Local News Now

End of an era: New Smyrna Beach Kmart closes its doors

New Smyrna Beach KmartLast-minute shopping before permanent closing of New Smyrna Beach Kmart.Headline Surfer videos and photos by Sera Frederick / 
Kmart in New Smyrna Beach is yet another empty anchor on State Road 44 with its closing Sunday.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The inevitable happened Sunday: Kmart closed its doors for good with customers scrambling at the last-minute with some priced-goods slashed 90 percent.

Deltona motorcyclist struck and killed by Port Orange motorist outside New Smyrna Beach

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A 59-year-old Deltona motorcyclist was killed Saturday night when he was struck by a motorist in a Ford Bronco that made a left turn from southbound Tomoka Farms Road onto Ludlow Boulevard in Samsula, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Earnest Alan Smith, who was wering a helmet on his 2007 Honda while riding north on Tomoka Farms Road, was ejected from his motorcycle in the collision in the collision and pronounced dead at the scene of the 9:40 p.m. crash.

Chadwick Dean Vogt, 40, of Port Orange, the driver of the 1990 Ford Bronco, was not injured. He was not wearing a seatbelt.

College baseball: Lindsey Caughel strikes out 7 in Stetson's 4-2 win over Bison

Stetson's Lindsey CaughelFor the second time in as many days, the Stetson Hatters got solid starting pitching from starter Lindsey Cauhel (5-2) and just enough offensive production Saturday to defeat visiting Lipscomb Bison at Melching Field in DeLand.

DELAND -- Stetson pitcher Lindsey Caughel faced the minimum through five innings as the Hatters took a 4-2 victory from the Bison at home earlier today.

Caughel allowed just one earned run in 6.2 innings of work with one walk and seven strikeouts. The victory moved Stetson (25-13 overall, 8-6 in the Atlantic Sun Conference) past Lipscomb (17-22, 9-8) into fourth place in the league race. In order to hold that spot, the Hatters will have to complete the series sweep on Sunday. The final game of the weekend is set for an 11 a.m. start.

How is it many today have become ignorant of our founding principles?

“A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government.” -- Thomas Jefferson

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Is it not ironic that Thomas Jefferson is an icon of the Democrat Party? And that he would be on record believing that government, in order to be “good” government,” should be minimal and stay out of the way of individuals’ efforts to profit from their labor?

BREAKING NEWS: Man shot in car near Ormond Beach hospitalized; Sheriff's Office questioning two suspects

ORMOND BEACH -- The Volusia County Sheriff's Office is investigating a shooting here in the overnight hours that sent a motorist to the the hospitsal with two gunshots.

The 48-year-old victim had just driven away from a store in Ormond Beach when he was shot twice in his car near 1336 Par Ave. at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The man was transported to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach where he is currently in surgery. A female in his car was uninjured.

About five minutes later deputies found a van that matched the description of the suspect vehicle given by eyewitnesses to the shooting.

"With the assistance of the Daytona Beach Police Department and a Sheriff's Office helicopter, the van was tracked as it drove recklessly through a residential area until it finally crashed a 421 Whitney St. in Daytona Beach," Sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught said.

Lotts seek bankruptcy protection from NSB beachside hotel developers who advanced them $46,000 for marketing in now-defunct Observer

Newspaper Section

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Four years ago, a series of city commission meetings led by then-Mayor Sally Mackay, were heavily attended by merchants and chamber leaders on the beachside's Flagler Avenue who lobbied for special zoning that would pave the way for a new hotel: The $16 million Hampton Inn & Suites.

Those rallying cries were led by Steve Dennis, then-Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce director and CRA commission member, and Robert Wayne Lott, the president-elect of the chamber, a member of the Southeast Volusia hospital board taxing district and purchaser of the weekly Observer newspaper with his wife, Michele Lott.

Food Festival on New Smyrna Beach's Flagler Avenue expected to draw a family crowd

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Several thousand people are expected Thursday on Flagler Avenue for the annual Food Festival, with dozens of restaurants offering samples of their best cuisine for a nominal price. The festive family-oriented event begins at 5 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m. Besides food from restaurants like Clancy's Cantina, there will be live music and other entertainment.

Retired Volusia County Judge Stasia Warren challenging incumbent State Attorney R.J. Larizza

Stasia WarrenPhoto for NSBNews.net / Headline Surfer
Former Volusia County Judge Stasia Warren left the bench in March, hoping to return to the courtroom setting as state attorney.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Recently retired Volusia County Judge Stasia Warren announced Tuesday she's running for state attorney in the 7th Judicial Circuit against first-term incumbent R.J. Larizza.

Terry Shoemaker of St. Augustine is a third candidate. All three are Republicans. If one of them doesn't secure a 50-percent plus one vote victory in the primary, then the top two vote-getters will face off in November.

Warren made her surprise announcement in a press release e-mailed to NSBNews.net / Headline Surfer and other media outlets, saying in part: “I have faithfully served the law and our community by delivering justice from behind the bench."