Volusia News Now

Gross: Florida Congressman captured on C-Span eating own earwax

Newspaper Section

Party Lines Political Notebook / HeadlineSurfer.com

Video of Democrat's nasty snacking goes viral on YouTube

Congressman Joe Garcia / HeadlineSurfer.comWASHINGTON DC -- You'd better get the wax out of your ear and listen up.

That's apparently what Congressman Joe Garcia, the freshman Democrat from Florida's 28th District was doing when he was captured on a C-Span broadcast last week: Eating his own ear wax, that is.

New assistant office manager in place at Palm Coast Chiropractic Center

City

Kelli Mason, new asst manager Palm Coast Chiropractic / Headline Surfer®PALM COAST -- Kelli Mason is the new assistant office manager at Palm Coast Chiropractic Center.

Mason began employment last month and has been in the customer service industry for 20 years. Her duties include checking in patients, answering the phone, scheduling appointments, verifying insurance, and more.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY: Meet Sally Crank of New Smyrna Beach, epitome of motherhood

Newspaper Section

Jamison Liam Baltzegar, born on March 7, is the third child of Sally Crank of New Smyrna Beach, the featured mom for this Mother's Day on HeadlineSurfer.com.
 

Sally Crank nd baby Jamison, Mother's Day story / Headline Surfer®NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Sally Crank gave birth to her third child, Jamison Liam,  on March 7, the newest of three boys. So one can just imagine the demands on her life as mother, spouse and holding down two part-time jobs. But she's not one to complain.

On the contrary, Crank says she loves being a mother and a nurturer. Her diverse responsibilities make her the epitome of the 21st-century mom on this Mother's Day.

Orange County man accused of gunning down girlfriend in cold blood in front of 2 kids ordered jailed without bond

John DeJesus, 27, charged with 1st-degree murder / Headline Surfer®Yoliz Marie Borrero was gunned down by her baby girl's father, according to Orange County deputies / Headline Surfer®Photos for Headline Surfer® / John DeJesus, 27, a reputed member of the Latin Kings gang, a drug dealer and sex offender, shown at left, now stands accused of first-degree murder in the April 30 shooting death of 22-year-old Yoliz Marie Borrero, shown in the inset.
 

ORLANDO -- Orange County Sheriff's investigators this morning arrested the man they said shot and killed his live-in girlfriend in cold blood right in front of her two small children earlier this month -- the youngest he is the father to.

John DeJesus, 28, was presented before a judge just before noon where he was ordered remanded to the Orange County Jail on a no-bond status, pending a formal arraignment to answer to the charge of first-degree murder.

SEV Historical Society annual picnic on May 15 in New Smyrna Beach

Newspaper Section

New Smyrna Museum / Headline Surfer®NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The Southeast Volusia Historical Society annual picnic and Board of Directors installation will take place 5 p.m. Thursday, May 15, at the New Smyrna Boat and Ski Club located on the North Causeway. Members are asked to bring a covered dish.

Daytona Beach Fire Dept. PIO not complying with Florida public records law

Newspaper Section

DAYTONA BEACH -- The public information officer for the Daytona Beach Fire Department is not complying with Florida public records law when in denying Headline Surfer® information requested involving an injured worker at Daytona International Speedway.

Daytona Beach public works offering sand bags for residents with heavy rains expected

National Weather Service forecast for Daytona Beach, FL / Headline Surfer®

DAYTONA BEACH -- Due to periods of heavy rain expected throughout the remainder of the week, the city is offering sandbags at its Public Works facility, 950 Bellevue Avenue in Daytona Beach, the city's public information officer said.

"Materials are available now until further notice," Daytona Beach PIO Susan Cerbone told Headline Surfer® this afternoon. "City crews are currently on hand to assist residents throughout the day."

Sunshine State lacks provisions safeguarding pregnant women from discrimination

Newspaper Section

'All that needs to be done is for the House to take up the Senate bill out of Messages, vote on it and send it to the Governor!'

Mario Valle, Florida Commission on Human Relations / Headline Surfer®By MARIO VALLE
Chair, Florida Commission on Human Relations
Written as an op ed submission for publication in Headline Surfer® 
 

TALLAHASSEE -- The State of Florida through chapter 760 of the Florida Statutes provides vital protection against discrimination for individuals on the basis of several categories, including sex, color, and religion.

One category of individuals noticeably missing from such beneficial protection is pregnant women. Federal law has afforded them protection since 1978.

Over the last decade, there have been multiple attempts to amend Florida law to include pregnant women as a protected class; however to date, including this current legislative session, all such attempts have failed. The main issue preventing the amending of the statute is the apparent ambiguity within Florida's Civil Rights Act.

Sotolongo and Musselwhite found guilty in Volusia County mortgage fraud trial; Garrett acquitted

Ramara Garrwtt and James Sotolongo / Headline Surfer®Photo for Headline Surfer® / Ramara Garrett and James Sotolongo, of greater Daytona Beach couple who have a baby girl in addition to five older children from their previous respective relationships, may have but a few precious months together before Sotolongo is sentenced to what could be a prison sentence of at least five years, and possibly twice that and maybe more  later this summer in the wake of his guilty verdict and her acquittal in US District Court.  
 

ORLANDO -- A jury found James Fidel Sotolongo and Stephanie Musselwhite guilty on multiple counts of conspiring to defraud four lending institutions close to $13 million in seven upscale home mortgages in greater Daytona Beach, but Ramara Garrett, the former realtor, was acquitted outright in highly emotional verdicts earlier Monday on the second day of deliberations.