Local News Now

Half million visits in first half of 2013

Headline Surfer snapshot graphic / Headline Surfer's story on an armed robbery Saturday night led the Google News Directories for New Smyrna Beach, Florida as shown here at left.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- When it comes to breaking news -- day or night -- or anytime around the clock for that matter, Headline Surfer, the 24/7 award-winning internet newspaper has you covered via HeadlineSurfer.com.

Headline Surfer is the smallest of the media outlets that pursue breaking news, but is very competitive nonetheless and typically during the overnight hours -- 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. -- when the other media outlets have sent their reporters home for the night.

By the time they can get crews assembled to go out and get the news during these overnights, Headline Surfer already has it trending in the major search engines and on our Facebook social media pages.

Be on the lookout: Gunman remains at large

Headline Surfer locator / New Smyrna Beach cops are on the lookout for an armed African-American gunman, described as wearing a white tank top and white shorts who shot a man in the 300 block of Palm Street as shown here at left.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A man was transported to Bert Fish Medical Center with a gunshot wound to an ankle after he was robbed by another man in the 300 block of Palm Street Saturday night, New Smyrna Beach police said.

Here is a synopsis of what occurred in the 9:16 p.m. incident: The victim, 39-year-old Jimmie Lee Clark, Jr., said he was robbed by a fellow African-American man armed with a small-caliber handgun.

Resurfacing of four-lane road to be completed in August

Headline Surfer photo by Henry Frederick / The blinking light at State Roadd 44 and Sugar Mill Drive will soon be replaced with a regular traffic light. The signal light qill cost $61,000, along with a $5 million resurfacing of the four-lane road, all paid for by the Florida Department of Transportation,

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The intersection of State Road 44 and Sugar Mill Drive soon will be safer for motorists with a new traffic signal to be installed in Auguest, a city official said.

“The new traffic signal is a result of a State traffic impact analysis to improve safety at the intersection – particularly the southbound left turn lane for Sugar Mill Drive motorists,” said Kyle Fegley, a city engineer.

Photo for Headline Surfer / Guitarist Gladius brings his unique guitar playing talents to the New Smyrna Beach Regional Public Library. 

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Atlanta guitarist and composer Gladius will give a free performance at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 31, in the New Smyrna Beach Regional Library auditorium, 1001 S. Dixie Freeway.

Trooper: 16-year-old didn't know 2-year-old was behind the vehicle

APOPKA -- A toddler was struck and killed Wednesday afternoon by a 16-year-old relative who didn't know she was behind the SUV he backed up in the family driveway in the 300 block of Avalone Drive, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

While backing the 2000 Ford, the boy struck the 2-year-old with the left rear tire, running her over in the process, a trooper reported. the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The victim, Amararis Martinez, was rushed by paramedics to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando where she succumbed to critical head injuries less than an hour after the 3:20 p.m. accident, FHP spokeswoman Sgt. Kim Montes said.

Photos for Headline Surfer  / Engine 53 is housed in Station 53 on Industrial Park Road in New Smyrna Beach. The city's largest fire truck was purchased in 2010 at a cost of nearly half a million bucks.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH - Christmas came a few weeks earlier for the New Smyrna Beach Fire Department in 2010 with the arrival of a 2010 Pierce Arrow XT, but the price was pretty steep: $402,500, complete with plaque of city officials affixed to it.

The wallet-lighting purchase comes in at No. 492 in Headline Surfer's fifth anniversary countdown of the top 500 stories.

Headliner Surfer locator map / The Lil' Champ Store, 2460 Ocean Shore Blvd., in Ormond Beach, was the scene of a robbery attempt thwarted by the store clerk who met potentially deadly force with with that of his own four years ago.

ORMOND BEACH -- A would-be robber armed with a knife picked on the wrong store clerk who pulled out a knife of his own and called the criminal's bluff.

The event occurred at 5:54 a.m. back on Jan. 19, 2009, at the Lil' Champ Food Store, 2460 Ocean Shore Blvd., Ormond Beach. It comes in at No. 493 in Headline Surfer's fifth anniversary countdown of the top 500 stories.

Here is a synopsis of what happened as reported by the Volusia County Sheriff's Office:  The suspect came into the store brandishing a knife and demanding money. But he was startled when the clerk lunged at him with a knife of his own and the suspect fled empty handed.