'Tortious interference' by NSB gov't; piling on by News-Journal cripple finances

DAYTONA BEACH -- With the growing popularity of Headline Surfer as a free digital source of online news accessed around the clock throughout Florida and globally for that matter, the 24/7 internet newspaper is going to slowly move away from hyper-local municipal government coverage focused on greater Daytona Beach Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach, in particular, to news of Central Florida.

7th straight year for tourism destination award by Orlando Sentinel

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- For the seventh year in a row, New Smyrna Beach has the distinction of being the "Best Beach" as chosen by the readers of the Orlando Sentinel.

Under the "Best Bets" competition done by the daily metro newspaper annually, New Smyrna's sand and surf is No. 1, hands down.  

So while Daytona Beach may have the distinction of being coined, "The World's Most Famous Beach," New Smyrna Beach clearly has earned the moniker, "Best Beach.

"So while Daytona Beach may have the distinction of being coined, "The World's Most Famous Beach," New Smyrna Beach clearly has earned the moniker, "Best Beach."

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- He was once the kingpin of Flagler: the financial planner, one-time chamber president and owner of the now-defunct weekly Observer newspaper.

That is until Robert Lott landed in bankruptcy court last year, having owed more than half a million bucks to his creditors, including two widows, one of them 82 years old who sued him alleging he defrauded her. So here was Lott, same short-sleeve ratty shirt and worn-out tan pants, taking it upon himself to escort Headline Surfer from the Brannon Center during a fundraiser of the New Smyrna Beach and Edgewater Rotary clubs.

Headline Surfer photos by Henry Frederick / Beer and burgers were the main ingredients of a Jimmy-Buffet-themed fundraiser Saturday by the New Smyrna Beach and Edgewater Rotary clubs.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Skyler Vyse was home from leave with the Coast Guard where he's stationed in Port Arthur, Texas, to visit his parents, his daughter and girlfriend.

And what better opportunity to celebrate the visit with all in one setting than a fundraiser featuring gourmet cheeseburgers and cold beer at the Brannon Center.

Headline Surfer  photo / Nearly five dozen handguns have been taken off the streets of Volusia County in the 2013 Kicks 4 Guns program and that's exciting news to Sheriff Ben Johnson.

DELAND -- One of the handguns had been reported stolen to a local police department in 2011, turned up in an annual turn-in-your-gun program with no questions asked.

A total of 58 guns were voluntarily turned in to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office in Thursday's annual Kicks 4 Guns crime-fighting program,  which encourages citizens to turn in unwanted guns to law enforcement for safe and proper disposal with no questions asked.

Photos for Headline Surfer / The 7,000 square-foot Piggotte Community Center, 504 Big Tree Road in South Daytona, is named for former Mayor Joe Piggotte, shown here.

SOUTH DAYTONA -- Former South Daytona Mayor Joe Piggotte died June 3, 2008, at the Hospice Care Center in Port Orange. He was 81.

Piggotte's passing comes in at No. 487 in Headline Surfer's countdown of the Top 500 stories as part of the 24/ internet newspaper's 5th anniversary.

Photos for Headline Surfer / Stephon Doby, 29,  and Rachel Rose, 27, were arrested Thursday in connection with a prescription pill robbery of an acquaintance and her friend near DeLand.

DELAND -- When Volusia County Sheriff’s deputies responded on Aug. 12 to a disturbance call at the intersection of Cassadaga Road and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Beltway near DeLand, they discovered that several people had been arguing on the side of the road over prescription drugs.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- As has been the norm for five years, Headline Surfer's headlines dominate the online news directories and search engines.