2016 ReWIND: Top 100 Stories for greater Daytona, Sanford & Orlando (41-50)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Headline Surfer is counting down the Top 100 stories of 2016 in the greater Daytona Beach, Sanford and Orlando metro area otherwise known as the I-4 corridor of Central Florida through Volusia, Seminole and Orange counties. 

Among the top 5 contenders for the No. 1 story of the year in no particular order: The Pulse gay nightclub terrorist massacre; the ugliness of the presidential election between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton; the continuing saga over homelessness in Daytona Beach; records tied or broken in NASCAR races at Daytona International Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway; and no relief from escalating violent crime, especially in Daytona and Orlando.

Here are the stories ranked 41-50:

41. Juan Pablo Montoya wins Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg; 2nd year in a row he's taken checkered flag in opener

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The 50th anniversary celebration season for Team Penske got off to a fast  start as Juan Pablo Montoya controlled the closing laps of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg to win the Verizon IndyCar Series season opener for the second straight year.

Close to 150,000 fans of open-wheel racing lined St. Pete road course. 

Driving the No. 2 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, Montoya led teammate Simon Pagenaud across the finish line by 2.3306 seconds, with Andretti Autosport’s Ryan Hunter-Reay placing third and Team Penske’s Helio Castroneves fourth on the 1.8-mile temporary street course. Pagenaud would go on to win the 2016 IRL championship. Montoya’s 15th career Indy car win, by a margin of 2.3306 seconds, ties him with Alex Zanardi for 31st on the career chart. It is also the 179th victory for Team Penske in Indy car racing, the most of any team in history, and eighth for Roger Penske’s outfit in the 13-race St. Petersburg history.

“It was good, said Montoya, two-time Indy 500 winner and for NASCAR driver, who lost the 2015 series championship on a race wins tiebreaker to Scott Dixon.

Bonus for IRL Fans: Rookie Alexander Rossi wins the 2016 Indy 500 

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Alexander Rossi was running on an empty fuel tank in his No. 98 NAPA Auto Parts/Curb Honda, but managed to coast the final quarter-lap to win the history-making 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500.

The 25-year-old Auburn, Calif., native – who drove five races in Formula One last year before jumping back to American soil to compete in the Verizon IndyCar Series for 2016 – becomes the first rookie to win the Indy 500 since Helio Castroneves in 2001. Rossi’s car started sputtering shortly after he took the white flag for the final lap in the open wheel race held in

The 25-year-old Auburn, California, native – who drove five races in Formula One last year before jumping back to American soil to compete in the Verizon IndyCar Series for 2016 – becomes the first rookie to win the Indy 500 since Helio Castroneves in 2001. Rossi’s car started sputtering shortly after he took the white flag for the final lap. By the time he exited Turn 4 and headed to the finish line, he was coasting. How slow? Rossi’s final lap speed was just 179.784 mph. But he had built such a huge lead that he still managed to cross the start-finish line with a 4.4975-second margin of victory. By comparison, the last-lap speed of runner-up and teammate Carlos Munoz was 218.789 mph.

42. Volusia County high school graduation rates have improved, but still lower than those in neighboring Seminole & Orange counties

DELAND, Fla. — The Florida Department of Education released the 2015-16 high school graduation rates in December,  showing Volusia County's rate climbed to 76 percent, but still lower than neighboring county school districts such as Seminole with 80.3 percent, Flagler with 80.4 percent, Orange at 81.3 percent and Brevard at 87.4 percent.

Of course, numbers can be spun to make the metrics look good, which is what Volusia County did in pointing out the district had an increase of 15 percent over the last five years and a 4.4 percent increase over last year. 

"Volusia’s rate is the highest increase of surrounding counties and exceeds the state increase," Volusia County School district spokeswoman Nancy Wait Wait said, adding, "Two high schools had double digit gains: Atlantic High with a 14.3 percent increase and Taylor Middle-High with a 10.3 percent increase."

But the bottom line is Volusia County still lags behind its neighboring school districts in terms of overall graduation percentages.

Of course, numbers can be spun to make the metrics look good, which is what Volusia Countyhas dome in pointing out the district had an increase of 15 percent over the last five years and a 4.4 percent increase over last year. 

"Volusia’s rate is the highest increase of surrounding counties and exceeds the state increase," Volusia County School district spokeswoman Nancy Wait said, adding, "Two high schools had double digit gains: Atlantic High with a 14.3 percent increase and Taylor Middle-High with a 10.3 percent increase."

But the bottom line is Volusia County still lags behind its neighboring school districts in terms of overall graduation percentages.

