Local News Now

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- bThe New Smyrna Beach Regional Library’s "Live in the Library" series
will focus on literature with presentations by Florida authors at 2 p.m. every Sunday in March.

Courtesy photo/Jail mug/VCSO. Charles Gardiner, 35, of New Smyrna Beach, has been suspended with pay from New Smyrna Beach High School, where he has been employed asa a night janitor since October 2007, after his arrest Thursday on charges of unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl two years ago.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The 35-year-old New Smyrna Beach man accused of having unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl has been suspended and placed on paid administrative leave from his job as a janitor at New Smyrna Beach High School, even though authorities said Friday he worked the 3-11 night shift and the relationship was off campus.

Courtesy photos/Jail mugs/NSBPD.

Joseph Leonard Bompadre, 40, of Edgewater. at far left; and Daniel L. Ellis, 38, of New Smyrna Beach, were arrested on burglary charges early Friday morning and other suspects in a recent rash of residential beachside rental properties, New Smyrna Beach police said.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Two men were arrested early Friday on burglary charges and are now considered suspects in the recent rash of predominantly beachside residential properties, New Smyrna Beach police said.

Courtesy photo/Jail mug. New Smyrna Beach resident Charles Gardiner III was arrested Thursday on charges of having sex with a 13-year-old girl, according to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Charles Gardiner III insisted that he cared about the 13-year-old girl he had befriended and thought he was doing something good by being there for her and engaging in unlawful sex with her, the Volusia County Sherioff's Office said in announcing his arrest.

Photo for Headline Surfer / A large pothole caused delays during the 52nd annual running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday won by Jaime McMurray.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Daytona International Speedway has begun installing reinforced concrete in Turn 2 today, Track President Robin Braig announced Thursday.

NSB NEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick.

At far left, New Smyrna Beach Mayor Adam Barringer and his girlfriend, Shannon Sumner, and Margaret and Danny Micklelbrink, owners of Clancy's Cantina, attend Sarah Palin's speech at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach on Monday. The photo was shot with a cell phone since cameras weren't allowed. There was a veritable who's-who of prominent New Smyrna Beach residents among the 2,000 in attendance at the annual convention of the Daytona Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, including Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce President Sue Williams and her husband, Tom; NSB Realtor Bill Roe and his wife; Jay Pendergast and his wife, Mary Claire; and Herman Mitchell, past president of the Southeast Volusia Kiwanis Club. At upper right, Palin autograsphs copies of her book, "Going Rogue" at Books-A-Million at the Volusia Mall earlier in the day. She also attended Sunday's Daytona 500 race.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Sarah Palin drew a thunderous ovation from 2,000 fans at the Ocean Center on Monday night, including New Smyrna Beach resident Danny Mickelbrink when she suggested America drill for oil in Florida's offshore as well as Alaska's frozen tundra instead of relying on foreign dictators who abhor democracy.

NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick. Sarah Palin signs copies of her book, "Going Rogue," at Books-A-Million for 900 fans who stood in line from noon until 3 p.m. Monday. Among them was Richard Vyse, 55, of New Smyrna Beach and general manager of the New Smyrna Beach Holiday Inn. It was the first of two appearances on the day with Palin speaking to 2,000 at the Ocean Center as guest speaker for the Daytona Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. She also attended Sunday's Daytona 500 race at Daytona International Speedway.

DAYTONA BEACH -- The line started forming two hours before the high noon start of Srah Palin's book signing show at what else of all places -- Books-A-Million -- at the Volusia Mall.  Among those in line was Richard Vyse, New Smyrna Beach resident and general manager of the NSB Holiday Inn.

NSBNEWS.net photyo by Henry Frederick. Mayor Adam Barringer holds up a draft copy of his Economic Development Plan for New Smyrna Beach during his guest appearance Thursday at the Southeast Volusia Republican Club's monthly luncheon meeting of the Smyrna Yacht Club. Barringer furnished NSBNEWS.net a first-look copy Sunday night, which is posted below in the attachment.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Mayor Adam Barringer has unveiled his Economic Development Plan for the city's short- and long-term development.

This was a campaign promise Barringer made good on in his first 100 days in office, with his Nov. 2 general election win over incumbent Sally Mackay.

Courtesy photos/NASCAR. Jaime McMurray only led two laps, but he made them count in what turned out to be the longest Daytona 500 in history Sunday, delayed in part by a large pothole that had to be repaired. McMurray beat the hard-charging Dale Earnhardt Jr. who went  from 10th to second in one lap.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Jamie McMurray couldn't hold back the tears. He captured the 52nd annual Daytona 500 victory in a gripping finish on Sunday at Daytona International Speedway.

McMurray survived a green-white-checkered finish and was able to hold off a hard charging Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win NASCAR's most prestigious race.

NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick. Jim Hunt, 65, of Oshkosh, Wisc., gets his change back after breakfast Sunday with his family at Denny's restaurant on State Road 44 in New Smyrna Beach. Hunt is among thousands of NASCAR race fans staying in greater New Smyrna Beach during Speed Weeks, which ends with today's 52nd running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach. Restaurants throughout New Smyrna Beach -- Ruthie's, Mom's, Pappas' Drive-In, the Beacon, Manny's, Jason' Corner and others were jam packed.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Jim Hunt was among the last wave of race fans that slammed Denny's restaurant Sunday morning on State Road 44 in advance of the Daytona 500.