Local News Now

Courtesy photo / Stetson student Jason Sauter and his girlfriend, Nancy Vidarte, will report on the Royal wedding for CNN.

DELAND -- Stetson University student Jason Sauter isn't necessarily a big fan of the Royal Wedding, but his girlfriend is, and he won a CNN contest to cover it. And she's going with him.

Check out the full story as reported by the Orlando Sentinel. Click the attachment here: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/education/os-stetson-student-covers-royal-weddi20110420,0,2592632.story 

NSBNews.net, also known as VolusiaNews.net, provides Volusia County 24 / 7 Internet newspaper coverage, 100% free with breaking news, news of record and investigative reports from New Smyrna Beach, FL, for a 21st-century digital world. 

NSBNews.net file photo / George Trovato, shown here at a Republican Club luncheon in New Smyrna Beach last year,  set a controversial precedent over where a city attorney lives when he was with Deltona before he was fired and ran unsecuccessfully for a seat on the Volusia County Council in November against winner Joie Alexander. The issue of residency may have led to the resignation of current City Attorney Gary Cooney.

DELTONA -- With controversy surrounding where his primary residence is, Gary Cooney has tendered his resignation as city attorney, effective June 19. He makes $132,500 annually.

Cooney, a former city attorney in Mount Dora, has a residence in Lake County, in addition to a condo he bought in March 2010, in Deltona after accepting the job here. He sent his resignation in an April 18 e-mail memo to the city, but did not get into the residency issue, which has dogged him in recent weeks with some residents questioning his primary residence, even after officials said they were satisfied he met residency requirements.

PORT ORANGE -- The SWAT team was called out after a 20-year-old man barricaded himself in his Floral Springs Boulevard apartment with his two roommates inside and threatened to kill himself Friday afternoon. Neighboring residences were evacuated and the young man was talked into surrendering peacefully to a hostage negotiator, Port Orange police said.

DELAND -- A 53-year-old DeLand motorist was killed Friday when she drove her brand new Nissan into the path of a cement mixer on U.S. 92 at Old Daytona Road near DeLand, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Patricia Poeth, who was trapped in her crushed car, was pronounced dead at the scene of the 8 a.m. accident, the highway patrol said.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A 49-year-old surfer from Deltona is the first shark-bite victim of 2011, even if his puncture wounds are small, the Volusia County Beach Patrol said of the Friday incident while he was standing in 3 feet of water.

Ronald White refused transport to Bert Fish Medical Center following the 3:30 p.m. bite while he was returning to shore near the Beachway Avenue Approach.

Courtesy photo / Christopher Sponer of Deltona is being held at the Volusia County Branch Jail after a failed robbery of a fast-food restaurant.

DELTONA -- A failed attempt to steal money early Saturday morning from the cash drawer of a Burger King in Deltona has landed a 42-year-old man in jail.

The attempted robbery was foiled by an employee who shoved the man’s hands away from the drawer and slammed it shut before the suspect could swipe the money. The accused, Christopher Sponer of Deltona, is facing charges of robbery by sudden snatching, grand theft of a motor vehicle and battery.

For all of you who didn't want to get involved in what was going on at the hospital by not attending the meetings and demanding answers, are you ready for your "dry" colonoscopy, 'cause here it comes, big time! Say ah...

NSBNews.net, also known as VolusiaNews.net, provides Volusia County 24 / 7 Internet newspaper coverage, 100% free with breaking news, news of record and investigative reports from New Smyrna Beach, FL, for a 21st-century digital world. 

Courtesy photo / Dennis Devlin (shown in the larger photo)  faces at least 15 years in federal prison for aiding and abetting Michael Ehman, 20, involving sexual exploitation of a minor while he was managing the Desert Inn in Daytona Beach where the lewd acts took place in front of a video camera.

DAYTONA BEACH -- The Manager of the Desert Inn pleaded guilty in federal court to child sex exploitation charges for activities involving lewd acts with a 13-year-old boy at the beachside hotel.

NSBNews.net, also known as VolusiaNews.net, provides Volusia County 24 / 7 Internet newspaper coverage, 100% free with breaking news, news of record and investigative reports from New Smyrna Beach, FL, for a 21st-century digital world. 

Courtesy photo / Krirtophe Gonsaves allegedly stared down a 14-year-old girl and then fled in his van after she rejected his request for sex, which led to his arrest Thursday, Sheriff's officials said.

DELTONA -- Volusia County Sheriff's investigators arrested a Deltona man this afternoon after he was accused of following a 14-year-old girl and propositioning her for sex.