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Best way to avoid getting in trouble in surf: Swim in front of a lifeguard 

Headline Surfer® video / It's a changing of the (life) guard at mid-afternoon Friday in this scene setter on the beach off the International Speedway Bouleard approach in Daytona Beach.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Always be aware of your surroundings while on the beach, especially in the surf, with rip currents on this holiday weekend. It's a good idea to swim in front of a lifeguard in case you get into trouble in the choppy waves.

Parents, & adults: Keep small children in front of you where you can see them at all times

And parents, granfdparents and other adults responsinle for small children. Always keep them in front of you where you can see them. Little ones, especially toddlers, love to chase the birds and often they aren't paying attention to what is around them, including motor vehicles in the drive zones.

These are perhaps the two greatest tips to offer for a safe beach experience on this Labor Day weekend that typically represents the end of summer.

Headline Surfer® video / Danger Zone: Little ones play in water's edge. Notice how close the little boy in the video a toddler, no older than 2 or 3, comes to the passing vehicles while pushing his giant Tonka truck across the wet sand. Though he never leaves the water's edge  in the minute and 53 seconds of this video clip.

Spokeswoman: Cars not banned in driving zones despite some TV media reports, though during high tides some ramps will be closed for a couple hours midday

Headline Surfer® / This snapshot from the Volusia County website beach cam for Daytona shows cars on this Sunday morning.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Despite what was reported Saturday night on several Orlando TV stations, Volusia County's beaches are open today and Monday, a beach safety spokeswoman told Headline Surfer® this morning.

"There have been reports that we will be closed to driving for the holiday weekend, Beach Safety Ocean Rescue Capt. Tamra Marris told Headline Surfer®, but quickly added, "That is not true. Volusia County Beach Safety will be open most of the day Sunday and Monday to beach driving. However, we will have to close to driving during high tide conditions midday for only a couple hours which is typical." 

DAYTONA BEACH -- Event sponsorships and participant registration are still available for Neighbor To Family, Inc.’s second annual “Sibling Stampede 5K Fun Walk/Run” at Sun Splash Park on Saturday, with proceeds helping improve the lives of sibling foster children in the organization’s care. 

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- If you pay attention to what is going on in your mind, you will find that there is a near-constant stream of chatter.

Campaign over for Deltona City commissioner Webster Barnaby

DAYTONA BEACH -- The recount for the at-large county council primary between Webster Barnaby and Pat Northey is over. And now so is the campaign of Barnaby as Northey moves on to a November showdown with incumbent Joyce Cusack.

Photos for Headline Surfer® /

PALM COAST -- State Sen. John Thrasher easily defeated Putnam County Tea Party hopeful Derek Hankerson in in Tuesday's Republican primary in all four counties that comprise his district 6 seat. 

Though he remans a contender for president at Florida State University, his alma mater, Thrasher said his No. 1 is re-election in November when he faces Democrat Kathleen Trued, a retired St. Augustine teacher who lost to him two years ago, and fellow challenger Greg Feldman, who is running as an independent.

Headline Surfer® graphic / George Sheldon, shown far left, prevailed in the Democratic primary for Florida attorney general over Perry Thurston, but he has an uphill battle against incumbent Republican Pam Bondi, shown below, who has greater financial resources and name recognition.

DAYTONA BEACH — George Sheldon of Tampa defeated Perry Thurston of Fort Lauderdale in the Democratic primary for Florida attorney general and now moves on to face GOP incumbent Pam Bondi in November.

DELTONA -- Congressman John Mica easily won the GOP primary over three others with 72.2 percent districtwide.

The Republican from Winter Park had four times as many votes as second place finisher, David Smith, who had 18.7 percent of the votes, followed by Don Oehlrich with 5.1 percent and Kelly Shirley with 4 percent.

In terms of the actual votes, Mica had 32,076, Smith 8,312, Oehlrich 2,284 and Shirley 1,785.

In Volusia County, where Mica represents DeBary, Deltona and Orange City, he received 74.9 percent of the overall votes, with Smith second at 16.09 percent, followed by Shirley with 4.83 percent and Oehlrich with 4.1 percent.