Wait continued, "Because Superintendent Tom Russell identified graduation assurance as a high priority for Volusia County Schools, several programs were put in place to raise graduation rates, including an early warning system to identify students needing additional assistance and placing AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) in every high school." 

Wait said as a result, Volusia County made huge gains with subgroup populations:

• At-risk students - 11.5% increase;
• African American students - 8.7% increase;
• Hispanic students - 7.5% increase;
• Exceptional education students - 14.1% increase;

“I am very proud of our students, teachers and administrators for their achievements,” Volusia Schools Superintendent Tom Russell said in a statement released by Wait. “We are excited to see the increases this year which are the result of our focus on graduation assurance.”

43. Blue Origin president implores 500-plus Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Univ. Daytona campus grads to 'take that first step, ferociously'

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Rob Meyerson, president of Blue Origin, a pioneer in 21st-century space flight and exploration, cited his company's motto in Latin and then English for the 500-plus graduates of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's 500-plus fall semester graduates: “Gradatim Ferociter” or “step-by-step, ferociously.”

Meyerson's commencement message to Embry-Riddle's 506 bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. graduates at the Daytona Beach Campus in December's fall graduation was clear, concise and to the point in counseling graduates to find an environment where failure is a way to learn from mistakes, where one can practice humility and transparency.

And above all, Meyerson challenged the graduates to “take that first step, ferociously.” 

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University celebrated the culmination of its 90th anniversary with Monday’s Fall Commencement ceremony for 506 bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. graduates at The Daytona Beach Campus. 

Rob Meyerson, president of Blue Origin, shown here at left, a pioneer in 21st-century space flight and exploration, cited his company's motto in Latin and then English for the 500-plus graduates of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's 500-plus Fall semester graduates: “Gradatim Ferociter” or “step-by-step, ferociously.”

Meyerson's commencement message to Embry-Riddle's 506 bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. graduates at the Daytona Beach Campus at Monday's during fall graduation was clear, concise and to the point in counseling graduates to find an environment where failure is a way to learn from mistakes, where one can practice humility and transparency.

And above all, Meyerson challenged the graduates to “take that first step, ferociously.” 

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University celebrated the culmination of its 90th anniversary with Monday’s Fall Commencement ceremony for 506 bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. graduates at The Daytona Beach Campus. 

Fall Commencement was notable for another milestone: Ten Ph.D. degrees were awarded, the largest number in the school’s history. Doctoral degrees were conferred to graduates in Engineering Physics, Aviation, and for the first time, in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Human Factors.

Interim President Karen Holbrook welcomed Meyerson, clearly an innovator in their fields of study wrapped around aerospace and engineering.

Embry-Riddle’s ROTC Commissioning Ceremonies were held beginning this past Friday, as the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps commissioned nine officers. The day before graduation, eight US Air Force cadets were commissioned as Second Lieutenants, and the afternoon of graduation, five US Navy and Marines ROTC cadets were commissioned as Ensigns in the Navy or Second Lieutenants in the Marine Corps.

 

44. Daytona Beach cops: New Smyrna Beach motorist involved in deadly collision with motorcyclist faces criminal charges of driving with suspended license

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- On July 8, Dalphanite Johnson wrote a single word on his Facebook page: "Life." Four months later he would be dead.

On Nov. 7, the life of the the 30-year-old Daytona Beach man came to an end hours after he collided with a car while speeding on his Yamaha and zipping in and out of traffic, according to preliminary details released by Daytona Beach police.

A friend wrote of his fears of Johnson risking his life on a motorcycle in a remembrance that ran with a brief obituary online. Funeral arrangements and burial were not announced.

"I met Little D when I was working at Brake Express, Nova Road,"  William Wells, of Holly Hill, wrote on a Legacy remembrance on Friday. "I did mechanic work on his car. We bonded & became friends quickly. He was always respectful. The father asked me & my manager not to sell him a motorcycle so we didn't."

Wells continued, "About a month later, D came back to show me he purchased a motorcycle from somewhere else. "I told him to be careful. He told me ( thanks Mr. Will ) I will be careful. It's like his father knew & it hurts me so bad. Me & D got close. He came to visit me at my house a few months ago. I told him to be careful again. He told me he would. He was so nice & respectful. That's why it hurts so much. God bless my brother. You are in God's hands. Love you. See you when I get there in Heaven. "

That's the human side of this tragic story. Here's the news portion of the story:

A New Smyrna Beach motorist involved in a fatal traffic accident on Monday with a motorcyclist is expected to be charged with driving with a suspended license, Daytona Beach cops said.

