DeLand

'Handwriting was on the wall' for School Superintendent Margaret Smith with today's expected retirement

DELAND, Fla. -- The way School Board member Melody McSorley Johnson sees it, colleague John Hill's public demand for the firing of the superintendent of schools before speaking to her privately, may not have been in good taste, but she was quick to add "the handwriting was on the wall" regarding Margaret Smith's decision to retire as soon as today.

Waverly Media audio recordings in care of Volusia County Council-hired investigator Jon Kaney 'no longer exist'

Jon Kaney / Headline Surfer®DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The audio recordings created by court reporters to supplement written transcripts in the Waverly Media sworn interviews of two dozen witnesses and under the custody and care of County Council-hired investigator Jonathan Kaney, Jr. have been discarded.

This, despite the fact, that under Florida Public Records Law, these audio recordings, once created are public records and must be retained by government responsible for them.

Headline Surfer® learned of this unprecedented development in a public records request for 25 audio recorded interviews in an email reply from County Attorney Daniel Eckert.

Musical Chairs: Newly-elected and retiring judges requires shifting of assignments in 7th judicial circuit

Daytrona Beach-based Circuit Judge R. Michael Hutcheson retiring / Headline Surfer®Daytona Beach-based Circuit Judge Shawn Briese retiring at year's end / Headline Surfer®DeLand-based Circuit Judge Robert K. Rouse, Jr. retiring / Headline Surfer®Circuit Judge Terry LaRue retiring sty year's end from the 7th Judicial Circuit / Headline Surfer®Photos for Headline Surfer® /
Circuit Judges R. Michael Hutcheson, Shawn L. Briese, Robert K. Rouse, Jr., and Terry LaRue are retiring at year's end.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - With seven new judges -- six elected and one appointed -- along with several retirements at year's end, the 7th Judicial Circuit, which comprises Volusia, Flagler, Putnam and St. Johns counties, will see judges in new assignments in January like a game of musical chairs except where they land has been determined by the chief judge.

Circuit Judges R. Michael Hutcheson, Shawn L. Briese, Robert K. Rouse Jr., and Terry LaRue are retiring at year's end. Circuit Judge Thomas Portuallo and Volusia County Court Judge Peter McGlashan are leaving as the result of this year's election.

Volusia County Chief Deputy Mike Coffin's youth mentoring unparalleled in law enforcement

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Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson with Deputy Sheriff Mike Coffin / Headline Surfer®Futures Foundation for Volusia County Schools honors Deputy Sheriff Mike Coffin for mentoring kids / Headline Surfer®Photos for Headline Surfer® /
Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson is shown here to the left of Deputy Sheriff Mike Coffin, recognized as a mentor to DeLand High School students.

DELAND, Fla. -- Deputy Sheriff Mike Coffin has a grown daughter and two grandchildren among his offspring, but because they live out of state, he has devoted much of his personal time mentoring young people despite his many demands as second in command of the largest cop shop in Volusia County with 460-plus sworn personnel.

Citizen watchdog Morton Culligan calls out Pat Northey for attack mailer on Joyce Cusack

Party Lines political Notebook / Headline Surfer®
Citizen watchdog Morton Culligan / Headline Surfer®Joyce Cusack / Headline Surfer®Pat Northey / Headline Surfer®Editor's Note: Morton Culligan of DeBary, a citizen watchdog (shown here at far left), who often appears at Volusia County Council meetings, and an attendee at a HeadlineSurfer.com public candidate debate for the at-large County Council seat at the Oak Hill City Hall back in June for which candidate Pat Northey (shown here far right) was a no-show, wrote the following after Thursday'sCounty Council meeting and sent it to local media outlets. Culligan was reacting to Councilman Joshua Wagner's criticism of Northey for the mailer on County Council at-large incumbent Joyce Cusack (shown here in the middle). Culligan's reference to 'Fast Freddy' is Fred Lowry, candidate for the district 5 seat Northey now holds, but is term-limited in, which is why she's challenging Cusack. Lowry is battling fellow candidate Rich Gailey of DeBary, who won the August primary:

DELAND, Fla. -- Whats next? Big Spat at Volusia Council meeting. Pat Northey slips back into the gutter -- again.

At-large Councilwoman Joyce Cusack: Nemesis Pat Northey needs to clean own doorstep before trying to sweep her's

The Sunday Conversation: At-large County Councilwoman Joyce Cusack / Headline Surfer®

Incumbent has never lost an election & plans to keep that streak intact Nov. 4

Volusia County Councilwoman Joyce Cusack / Headline Surfer®DAYTONA BEACH -- At-large Councilwoman Joyce Cusack knew the so-called Waverly investigation was a farce -- a certifiable "witchhunt" -- from the onset pushed by the likes of her opponent, district 5 term-limited Councilwoman Patricia Northey.

At-Large County Council recount over: Pat Northey moves on to face incumbent Joyce Cusack in November

Campaign over for Deltona City commissioner Webster Barnaby

DAYTONA BEACH -- The recount for the at-large county council primary between Webster Barnaby and Pat Northey is over. And now so is the campaign of Barnaby as Northey moves on to a November showdown with incumbent Joyce Cusack.