Local News Now

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DELAND, Fla. -- It started with a date riding on a motorcycle and culminated in marriage for radio personality Leslye Gayle and Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson as the two exchanged nuptials on Sept. 13, 2014.

"I've known Ben for a long time working in the news business and had interviewed him many times, but it wasn't until he was a guest on my show 6 1/2 years ago and I was newly divorced did we start dating," Gayle, co-host of the Magic Morning Show on Magic 107.7 FM for 14 years, and prior to that a news anchor at WKMG Local 6, told HeadlineSurfer.com. “Our first date was a motorcycle ride in and around DeLand and we’ve been together ever since!”

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NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- City residents may pick up sandbags at the New Smyrna Beach Public Works Department, 124 Industrial Park Avenue. Sand and bags are provided. However, residents must bring shovels and fill their own bags.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Expect lots of rain before Tropical Storm Ericka even gets here early next week. 

Here is the most recent forecat for greater Daytona Beach from the National Weather Service in Melbourne:

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- With Tropical Storm Erika setting her sights on Florida, Volusia County’s emergency management officials remind residents to update or develop their disaster plans so all family members know what to do and what to expect.

Voluia County pokeoman Pat Kuehn shared those steps with HeadlineSurfer.com and other media outlets.

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Whether Tropical Storm Ericka grows into a full-blown hurricane or fizzles over the Carribean once she gets closer to Florida next week after finishing the pounding of Puerto Rico, officials here in Daytona Beach are not taking any chances.

In anticipation of Erika’s arrival, Volusia County plans a partial activation of its Emergency Operations Center Saturday morning to get the process started, spokeswoman Pat Kuehn told HeadlineSurfer.com.

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WINTER GARDEN, Fla. -- A Louisiana family's visit to Walt Disney World was supposed to be magical. Instead, it turned into a nightmare:  Orange County Sheriff's deputies found a 9-month-old baby found unresponsive on Aug. 23, a Saturday, when they responded to a 9-1-1 call from a family member at the Lake Tiki Village resort six miles away from Walt Disney World. 

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 ORMOND BEACH – The Captain James Ormond Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution recognized Seabreeze High School graduating senior Vania Bustamante in April with its "Good Citizen" award during a recent ceremony at the historic Anderson-Price Memorial Building.

The award recognizes Bustamante dependability, service, leadership and patriotism in her daily school and community life. She also received a $100 scholarship and an American flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol on Veterans’ Day last year.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Volusia County Republican Party Chairman Tony Ledbetter barred Headline Surfer® from the GOP Lincoln Dinner at the Daytona Beach Resort & Conference Center in Daytona Beach on Sept. 19, even though the the internet newspaper had an entry ticket paid for by then-Volusia County Council candidate Rich Gailey, whose candidacy was backed by the GOP.

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NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- A 50-year-old woman has been arrested on a felony charge of conspiracy to commit murder by allegedly trying to hire a hit man and intending to provide him with the weapon to fatally shoot the intended victim, New Smyrna Beach cops said.

Here is a synopis of what happened as described by New Smyrna Beach police in an emailed press release to HeadlineSurfer.com: On Aug. 21, the New Smyrna Beach Police Department was contacted by the Daytona Beach Police Department with information related to a conspiracy to commit murder. The investigation revealed that the suspect, Pamela Vanorsdale, contacted a male known to her and solicited him to murder another male with a firearm she intended to provide.