Tyasha M. Whitaker, 26, could be summonsed by mail to answer a criminal charge of driving while her license was suspended, police said, stemming from the 7:16 a.m. fatal accident at the intersection of Nova Road and Madison Avenue, but added the case remains under investigation. Whitaker was behind the wheel of a 2011 Ford and Dalphanite Johnson, 30, of Daytona Beach, who was riding a Yamaha, died later that day from catastrophic injuries suffered in the early morning crash.

Here is a synopsis of what happened as described in a Daytona Beach Police news release: "Units were dispatched to Nova Road and Madison Avenue reference to a crash involving a motorcycle and vehicle. Investigation revealed that the motorcycle was heading southbound on Nova Road approaching Madison Avenue at a high rate of speed." 

The police news release continued, "The vehicle involved was traveling northbound on Nova Road attempting to make a left turn onto Madison Avenue. The motorcycle cut between two vehicles as they were approaching the intersection. The motorcycle hit the front end of the vehicle making a left turn."

Johnson died of his injuries that afternoon at Halifax Health Hospital in Daytona Beach. Police did not indicate whether he was wearing a helmet. Whitaker also was transported to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

"The case will have criminal charges against the driver of the vehicle as her license is suspended, however no charges have been filed as this is an active ongoing investigation," Daytona Beach police stressed in the news release. 

Dalphanite Johnson was married and worked as a residential driver for Waste Pro. It's not clear whether he had children, listing only his wife, Chantell Johnson, on his own Facebook page. Attempts by Headline Surfer to reach Chantell Johnson, shown with several small children on her own Facebook page, were unsuccessful. An obituary listing for him did not provide any personal information other than to state he was a resident of Daytona Beach, that he attended Mainland High School and his place of employment. 

Friends of Dalphanite Johnson such as Angela Chiles of Daytona Beach were stunned by his tragic death. Reflecting how precious life is, she stated in part on her Facebook page, "I only can live one day at a time. Tomorrow is never promised."

Dalphanite Johnson, shown here from a screeen shot taken from his YouTube page, was married and worked as a residential driver for Waste Pro. It's not clear whether he had children, listing only his wife, Chantell Johnson, on his own Facebook page. Attempts by Headline Surfer to reach Chantell Johnson, shown with several small children on her own Facebook page, were unsuccessful. An obituary listing for him did not provide any personal information other than to state he was a resident of Daytona Beach, that he attended Mainland High School and his place of employment.

Friends of Dalphanite Johnson such as Angela Chiles of Daytona Beach were stunned by his tragic death. Reflecting how precious life is, she stated in part on her Facebook page, "I only can live one day at a time. Tomorrow is never promised."

 

45. Attendance light along World's Most Famous Beach in Daytona & in NSB, though sharks plentiful Sunday near South Jetty where 3 surfers bitten

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- While things have been calm so far this week along the World's Most Famous Beach in Daytona and further south in Daytona Beach Shores, Ponce Inlet and New Smyrna, the flying of the red flag Sundaym Aug. 21, was so apropos, considering a rare instance of three shark bite victims on the same day near the South Jetty on the New Smyrna Beach side.

Plus there was the rescue of a man in a boat that was overwhelmed by choppy waters and a teen swimmer injured when he was caught by surprise by a strong wave that slammed him head first into the bottom was transported to the hospital as a precaution. The reg flag symbols high danger alert in the surf while yellow flag enciurages beach-goers to exercise caution in the water.

The shark trifecta, though far from a normal occurrence, happened to occur on a day where bait fish were plentiful. They in turn draw the typical 5- to 6-feet spinner sharks.

“It is out of the ordinary to have three people bitten back-to-back, but it’s not unheard of and has actually happened before. Typically this doesn’t happen more than once or twice a year,” Capt. Tammra Marris, spokeswoman for Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue, told Headline Surfer.

“It is out of the ordinary to have three people bitten back-to-back, but it’s not unheard of and has actually happened before. Typically this doesn’t happen more than once or twice a year,” Capt. Tamra Marris, spokeswoman for Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue, told Headline Surfer.

The first bite happened at about 10:40 a.m. when a 43-year-old Longwood man was bitten near his ankle, Marris said. 

Then at 11 a.m., a 36-year-old Miami man was bitten on both hands. The final shark bite incident was reported at 1 p.m. when a 16-year-old New Smyrna Beach surfer was bitten on one of his inner thighs, which could have been worse had the bite occurred a little higher.

The latter two shark-bite victims were transported to Bert Fish Medical Center for stitches.

