Local News Now

Ormond bike ride; swim in Daytona Beach surf reminders of life's enjoyments not to be taken for granted

Headline Surfer® photos / County Chair Jason Davis shown in the images at left, is back home after suffering a heart attack late Thursday night.

DAYTONA BEACH -- County Chair Jason Davis has a newfound appreciation for life -- whether it's strapping on his helmet and riding his Harley up the coastline to enjoy the scenery of the scenic loop in Ormond Beach or diving into the curling waves of the World's Most Famous Beach here in Daytona on a humid Sunday afternoon.

Photo for Headline Surfer® / SR 44 was finally reopened mid-day today after a crash involving a pick-up and a flatbed near Sugar Mill Drive, just east of the I-95 interchange as shown in the locator map, resulting in a critically injured motorist in the smaller vehicle.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A 37-year-old motorist suffered serious injuries early in the 2600 block of State Road 44 this morning after crashing his Suzuki pick-up truck into the rear of a CMC Steel Fabricators flatbed tractor trailer, which resulted in a stretch of the roadway eastbound being shut down for more than six hours.

Kevin Harvick shot past Dale Earnhardt, Jr. under rhe lights in overtime Saturday night to take the checkered flag for his first win in the Bojangles' Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.

Headline Surfer® photo by Henry Frederick / Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry is shown here on the dais at Daytona Beach City Hall Commission Chambers after he was sworn as the face of city government after his win in the 2012 elections.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Derrick Henry, a Daytona Beach native, was sworn in as mayor of the City of Daytona Beach on Nov. 14, 2012, after garnering 55.5 percent of the vote in the general election over then-fellow City Commissioner Edith Shelley.

Midway through his first four-year terrm, Henry is the city’s 21st mayor since 1926, when the towns of Seabreeze, Daytona and Daytona Beach merged into one city. Henry is Daytona Beach’s second African-American mayor after the late Yvonne Scarlett-Golden. She was first elected as mayor in 2003 and again in 2005.

Headline Surfer® video / Check out the watermelon-eating contest at last year'a Oak Hill RiverFest,  the premier Spring event in the family-friendly city.

OAK HILL -- Wherever Linda Hyatt goes these days, whether it's the post office, the Burns Sci-Tech Charter School or her old stomping grounds at City Hall, this community is abuzz over the upcoming RiverFest at Mary DeWees Park.

HOLLY HILL -- The City Commission will meet 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, in chambers at Holly Hill City Hall, 1065 Ridgewood Ave.

ORMOND BEACH -- The 42nd annual Art in the Park will be held in Rockefeller Gardens on Saturday, May 3, and Sunday, May 4.

Photo for Headline Surfer® /

ORMOND BEACH – The Captain James Ormond Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution recognized Seabreeze High School graduating senior Vania Bustamante 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.