Local News Now

DAYTONA BEACH -- It wasn't unusual for Indy racers like AJ Foyt and Johnny Rutherford to rub fenders at Daytona International Speedway in the 1970s, before the advent of restrictor-plate racing with speeds exceeding 200 mph and plenty of wrecks.

The 1974 Firecracker 400, the big July 4th weekend event at DIS in front of 60,000 spectators in the stands and infield run on a Thursday afternoon, was no different, won by David Pearson in a last lap duel with Richard Petty, by pulling the slingshot pass.

In fact, Rutherford, who won the first of his three Indianapolis 500 cham,pionships, was among the early drivers to crash on the high banks of Daytona. Rutherford won the Indy 500 again in 1976 and in 1980.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla -- Mayor Derrick Henry and his wife, Stephanie, were among the dignitaries for Saturday's Volusia County-Daytona Beach NAACP Freedom Fund and Awards Banquet.

DAYTONA BEACH -- In an unprecedented move that infringes on first amendment rights, Daytona International Speedway has informed Headline Surfer that its request for media credentials for the July races culminating in the Coke Zero 400 under the lights, will not be honored.

Similar vetting to be held in Daytona, New Smyrna Beach, Port Orange, DeLand, Deltona, Lake Mary & Sanford

 DAYTONA BEACH -- Qualifying for the 2014 elections ends June 20. With that in mind, Headline Surfer® will begin its 2014 "public candidate debates" in the Oak Hill City Hall on June 24-25 with a focus on the district 3 and at-large County Council races as well as the two city commission seats.

Photo for Headline Surfer® / Rich Gailey, candidate for County Council District 5 seat representing DeBary, Deltona and Enterprise, is shown here at the recent Memorial Day tribute at Memorial Gardens in Deltona, with his wife, Lisa; their son, Ricky, and daughter, Jackie. Among the fallen the Gailey family paid respect to were Gailey's father-in-law, Nate Feldman, who enlisted in the Army and served in Korea. He died two years ago.

DELTONA -- While there are many issues on the home front to be concerned about, Rich Gailey, candidate for the Volusia County Council district 5 seat representing DeBary, Deltona and Enterprise, is troubled by the recent swap of prisoners of war between the US and the Taliban.

What Gailey has trouble with in the swap of five high-level Taliban enemy combatants who were being held at Guantanamo Bay by the US for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who was being held by the Taliban in Afghanistan is the American intelligence information showing the American soldier was a deserter.

Stephen Sather counted on longtime friends -- Mayor Adam Barringer & Commissioner Judy Reiker -- for planning board post despite drug past 

Stephen Sather, shown at far left, who pleaded no contest in open court to trying to buy an ounce of cocaine for $2,000 from an undercover cop posing as a drug dealer in 1992, failed miserably in his maiden run for municipal office five years ago. Now he's back for round 2. 

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Back in 2009, political insider Stephen Sather ran for city commissioner against incumbent Jack Grasty, a combat-injured Vietnam veteran; and a third candidate with a squeaky-clean image in retired Maryland cop Palmer Wilson.

PALATKA -- It was President Truman who said, "I'll stand by [you] but if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen." Palatka City Commissioner Allegra Kitchens can relate to the pressure of politics; her last name befitting of the controversy stirred up earlier this year.

DELTONA -- The Friends of the Deltona Library will hold a book sale 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, June 27, and 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 28, at the Deltona Regional Library, 2150 Eustace Ave.  

Leaves behind anchor grind to spend more time with family while battling depression

ORLANDO -- When she first hit the TV airwaves more than a decade ago, she was Lauren Perkins. Then she got married. But it didn't take WKMG Local 6 followers long to match the name Lauren Rowe with the familiar face and reassuring voice.

Planning board member who pleaded no contest to trying to buy cocaine could run for commission 

Headline Surfer® photos / Mired in personal tax debts, New Smyrna Bech Mayor Adam  arringer, shown at far left, is not seeking a third term in the 2014 elections. Zone 1 Commissioner Judy Reiker is running for a second term. Newcomer Jacob Sachs, shown in the inset, is running for the seat Grasty is vacating.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- For the first time in its history, New Smyrna Beach could see three candidates lay claim to seats on the City Commission without opposition with the clock ticking ever so closer to the end of qualifying. This follows the trend of the 2012 election when two seats went uncontested.