Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and running-mate Paul Ryan held a big rally during Biketoberfest at the Daytona Beach Bandshell. So, too, did First Lady Michelle Obama even closer to the election at the Ocean Center for her husband, the president. Both are among the contenders for Headline Surfer's No 1 story of 2012.
NEW SMYRNA -- Join us as we continue our countdown the Top 100 stories of 2012 from here in New Smyrna Beach and across Volusia County. We've only just begun with a few entries as the calendar continues to wind down.
There are no shortage of big stories that had a significant impact on all of us over past 12 months, from two campaign visits by Mitt Romney to First Lady Michelle Obama's pitch for the president at the Ocean Center to Jason Davis' big win over Carl Persis for the county chairmanship and others.
We'll unveil the No. 1 story of the year at midnight on New Year's Eve. So let the debate begin.
Dorothy Hukill and Frank Bruno went at it before 200-plus citizens in a public candidate debate sponsored and moderated by Headline Surfer at the Brannon Center in New Smyrna Beach for the state senate seat won by Hukill, one of the biggest stories of 2012.
How about the intense public candidate debate featuring state senate candidates Dorothy Hukill and Frank Bruno?
Biketoberfest had its share of the spotlight, not only with the GOP presidential ticket of Romney and Paul Ryan at the Bandshell, but the suicide of retired professional wrestler Mike Graham with a gunshot wound to the head.
How about Daytona Beach Police Chief Michael Chitwood's promotion of patrol supervisor Jim Newcomb to captain despite past allegations of mistreatment of two women cops? And there the two shotgun slayings in Daytona Beach that have yet to result in arrests.
And who could forget the Daytona 500 finish with Matt Kenseth edging Dale Earnhardt Jr.? Or how about Pierson's Chipper Jones' playing in his final MLB All-Star game or Port Orange swimming sensation Ryan Lochte's gold medal performances at the Summer Olympics in London?
Headline Surfer is proud to bring you the Top 100 Stories of 2012, as well as its selections for Newsmaker of the Year, Citizen of the Year and Business of the Year. As you'll see from our coverage, print media no longer has a monopoly on the news in Volusia County as the 24/7 Internet newspaper celebrates its fifth anniversary in April. And Headline Surfer has won a few journalism awards along the way.
