Local News Now

NSBNews.net photo by Henry Frederick / New Smyrna Beach City Commissioner Judy Reiker is stoic after her unanimous appointment as vice mayor during Tuesday night's city commission meeting.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- With nearly two years as an elected commissioner under her belt, it was inevitable the ceremonial title of vice mayor would be bestowed upon Judy Reiker.

Besides, the other more seasoned commissioners had held the title already, among them Lynne Plaskett, Jack Grasty and Jim Hathaway.

It was Hathaway who made the motion to transfer the title from his name to Reiker's with Grasty seconding and Plaskett chiming in "absolutely."

Already with a near 30-year run in district, Canal Street to be part of new one

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- When it was revealed at an economic summit over the weekend that Canal Street would be included in a new CRA district along the US 1 corridor where blight is paramount, some officials were stunned while others were tightlipped.

What to do about blighted US 1 corridor will be discussed at Saturday session

NSBNews.net photo by Sera Frederick / The US 1 corridor in New Smyrna Beach, long in decline, will be discussed as part of an economic summit between New Smyrna Beach and Edgewater officials at New Smyrna Beach City Hall on Saturday. NSBNews.net will have complete coverage.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The cities of New Smyrna Beach and Edgewater are holding a joint economic summit Saturday in the City Commission chambers with a special presentation by Sean Snaith, Director with the Institute for Economic Competitiveness at the University of Central Florida.

About 60 people paid $25 each to attend the 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. summit, which includes overviews on economic development goals and plans by both cities.

EDGEWATER -- I was watching the coverage on the news about the recent tragic death of race driver Dan Wheldon thinking how ghoulish a society we’ve become. Yes, we all are stunned and saddened when these horrible things happen but we, also, demand faster cars in the races, more tricks during airplane shows and other such things that eventually lead to someone dying trying to entertain us.

By JIM HATHAWAY

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- This week I had the opportunity to interact with Southeast Volusia County’s younger generation on two occasions.

On Tuesday, New Smyrna Beach High School students from Teresa Tyson’s honors American history course came to city hall for a “mock” city commission meeting. Students sat in for each elected official and a number of city staffers. It was refreshing to see the young faces at the dais and among the crowd.

EDGEWATER -- Does it really make a difference? Is there any certain quality which would stand to a standard of strength? What difference would it make to just forget the all in all? How about the all? Does it stand on a premise of a certainty or is there really a difference? Should one care or just let it pass along the way? Undecided? Certainty or not should be the question!

DAYTONA BEACH -- Volusia County Beach Patrol Capt. Rich Gardner is being terminated in the wake of a sex scandal involving female employees working under him. The story was first reported earlier today by Clare Metz of WESH TV in Orlando and followed by a host of Central Florida media outlets including NSBNews.net, which will have a full report shortly.

DELAND -- Due to high water levels in the St. Johns River associated with recent rains, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is asking boaters to stay off populated areas of the river until the waters recede.

Primarily affected are populated portions in Volusia, Seminole and Orange counties. Most areas in Brevard County are rural and wooded and will not be negatively affected. However, problems could arise in the canal systems of lakes Poinsett and Washington.

Although water levels have not yet reached flood stage, officials feel they probably will in some areas. Once flood stage is reached, emergency idle speed, no wake zones go into effect automatically in portions of the river. The locations of these mandatory emergency idle speed, no wake zones and flood stages can be found online at www.srh.noaa.gov/serfc/index.php.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- D'Cota Dixon powered the New Smyrna Beach High Cudas to a 12-7 win Friday night at home against Titusville with a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs in the first half.

Both offensives were sluggish in the second half with Titusville finally getting on the scoreboard with a 1-yard TD run by Tevin Washington.