Declines comment on opponent Steve Sather and his no contest cocaine plea

OAK HILL -- Jake Sachs believes the merits of his own candidacy for New Smyrna Beach City Commission seat far outweigh the need discuss his opponent's criminal drug past.

DAYTONA BEACH SHORES -- The City Council will meet 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 22 at 2990 S. Atlantic Ave.

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DAYTONA BEACH SHORES -- The motorist that cops believe was intoxicated when he struck and killed a North Carolina tourist as she was walking on the beach in Daytona Beach Shores has bonded out of jail.

Elizabeth Braly, 45, was with her 21-year-old son and his wife walking on the beach around 9:30 p.m. June 24, a Tuesday, when she was struck by a vehicle driven by Shawn Doolan.

HOLLY HILL -- A woman rescue from a retention pond where she was seen floating and apparently unconscious was rescued by bystanders Tuesday, but she died a half hour after she was transported by ambulance to Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center.

ORMOND BEACH -- The Children’s Musical Theatre Workshop conducts a three-week-long Musical Theatre Camp program annually in July at the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center. The camp is for children from Kindergarten age through High School. The camp experience includes instruction in voice, dance, acting, and stagecraft.

This year, the camp program will culminate in the entire camp presenting a public performance of “The Music Man, Jr.” at the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center at 7p.m. Thursday, July 24. The long running and beloved Broadway musical features such songs as “(Ya Got) Trouble,” “Seventy Six Trombones, and “Goodnight Ladies.”

ORMOND BEACH -- There is a "Worship at the Beach" in front of Andy Romano Park at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 26. The park is located at 839 S Atlantic Ave.

There will be fellowship and grilled food.

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HOLLY HILL -- The City Commission voted unanimously to spend $27,000 to buy three new police vehicles to replace those aging in its fleet.

The funding comes from the city's reserves and was approved at the June 24 meeting of the commission. 

ORMOND BEACH -- Adults can try their hand at drawing during four free art classes at the Ormond Beach Regional Library, 30 S. Beach St.Local artist Betty Travis will lead the classes from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on these Saturdays: Aug. 9: Introduction to drawing; Aug. 16: Drawing trees; Aug. 23: Drawing rocks & mountains; Aug. 30: Drawing flowers.

Grade: F

DAYTONA BEACH -- Tony Ledbetter has proven himself to be an abysmal failure since taking the reigns of the Republican Party of Volusia County from Stan Escudero following the 2012 elections.

Ledbetter's also proven himself to be divisive, polarizing and downright mean-spirited and even bigoted. He's alienated members of the media, the voting public and even people in his own party.

His alienation of Republicans running in primaries in this election cycle include District 3 School Board incumbent Stan Schmidt, District 5 County Council candidate Fred Lowry and District 3 candidate David Machuga. He did this by orchestrating  a vote of the executive committee in supporting their party rivals, which is proof of his utter idiocy.

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WINTER GARDEN -- Orange County Sheriff's deputies are investigating what may have caused the death of a 9-month-old baby found unresponsive Saturday when they responded to a 9-1-1 call at the Lake Tiki Village resort six miles away from Walt Disney World.

The unidentified child died shortly after transport to a local hospital after deputies responded to to emergency call at 9:10 a.m. at the resort spread across 64 acres on US 192 -- a 10-minute commute from Disney.  It's a family setting with paddle boats, barbecue grills, tennis courts, and a playground. And the victim's family was visiting here from Louisiana when the incident occurred.