Local News Now

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Karen Clancy first met Congressman Tom Feeney seven years ago when he helped her with several community projects when he was speaker of the Florida assembly.

This campaign season, she's returned the favor, serving as the Oviedo Republican's Volusia County campaign director.

Clancy said she's a big fan of Feeney for very obvious reasons that she believes people relate to and want from their elected leaders: "He's very strong on small government and letting people live the American dream."

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The body of a man found on the shoulder in the 300 block of the North Causeway early this morning has been identified as that of 42-year-old Glen Gagnon of Edgewater and police say they need the public’s help in determining what happened.

Police Sgt. Eugene Griffith did not release any other details except to say police responded to the scene at 12:44 a.m. "in reference to a deceased male lying on the shoulder of the roadway" and that homicide investigators and the medical examiner's office arrived as well.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- She has the glasses, hair and shapely figure, but she's not interested in politics and she doesn't have a $150,000 wardrobe.

This 22-year-old is the spittin' image of Sarah Palin: That's right, the glasses, the long black hair partly tied up and the red blouse and black skirt.

Meet Meghan Clancy, the closest resemblance to the Alaskan governor and vice presidential candidate.

The occasion you ask? Well, it's Halloween, silly.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Police Cmdr. William Drossman has been cleared of accusations of sending a racially-charged e-mail about Barack Obama to fellow officers, but he was "counseled" against using city property for personal use -- in this case a computer in his office at police headquarters.

The summary of an investigation concluded last month by city-hired outside counsel Mark E. Levitt concluded there was "no specific racist or inappropriate conduct by Drossman in forwarding an e-mail a couple of months back that contained writings from two of Obama's books that a police officer told an Orlando television station had racial overtones because the e-mail chain message portrayed the Democratic nominee as anti-white and urged against supporting his candidacy.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- There were several prominent public officials spotted at Friday's visit to the Woman's Club of New Smyrna Beach by Jill Biden, wife of Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden.

Spotted in the overflow crowd of nearly 300 on a steamy Friday afternoon was New Smyrna Beach City Manager John Hagood. Standing with the VIPs in the back room was New Smyrna Beach City Commissioner Lynne Plaskett.

Among the contingent in the security detail was New Smyrna Beach police Sgt. Eugene Griffith.

OAK HILL -- Linda Walton, longtime journalist who worked as a freelance journalist covering the city of Oak Hill for many years died at her home Saturday after suffering heart failure. She was 66.

Walton, an admitted heavy smoker, was a fixture at Oak Hill city meetings as a freelance reporter for the Daytona Beach News-Journal.

EDGEWATER -- Three dogs perished when a family's garage at 1581 Boyce Circle caught fire Oct. 19, Edgewater Fire DEepartment officials reported.

Upon arrival that Sunday night , the crew of Engine 57 found a detached garage, 200 feet from the main residence, fully engulfed in flames, said Lt. Jill Danigel, also the department's fire marshal.

The fire was quickly extinguished and no damage occurred to the home.

Well its less than a week to election day so who are we going to choose?

Here it is the baseball game of politics the Democrats versus the Republicans. We are in the 7th inning and the Democrats are leading
3 to 1 in the top of the 8th.

The Democrats score 1 run the Democratic fans go wild making the score 4 to 1. Then it's the bottom of the 8th inning Republicans score 1 run
to make the score 4 to 2 as the fans twirl their white towels.

Can you imagine actively applying for a job every day for more than 700 days?

That is what John McCain and Barack Obama are doing. It has to be a tremendous stress and strain, emotionally, physically, and mentally. Just imagine traveling throughout the entire country day in and day out, making speeches, shaking hands, kissing babies, and eating on the run.

Imagine the amount of planning for all these appearances, the amount of supporters involved, the incredible million of dollars for publicity. It is amazing that a campaign can be organized and conducted so efficiently.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- The Halifax Consort, Daytona State College’s resident early music ensemble, will perform at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, in the New Smyrna Beach Regional Library auditorium.