Local News Now

DELAND -- Chubby Checker, whose song "The Twist," was the dance sensation of the early 1960s, will be coming to town tonight in celebration of Florida Hospital DeLand's 50th anniversary.

There will be a free street party from 6 to 9 p.m. on Indiana Avenue, during which we will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the most people twisting in the street, said Jeremy Reidenberg, san organizer of the event. At 7:30 p.m., Chubby Checker will perform a benefit concert at the historic Athens Theater, located at the end of Indiana Ave.

EDGEWATER -- I got my absentee ballot the other day and was bowled over by how much it includes. It begins with the candidates for president which number 12 in all. including Roseanne Barr/Cindy Sheehan for the PFP party whatever that is.

OAK HILL -- Doug Gibson stood tall in answering questions during a public candidate debate in the race for mayor sponsored by Headline Surfer. After all, his opponent in the non-partisan race, fellow commissioner and Vice Mayor Linda Hyatt, was a no show.

Epps-Wagner headline 3 debates in Port Orange on Oct. 21; Shelley-Henry Daytona mayoral debate waiting on venue

Dist. 8 Florida Senate candidates Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, and Frank Bruno, D-Ponce Inlet, have agreed to participate in a 90-minute public candidate debate sponsored and moderated by Headline Surfer on Oct. 21 at the Brannon Center in New Smyrna Beach. 

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Headline Surfer held eight public candidate debates leading up to the Aug. 14 primary and has held three more so far during the general election cycle. Five more are planned before early voting gets under way and the biggest of them all is a showdown between Republican Dorothy Hukill and Democrat Frank Bruno.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The advertising in the state senate race between Dorothy Hukill and Frank Bruno is starting to get really ugly and personal, too. It's not just the high-priced TV ads between the two political heavyweights, but a state Republican Party radio spot against the Democrat, Bruno, that has drawn the ire of voters, especially those of Italian-American heritage.

The Orlando Magic signed free agent small forward Chris Johnson, 22, waivbed by the LA Clippers. Orlando's roster now stands at 20, but must be reduced by Nov. 1, the day before the Magic open the regular season at home gainst the Denver Nuggets.

ORLANDO – The Orlando Magic have signed free agent forward Chris Johnson, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today.

Per team policy, terms of the deal with Johnson, 22, were not disclosed. He was cut last week by the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The SpaceX rocket was launched Sunday night into the heavens with private enterprise taking over for NASA in delivering cargo to the International Space Station. Countless people along the Atlantic Coastlines of Brevard, Volusia and Flagler counties took to the beaches or intercoastal waterways to see the 8:35 p.m. liftoff.

OAK HILL -- Although we have had to say good-bye to the space shuttle program, apparently all is not lost across Mosquito Lagoon. At the launch site at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station stood a Falcon 9 rocket that blasted off Sunday night from Kennedy Space Center for the International Space Station.

How and why a young man was shot over the weekend at 836 24th Ave., in New Smyrna Beach is sketchy. The location of the 9:14 p.m. shooting is shown at left.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A 22-year-old man was being treated over the weekend at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach for non-life threatening injuries suffered when he was shot Saturday night on the beachside.

Here is a written synopsis by Sgt. Christopher Roos of what occurred in the 9:14 p.m. shooting of Samuel D. Stultz at 836 24th Ave.: "Contact was made with the victim and witnesses who were able to provide limited investigative leads. New Smyrna Beach Fire and Rescue responded to the scene and treated the victim. The victim was later taken to Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach for non-life threatening injuries."

DEBARY -- Lately there has been the focus on the debate that Obama lost. But how quickly the president and the liberal media have moved on from the murder of Ambassador Chris Stephens and the other three Americans at the Libyan embassy in Benghazi.