Volusia News Now

Courtesy photo / Thick smoke billows from a wild fire off a muddy dirt road in DeLand near Daytona Park Estates subdivision where a dozen homes were briefly evacuated earlier in the week.

DELAND -- With growing concern about the extreme dry conditions, the spate of wild fires and a forecast that calls for less than normal rainfall, Volusia County Fire Chief Joseph Pozzo has been authorized to enact a fireworks ban that begins Monday in the unincorporated areas of Volusia County and the cities of Lake Helen, Oak Hill and Pierson, which are part of the county’s unified fire district.

ORMOND BEACH -- A 36-year-old Daytona Beach man was electrocuted Thursday morning while trimming branches and died a short time later at Florida Hospital Ormond Memorial, police said.

Police and fire rescue personnel responded to a 9-1-1 call at 597 N. Beach St. for the 11:40 a.m. accidental death.

Courtesy photo / NASCAR Sprint Cup driver parachuted to Daytona International Speedway to help promote July's Coke Zero 400 race.

DAYTONA BEACH -- NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Brian Vickers is known to fly around the high banks of Daytona International Speedway in a race car so when he skydived from a plane Wednesday he gave new meaning to flying on the track.

Vickers skydived solo into the legendary infield of the "World Center of Racing" from a jumping height of 5,000 feet.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Henry Frederick transitioned from an award-winning career in print media with numerous journalism-industry awards to digital media in 2008. Here is a listing of his print media awards:

Photos by Henry Frederick / These boats were part of the Memorial Day weekend extravaganza in New Smyrna Beach's Intracoastal Waterway, which drew several thousand people to Riverside Park for the various fishing tournaments under the umbrella known as FishStock 2011. NSBNews.net was there for the local coverage.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Many fishing enthusiasts went home happy Sunday afternoon at the conclusion of the gigantic FishStock 2011 at Riverside Park.

DAYTONA BEACH -- The number of people killed on the roadways of Volusia County stands at two with the most recent a 56-year-old Port Orange motorcyclist in a crash near Daytona Beach on Sunday afternoon, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

William Lee Hughes was riding his 18981 BMW motorcycle northbound on north on Tomoka Farms Road when he was struck by motorist Lakecia Harris in a 2007 Chevrolet, who ran a red light at the intersection while heading west on International Speedway Boulevard, troopers said. Hughes was thrown from his bike and pronounced dead at the scene of the 3:34 p.m. accident.

NSBNews.net videos shot by Henry Frederick and produced by multimedia editor Sera Frederick / Here are two in a series of videos from Memorial Day 2011 at Riverside Park in New Smyrna Beach.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Hundreds paid tribute to the war dead on this Memorial Day holiday at Riverside Park with patriotic speeches, the sound of bagpipes and the playing of "Taps."

DELEON SPRINGS -- A 25-year-old Pierson man died Saturday night after leaping from a moving car in DeLeon Springs, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office reported.

Jose Perez was in the front passenger seat of the car while his girlfriend was driving. Perez wanted to drive, but the woman refused to let him because he was drunk, Sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught said. As the argument escalated, Perez suddenly opened his door and jumped out, the spokesman added.