New Smyrna Beach

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- A 42-year-old  man was arrested on drug charges Friday after he was stopped in the 300 block of the North Causeway and a meth lab was found in the back seat of his vehicle, New Smyrna Beach cops said.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Two key shopping centers are getting new tenants.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Just how many people were without power or for how long resulting from Saturday night's thunderstorm is anybody's guess because media inquiries went unanswered.

As Headline Surfer reported exclusively, lightning from a fast-moving thunderstorm rolling through the city, struck a substation transmission line and knocked out power for customers in parts of the city.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Bethune-Cookman University will open its 2012 football training camp Thursday at the New Smyrna Beach Sports Complex while enhancements to its on-campus facilities in Daytona Beach near completion.

Inclement weather delayed renovations, including a re-sodding of the practice field, in addition to a new practice track, pole vault and jump pits for the track and field program. When it became apparent that on-campus facilities would be not be available, the B-CU administration employed its contingency plan.

"We've exercised the option of relocating the first two weeks of practice," said Lynn W. Thompson B-CU's director of athletics. "We're honored that the City of New Smyrna Beach has welcomed our program and has extended its facilities to us."

Headline Surfer photo by Henry Frederick / Daytona Beach News-Journal Editor Pat Rice, as shown here in a July 24 debate in New Smyrna Beach, will moderate his newspaper's final primary season debate tonight in Flagler County.

DAYTONA BEACH -- The Daytona Beach News-Journal will hold the final of its four public candidate debates tonight in Palm Coast at Daytona State College's Flagler/Palm Coast campus, Alan Smolen Amphitheater, 3000 Palm Coast Parkway Southeast.

The newspaper's debate session begins at 5:30 p.m. with a public-candidate meet and greet, followed by a debate for Flagler County sheriff between incumbent Don Fleming and fellow Republicans John Pollinger and Ray Stevens and Democrats Karl Tozzi and Jim Manfre, former sheriff.

The series of media debates are a lead-in to early voting that begins Aug. 4-8, followed by the Aug. 14 primary. The News-Journal has promoted its "partnerships" with Daytona State College in three of the debates and Stetson University in DeLand for the fourth, featuring the candidates for Volusia county chair.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Researchers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have received reports of more than 150 dead or distressed greater shearwaters, gull-like birds, along Florida’s east coast in Brevard, Indian River, St. Johns and Volusia counties this week.

Carol Jean Pace, the Holly Hill woman reported missing since April 18, was found safe Wednesday at a church in New Smyrna Beach that feeds the needy, police said.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A 48-year-old woman considered endangered The Holly Hill Police Department reports that Carol Jean Pace, who was reported missing seven days earlier was spotted Wednesday during the serving of a hot meals program for the needy at the First United Methodist Church Hot Meals Program here in New Smyrna Beach.

"The church reports that they recognized Ms. Pace from media reports and contacted the Holly Hill Police Department," Holly Hill Police Chief Mark Barker said in a press release to Central Florida media outlets, including Headline Surfer, the New Smyrna Beach-based 24/7 Internet newspaper.

New Smyrna Beach police officers assisted in contacting Pace and confirmed that she was safe.

"Ms. Pace indicated to officers that she was not happy with her living situation and simply left on April 13th," Barker said.

Headline Surfer videos and photos by Sera Frederick / 

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The inevitable happened Sunday: Kmart closed its doors for good with customers scrambling at the last-minute with some priced-goods slashed 90 percent.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A 59-year-old Deltona motorcyclist was killed Saturday night when he was struck by a motorist in a Ford Bronco that made a left turn from southbound Tomoka Farms Road onto Ludlow Boulevard in Samsula, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Earnest Alan Smith, who was wering a helmet on his 2007 Honda while riding north on Tomoka Farms Road, was ejected from his motorcycle in the collision in the collision and pronounced dead at the scene of the 9:40 p.m. crash.

Chadwick Dean Vogt, 40, of Port Orange, the driver of the 1990 Ford Bronco, was not injured. He was not wearing a seatbelt.