Calvin Robinson, shown here in a jail mug, is charged with trying to ram a deputy's patrol car and driving under the influence. The deputy was not hurt in the Sunday incident near Ormond Beach.

ORMOND BEACH -- When the Volusia County Sheriff's deputy first saw 34-year-old Calvin Robinson early Sunday morning, the man was quietly slumped over in the driver's seat of his car parked by the gas pumps of a truck stop outside the city limits.

That quickly changed, though, when Robinson suddenly struck the deputy with his car, ran into and damaged the gas pumps, rammed the deputy's patrol vehicle and took off the wrong way on the highway.

EDGEWATER -- There comes a moment or sets of moments when we wonder if it was all for naught. Was all my patient plea and serious consequences go in one ear and come out the next.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Deb Denys did herself a favor and brought her dog with her for early voting Sunday outside the New Smyrna Beach Library. 

EDGEWATER -- Four more years are needed for President Obama to reach his goal of generating friendships with 57 Muslim states.  In one of his early speeches, he said, "We will win all of the 57 states -- Keep in mind there are 56 Muslim States."

250 attend hob nob at Brannon Center in New Smyrna Beach

Headline Surfer photos by Henry Frederick / Sheriff Ben Johnson speaks of his eperience at the Southeast Volusia Chamber ogf Commerce Hob Nob at the Brannon Center in New Smyrna Beach. He wasa big winner in the chsmber's straw poll.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Sheriff Ben Johnson was the big winner in the Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce's hob nob straw poll by a near 2-1 margin over challenger Wendell Bradford. The results were released today and posted on the chamber's Facebook page.

Headline Surfer photo by Serafina Frederick / New Smyrna Beach Police Chief Ronald Pagano waves to the crowd on Canal Street during last year's Christmas Parade. Less than a year later, the city's top cop is riding off into the sunset.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Police Chief Ronald Pagano's career in law enforcement has come full circle.

He started in policing at 18 and now at the age of 63, Pagano's calling it a career. He is retiring effective Dec. 31.

Lt. Michael Brouillette will take over as the interim chief until a permanent  replacement is named.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Florida Constitutional Amendment 4 will appear on your ballot in the general election along with 10 other amendments. Of them all, this is the one with the greatest potential to reboot our State’s economy and revive the housing market.

Spokesman: Husband suspected of pulling trigger; gun, suicide note near bodies

An out-of-state relative called the Sheriff's Office after being unable to reach an elderly marrid couple on the phone, leading to Tuesday night's discovery of an apparent murder-suicide in the home at 141 E. Woodhaven Circle.

ORMOND BEACH -- The recovered bodies of a husband and wife, identified as 73-year-old James Ryals and 74-year-old Joyce Ryals, in their home near Ormond Beach are believed to victims of a murder-suicide with the husband pulling the trigger that killed his wife and then huimself, a Volusia County Sheriff's spokesman said of the overnight murder-suicide.

"Based on evidence at the scene, investigators believe that James Ryals killed his wife and then killed himself,"agency spokesman Gary Davidson said this morning, adding, "The Volusia County Medical Examiner's Office is scheduled to begin the autopsies at 9 a.m."

DAYTONA BEACH -- Mayoral candidate Derrick Henry is encouraging citizens to attend tonight's visit by the Rev. Jesse Jackson at the Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church as part of the continuing Souls to the Polls Rally with early voting well under way.

Jackson is expected to speak at 7 p.m. at the church, 539 George W. Engram Blvd.

Derrick Henry, who is running in the non-partisan race for mayor against City Commissionr Edith Shelley, is urging citizens to "Come out and get fired up for the election season as we participate in the most sacred right of our democracy -- the right to vote, which has progressed from the hands of white male property owners to the hands of all citizens."

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Here is a summary of action by the New Smyrna Beach City Commission at its meeting Tuesday night.

Recognition:

# Atlantic Center for the Arts – A presentation by Community Education and Outreach Manager Ren Morrison, accompanied by Community Artist Tory Tepp, of the organizations programs and planned activities for the upcoming year.