Volusia News Now

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- S. Truett Cathy, a billionaiure several times over who saw himself asa simple man, would often say, "I cook chicken for a living.”

The founder of Chick-fil-A, who owned a seasonal home in New Smyrna Beach outside of the gated Sugar Mill golf course community, died Sept. 8, 2014, at his home in Clayton County, Ga., a Chick-fil-A spokesman confirmed. He was 93.

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DAYTONA BEACH – At the age of 26, Alliston George of Daytona Beach could very well spend the rest of his life behind bars for shooting another man in the face with a .38 semi-automatic handgun the afternoon of Oct. 23, 2014, after an apparent soured drug deal.

A jury on Friday found George guilty of Attempted first degree murder with a firearm, which subjects him to Florida's 10-20-life statute, whenever a gun is discharged causing injury, which requires a 25-year-to-life sentence to be imposed. That he's looking at spending the rest of his life behind bars perhaps was a fata com-pleat for this three-time convicted felon.

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SANFORD, Fla. -- On Nov. 21 at 12:58 p.m. a then-unknown man entered the Bank of America, 3094 South Orlando Drive.

Here is a synopsis of what happened as described in a press release sent to HeadlineSurfer.com and other Central Florida media outlets: The suspect entered the financial institution and approached a teller, demanding an unknown amount of currency.

The suspect was last seen wearing a black bandana on his head, sunglasses, a black shirt, jeans, a sports coat, and blue sneakers. The suspect was described as having a thin build and possibly in his late twenties or early thirties. Furthermore, the suspect fled the scene without removing any currency from the financial institution.

DEBARY, Fla. -- A 76-year-old man was struck and killed by a van in the roadway on Highbanks Road in DeBary near a Walgreens pharmacy about 90 minutes ago, an official with the Volusia Counry Sheriff's Office said.

Here is a synopsis of the pedestrian fatality that was reported at 9:28 p.m. Tuesday and decribed by Sheriff's PIO Andrew Gant in an email alert to Headline Surfer® and other Central Florida media outlets: The caller reported a white Chevrolet van struck a 76-year-old man in the roadway on Highbanks at the intersection with Charles R. Beall Boulevard, near a Walgreens.

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SANFORD, Fla. – The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of first-degree murder inmate Michael Ross Friedman, 64, of Delray Beach, who collapsed in his jail cell Sunday night and died a short time after he was rushed by ambulance to South Seminole Hospital.

Friedman had been held without bail at the Polk Correctional Facility in Sanford on a capital murder charge out of Winter Springs for the alleged shooting death of his ex-wife's boyfriend.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Regan Smith got the bump-drafting help he needed from Trevor Bayne and beat Brad Keselowski to the finish line by .013 seconds to win February's season-opening NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway.

Photos for Headline Surfer® / Victor Oladipo underwent corrective surgery for a facial fracture. in October 2014, forcing him to wear a protective mask upon his return to the court.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo was ruled out "indefinitely" after suffering a facial fracture during practice Oct. 23, 2014, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced.

Oladipo, 22, who was evaluated that afternoon after taking an inadvertent elbow to the face during a practice drill, underwent a corrective surgical procedure.

Oladipo made his return from injury on Nov. 14, wearing a facial protection mask as he made his season debut against the Milwaukee Bucks. In 25 minutes off the bench, he recorded 13 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists in a 101–85 win.

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NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Bob Garrigues was a leading businessman in New Smyrna Beach for decades, before he passed away on July 18, 2014, at the age of 82.

Born and raised in the Baltimore, Maryland area, Bob served in the Army during the Korean Conflict then graduated from Towson State University. He started a staff leasing company in the 1990s but spent most of his career in insurance.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Realtor Tom Alcorn bought the New Smyrna Beach Observer off the scrap heap of federal bankruptcy for $2,500 and re-opened it as a monthly, publishing 18 issues, but as the year 2014 drew to a close,  the paper was dead again.

Alcorn hired Tiffany Evers, who studied journalism in college as his editor, but the Observer never really got on track in terms of substantive reporting and lacked a credible distribution network. As a result, it officially ceased operations on Dec. 31, 2014.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Between now and Dec. 18, Deputy Police Chief Donna Lavallee and her colleagues in lawn enforcement at the New Smyrna Beach cop shop are encouraging citizens to remember the holidays and the true meaning of giving -- not just among family and friends, but to those less fortunate in the community.