Local News Now

DAYTONA BEACH -- Nothing is mission impossible for Jason Davis, candidate for Volusia County chair, who finished second in the Aug. 14 primary in a field of three, but good enough to force a runoff with first-place finisher Carl Persis of Ormond Beach.

The 100 block of Howard Avenue in greater New Smyrna Beach was the scene of an armed home invasion Saturday night.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Volusia County Sheriff's deputies were investigating an apparent drug-related armed home invasion Saturday night in the 100 block of Howard Avenue, just outside the city limits.

After barging into the residence, one of two occupants inside suffered a slight head injury in a scuffle before the five young intruders, described only as black and between the ages of 18 to 21, ran off.

At least one of the intruders had a handgun, though no shots were fired. The injured resident, who may have known his attackers, was treated on scene by paramedics shortly after the 9 p.m. incident, said Sheriff's Sgt. Corey Piser from the dispatch center early this morning. 

DAYTONA BEACH -- By now you know the story all too well: On the 11th anniversary of the destruction of the Twin Towers, an Egyptian mob attacked the American Embassy in Cairo, scaled the wall, tore down and destroyed the American flag and replaced it with an Islamic banner containing the Arabic slogan, “Allah’s Messenger is Mohammad.”

ORMOND BEACH -- Americans place a high value on life. We have done this whenever we’ve gone to war which sounds quite odd, doesn’t it? After all, war is death and destruction on a grand scale. Americans are optimistic people. We tend to see the glass half full and think that everyone operates at the highest and best level. On Sept. 11, 2001, our country was attacked by mad men. It shook us up and made us reassess our whole lives through the glass of insanity.

EDGEWATER -- "Are you watching TV?" was the first thing out of my husband's mouth in a surprise phone call where he worked in Pennsylvania when we lived up north on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001.

DAYTONA BEACH SHORES -- Once again, at its convention last week, the new Democratic Party has shown its disdain for Israel. Along with the Republicans, the Democrats have traditionally been proud supporters of Israel, our only real friend, ally and supporter in the Middle East. But in recent years, the Dems have come to be dominated by their extreme left wing, led by the modern Marxist, Barack Obama.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Headline Surfer was the first media organization to hold public candidate debates, eight in all during a day-long marathon session on July 21, at the Brannon Center in New Smyrna Beach, leading up to the Aug. 14 primaries. The New Smyrna Beach-based Internet Newspaper is first again leading up to the Nov. 6 general elections with three debates at Oak Hill City Hall for Volusia County chair, county council dist. 3 and Oak Hill mayor.