Volusia News Now

DELAND -- A 57-year-old apparently drunken man was run over and killed Friday night by a large SUV apparently after he stopped walking while in the middle of North Woodland Boulevard to drink a beer, cops said.

Here's a synopsis of what happened at 8:37 p.m. in the 1000 block of North Woodland as described by DeLand police officer TJ Petralla in a press release sent to HeadlineSurfer®: "Per witnesses on scene: "A 57-year-old male, believed to be intoxicated, walked westbound from the Sunoco gas station in a dark area of the roadway and crossed over the concrete median. He then walked west into the inside southbound lane where a witness states he stopped in the middle of that lane and began drinking a beer."

13-year-old Mary Horton won the Orlando Sentinel's district contest to make nationals

Here is a link to the Orlando Sentinel's story on Mary Horton and the National Spelling Bee headlined, 'Central Florida speller out after making top 12 at National Bee: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/education/os-spelling-bee-orlando-champ-20140529,0,2544428.story.

MELBOURNE -- As reported by the Orlando Sentinel, 13-year-old Mary Horton of West Melbourne spelled her way into the finals of the National Spelling Bee on Thursday in National Harbor, Md., but she finished in a tie for fifth and finished among the top 12 contestants overall after flubbing the word "aetites."

So how long will the print daily take to report that 2012 County Council candidate Justin Kennedy is challenging incumbent Deb Denys?

The Daytona Beach News-Journal is finally reporting that New Smyrna Beach Mayor Adam Barringer is not seeking re-election as shown here at left, but has yet to report that Justin Kennedy of Edgewater, shown at far right filed paperwork way back on May 19 to challenge District 3 County Councilwoman Deb Denys in the upcoming elections.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Here's a headline shocker from the Daytona Beach News-Journal on its stellar campaign coverage: "New Smyrna Mayor Adam Barringer won’t seek re-election."

Headline Surfer® graphic / Rocco Park, 2490 Sunset Drive, shown here at left, is where the body of a woman was found early Tuesday.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The body of a woman was found this morning at a city park in Turnbull Bay, New Smyrna Beach cops said.

The discovery was made just after 6 a.m. at the park, located at 2490 Sunset Drive, Master Sgt. Eugene Griffith said in a press release, adding her death may have resulted from a drug overdose. Her name or age was not released.

An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday to try nd determine the manner and cause of death.

Videos by Indy Cars for Headline Surfer® / 1st video: Highlights of the 2014 running of the Indianapolis 500, including several crashes and the dramatic finish that saw the Ryan Hunter-Reay take the checketred flag in the second-closest finish ever. 2nd video: Post-race interviews with Hunter-Reay, Helio Castroneves, and Marco Andretti, as well as rookie Sage Karam, winning team owner Michael Andretti, Indy 500 legend Mario Andretti and disappointed contenders Ed Carpenter and James Hinchcliffe.

INDIANAPOLIS -- A Florida racer, Ryan Hunter-Reay, driving the No. 28 for team owner Michael Andretti, won the Indianapolis 500- i a nail-biting finish with hard-charging Helio Castroneves in what turned out to be the second-closest margin of victory at .06 of a second.

Heads to Charlotte Motor Speedway for tonight's Coca-Cola 600

YouTube download / NASCAR driver Kurt Busch crashes in practice for the Indianapolis 500, which forced him to use a back-up car for today's race.

INDIANAPOLIS -- NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Kurt Busch driving for Andretti Autosport, finished a respectable 6th in today's Indianapolis 500, which was won by Ryan Hunter-Reay, of Fort Lauderdale.

Busch left the track immediately after the race to flly to Charlotte Motor Speedway where he will start in tonight's Coca-Cola 600. He'll become the fourth driver to participate in both races on the same day.