NSBNEWS.net: Volusia County / State

DELTONA -- The Volusia County Sheriff's Office is seeking dismissal of three of the criminal charges against Pine Ridge High School teacher Stephen Michael Belcher, who was arrested Thursday after deputies found two rifles and ammunition in his truck in the school parking lot.

The arrest was made after school had let out for the day. Belcher, who resides in Port Orange, pled no contest to aggravated assault in January 2008 and was placed on probation for two years, during which time he's prohibited from possessing firearms.

DELTONA -- A group of teenagers accosted a Deltona man at his home Monday, stealing jewelry and guns from the 61-year-old victim, the Volusia Sheriff's Ofice said.

However, the suspects didn’t get far in their getaway. Less than 15 minutes after the robbery was reported, responding deputies had detained a total of seven suspects. Deputies are still sorting out the events, identifying the suspects by name and determining what criminal charges will be filed.

The incident occurred at a home on Whitewood Drive. A neighbor reported the robbery to the Sheriff’s Office at 3:29 p.m.

DELAND -- Reporting non-emergency crimes such as theft and vandalism to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office can now be done from the comfort, convenience and privacy of a computer, agency spokesman Gary Davidson said.

The Sheriff's Office has launched a new service that gives residents the option of filing certain reports
on-line. The service can be used to report harassing phone calls, lost property, theft, vandalism and identity theft as long as there are no
known suspects. Users must be at least 18-years-old to file a report.

DELAND -- The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded Volusia County a $2.4 million grant to improve efficiency and reduce fossil fuel emissions. The grant allocation, announced Friday, was provided by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program, which is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

DELAND -- There is no immediate danger from two wild fires burning in Volusia County -- one in Daytona Beach and the other in DeLand -- though both continue to generate significant smoke, officials said this morning.

Firefighting crews from the Division of Forestry and Volusia County Fire Services, and personnel from Plum Creek Timber Company and the St. Johns River Water Management District, continue to work daily on the fires -- in Tiger Bay State Forest on Indian Lake Road in Daytona Beach, and Woody Tract, (between I-4 and U.S. 92, in DeLand.

DAYTONA BEACH -- A 30-year-old Maryland woman fell eight stories to her death overnight at a beachside hotel, becoming the second balcony-fall fatality in less than a week, Daytona Beach police said.

Heather Crawford of Frostburg, Md., who had rented a room with her boyfriend at the LaPlaya Resort, 2500 N. Atlantic Ave., was either standing or sitting on the railing of the balcony of just before 3 a.m. when she apparently fell to her death, according to police, who said no foul play is suspected.

DELTONA-- A 2-year-old Deltona girl drowned Friday evening in the family backyard pool while her mother was resting in bed and had thought she was with her, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office said.

"The mother was resting in bed while her five other children, ages 8 to 14, were playing and cleaning house," Sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught said. "The mother told
Sheriff's investigators that she had the toddler in bed with her, but the girl apparently got up when the mother had fallen asleep.

Courtesy photo. James Costa, 27, of Orlando (pictured left) is charged with attempted murder in Saturday's shooting of Gerold Drosky, 20, of Oviedo, during Spring Break in Daytona Beach. The victim died Wednesday night and Costa's charges are expected to be upgraded to murder.

DELAND -- A special edition of Volusia Magazine will feature State of the County Address by Volusia County Chair Frank T. Bruno Jr.

In his 5th Annual State of the County Address, County Chair Frank Bruno says that just as citizens have tightened their belts, Volusia County
Government has tightened its belt, too. The challenges have never been greater, as revenues are declining and the demand for services continues to grow. And more and more residents are looking to Volusia County Government for help with health care, housing, and food costs.

Shelley Szafraniec, Volusia County Fire Services

DELAND -- Firefighting crews from the Division of Forestry (DOF) and Volusia County Fire Services continue to work daily on two brush fires - the Indian Lake and Woody Tract fires, says agency spokeswoman Shelley Szafraniec, who added, there is no threat to homes or structures from these fires.