Top 100 Stories

Ryan Tolley joins Daytona International Speedway as director of sales; Andrew Booth and Joann Mantovani named senior managers

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

 DAYTONA BEACH -- Daytona International Speedway has hired Ryan Tolley as director of sales effective Feb. 7. Andrew Booth has been promoted to senior manager of media relations and Joann Mantovani has been promoted to senior manager of advertising and promotions.

State Rep. Dorothy Hukill and NSB Mayor Adam Barringer like Scott's inaugual message

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

Courtesy photo and video / YouTube / Several prominent local officials attended Tuesday's swearing in of Republican Rick Scott as Florida's 45th governor, including State Rep.Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, and New Smyrna Beach Mayor Adam Barringer.

TALLAHASSEE -- New Smyrna Beach Mayor Adam Barringer and State Rep. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, were among several local dignitaries at Tuesday's inauguration of Republican Rick Scott.

92. NSB cops: 21-year-old man shot twice uncooperative in investigation

Newspaper Section
VolusiaNews.net and NSBNEWS.net provide 24/7 online-media coverage for a 21st-century world
(Courtesy photo) Farrion LaChantz, as shown here in an unrelated booking photo two years ago, was shot twice Sunday, Sept. 20, and is not cooperating with police. He was reported in stable condition Monday at Bert Fish for a wound to his stomach area, police said.

93. Child-mentor Martha Wheeler NSB Middle School's 'Volunteer of the Year'

Newspaper Section
VolusiaNews.net and NSBNEWS.net provide 24/7 online-media coverage for a 21st-century world
(Courtesy photo). Martha Wheeler was named "Volunteer of the Year" at New Smyrna Beach Middle School in February for investing in the lives of children at the school.

Mayor Adam Barringer talks economic development, including plans for developing a 'boating industry north of town,' in the new year

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

NSBNEWS.net video by Sera Frederick.

New Smyrna Beach Mayor Adam Barringer speaks with NSBNEWS.net about a host of issues looking back on 2010 and ahead for 2011. Check out the exclusive video interview on New Year's Eve at the mayor's beachside restaurant, SoNapa Grille, on Third Ave.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Mayor Adam Barringer enters the second year of his initial term with his primary goal unchanged. And that is to work on ways to encourage economic development citywide.

Facebook profile of accused New Year's bar killer Christian Pursley on his relationship status with wife nearly killed: 'It's complicated'

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

Editor's Note: This analysis story has graphic photos that may not be suitable for all age groups.

(Courtesy photos). The Facebook profile for accused killer Christian Pursley has postings of photos of his wedding with estranged wife, Shannon Pursley, him holding a bloody carving knife. He's been charged with attempted murder of his wife and first-degree murder of her friend, Keith "Shorty" Roberts of South Daytona, who was shot to death New Year's at the Rockin' Ranch as the victim and Pursley's wife tried to get away as he opened fire, according to Ormond Beach police.

Editor's Note (added Jan. 6): A couple of friends who posted anonymously in the comment section below this story insist two of the Facebook photos are not as they appear on the surface -- that the one with the bloody knife was a Halloween costume and the cow in the photo further down was alive and being moved.

ORMOND BEACH -- In describing on his Facebook profile what he's interested in relationship wise, Christian Pursley answers: "women." In describing his relationship status, he answers: "It's complicated."

Life got a whole lot more complicated for the 37-year-old Ormond Beach man, who sits in jail on Ormond Beach police charges of first-degree murder in the New Year's shooting death of Keith "Shorty" Roberts at the Rockin' Ranch.

Murdered New Year's Day patron at Ormond bar stands tall in the eyes of his friends with remembrances at a makeshift shrine: 'We love you Shorty'

VolusiaNews.net and NSBNEWS.net provide 24/7 online-media coverage for a 21st-century world
(Photos by Henry Frederick). Hope Tinsley-Whitford, 42, of Ormond Beach, pays her respects by kneeling before  a make-shift shrine at the Rockin' Ranch in Ormond Beach for New Year's Day murder victim Keith "Shorty" Roberts, 36, of South Daytona. He tried to flee from the alleged gunman, Christian Pursley, 37, of Ormond Beach. With the victim in his pick-up truck was Pursley's estranged wife, Shannon. In the inset photo is a picture of Roberts with an unidentified friend. Out of respect for her grieving, VolusiaNews.Net honored Tinsley-Whitford's request not to show her face.

ORMOND BEACH -- Hope Tinsley-Whitford never got her hug from Keith "Shorty" Roberts, who had promised her husband during a New Year's party at the Rockin' Ranch that he would stop by on the way home and wish her a "Happy New Year's" because she was too sick to go out and celebrate.

What was to be a gateway to a prosperous 2011, instead turned into a living hell at 2:30 a.m. Saturday with Roberts' pick-up truck sprayed with gunfire by his alleged killer, 37-year-old Christian Pursley, armed with a handgun.

Judge orders accused killer in New Year's shooting at Ormond bar ordered held without bond at Volusia County Branch Jail

VolusiaNews.net and NSBNEWS.net provide 24/7 online-media coverage for a 21st-century world
(Courtesy photo / OBPD). Christian Pursley, 37, of Ormond Beach is being held without bond at the Volusia County Branch Jail on charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder in the New Year's shooting at the Rockin' Ranch that resulted in the death of Keith Roberts, 36, of South Daytona, and injuries to the alleged gunman's estranged wife, Shannon Pursley, from shattered glass resulting from gunfire into the deceased man's vehicle.

ORMOND BEACH -- A regular patron at the Rockin' Ranch in Ormond Beach lost his life during the Early morning hours of New Year's Day and his alleged killer is not going to gain his freedom any time soon having been ordered held today without bond at his first appearance at the Volusia County Branch Jail.

Man shot to death at Ormond bar while celebrating New Year's; alleged killer barricades himself at home before surrendering

VolusiaNews.net and NSBNEWS.net provide 24/7 online-media coverage for a 21st-century world
(Courtesy photos). Christian Pursley, 37, of Ormond Beach, as shown in the larger photo, is charged with first-degree murder in the New Year's Day shooting of Keith Roberts, 36, of South Daytona.

ORMOND BEACH -- A man celebrating New Year's at the Rockin' Ranch was shot and killed 2:30 a.m. by the estranged husband of a woman the victim was with as they drove off, according to police.

A 36-year-old man later identified by patrons as Keith Roberts, 36, of South Daytona, was shot to death in his pick-up truck after he left the bar with Shannon Pursley and the woman's estranged husband opened fire on the vehicle, according to police, who did not release the driver's name..