NSBNEWS.net: Volusia County / State

ORANGE CITY -- A pedestrian struck and killed Wednesday night while trying to cross South Volusia Avenue in front of the Heritage Inn has been identified as Kenneth Robertson, 45, of Orange City, police there said.

No charges were filed against the driver a pick-up truck in the 7:15 p.m. fatality, Nicholas Pojero, 51, of Deltona,because the pedestrian darted in front of him and he could not stop in time, police said.

Robertson was was flown by Sheriff's helicopter to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach where he died shortly after 8 p.m., police said.

DAYTONA BEACH -- A Volusia County grand jury handed up an Indictment Monday upgrading charges against DAngelo Belle to first-degree murder in the March 12, 2009, death of Chad Hankerson, the State Attorney's office said.

Hankerson, 20, was killed in an apartment building parking lot on Maple Street. If convicted, Belle could get life in prison.

PIERSON -- With the number of H1N1 swine flu cases on the rise, the Volusia County Health Department announced Tuesday it will conduct the first in a series of planned school vaccination clinics. The first clinic will be from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, in Northwest Volusia.

“We know we have swine flu in the community and we know this strain of influenza is affecting children more severely than healthy adults,”
said Health Department Director Dr. Bonnie Sorensen. “Vaccination is the best protection against influenza. These vaccination clinics will

DELTONA -- Children can learn about basic vegetable and herb gardening and holiday agriculture during a free program from 10 a.m. - noon Saturday, Nov. 7.

The program will be in the Dr. Alice E. Cross Environmental Classrooms at the new Lyonia Environmental Center, 2150 Eustace Ave., Deltona.
Presenters will include staff and master gardeners from the University of Florida/Volusia County Extension.

For reservations, please call (386) 822-5778. For more information, please contact Horticultural Extension Agent Karen Stauderman at
kstauderman@co.volusia.fl.us.

DELTONA -- The Volusia County Sheriff's Office will team up with Amscot Financial Partners on Thursday to give away free bicycle helmets in Deltona. Volusia is one of a dozen counties in the state that's participating in Amscot's helmet program.

Amscot is partnering with law enforcement agencies in 12 Florida counties where the financial services company operates branch locations.
The Deltona location for Thursday's give-away will be the Amscot branch at 2177 Howland Blvd. A second Volusia site for the give-away will be the Amscot branch at 2405 N. Atlantic Ave. in Daytona Beach.

DELAND -- In what can only be characterized as a startling development --even for the world of the paranormal -- the Athens Theatre's Halloween Spooktacular has been canceled.

Unnamed sources involved with the Halloween production are placing responsibility on a bizarre object connected with the event -- a haunted brick.

According to theatre manager Ed Kirkland, the all-day and night-film Spooktacular planned for Oct. 31, was to have included a host of classic halloween movies and unuusual lobby exhibits, culminating in the Rocky Horror Show at midnight.

Editor's Note: Follow-up story

DELTONA -- A Deltona couple used the buzz-word "playtime" when referring to their sexual escapades, A Volusia County Sheriff's spokesman said.

Following an investigation by the Sheriff's Office, 24-year-old Hailie Michael Martinez is being held in jail without bond and is facing accusations that "playtime" involved sex with two children under the age of five.

Martinez also is suspected of downloading child pornography from the Internet and could face additional criminal charges.

DELEON SPRINGS -- Environmental enthusiasts are invited to make plans to participate in the fourth annual DeLeon Springs Cleanup from 8:30 - 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 24. Participants should meet at the entrance to the DeLeon Springs State Park, 601 Ponce DeLeon Blvd., and will be assigned an area to pick up trash.

DELAND -- The historic Athens Theatre, in partnership with the West Volusia Film Authority, will host its first annual "Athens Halloween Spooktacular" throughout the day and night on Saturday, Oct. 31.

At 11 a.m., the day kicks off with a series of four classic Abbott & Costello horror movies, followed by an evening of campy horror films, with the iconic Ted V. Mikels' ASTRO ZOMBIES as the headliner.
The movie marathon event culminates with a midnight screening of The Rocky Horror Show.

Courtesy photos. Corrections officer Donna Fitzgerald was murdered by an inmate at Tomoka prison -- stabbed 25 times on June 25, 2008, while she was working alone in a section of the prison with 13 inmates. Enoch Hall, a lifer, is charged with capital murder and faces the death penalty, if convicted at trial.