Volusia News Now

VCSO: Daytona jail inmate's death by hanging with bed sheet result of apparent suicide

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- A 29-year-old inmate found hanging in his cell Monday night at the Volusia County Branch Jail, died three days later, the apparent victim of a suicide, a Volusia County Sheriff's official said.

 

DeNiro dogs Daytona in 'Dirty Grandpa'

Robert DeNiro in Dirty Grandpa / Headline Surfer®

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Robert De Niro puts Daytona Beach on the map similar to the fashion of Police Chief Mike Chitwood disparaging one of his patrol cops in front of the TV cameras or Juan Pablo Montoya embarrassing the billionaire France family by barreling into a jet dryer during the Daytona 500 that ignites a huge fireball and even bigger crater in the track.

Hollywood's leading geriatric man known for movies like "Taxi Driver," "The Deer Hunter," "Raging Bull," and "Meet the Fockers" returns to the big screen with "Dirty Grandpa," a comedy, co-starring Zac Efron and Zoey Deutch.

43. Ex-Daytona Chamber exec McKinney withdraws from November runoff in Port Orange municipal race

Top 100 Local Stories of 2014 in Central Florida / Headline Surfer®

Larry McKinney pulls out of Port Orange municipal race / Headline Surfer®

Scott Stiltner / Headline Surfer®Photos for Headline Surfer® /
Scott Stiltner, shown in the inset, automatically won a seat on the Port Orange municipal dais after primary runner-up Larry McKinney, shown here in the larger photo, withdrew from the race.

PORT ORANGE, Fla. -- Larry McKinney, ex-president and CEO of the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce, withdrew from the November 2014 runoff for a seat on the Port Orange City Council, even though he finished second among four candidates in the August primary.

McKinney's surprise exit just three weeks before the runoff allowed primary winner Scott Stiltner to the district 4 seat on the Port Orange City Council.

 

Sea turtle 'Francis' to be freed from Marine Science Center after rehab for partially-amputated flipper off NSB waters

Francis, 6 pound gree sea turtle to be released back into the Atlantic Ocean / Headline Surfer®PONCE INLET, Fla. -- Due to rough surf and weather conditions, the release back into the Atlantic waters won't come until Thursday for a 6-pound green sea turtle rehabbing at the Marine Science Center from a partially amputated flipper.

The release of the turtle, named "Francis" was to be today, but because of the rough surf, the turtle's release has been tentatively rescheduled to 3 p.m. Thursday. Staff expects to release him at 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, at the Beach Street ramp in Ponce Inlet.

Osceola County Sheriff's Office: Kissimmee man victim of drowning in Shingle Creek

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Matthew Gilmore of Kissimmee is a drowning victim / Headline Surfer®Photo for Headline Surfer® /
Matthew Gilmore, shown left, of Kissimmee, FL, drowned on or before Sept. 27 near the Shingle Creek bridge, according to the Osceola County Sheriff's Office. 

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The Medical Examiner's Office has positively identified a body found in Shingle Creek as that of Matthew Gilmore, 39, from Kissimmee, and determined his cause of death as a drowning.

The incident does not appear suspicious, therefore, Osceola County Sheriff's detectives are investigating this as an accidental drowning and are working with the Medical Examiner's Office to determine if drugs or alcohol may have been a factor in his death, according to a press release.

Kissimmee cops team up with Special Olympics Florida Osceola County athletes for family-Friendly game of kickball

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KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Kissimmee Police and Special Olympics Florida announce the first annual Heroes vs. Heroes Kickball Challenge 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today today at the Kissimmee Lakefront Park.

Members of the Kissimmee Police Department will team up with Osceola County Special Olympic athletes for two family friendly kickball games that will be officiated by characters from Medieval Times. The event will also consist of carnival games, raffles, a DJ, bounce house and food trucks. The public is encouraged to attend and cheer on the players while supporting Special Olympics Florida.

VCSO: 15-year-old ex-New Smyrna Beach HS student arrested on charges of threatening mass school shooting

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- A 15-year-old ex-New Smyrna Beach High School student has been arrested on several felony charges after a Volusia County Sheriff’s Office investigation into a bomb threat he made on Twitter revealed plans to commit a mass school shooting, an agency spokesman said.