Local News Now

71. Florida racer Ryan Hunter-Reay wins Indy 500 in nail-biter

Top 100 Local Stories of 2014 in Central Florida / Headline Surfer®

Ryan Hunter-Reay of Fort Lauderdale, FL, wins Indianapolis 500 / Headline Surfer®Ryan Hunter-Reay beats Helio Castroneves to checkered flag in 2nd closest Indy 500 / Headline Surfer®Videos by IndyCars for Headline Surfer® / 1st video: Highlights of the 2014 running of the Indianapolis 500, including several crashes and the dramatic finish that saw the Ryan Hunter-Reay take the checkered flag in the second-closest finish ever. 2nd video: Post-race interviews with Hunter-Reay and several other drivers. 

INDIANAPOLIS -- A Florida racer, Ryan Hunter-Reay, driving the No. 28 for team owner Michael Andretti, won the Indianapolis 500 in a nail-biter over Helio Castroneves.

72. NSB firefighters use boot on SR 44 to collect $8,651 for Muscular Dystrophy Assn

Top 100 Local Stories of 2014 in Central Florida / Headline Surfer®
NSB firefighters collect money for muscular dystrophy / Headline Surfer®Photo for Headline Surfer® /
New Smyrna Beach Fire Department Battalion Chief Chris Dymond stands at the ready to take donations from passing motorists on State Road 44 just east of the Denny's restaurant on Labor Day weekend.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Firefighters in this seaside city raised $8,651 during the Labor Day weekend to support the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

As part of the annual Muscular Dystrophy Association’s charity boot drive, firefighters braved the heat and stood at the intersection of Old Mission Road and State Road 44 on Aug. 30-31, with their boots at the ready. And passing motorists graciously donated money to help children and families who have been affected by muscular dystrophy.

73. NSB cops: Motors officer takes top prize again

Top 100 Local Stories of 2014 in Central Florida / Headline Surfer®
Joh Holloway of NSBPD in motors competition / Headline Surfer®Photo for Headline Surfer® /
New Smyrna Beach motors officer Josh Holloway navigates the Space Coast Rodeo course.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- For the second year in a row, New Smyrna Beach Police Motor Officer Josh Holloway earned top honors at the annual Space Coast Motorcycle Rodeo the weekend of Oct. 11 in Melbourne.

Holloway walked away with several awards including “Mr. Rodeo” – the top rider award.

The New Smyrna Beach motors cop's riding achievements skill comes in at No. 73 in the HeadlineSurfer.com countdown of the top 100 local stories of 2014.

Palatka woman among 3 Florida citizens appointed by Gov. Scott to council for deaf & hard of hearing

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Newspaper Section

PALATKA, Fla. – Gov. Rick Scott announced the appointment of Lois “Darlene” Laibl-Crowe of Palatka and two other Florida citizens on Wednesday to the Florida Coordinating Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

SUNDAY: Frank Bruno, Volusia's 1st elected county chair, leads off inaugural HeadlineSurfer.com Hall of Fame

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HeadlineSurfer.com Hall of Fame / Headline Surfer®

Frank Bruno, 1st inductee into HeadlineSurfer.com Hall of Fame / Headline Surfer®Frank & Mary Bruno / Headline Surfer®Frank Bruno / Headline Surfer®DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- He was the countywide face of politics for 20-plus years, his last eight as the first-ever elected county chair, before he stepped off the dais for good in 2012.

So, it is only fitting that Frank Bruno has been chosen as the very first inductee of the Class of 2015 HeadlineSurfer.com Hall of Fame. When all is said and done, there will be 100 entrants in the inaugural class. 

Most of the inductees are individuals, though more than several inductees are comprised of groups of indivuals, or as entities such as a company or a longstanging tourism event or special cause. 

NSB cops: Three women arrested on narcotics charges

NSBPD cop blotter / Headline Surfer®NSBPD cop Jason Reve / Headline Surfer®NSBPD cop Mark Severance / Headline Surfer®Photos for Headline Surfer® /
NSBPD Sgts. Jason Reve and Mark Severance, shown here left & right, respectively,  are shown here, were the patrol supervisors for the 4 p.m. Friday to 4:30 a.m. Saturday shift.

NSBPD arrest / Headline Surfer®NSBPD arrst / Headline Surfer®NSBPD arrest / Headline Surfer®NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla -- A 2:13 a.m. traffic stop for an expired tag in the 900 block of Maple Street resulted in the arrests of three women on narcotics charges, resulting in their transport to the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach where they were booked, pending first appearances later today.

Gov. Rick Scott wishes Floridians blessings of Passover & Easter

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Party Lines Political Notebook for Daytona Beach-Orlando, Florida / Headline Surfer®

Florida Gov. Rick Scott & wife, Ann, on blessings of Easter & Passovr / Headline Surfer®ORLANDO, Fla. -- Governor Rick Scott extended good wishes to Floridians for Passover and Easter, saying in part, “Easter provides an opportunity for families to come together and share in the hope of the holiday’s redemptive promise.

"Ann and I look forward to celebrating the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday with our children and grandchildren, and we hope families across our state get to gather and celebrate with their loved ones.

“We also extend our best wishes to all those celebrating Passover. Passover is a time to reflect on the story and traditions of the Jewish people and Florida is proud of our unbreakable bond with the state of Israel. We hope all of our Jewish friends have a happy and healthy Passover.

County Chair Jason Davis: Oak Hill rocket mfg plant code-named 'Panther' pushed by Daytona insiders flames out

OAK HILL, Fla. -- The secretive rocket plant code-named "Panther" that Daytona Beach insiders lobbied to be built on the former Oak Hill city dump has been scrubbed and is no longer in play, County Chair Jason Davis said.

The much-hyped proposal was never clearly identified and far toooften had citixens pittwd against one another and municipal and county leaders trading barbs for the past couple of months is no longer in play, County Chair Jason Davis said.