NSBNEWS.net: Volusia County / State

DELAND -- Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas, D-Ne Smyrna Beach, along with Volusia County Council members and representatives from Votran, announced Friday an $8.4 million investment for Votran from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Votran will use the funds from the tax relief and recovery package to purchase new hybrid buses, increase accessibility for passengers, and convert their facilities into green buildings.

ORANGE CITY -- Fed up with kids skateboarding in his West Highlands neighborhood, 45-year-old Lewis Smith decided to take matters into his own hands, deputies said On
Sunday night, Lewis set the kids' skateboard ramp on fire in the middle of 17th Street and Central Avenue just west of Orange City, according to a Volusia County ASheriff's report.

DAYTONA BEACH -- A 16-year-old Minnesota boy visiting Daytona Beach with with his fell to his death from a 24th-floor balcony of the Ocean Walk Resort this morning, Daytona Beach police said.

Barret Forst Ugland was pronounced dead at the scene of the 7 a.m. incident, police said.

Although Spring Break is a part of Daytona's weekend, police said alcohol did not appear to be a factor in the boy's death. The incident is under investigation.

DELAND -- FIirefighting crews continued to work to contain the Woody Tract fire near Interstate 4 in DeLand Saturday, while another fire began in Tiger Bay State Forest off Indian Lake Road in Daytona Beach around 5 p.m., said Shelley Szafraniec, spokeswoman for Volusia County Fire Services.

The Indian Lake Fire is west of Indian Lake Road, north of State Road 92.The fire was moving southwest in the state forest and was 85 acres as of 8 p.m.

PONCE INLET -- A boater came to the rescue of two fishermen whose boat capsized Saturday while they were trying to pull up the anchor, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

While the anchor was being hoisted two large waves capzied the 14-foot boat. The boater who wintneesed the situation called the Coast Guard, but seeing the dire situation, took it upon himself to rescue the fisherman.

The rescued fisherman, who were uninjured, were thn given a lift to the Coast Guard station. Names of the three were not immediately available.

ORMOND BEACH -- A 24-year-old man was arrested Friday morning after Volusia County Sheriff's investigators identified him as one of the suspects who stole a customized Cadillac Escalade worth $150,000 at gunpoint March 11 from a residence near Ormond Beach.

"The distinctive truck was easily spotted by law enforcement officers moments after the initial robbery near Ormond Beach, and just a few miles later
the driver smashed the truck into a tree and then fled on foot," Sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson said.

DAYTONA BEACH -- A 19-year-old Oviedo man was fighting for his life today at Halifax Medical Center after being shot several times in a hallway at the Ocean Sands Hotel, according to Daytona Beach police.

The unidentified man was shot in the head, groin and hand in the 4 a,n, incident on the eighth floor of the hotel, 1024 North Atlantic Ave.

Dear Friends,

This week we have been celebrating Sunshine Week – recognizing Florida’s open government laws. We serve the people of Florida with openness and transparency every day. However, every year during this week, we strive to find new ways to make state and local government more accessible to the public. To achieve this goal, today we launched a new
Web site, www.FlaRecovery.com.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Black College Reunion is expected to bring heavy traffic in the Daytona Beach area and Votran riders could experience delays, interruptions and route deviations beginning today and continuing through Sunday night, Volusia officials said.

The routes that could be affected by BCR are 1 A/B, 8, 10, 17 A/B, Trolley, Night Service and Sunday Service.

DAYTONA BEACH -- A service is planned 11 a.m. Friday for the Rev. Hal Marchman, a founder of the Stewart-Marchman Center and longtime chaplain for the Daytona International Speedway.

The 89-year-old Marchman died Sunday at Indigo Palms, an assisted living center.

The memorial service at Central Baptist Church, 142 Fairview Ave., will celebrate Marchman's achievements.

He was pastor of the church from 1959 until he retired in 1987. He also co-founded the Stewart-Marchman Center, a substance-abuse treatment agency, now
called Stewart-Marchman-Act Behavioral Healthcare.