Local News Now

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Many readers will understand when I acknowledge that I watched as much of the Democrats’ convention as I could. I did listen to the speeches of both the president and the first lady out of respect. I listened to as much of former President Clinton’s mendacity as I could stomach.

DELAND -- Ben Johnson is the longest serving employee of the Volusia County Sheriff's Office ever with 39 years under his belt. Oh, and he's the sheriff, rounding out 12 years in elective office as he gears up for a fourth four-year term in the November general elections. 

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Sheriff Ben Johnson has provided strong leadership as Volusia County's top cop for the last 12 years and we see no compelling argument from his challenger, Wendell Bradford, or anyone else for that matter, as to why he should be not be re-elected Nov. 6. Headline Surfer fully endorses Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson.

New Smyrna Beach police are looking for a gunman who robbed a woman of her cash early Sunday.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A 26-year-old woman was robbed by a man armed with a handgun who point it at her and demanded money as she was getting out of her car in the 200 block of Chisholm Street just after 2 this morning, police said.

Shawnetrae Leshaun Williams gave the gunman, described as black and of medium height and weight, an undisclosed amount of cash before he ran off. She was not physically hurt in the incident.

Here is a synopsis of what New Smyrna Beach Police Sgt. Christopher Roos put in his report: "Officers responded to 210 Chisholm Street in reference to an armed robbery. Contact was made with the female victim who advised an unknown male approached her as she was getting out of her vehicle and pointed a gun at her. Suspect fled the scene northbound on foot with an undetermined amount of money. The victim was not injured during the incident. Limited suspect information was obtained."

A nearly three-hour search Friday resulted in the recovery of a teenage drowning victim.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The Avon Park boy whose body was recovered Friday in the surf, four hours after he went under, has been identified as 17-year-old J.J. Branchedor, authorities said.

The teen, who was here on a day trip with Forest Lake Academy, a Seventh-Day Adventist high school based in Apopka, got lost in the swollen surf at 4:30 p.m. while several friends who also struggled managed to get back to shore with the help of Beach Patrol personnel.

The teens were in an area where lifeguards are not posted, a half mile north of the Canaveral National Seashore.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Led by first-year signal caller Marcus Johnson, the Cudas romped over Pine Crest in Deltona Friday night, 54-7. But as the highlights above show, there's nothing like playing before the home crowd at the New Smyrna Beach Stadium. 

Headline Surfer photo by Henry Frederick / Former Ponce Inlet Mayor Nancy Epps, shown here, is challenging first-term dist. 2 Volusia County Council member Joshua Wagner in the Nov. 6 general elections.  

PORT ORANGE -- Challenger Nancy Epps and incumbent dist. 2 Volusia County Council member Joshua Wagner have each committed to participating in a public debate sponsored by Headline Surfer leading up to the Nov. 6 general elections.

Epps, who finished second to Wagner in the Aug. 14 primary in a three-way contest to force the run-off said she's looking forward to debating the issues.