, president of the Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce, board member of Bert Fish Medical Center and owner of the Observer weekly newspaper, will be the guest speaker of the the Republican Club of Southeast Volusia County on Feb. 12.

The 11:15 a.m.Monday, Feb. 12 meeting will be at Smyrna Yacht Club, 1201 S. Riverside Dr., New Smyrna Beach. A buffet lunch will be served at 11:45 a.m.

Here are the final results of the NSBNEWS.net Insta Poll which asked: Should the New Smyrna Beach City Commission approve a 2 percent raise for police officers?

Yes, they serve a vital function and deserve raises:.45%

No, the economy is bad - city should hold down costs: 55%

There were 38 votes cast during the four days that preceded Tuesday night's unanimous vote by the New Smyrna Beach City Commission to give 44 police officers a 2-percent raise for the current fiscal year that began Oct. 1, the same amount given to other municipal employees.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- An overflow crowd of well over 200 residents saw the City Commission unanimously approve 2 percent wage increases for police officers and a vote to spend $20,000 to investigate the legalities of the city's "sweetheart" lease with the Angler's Yacht Club for use of city-owned property.

We'll have complete stories along with video presentations of the Tuesday night meeting, which had a fair amount of fireworks.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Have you seen the woman in this video? She's wanted by New Smyrna Beach police on charges of armed robbery and aggravated battery Sunday at Beall's Outlet, in the NSB Regional Shopping Center, 1914 State Road 44. A loss prevention officer at the store suffered a cut to his hand in a scuffle with the woman and a male accomplice, police said.

NSBNEWS.net video by Sera King. The New Smyrna Beach City Commission heard a presentation from Personnel Director Carol Hargy on a proposed 2 percent increase for police officers earlier this month, but a vote was put off after city resident Bill Kolesczar challenged the legality of such a vote since the public had not been noticed, setting the stage for tonight's vote. Check out the video for Hargy's explanation of what's new in the proposedcontract, including a revised overtime formula.   

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- It's a showdown at tonight's 6:30 City Commission meeting with two opposing forces for and against a proposed 2 percent wage increase for the city's police officers.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Two 18-year-old men were apprehended after police received reports of a reckless driver in the area of the Sugar Mill subdivision just after midnight.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Officers from the New Smyrna Beach Police Department concluded a narcotics investigation early this morning when members of the agency, with the assistance of the Department's SWAT team, executed a search warrant at 808 E. 26th Ave., police spokesman Sgt. Michael Brouillette said.

During the search warrant, Cassie L. Holmes, 20, of the same address, was arrested on charges of possession of Ambien, a Schedule IV Controlled Substance, felony possession of Cannabis and possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Two 18-year-old girls were victims of an 8:04 p.m. carjacking at the Regional Shopping Center, 1996 State Road 44, New Smyrna Beach police reported.

Police are searching for the stolen vehicle, described as a royal blue Ford Explorer Sport-Trac, bearing Florida Tag JE632.

Jessica Eibach and Britt A. Cameron, both 18, were the victims of the carjacking. They were returning to their vehicle after shopping when two unknown black males followed them to their vehicle, said New Smyrna Beach police Sgt. Christopher Roos.