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Palmer Wilson says former ad authority exec Tim Hamby was often taken to task by County Council's Deb Denys

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The Sunday Conversation / Headline Surfer

Deb Denys at eggs & issues chamber breakfast  / Headline SurferTim Hamby, former director of the SVAA / Headline Surfer®NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- In his first media interview since he was removed from the board of the Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority where he was the chair, Palmer Wilson said County Councilwoman not only forced him out, but hastened the departure of the previous director.

Little Theatre of New Smyrna Beach adds another showing of 'Steel Magnolias' Henry Frederick Mon, 01/13/2014 - 00:26
Cast of 'Steel Magnolia' fort Littler Theatre of New Smyrna Beach / Headline Surfer®Photo by Sandi Carroll for Headline Surfer® / The cast of 'Steel Magnolias' from left to right, are Karen Poulsen as Clairee, Kara Riley as Annelle, Barbara O'Connell as Ouiser, Jeanna Carley as Truvy, Karin Jenkins as M'Lynn and Krystina Hatcher as Shelby.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- "Steel Magnolias" will be offered an additional time by the Little Theatre of New Smyrna Beach at a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee.

78. Apopka teen backing up SUV in family driveway hits toddler who wandered outside -- killing her

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Top 100 Stories of 2013 Daytona Beach-Orlando Metro Area / Headline Surfer®

Toddler death in Apopka, Florida / Headline Surfer / HeadlineSurfer.comAmaris Martinez, 2, of Apoka, was killed in July when she was run over in the family driveway / Headline Surfer®Headline Surfer® graphic / Amaris Martinez, just eight days shy of her second birthday, was accidentally run over and killed July 17, in her family's driveway in the 300 block of Avalone Drive in Apopka as shown in this snapshot locator map. 

APOPKA -- A 16-year-old boy was backing up his family's SUV in the driveway of his relative's residence, not knowing that in an instant his life would be changed forever.

The teen had no idea that 2-year-old Amaris Martinez had wandered out of her family's home in the 300 block of Avalone Drive, just as he was backing up the vehicle the afternoon of July 17, striking the toddler, troopers said.

79. Hernando County judge elevated to Tavares-based 5th circuit judgeship

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Top 100 Stories of 2013 Daytona Beach-Orlando Metro Area / Headline Surfer®

Judge Donald Scaglione / Headline Surfer®Photo for Headline Surfer® / Judge Donald E. Scaglione, shown here was elevated Nov. 15 from Hernando County judge to a judgeship in the 5th judicial circuit that covers Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, and Sumter counties, with main administrative offices in Tavares. The 5th circuit comes under the scrutiny of the 5th District Court of Appeal, which sits in Daytona Beach. 

TAVARES, Fla. – Hernando County Judge Donald E. Scaglione was appointed in November by Gov. Rick Scott to serve on the 5th Judicial Circuit Court in Tavares. The 5th circuit is under the umbrella of the 5th District Court of Appeal, which sits in Daytona Beach. 

Scaglione, 54 of Brooksville and a Hernando County Judge since 2005, filled a vacancy created by the retirement of Circuit Judge Sandra Edwards-Stephens.

A-Rod suspension coverage demonstrates mix of traditional & new media

LAKE MARY, Fla. -- News of the season-long suspension of New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez was big news throughout the overnight hours throughout the country. At 3:30 a.m. there were 846 headlines listed in the Google News Directories accessed via http://news.google.com/. Headline Surfer® was 49th overall and listed on the second page of the A-Rod headlines shown.

FDOT ribbon cutting slated Jan. 25 in Bushnell to mark Sumter County scenic highway designation

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Assistant Secretary of Florida Department of Transportation Brian Blanchard / Headline Surfer®Photo for Headline Surfer® / 
Brian Blanchard, assistant secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation shown here, will be among the officials in attendance at a ribbon cutting in Bushnell for a Sumter County scenic roadway designation. 
 

BUSHNELL, Fla. -- A scenic byway promoting ecotourism and history will be featured Jan. 25, as a ribbon cutting is held to celebrate the Scenic Sumter Heritage Byway's designation as an official Florida Scenic Highway.

Volusia County government puts roadblock up in release of media-related advertising

DAYTONA BEACH -- Volusia County government is among myriad taxpayer-funded revenue sources that is a staple of advertising for the Daytona Beach News-Journal, the traditional print medium that has supported its positions as demonstrated by the recent coverage of the continuing scandal in the Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority and the hiring of attorney Jon Kaney to investigate Waverly Media.

A-Rod's 162-game suspension a victory for Major League Baseball and the fans

Alex Rodriguez suspended from baseball for 162 games / Headline Surfer®

LAKE MARY -- The 162-game suspension handed out today against New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez for the upcoming season, including any post-season games, may be a major blow to the Yankee line-up, but it is a big victory for Major League Baseball and for the fans.

WFTV first with report on county chair attempt to have 3 SEV ad authority members removed for violating Sunshine Law

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Lori Brown of WFTV Orland reports on ad authority scandal / Headline Surfer®For Headline Surfer® /
Here is a snapshot of WFTV reporter Lori Brown reporting from the Volusia County Council in DeLand on an attempt by County Chair Jason Davis to have three members of the board of the New Smyrna Beach-based Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority removed for communicating with each other in emails in violation of Florida's government in the Sunshine in the wake of a credit card scandal involving their executive director.

DeLAND -- WFTV was the first media outlet today to provide news on an attempt by County Chair Jason Davis to have three Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority Board members removed for violating Florida's government in the Sunshine Law by communicating with each other in a series of e-mails in support of their executive director, caught using the agency credit to pay for meals for himself and others.

80. New Smyrna Beach cops: Cocaine dealer shot in ankle during robbery

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Top 100 Stories of 2013 Daytona Beach-Orlando Metro Area / Headline Surfer®

Jimmy Lee Clark, Jr. a convicted drug dealer was robbed and shot in July 2013 / Headline Surfer®Headline Surfer locator / New Smyrna Beach police didn't have much to go on in trying to find a gunman who Jimmy Lee Clark, Jr. , a convicted drug dealer shown here, claimed shot him in the ankle in July while robbing him of of his money.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A an ex-con who did three tours in prison for dealing cocaine man was transported to Bert Fish Medical Center on July 27 with a gunshot wound to an ankle after he claimed he was robbed of his money by another African-American man he claimed he didn't know. The shooter was never caught, New Smyrna Beach cops said.

The shooting comes in at No. 80 in the Headline Surfer® countdown of the top 100 stories of 2013.