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Ex-planners Rakowski and Lingenfelter sought Oak Hill's planner job just weeks before scandal broke

NSBNEWS.net photo by Sera Frederick

NSBNEWS.net Investigative Reporting

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NSB's Planning Debacle

Just weeks before New Smyrna Beach's planning debacle brought dozens of city projercts to a grinding halt in June, Chad Lingenfelter, shown here with his hand raised, and Mark Rakowski, the two planners blamed by city officials for the mess, applied unsuccessfully for the planner's job in Oak Hill. See the attachments posted with this story for their applications to Oak Hill.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- In another bizarre twist in the city's planning debacle, then-Chief Planner Chad Ligenfelter and his former boss, Mark Rakowski, both applied for the planner's position in Oak Hill, just weeks before the scandal broke last month. Neither won over Oak Hill officials who were pleased and relieved New Smyrna Beach's embarrassment wasn't passed on to them.

NSB COPS: Man, 23, arrested on child-porn charges; including sexually explicit pictures of a toddler

Newspaper Section

Courtesy photo / NSBPD

Kenneth W. Crist, 23, of 605 Goodwin Ave., New Smyrna Beach, was arrested Friday on charges of possessing photos of child pornography.  According to New Smyrna Beach police, the sexually explicit photos possessed by Crist included that of a child no older than 3.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Police uncovered a dirty little secret behind the doors of 605 Goodwin Ave. when they arrived with a search warrant Friday morning. The occupant of the residence, 23-year-old Kenneth W. Crist soon found himself behind bars, charged with possessing pornographic photos of children, New Smyrna Beach police said.

Obituaries

John Lester Turnblom, 90, of Edgewater, born in Worcester, Mass., and served in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II, receiving the Bronze Star, died Monday, July 26, 2010. Full obituary under Settle-Wilder Funeral Hiome listings.

Cassandra Fought, 60, of New Smyrna Beach, a homemaker, died Monday, July 26, 2010.

Peter Frederick Funk, 85, of New Smyrna Beach, former owner/operator of an automobile dealership, died Monday, July 26, 2010.

John "Jack" Slater, 76, of New Smyrna Beach, an actor, died Sunday, July 25, 2010. Full obituary under Settle-Wilder Funeral Hiome listings.

NSB COPS: Public's help sought in capturing armed robber

Newspaper Section

Courtesy photos / NSBPD

Here are two still photos taken from the surveillance video at the Kangaroo Express, showing a gunman who robbed the convenience store store Sunday night. If you know who this is, please call NSB police Detective Nicki Diffin at 386-424-2248.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Still photos from a surveillance video from Sunday' nights armed robbery at the Kangaroo Express Mart, 2600 N. Dixie Frwy., were released Wednesday to the media in hopes that someone will turn in the armed robber.

Sheriff's Office takes over Oak Hill patrols for 22 hours to allow cops to get firearms certifications

Newspaper Section

OAK HILL -- Police Chief Diane Young and her five officers were back on patrol mid-day Wednesday, one day after they received firearms certification from the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, which stepped in and policed the community in the interim.

Sheriff's Office: Edgewater-area husband surrenders peacefully after standoff

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Photos for NSBNEWS.net by Chris Atwell

The Volusia County Sheriff's Office brought out its big artillery, including a tank (shown above) to deal with a standoff with an angry husband who barricaded himself in his home after a fight with his wife, just outside the Edgewater City limits.

NSB Cops: Gunman robs Kangaroo Express

Newspaper Section

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A man armed with a handgun -- possibly a revolver -- robbed the Kangaroo Express, 2600 N. Dixie Freeway, at 9 p.m. Sunday and fled with an undetermined amount of cash, New Smyrna Beach police said. There were no injuries reported but the clerk "was pretty shaken up," police Sgt. Valerie Joyce said.