Top 100 Stories

VolusiaNews.net and NSBNEWS.net provide 24/7 online-media coverage for a 21st-century world

(Courtesy photos). Thursday's County Council approval to purchase the sprawling Leffler Ranch between Samsula and Osteen as a futurewater supply paves the way for today's closing at $28.8 million.

Editor's note: The following story was submitted by contributing writer Dale Smith:

SAMSULA -- Nestled between Osten and eyed by the county as the water source of the future, the Volusia County Council's decision to empty its wallet to pay for the 4,806-acre Leffler Ranch has assured a closing date today in becoming owners of the property in the Volusia Conservation Corridor.

The purchase price of $28.8 million will come from three sources -- $12.2 million that's left in the county's 20-year Volusia Forever Program; $11.6 million advance from the general fund reserves, and $5 million from the water utility fund reserves.

VolusiaNews.net and NSBNEWS.net provide 24/7 online-media coverage for a 21st-century world

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- An off-duty k-9 officer walking his dog shot and killed an aggressive pit bull that was initially aggressive with his dog and then lunged at him, New Smyrna Beach police said Monday.

The incident happened Saturday night when Bruce Holcomb was wasking his own dog, a Siberian Husky, in his New Smyrna Beach neighborhood with his fiancee and her dog when they were accosted by a pit bull that had previously attacked his husky.

VolusiaNews.net and NSBNEWS.net provide 24/7 online-media coverage for a 21st-century world

Editor's note: The following story was submitted by contributing writer Dale Smith:

NSBNEWS.net and VolusiaNews.net provide 24/7 online-media coverage for a 21st-century world

(photos by Dale Smith). To loud cheers and whistles, Santa Claus disembarks the Florida East Coast "Christmas Train" in New Smyrna Beach on Saturday morning and is swarmed by parents and children alike. In the smaller photo, Jazmine, 5, Jayden, 2, and Myron, 4, children of Jessica Dubois of New Smyrna Beach, wait for Santa's arrival.

Editor's note: The following story was submitted by contributing writer Dale Smith:

 NEW SMYRNA BEACH – A preview of what’s to come this Christmas was played out Saturday morning when several hundred families with wide-eyed and fidgety children in tow excitedly welcomed Santa Claus during a brief stop here.

VolusiaNews.net and NSBNEWS.net provide 24/7 online-media coverage for a 21st-century world

(Courtesy photo) The Starlite Princess had to be rescued overnight Friday after getting stuck in shallow waters ff Ormond Beach.

ORMOND BEACH -- The 85-foot passenger boat Starlite Princess based in Daytona Beach, returned to port after the vessel ran temporarily aground in the Intracoastal Waterway near Ormond Beach on Friday with 150 people on board, the New-Smyrna Beach-based U.S. Coast Guard said.

VolusiaNews.net and NSBNEWS.net provide 24/7 online-media coverage for a 21st-century world

(Photos by Henry Frederick). This egret enjoys the sunny and warm mid-week weather outside the Dairy Queen on U.S. 1 in New Smyrna Beach after a cold front brought nighttime temperatures into the low 30s. It's going to be much colder overnight Sunday with temps in the low 20s.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Overnight Sunday will be the coldest by far this winter season with temperature in the low to mid 20s, the National Weather Service in Melbourne warns.

A wind chill advisory remains in effect until 10 a.m. Monday. Even through mid-morning, temperatures are not expected to climb above 20.

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL 227 PM EST SUN DEC 12 2010

NSBNEWS.net photos by Sera Frederick

Members of the New Smyrna Beach Middle School Stingrays dance team were wrapping Christmas presents for customers at Barnes & Noble bookstore in Daytona Beach  in exchange for donations.  

VolusiaNews.net and NSBNEWS.net provide 24/7 online-media coverage for a 21st-century world

(Photo credit / Motorsports Images and Archives) Lane Construction employee Miguel Soto waves the checkered flag as paving is completed just inside Turn 1 at Daytona International Speedway. This last section marks the end of paving in this historic project.

DAYTONA BEACH -- The checkered flag was waved Friday for Lane Construction workers as they finished the final paving of Daytona International Speedway.

The paving crew wrapped up the final pass on the apron in Turns 1 and 2 in the late afternoon, following some inclement weather in the morning.

VolusiaNews.net and NSBNEWS.net provide 24/7 online-media coverage for a 21st-century world

(Courtesy photos) Lekeefe D. Lee, 25, of Daytona Beach, shown here far left, was found shot to death Friday night inside his car that had crashed into a FPL pole in the 700 block of Magnolia Avenue. Click on the attachment to read the police report, which indicates Lee, who was armed, was fleeing after ripping off the alleged gunman, 26-year-old Emanuel Laboy Rivera,  of $900 worth of pot.

DAYTONA BEACH -- In what Daytona Beach police are describing as a  drug deal gone bad, a 25-year-old city man was found shot to death in his car Friday night, having crashed into a pole after being shot two blocks away on Magnolia Avenue.

The gunman turned himself in and was charged with felony drug offenses, but police did not charge him in the homicide while their investigation continues.because he may have been defending himself.

Responding cops found LeKeefe D. Lee slumped in his car, having suffered a gunshot wound to the to the right side of his body below the armpit, apparently crashing the vehicle after being shot. Lee was pronounced dead at the scene inside the car.