As if the beach patrol units weren't busy enough, a teen swimmer in chest-deep water was injured when he was caught off guard by a large wave. Like two of the shark-bite victims, he too was transported for minor injuries.

And a marine unit rescued a man in an overturned boat that took on water from the choppy waters on Sunday as well on Sunday afternoon with moderate to light crowds reported throughout the 49 miles of Volusia County shoreline.

There were 14 shark bites for the year reported along Volusia County beaches, most of them near the South Jetty.

46. New brand for racing at Daytona & other tracks in 2017: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR has a new official brand identity which will replace the bar mark used by the sanctioning body since 1976, when racing resumes at Daytona International Speedway and other tracks nationwide onthe racing circuit.

The announcement was made Dec. 23 in conjunction with the news that Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series™ will be the new name of the sport’s premier series beginning Jan. 1.

The new brand mark and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series mark, which prominently features the iconic Monster Energy logo, together represent a new era in NASCAR and were first shared today across NASCAR social and digital media channels.  

The NASCAR brand identity has been in development since early 2016 as part of a broader effort to refresh the NASCAR brand. It was designed to pay tribute to the storied history of NASCAR, incorporating elements of all four previous marks since the company’s inaugural season of 1948.  

"Our new NASCAR mark is modern, timeless and embraces the heritage of our sport," said Jill Gregory, NASCAR senior vice president and chief marketing officer.

"It was important for us to recognize our history and implement a piece of each previous mark in the new design. Our goal was to evolve the sport’s visual identity to make it concise, relevant and functional, while respecting and maintaining the unique qualities of the original mark."

"Our new NASCAR mark is modern, timeless and embraces the heritage of our sport," said Jill Gregory, shown here at left, NASCAR senior vice president and chief marketing officer.

"It was important for us to recognize our history and implement a piece of each previous mark in the new design. Our goal was to evolve the sport’s visual identity to make it concise, relevant and functional, while respecting and maintaining the unique qualities of the original mark."

"The first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series points race will be the 59^th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 26.

47. Despite alleged Deltona Wal-Mart shoplifter digging key into scalp of Sheriff's k9 in nearby creek, suspect arrested

DELTONA, Fla. -- An alleged Wal-Mart shoplifter who threatened a loss prevention officer with a knife Monday night, April 5, after he fled the store, 101 Howland Blvd., in an SUV, crashed it and then jumped into a creek in an unsuccessful attempt to elude a Sheriff’s K9, which took him down.

Thomas D. Rice, 46, who bonded out of jail earlier today, was apprehended shortly after 7 p.m. Monday after he wrecked on the 600 block of State Road 415, minutes after the confrontation at Wal-Mart.

At the Wal-Mart, the loss prevention officer told deputies he witnessed Rice picking random items off the shelf before leaving the store without making any attempt to pay.

Here is a synopsis of what occurred as described by Sheriff's spookesman Andrew Gant in an email to Headline Surfer®: When the officer confronted Rice just outside the door, he said Rice pulled a knife and warned: “Get back or I’ll stab you.” Rice got in his vehicle and started to drive away. As he did, the Wal-Mart officer reached inside the vehicle, grabbed one of the stolen items – a baseball bat – and used it to hit the driver’s side door of Rice's Toyota Highlander as he sped off.

Gant said a  deputy dispatched to the call spotted the vehicle fleeing on Staye Road 415. The deputy turned around to attempt a traffic stop, and Rice tried to get away by turning down a dirt road. When two deputies followed, they found Rice’s SUV had crashed into a dirt berm as he was running off.

After several warnings, K9 deputy Kyle Walter released his k9 partner, Axe to run after him. Rice sprinted into some woods and jumped into a creek full of water, trying to cross to the other side. Before he could get there, the powerful German shepherd clamped his jaws on one of Rice's legs.

It was at this point, the alleged shoplifter began digging an unknown object into Axe’s head with his hand. The deputy wasn’t immediately able to tell what the object was – or if it was a knife – as Rice refused commands to drop it. Then Rice revealed he was using a set of keys to dig into the top of Axe’s head. 

Deputy Walter moved in to stop Rice from hurting Axe. Rice continued to struggle, but he dropped the keys and was taken into custody without furether incident. The dog was bleeding from an abrasion to the top of his head and was taken to DeLand Animal Hospital for treatment.

Axe, on the crime-fighting beat since December 2013, suffered a small abrasion to his scalp, but will be not taking any leave absence from his duties, Gant later told Headline Surfer® in an email update.

