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(Photos by Dale Smith). At far left, NSB City Commissioners Jim Hathaway and Judy Reiker listen to their colleagues discuss future plans. In the second photo, Mayor Adam Barringer, Commissioner Lynne Plaskett and Assistant City Manager Khalid Resheidat do the same.

Editor's note: The following story was submitted by contributing writer Dale Smith:

NEW SMYRNA BEACH – City leaders started with a list of 17 goals for the coming year, but narrowed them to 10, including issues like zoning, downtown redevelopment, parking and city employee pensions, at a visioning workshop.

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(Courtesy photo). Albert Edward Gilner, 74, of New Smyrna Beach, has been arrested on federal warrants charging him with multiple counts of wire and mail fraud as well as money laundering.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A New Smyrna Beach man wanted by U.S. Postal Service on fraud charges has been apprehended with the help of a police detective here,

The feds were able to track down 74-year-old Albert Edward Gilner, arresting him 9:20 a.m. Friday at his residence, 1412 S. Riverside Drive, on warrants charging him with four counts of wire fraud, three counts of mail fraud, and one count of money laundering.

New Smyrna Beach Police Detective Lisa Gundrum was instrumental in making the arrest happen, having worked with federal investigators since 2008.

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DELAND -- The U.S. Census Bureau released population counts based on the 2010 census Tuesday, showing the nation’s population grew from 281,421,906 in 2000 to 308,745,538 in 2010, a 9.7 percent growth rate.

Florida, the fourth most populous state, will gain two congressional seats as a result of population increases. According to the Census Bureau, Florida's population increased from 15,982,378 in 2000 to 18,801,310 in 2010.

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DELAND -- Volusia County’s public libraries will close at 5 p.m. Thursday, and remain closed through Christmas, county spokeswoman Pat Kuehn said.

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(Courtesy photo / orlandomagic.com) Vince Carter, whose road through baskettball started at Daytona Beach's Mainland High School, then the North Carolina ar Heels and into the NBA with the Toronto Raptors, the New Jersey and then a homecoming of sorts with the Orlando Magic, is now a member of the Phoenix Suns in a major blockbuster trade.

DAYTONA BEACH -- The Orlando Magic have traded former Mainland High School star Vince Carter to the Phoenix Suns in a multi-player trade. Read more about it by clicking the link to SI.com: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/basketball/nba/12/18/magic.trades.ap/index.html?eref=sihp

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DAYTONA BEACH -- Passenger traffic at Daytona Beach International Airport increased 14 percent in November compared with the same month last year, according to VolusiaCounty officials.

During November 37,402 incoming and outgoing passengers traveled through Daytona Beach International Airport. This compares with 32,853 travelers recorded in November last year.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH – The way City Commissioner Lynne Plaskett sees it, New Smyrna Beach has more than its fair share of public benches with advertising on them. “I just don’t want to see us becoming a bus bench billboard city,” Plaskett said.

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(Photo by Henry Frederick)

Even though Port Orange resident Margie Patchett came up short in her bid for the at-large County Council seat won by Joyce Cusack in the Nov. 2 elections, she's returned to her roots as head of Volusia Tax Reform, questioning the council's wisdom and even the legality of the council's Dec. 9 vote to spend $28.8 million for the Leffler Ranch.

Here is a link to VolusiaNews.Net's story on the County Council's vote:

volusianews.net/content/363733-county-council-closes-leffler-ranch-today-cool-288-million-touted-future-water-supply

What follows is a letter Patchett wote to the council dated Dec. 14:

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(Photos by Dale Smith). In the larger photo, David Swentor, developer of the proposed 112-room Hampton Inn on Flagler Avenue in New Smyrna Beach, addresses the City Commission, with attorney Glenn Storch by his side, implores officials to grant him an additional six months to secure funding, saying his project was negatively impacted by the city's planning debacle. In the smaller photo, City Commissioner and Mayor Adam Barringer, along with Commissioners Judy Reiker and Lynne Plaskett, vote to meet him half way with a three-month extension. Commissioner Jim Hathaway opposes any extension at all. 

Here is a link to one of the earlier stories on the planning debacle that NSBNEWS.net broke:

nsbnews.net/content/279859-hotel-developer-david-swentor-citys-planning-debacle-insane

Editor's note: The following story was submitted by contributing writer Dale Smith:

NEW SMYRNA BEACH – The develops can look at their plight following Tuesday's decision by the City Commission as a glass half full or half empty.