Port Orange

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(Photo by Henry Frederick)

Even though Port Orange resident Margie Patchett came up short in her bid for the at-large County Council seat won by Joyce Cusack in the Nov. 2 elections, she's returned to her roots as head of Volusia Tax Reform, questioning the council's wisdom and even the legality of the council's Dec. 9 vote to spend $28.8 million for the Leffler Ranch.

Here is a link to VolusiaNews.Net's story on the County Council's vote:

volusianews.net/content/363733-county-council-closes-leffler-ranch-today-cool-288-million-touted-future-water-supply

What follows is a letter Patchett wote to the council dated Dec. 14:

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Photo by Henry Frederick. Video by Multimedia Editor Sera Frederick.

State Rep. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange (Dist. 28), issued a Thanksgiving message for the residents of greater Port Orange through VolusiaNews.net and for greater New Smyrna Beach via NSBNEWS.net.  New Smyrna Beach Mayor Adam Barringer delivered Thanksgiving wishes as well for the citizens of New Smyrna Beach through an exclusive video interview with NSBNEWS.net. Hukill's message is posted below in the story.

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Courtesy photos

Willie Hicks, of DeLand, a 32-year-old convicted drug felon, is jailed on a first-degree murder charge in the throat-slashing death of Danielle Santangelo, 34, of Port Orange, whose body was found late Wednesday in her car in a wooded area near DeLand.

DELAND -- Danielle Santangelo, the murdered Port Orange woman whose body was found Wednesday in a wooded area near DeLand with her throat slashed had gone to see her killer after he apparently answered her personals ad in the Pennysaver, A Volusia County Sheriff's official said tonight.

The accused killer, 32-year-old Willie Hicks of DeLand, a convicted drug felon who has been in and out of prison, is charged with first-degree murder in the 34-year-old woman's slaying.

The investigation so far has revealed that Santangelo had placed an ad in the Pennysaver newspaper advertising herself as a 'girlfriend next door,'" Sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught said. "Hicks responded to the ad a day or two before she was reported missing; however, it's not known exactly what day they first talked on the phone. It's believed they met in person for the first time on Monday."

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DELAND -- The Volusia County Sheriff's Office has made an arrest in the death of missing Port Orange woman Danielle Santangelo. Willie Hicks, 32, of DeLand, a convicted drug felon, was arrested late Wednesday night and charged with first-degree murder.

The 34-year-old woman was reported missing to the Port Orange Police Department Monday. Through their investigation, Port Orange investigators discovered the car Santangelo was last seen with -- a red 2007 Chrysler Sebring -- in a wooded area off of Darchelle Court and Cherry Street just south of DeLand at about 3:50 p.m. Wednesday.

A body of a woman was found inside and was later identified as Santangelo by means of a tattoo and her driver license photo.

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DELAND -- The body of a woman found inside a car just Wednesday afternoon south of DeLand is likely that of a Port Orange woman reported missing two days earlier when she drove off from her home in her mother's car, local authorities said.

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PORT ORANGE -- A 10-year-old boy struck by a pick-up truck while trying to cross Taylor Road for Spruce Creek Elementary School, remained in critical condition overnight at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Port Orange police said.

Douglas Ethan Swayze, a fifth grader, was running in the crosswalk toward the school in the 600 block of Taylor just after 7 a.m. when he was struck by a Chevy pick up driven by 60-year-old Michael Schoenbeck. Indications are the driver was driving within the posted speed of 45 mph and it was still dark outside, Assistant Police Chief Wayne Miller said, based on an initial investigation that is ongoing.

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Joie Alexander 17,465 votes 56.04%

George Trovato 13,701 votes 43.96%

Total votes cast: 31,166

PORT ORANGE -- Joie Alexander was ecstatic with her convincing victory over former Deltona attorney George Trovato for the district 3 seat on the Volusia County in Tuesday's general elections.

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Sharon Luebbers 14,921 votes 49.33%

Stan Schmidt 15,327 votes 50.67%

Totals: 30,248 votes cast

PORT ORANGE -- Volusia County School Board dist. 3 incumbent Stan Schmidt won re-election to a second term in Tuesday's general elections by a narrow margin, crediting New Smyrna Beach upstart Sharon Luebbers with running a strong campaign.

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Video by Multimedia Editor Sera Frederick. NSBNEWS.net endorses the candidacy of Joie Alexander for Volusia County Council district 3 in Tuesday's elections.