Churning waves in wake of Hurricane Irene blamed for two deaths locally

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A popular New Smyrna Beach High School teacher died earlier today while surfing in post Hurricane Irene waves of 5 to 7 feet that forced him under with what turned out to be a major head laceration, the Volusia County Beach Patrol said.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Mayor Adam Barringer laughed when asked what he thought of Hurricane Irene and all of the media hype: "It was the big nothing."

The upcoming Co-Ed Softball season will tentatively begin on Monday, Oct. 3, at the New Smyrna Beach Sports Complex. Interested teams will need to attend the managers meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 14, in the portable located next to the city Parks & Recreation office, 1000 Live Oak St.

DAYTONA BEACH -- It's amazing how far TV news will go to hype a hurricane that clearly isn't coming here. But that didn't stop a WESH reporter from deliberately walking in the surf to make a point Thursday night.

The reporter alluded to the windy palm tree branches and the swollen waves from Hurricane Irene, which steered clear of Florida as it headed to the Carolinas.

For 200 years, American forces have fought in many wars: Valley Forge, Gettysburg, world War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, all for the cause of freedom. What is it about the United States of America, are we the only country that will fight for freedom for other countries so that their people can be free?