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Donna Russell, 61, of Edgewater, a homemaker, died Tuesday, May 18, 2010.

Earnest W. Farr, Jr. (Ernie), 91, of New Smyrna Beach, who served his country for six in the U.S. Air Force in the Pacific during World War II and a retired police officer, died Sunday, May 17, 2010.

Karen A. Wiley, 61, of New Smyrna Beach, a teacher, died Monday, May 17, 2010.

Howard A. Ver Way, 66, of Edgewater, owner/operator of AAA Atlantic Coast Chem Dry, Edgewater, and an Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War, died Friday, May 14, 2010.

I caught a snippet of news that really got my dander up. It seems some students in Morgan Hill, Calif., at Live Oak High School, wore American Flag T-shirts to school on Cinco De Mayo and were told by the vice principal, Miguel Rodriguez, that they had to turn their shirts inside out or be suspended. This supposedly came about because the Hispanic students protested their wearing the shirts on a Hispanic holiday, thus in their minds disrespecting their heritage.

Courtesy photo.

Ashley Reed of Edgewater has received two prestigious honors in her first year at Florida State University.

EDGEWATER -- Ashley Reed, a 19-year-old freshman at Florida State University, and a 2009 graduate of New Smyrna Beach High School, has received two prestigious honors.

NSBNEWS.net video by Sera Frederick.

The Beu Sisters perform at the Beachside Tavern in New Smyrna Beach as part of a fundraiser for 9-year-old accident victim Amy Sue Root. Check out our video highlights.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Hot dogs, popcorn, barbecue chicken and cold drinks were sold. The Beu Sisters performed on stage. And the money came rolling in for 9-year-old Amy Sue Root at a fundraiser Saturday at the Beachside Tavern. The event raised $5,725.

DAYTONA BEACH SHORES -- The body of a woman believed to be in her 40s was found Saturday morning on the beach near the Emilia Avenue approach, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office said.

Courtesy photo.

Amy Sue Root, now 9, was critically injured in an accident in January that resulted in critical head injuries. The Edgewater girl's family needs a special fan to transport her to and from medical visits. A major fundraiser is being held noon-4 p.m. today for her at Beachside Tavern.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A fundraiser is being held noon to 4 p.m. today at Beachside Tavern, 690 East Third Ave, for Amy Sue Root, the 8-year-old Edgewater girl struck by a truck while riding her Razor scooter in her Edgewater neighborhood.

Amy Sue, now 9, suffered critical head injuries when she was thrown 60 feet after accidentally darting out in front of the vehicle on Jan. 24, and she is in need of a specialty van to transport her back and forth for medical care.

Friends of the Root family are asking the residents of Southeast Volusia community to donate whatever they can at today's fundraiser at Beachside Tavern.

There is no admission fee and any donation amount is appreciated. There is plenty of live entertainment, raffles and all kinds of specials at bonanza prices. The hope is to raise at least $10,000.

DEBARY -- Investigators certainly wish there were more criminals like Matthew Hall, Volusia County Sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson said of the accused man.

Davidson said that when the 26-year-old went into a vacant home in DeBary to steal an air conditioning unit, he left behind a major clue: His driver's license.

Courtesy photo.

Gov. Charlie Crist's Weekly Notes from the Capitol:

Dear Friends,

This week I have been working to protect Florida’s businesses and communities from the possible destruction of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. As the oil continues to seep into the ocean and inch towards our coastlines, it is crucial that we work from all possible angles to protect our state.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Volusia County’s Human Services Office will sponsor a Summer Food Service Program for children at 70 sites from June 14 through Aug. 13.

The program, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, provides nutritionally balanced meals regardless of race, color, sex, disability or national origin. It is approved for areas in which 50 percent or more of the children qualify for free and reduced price meals during the school year.

Summer feeding sites provide meals to all children in the immediate vicinity in addition to those enrolled in the summer program.

Courtesy photo/NASA.

Space Shuttle Atlantis takes off at 2:20 p.m. EDT without a hitch.

CAPE CANAVERAL -- After a successful launch Friday at 2:20 p.m. EDT, the STS-132 crew of space shuttle Atlantis began on-orbit operations.

Saturday, the six astronauts will survey the shuttle's heat shield, checkout the spacesuits for the upcoming spacewalks and prepare for docking to the International Space Station on Sunday.

After reaching orbit, the crew also was told that a preliminary debris assessment looks good.