NSBNEWS.net: Volusia County / State

Dear Friend,

As we spend this Christmas season with our loved ones, we can celebrate the wonders of life, as seen in the miraculous birth of our Lord. This is a time when we enjoy the blessings of friends and family as we look back upon the previous year and prepare for the year ahead.

This season, I urge you to remember the brave service men and women, including those in the Florida National Guard, who are fighting overseas that we may continue to enjoy our freedoms. As they fight so nobly to bring peace and liberty to other parts of the world, we pray for their safe return.

DEBARY -- The Volusia County Sheriff's Office's Major Case Unit has launched a homicide investigation to determine who killed a 36-year-old DeBary woman on Christmas Eve.

The victim has been identified as Christina Barber. Her body was found inside her home on Wednesday afternoon after deputies were dispatched there to check on her well-being.

"While the cause of death is not being released at this time for investigative reasons, the Sheriff's Office is working the case as a homicide based on evidence at the scene

DELAND -- Votran service will close two hours early Christmas Eve, Wednesday, Dec. 24, said Michelle Coats, Volusia County spokeswoman.

Votran will not operate bus service Christmas Day, Thursday, Dec. 25, and New Year’s Day, Thursday, Jan. 1, in the Greater Daytona Beach Area, Southeast and West Volusia County areas. Orlando Express and Connector routes also will not operate, she said.

For further information, please call (386) 761-7700 in Daytona Beach, (386) 943-7033 in West Volusia or (386) 424-6800 in Southeast Volusia.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Two brothers have been charged in connection with the fatal shooting Friday of a man in the back on Whitney Street, Daytona Beach police reported.

Channing Kendrick Black, 21, is charged with second-degree murder, and hois older brother, Matthew Howard Black, 40, both of Lockhart Street, was charged as a principle to second-degree murder, police said.

DELTONA -- A 33-year-old man died in a single-vehicle crash early this morning in Deltona, Volusia County Sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson reported.

David Owens of Deltona was killed after he lost control of his 2008 Toyota pickup truck at about 2 a.m. while traveling west on Elkcam Boulevard near its intersection with Stacey Circle.

DAYTONA BEACH -- The Robert Strickland Shooting Range, 1180 Indian Lake Road, will be closed for routine maintenance and repairs from Monday, Jan. 5, through Friday, Jan. 9.

The Daytona Beach facility will reopen at 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, said Pat Kuehn, Volusia County spokeswoman.

The regular operating hours of Robert Strickland Shooting Range are 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

Fees are $5 daily. Annual and semi-annual fee structures also are available.

DELAND -- Volusia County’s Community Assistance Division has grant funds for programs in Volusia County that serve children and the community, says Pat Kuehn, county spokeswoman.

Four categories of service are eligible for funding:

# Essential services that provide for basic needs including food, clothing and emergency shelter;
# Critical services that provide services for crisis support such as maintaining or obtaining employment (including child care support), crisis medical care and crisis mental health services;

DELAND -- Fares for Votran's I-4 Express service, route 200, will go to $3.50, effective Jan. 12, said Michelle Coats, Volusia County spokeswoman.

With the fare increase, Votran is offering for the first time a monthly pass option for $80 Votran operates the I-4 express service, route 200, in partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation and LYNX, the transit system that serves Central Florida. The Volusia County Council approved the increase at its meeting Dec. 18. The fare for the I-4 Express Bus hasn’t increased since it began 10 years ago.

DAYTONA BEACH -- The “World Famous” Lipizzaner Stallions will take center stage at the Ocean Center for shows at 2 and 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28.

The dancing white horses will demonstrate the movements of classical dressage, including the leaps and maneuvers known as the "airs above the ground," said Pat Kuehn, a Volusia County spokeswoman.

The stallions are making their 39th anniversary tour with new music, choreography and routines. The shows will include a presentation set to big band music and feature Spanish Andalusians, predecessors of the Lipizzans.

DELTONA -- An armed home invasion in Deltona resulted in several shots being fired early Sunday morning and several arrests being made, Volusia Sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught reported.

Sheriff’s deputies found the suspect vehicle in a matter of minutes, wrecked the vehicle about six miles south of the robbery scene. Shortly thereafter deputies arrested three suspects charging them with the home invasion.

Taken into custody were: