Local News Now

Courtesy photo/Jail mug. Jessica Kalstek, 23, of New Smyrna Beach, is accused of leaving her two children, 2 and 6, home alone for 40 minutes with an open oven in the kitchen while 4-wheeling with her boyfriend in the woods.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A 23-year-old New Smyrna Beach woman was charged Thursday with child neglect after Volusia County Sheriff's deputies said she left her two children, 2 and 6, alone in her Elizabeth Street mobile home just outside the city limits while she went 4-wheeling in the woods for 40 minutes with her boyfriend.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Police are asking New Smyrna Beach homeowners to be on the alert for scammers posing as air conditioning repair workers.

"These guys have already hit twice in NSB, both times in the South Beach area, but could easily go elsewhere," cautioned New Smyrna Beach police Detective Tony Ford.

Please see the attached police community alert attached by NSBNEWS.net with this story.

NSBNEWS.net video by Sera Frederick. Motorists once again have full use of Wayne Avenue in New Smyrna Beach, after a small stretch of the road was reopened 1:30 p.m. today, less than 24 hours after it was closed due to a stormwater culvert collapse under the roadway that caused a depression, between Halleck Street and Wayne Avenue. That intersection is key to allowing homeowners access to the State Road 44 business corridor.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla -- The city's finance director has put away her calculator and turned in her balance sheet for the final time.

Courtesy photos.

At far left, Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach, greets senior citizens at the Brannon Center on Wednesday. At near left, Kosmas addresses local concerns about the historic national health-care reform legislation she voted on that was signed into law by President Obama, as Jeff Johnson, AARP Florida Operating Director, looks on during the meeting attended by about two dozen seniors.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach (Fl-24th), explained to two dozen senior citizens at the Brannon Center the importance and relevance of the historic national health-care reform legislation she helped secure with her vote a week ago Sunday .

NSBNEWS.net photo by Sera Frederick. Robert J. Rodi, CEO of the New Smyrna Beach Utilities Commission steps down May 28.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Utilities Commission CEO and General Manager Robert J. Rodi is resigning, effective May 28, according to a letter he signed, which was obtained by NSBNEWS.net under a public records request. NSBNEWS.net broke the story Monday night that Rodi had resigned earlier in the day for unspecified reason and that his resignation would take effect sometime in May.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A stretch of Wayne Avenue was closed Tuesday night after a depression was discovered in the roadway, New Smyrna Beach police said.

EDGEWATER -- Two people were injured in a mobile home fire just after noon today at 2450 South Ridgewood Ave., Lot 27, with reports of smoke coming from all windows and flames seen inside the structure, according to a spokeswoman with Edgewater Fire-Rescue that extinguished the fire.

NSBNEWS.net photo by Sera Frederick. Robert J. Rodi, shown here at a Sept. 24, 2008, New Smyrna Beach City Commission meeting, resigned Monday, effective in May.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Robert J. Rodi, CEO and General Manager of the New Smyrna Beach Utilities Commission resigned Monday during a special budget meeting of the Utlities Commission, saying his resignation takes effect  in May.

Rodi did not give a specific reason in announcing his decision during the meeting, which was not attended by any media.

Several people, who asked to remain anonymous, said Rodi's decision to step down was the result of threats and intimidation, but there was not more specifics.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A 22-year-old New Smyrna Beach man was treated for multiple stab wounds to his back-rib area Friday night at Bert Fish Medical Center after he was jumped by several other young men while playing basketball at Detweiler Park on the beachside, New Smyrna Beach police said.

The wounds were not-life threatening, but serious enough to necessitate staying overnight at the hospital, police Sgt, Christopher Roos said of the injuries suffered by Jawayne Tyler Santiago between 8:45 p.m. and 9:11 p.m.