Local News Now

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The big plume of black smoke over the Causeway bridges this afternoon is from a brush fire in the 2800 block of Pioneer Trail that consumed about 10 acres of woods, but was no immediate threat to homes. The fire was brought under control by 5:30 p.m.

New Smyrna Beach Fire Department crews responded to the 1:45 p.m. blaze, which sent up a huge dark cloud that could be seen for miles.

Courtesy photo/Jail mug. Brandon Thomas, 18, was charged with trying to burglarize the BP Express Mart on Sugar Mill Drive.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- An 18-year-old man was arrested earlier today on attempted burglary and grand theft charges after allegedly trying to break into the BP Express Mart on Sugar Mill Drive by going through the roof, New Smyrna Beach police said.

Courtesy photo. The body of Harvey Andrew Beltz, 56, of Edgewater, was recovered in the UIntracoastal Waterway early this morning, the victim of a drowning having apparently fallen overboard just north of the South Causeway.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A fisheran's body was recovered this morning in the Intracoastal Waterway about a quarter mile north of the South Causeway Bridge where his 19-foot motorboat was spotted with full fishing gear at daybreak, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission confirmed.

NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick. Maria Giordano, 42, is all smiles as she serves a beer to a Biketoberfest customer inside the packed Pub 44 on State Road 44 in New Smyrna Beach on Friday night.

NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick. Jennifer LLoyd, a bartender at Pub 44, pours a soda for one of her friends during the midnight hour Thursday, the opening night of Biketoberfest with a sparse crowd. In middle photo, Eddie and Linda Albertson of Chatsworth, Ga., and in right photo, Fred and Judy Weekly, of Rome Ga., leave Pub 44 to head back to their beachside timeshare.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Georgia resident Judy Weekly was blunt in her explanation for the poor showing on opening night of the Biketoberfest motorcycle rally as she hopped on board husband, Fred's Harley Davidson: "They elected the wrong (expletive) president."

James B. Ferguson, 77, New Smyrna Beach, owner of a brick manufacturing plant, died Saturday.

NSBNEWS.net video by Sera Frederick. New Smyrna Beach resident Bob Tolley addresses his concerns Tuesday to the City Commission regarding spending by the Community Redevelopment Agency and the impact on Bert Fish Medical Center's ability to provide quality indigent care while having to pay large sums of tax money to the CRA.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Bob Tolley is among a growing number of residents questioning the spending practices of the city's Community Redevelopment Agency and calling for elected leaders to consider directly overseeing the CRA.

NSBNEWS.net photo by Henry Frederick. Longwood resident Jerry Brown got a day's head start on Biketoberfest with a visit to Pub 44 in New Smyrna Beach. The four-day fall motorcycle rally begins today.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The way Longwood resident Jerry Brown sees it, since he's been unemployed for 10 months now, he might as well get on his Harley-Davidson and attend Biketoberfest events with a few buddies from up north at places like Pub 44, which he believes will help the local economy.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The famous Rosewell Haunted Brick has been pulled as an attraction at the Night of the Paranormal, scheduled for Oct. 24 at the Museum of Arts & Science in Daytona Beach.

"Some things are best left alone," said event producer Charlie Carlson, of New Smyrna Beach.

The decision to pull the brick from the lobby exhibits was made jointly by the brick's owner and event officials.

"Because of the high level of para-normal activity connected with the brick recently, we decided to exercise an abundance of caution," Carlson said.

Michael Scott Kent, 50, of Oak Hill, a native of Falmouth, Mass., who retired from the Navy after 20 years of service, died Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009.

Cass Aylwin, 87, of New Smyrna Beach, a former registered nurse at Salem Hospital, Salem, Mass., died Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009.

Robert Barnes, 41, born and raised in New Smyrna Beach, died Friday, Oct. 9, 2009.

William R. "Red" Patterson, 73, of Edgewater, a retired mechanic who enjoyed fishing under the bridge with friends and spending time with his family, yard work and gardening, died Friday, Oct. 9, 2009.