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Casey Anthony from a teen's point of view: 'Personally, I trusted the jury's decision'

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Cheyenne DrewsBy Cheyenne Drews of Edgewater
NSBNews.net community blogger

The case of the most analyzed woman and her whole family has made it across the world and it occurred in our state! You can check all the way in Ireland and Casey Anthony is big news! Everyone has been watching. I have personally watched it very closely as much as possible each day and even three or so years ago when they were still searching for a living, missing girl: little Caylee Anthony.

Volusia County Fire Services to lift fireworks and outdoor burning bans Saturday in Lake Helen, Oak Hill, Pierson and other unincorporated areas

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Courtesy photos / A large mid-June fire shown here in the Maytown Road area between Oak Hill and Osteen was among dozens of wild fires plaguing rural Volusia County, have finally been quelled by several weeks of steady rain leading to county officials announcing Wednesday that bans in place on fireworks use and outdoor burning would be lifted by this weekend. 

DELAND -- Volusia County Fire Services will lift the outdoor and fireworks bans for the county’s unincorporated areas as well as the cities of Lake Helen, Pierson and Oak Hill at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.

The burn ban had been issued March 3, and the fireworks ban took effect June 6.

“The environmental conditions have improved because of the recent rain storms,” Volusia County Fire Services Chief Joseph Pozzo said earlier today, referring to the 12-plus inches of rainfall in the last few weeks. “But there is still a lot of dry vegetation throughout the county, so we ask residents to continue practicing wildfire safety.”

Pozzo notes that residents should not discard cigarettes from moving vehicles or park a hot car or operate all-terrain vehicles on dry grass. Outdoor fires and grills should be attended constantly and extinguished completely, and lawn mowers and farm equipment should be checked to make sure they have properly working spark arresters.

Fired Oak Hill cop sues city

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OAK HILL -- It didn't take former cop Michael Ihnken long to fire back at embattled Police Chief Diane Young for his dragged out suspension and ultimately his dismissal from the force. Ihnken has filed a wrongful termination lawsuit in circuit court against the city of Oak Hill.

The suit was filed on his behalf by attorney William MacQueen and received by the clerk of the court this afternoon. Paperwork on it wasn't immediately available because it hadn't yet been scanned, a court official said.

Lawsuits filed in circuit court seek a minimum of $15,000. Ihnken was fired March 28, barely six weeks after his status was changed from paid to unpaid administrative leave at the rquest of Police Chief Diane Young.

The chief had accused him of failing to keep his firearms training certification up to date.

Special breakfast to celebrate Deltona Seniors

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DELTONA -- A special breakfast to celebrate Deltona Seniors will be held 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 23 at the Deltona Community Center, 980 Lakeshore Drive.

The Senior Citizen Celebration Breakfast, sponsored by Deltona Parks & Recreation, is only $2.50 per person and includes eggs, pancakes, sausage, juice and coffee.

Redistricting: Why you should care

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As you may have heard or read, after the U.S. Census Bureau announces new the population figures, district boundaries must be adjusted. According to the Volusia County web site, the 2010 Census results, received in March, indicate the county has 494,593 residents, which calls for about 99,000 people in each district. This will require substantial shifts in most of the districts.

Oak Hill cops: No sergeants left

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Oak Hill Police Chief Diane YoungOAK HILL -- There are no working sergeants left under the command of embattled Police Chief Diane Young, the latest abruptly resigning over the weekend citing work-related stress from the "constant scandals and rumors" in the department.

The first to go was Sgt. Mike Ihnken, first demoted and then fired outright in March. Two days later, Sgt. Manuel Perez was suspended with pay. The third to go was Sgt. Brian Riley who resigned Saturday.

His departure means Oak Hill has no sergeants and only Young as a supervisor. Between suspensions, and the recent resignation of a new officer as well as a third cop unable to work due to injury, Oak Hill has only three able-bodied cops and Young available to patrol the city 24/7.

NSBNews.net was denied Riley's letter of resignation by Chief Young and City Clerk/Administrator Laura Goodearly with stone-walling throughout the day Monday, which continued well into the 6 p.m. City Commission meeting.

Apocalypse transmissions (pt. 3): 'Ride, White Horseman!'

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I just read about a supposed ancient Chinese curse that goes like this, "May you live in interesting times." Well, dear readers, I can't say that these are the "end times" with any certainty, but they are definitely interesting by any definition.

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