Volusia County Sheriff's Office Deputy Kyle Walter is shown with his k9 partner, Axe, a German shepherd. The two who have been a crime-fighting team since December 2013. There are 20 such k9 units in the VCSO.

Here is a synopsis of what occurred once Axe pounced on the fleeing shoplifter: After several warnings, Deputy Kyle Walter released the k9 to take down shoplifting suspect Thomas Rice, who had Rice run off into some woods and jumped into a creek full of water, trying to cross to the other side. Before he could get there, the German shepherd clamped its powerful jaws on one of his legs and knocked him off his feet.

Rice struggled and began digging an unknown object into Axe’s head he had in his hand. The K9’s handler wasn’t immediately able to tell what the object was – concerned it might be a knife – but Rice refused commands to drop it. Then Rice readily acknowleged he was using a set of keys to dig into the top of Axe’s head. as the dog was getting the best of him. Deputy Walter moved in to stop Rice from hurting Axe. Rice continued to struggle, but he dropped the keys and was taken into custody without further incident.

Axe was bleeding from an abrasion to the top of his head and was taken to the nearby DeLand Animal Hospital for treatment. However, Axe's injuries were determined to be a minor abrasion and the German shepherd will not be taking any leave absence from his duties, Andrew Gant, the VSCO spokesman later told Headline Surfer® in an updated email request.

Rice was charged with armed robbery, grand theft, fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, resisting arrest and an offense against a police dog by intentionally and maliciously causing bodily harm, all felonies.

Gant said Rice was taken into custody and transported to Florida Hospital Fish Memorial for treatment of his injuries, which were not life threatening. In Rice's Toyota Higthlander, deputies recovered 41 items with price tags still attached from the Wal-Mart shoplifting incident, totaling $812.83. Among the stolen items, according to the arrest report:

48. Tattoo You: Daytona Beach Shores babe marches to beat of different drummer

DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, Fla. -- So who is this tattooed-mystery babe spotted walking along the hard sands of Daytona Beach Shores in early August who caught the camera lens of our intrepid photographer friend who shoots just about everything interesting he sees along the Word's Most Famous beach and beyond?

"I have no idea," said lensman-extraordinaire Steve Bibeault, of the exotic beach beauty with tats. "I was trying to take pictures of waves when she walked into the frame." 

Trying to take pictures of waves when she walked into the frame? Yeah right! This photog was focused on the ebb and flow of the waves, my you-know what! 

Any way, besides the fact that she's an exotic beauty in a green top and black-bikini bottom with tattoos on her lower legs, upper back and who knows where else, there's something about her that really stands out: And it's kind of Twilight Zone-like. Hmm. What is she holding in the grip of her right hand in a forward motion?

Is it a whip or a lasso? Could be, but the loop on the end seems kind of narrow. Well, that leaves only one other possibility: This beach babe is walking her dog! An invisible dog since pets aren't allowed, except in designated areas and some waterfront parks. How cool is that? Makes sense since your eye is focused on the black bikini bottom and the tattoos, you hardly notice the leash for her invisible dog.

About the photographer

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.-- Jimmie Johnson captured his record-tying seventh NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship with a stirring season-ending race victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway, tying NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt atop the all-time list. 

Today's win was Johnson’s 80th career victory.

To win the 2016 championship, the driver of the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet out-dueled the other Championship 4 drivers: Joey Logano, who finished fourth, Kyle Busch sixth and Carl Edwards 34th. 

It was a year of sevens for Johnson, who took over sole possession of seventh place on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series all-time wins list after his win at Auto Club Speedway earlier this season. His wins at Atlanta and Auto Club catapulted him into the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. 

Johnson breezed through the first round of the Chase, logging his two highest laps led totals of the season to that point at Chicagoland and Dover. When the Round of 12 rolled around, he added his all-time track-record eighth win at Charlotte, leading a race-high 155 laps on the way to a Round of 8 berth.

Johnson was the first to lock up a spot in the Championship 4, winning at Martinsville Speedway for the ninth time.

At 41, Johnson becomes the youngest seven-time champion. Petty was 42 when he captured his seventh title in 1979; Earnhardt was 43 in 1994.

All seven of Johnson’s championships were won under team owner Rick Hendrick and with crew chief Chad Knaus. Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports, captured his record-extending 12th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. Along with Johnson’s seven titles, Hendrick has won championships with Jeff Gordon (four) and Terry Labonte (one).

Knaus cemented his legacy as one of the top crew chiefs in NASCAR history with his seventh title, one shy of the all-time record held by NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Inman. 
 

RECAP: