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Hotelier urges New Smyrna Beach allow for short-term lease ASAP to bring Delta Queen here from Chattanooga

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City officials not so enthusiastic opting instead to consider a hotel along the water

Delta QueenWayne HellerNEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Wayne Heller, owner of the Riverview Hotel pleaded with city officials to allow him to relocate the historic Delta Queen here from Chattanooga, Tenn. "as soon as possible."

Holly Hill cops: Mentally challenged woman, 48, missing

Carol Jean PaceIf you see the woman shown here, Carol Jean Pace, please call Holy Hill police at 386-248-9475. She's been reported missing and endangered.

HOLLY HILL -- Police are seeking the public's help in locating Carol Jean Pace, 48, who was reported missing from 522 Ridgewood Ave., Apt. No. 5, in Holly Hill on April 18, 2012.

"According to Ms. Pace's associates, she has not been seen at that location since April 13," Holly Hill Police Chief Mark Barker said.  "Ms. Pace is considered mentally challenged and may be in danger of exploitation. At the time of her disappearance she was depressed over the recent death of her boyfriend."

Those lose to her told police that she left behind all of her clothing, medication, and personal belongings when she left the apartment, Barker said, adding cops were told she has no known living relatives in the area.

End of an era: New Smyrna Beach Kmart closes its doors

New Smyrna Beach KmartLast-minute shopping before permanent closing of New Smyrna Beach Kmart.Headline Surfer videos and photos by Sera Frederick / 
Kmart in New Smyrna Beach is yet another empty anchor on State Road 44 with its closing Sunday.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The inevitable happened Sunday: Kmart closed its doors for good with customers scrambling at the last-minute with some priced-goods slashed 90 percent.

Deltona motorcyclist struck and killed by Port Orange motorist outside New Smyrna Beach

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A 59-year-old Deltona motorcyclist was killed Saturday night when he was struck by a motorist in a Ford Bronco that made a left turn from southbound Tomoka Farms Road onto Ludlow Boulevard in Samsula, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Earnest Alan Smith, who was wering a helmet on his 2007 Honda while riding north on Tomoka Farms Road, was ejected from his motorcycle in the collision in the collision and pronounced dead at the scene of the 9:40 p.m. crash.

Chadwick Dean Vogt, 40, of Port Orange, the driver of the 1990 Ford Bronco, was not injured. He was not wearing a seatbelt.

College baseball: Lindsey Caughel strikes out 7 in Stetson's 4-2 win over Bison

Stetson's Lindsey CaughelFor the second time in as many days, the Stetson Hatters got solid starting pitching from starter Lindsey Cauhel (5-2) and just enough offensive production Saturday to defeat visiting Lipscomb Bison at Melching Field in DeLand.

DELAND -- Stetson pitcher Lindsey Caughel faced the minimum through five innings as the Hatters took a 4-2 victory from the Bison at home earlier today.

Caughel allowed just one earned run in 6.2 innings of work with one walk and seven strikeouts. The victory moved Stetson (25-13 overall, 8-6 in the Atlantic Sun Conference) past Lipscomb (17-22, 9-8) into fourth place in the league race. In order to hold that spot, the Hatters will have to complete the series sweep on Sunday. The final game of the weekend is set for an 11 a.m. start.

How is it many today have become ignorant of our founding principles?

“A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government.” -- Thomas Jefferson

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Is it not ironic that Thomas Jefferson is an icon of the Democrat Party? And that he would be on record believing that government, in order to be “good” government,” should be minimal and stay out of the way of individuals’ efforts to profit from their labor?

BREAKING NEWS: Man shot in car near Ormond Beach hospitalized; Sheriff's Office questioning two suspects

ORMOND BEACH -- The Volusia County Sheriff's Office is investigating a shooting here in the overnight hours that sent a motorist to the the hospitsal with two gunshots.

The 48-year-old victim had just driven away from a store in Ormond Beach when he was shot twice in his car near 1336 Par Ave. at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The man was transported to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach where he is currently in surgery. A female in his car was uninjured.

About five minutes later deputies found a van that matched the description of the suspect vehicle given by eyewitnesses to the shooting.

"With the assistance of the Daytona Beach Police Department and a Sheriff's Office helicopter, the van was tracked as it drove recklessly through a residential area until it finally crashed a 421 Whitney St. in Daytona Beach," Sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught said.

Lotts seek bankruptcy protection from NSB beachside hotel developers who advanced them $46,000 for marketing in now-defunct Observer

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NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Four years ago, a series of city commission meetings led by then-Mayor Sally Mackay, were heavily attended by merchants and chamber leaders on the beachside's Flagler Avenue who lobbied for special zoning that would pave the way for a new hotel: The $16 million Hampton Inn & Suites.

Those rallying cries were led by Steve Dennis, then-Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce director and CRA commission member, and Robert Wayne Lott, the president-elect of the chamber, a member of the Southeast Volusia hospital board taxing district and purchaser of the weekly Observer newspaper with his wife, Michele Lott.