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(Photo by Henry Frederick)

Even though Port Orange resident Margie Patchett came up short in her bid for the at-large County Council seat won by Joyce Cusack in the Nov. 2 elections, she's returned to her roots as head of Volusia Tax Reform, questioning the council's wisdom and even the legality of the council's Dec. 9 vote to spend $28.8 million for the Leffler Ranch.

Here is a link to VolusiaNews.Net's story on the County Council's vote:

volusianews.net/content/363733-county-council-closes-leffler-ranch-today-cool-288-million-touted-future-water-supply

What follows is a letter Patchett wote to the council dated Dec. 14:

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(Photos by Dale Smith). In the larger photo, David Swentor, developer of the proposed 112-room Hampton Inn on Flagler Avenue in New Smyrna Beach, addresses the City Commission, with attorney Glenn Storch by his side, implores officials to grant him an additional six months to secure funding, saying his project was negatively impacted by the city's planning debacle. In the smaller photo, City Commissioner and Mayor Adam Barringer, along with Commissioners Judy Reiker and Lynne Plaskett, vote to meet him half way with a three-month extension. Commissioner Jim Hathaway opposes any extension at all. 

Here is a link to one of the earlier stories on the planning debacle that NSBNEWS.net broke:

nsbnews.net/content/279859-hotel-developer-david-swentor-citys-planning-debacle-insane

Editor's note: The following story was submitted by contributing writer Dale Smith:

NEW SMYRNA BEACH – The develops can look at their plight following Tuesday's decision by the City Commission as a glass half full or half empty.

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(Courtesy photo) A traffic stop led Sherioff's deputies to the Edgewater home of Randy Freeman, who was alledgedly running a meth lab.

EDGEWATER --  An Edgewater man was stopped Tuesday night for having a revoked license during what started as a routine traffic stop. However, drug paraphernalia was discovered in plain view in his car, which led to further investigation revealing materials commonly associated with a meth lab in his home, a Volusia County Sheriff's spokeswoman said.

Randy Freeman, 29, was arrested and taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach.

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(Courtesy photos). Thursday's County Council approval to purchase the sprawling Leffler Ranch between Samsula and Osteen as a futurewater supply paves the way for today's closing at $28.8 million.

Editor's note: The following story was submitted by contributing writer Dale Smith:

SAMSULA -- Nestled between Osten and eyed by the county as the water source of the future, the Volusia County Council's decision to empty its wallet to pay for the 4,806-acre Leffler Ranch has assured a closing date today in becoming owners of the property in the Volusia Conservation Corridor.

The purchase price of $28.8 million will come from three sources -- $12.2 million that's left in the county's 20-year Volusia Forever Program; $11.6 million advance from the general fund reserves, and $5 million from the water utility fund reserves.

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NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- An off-duty k-9 officer walking his dog shot and killed an aggressive pit bull that was initially aggressive with his dog and then lunged at him, New Smyrna Beach police said Monday.

The incident happened Saturday night when Bruce Holcomb was wasking his own dog, a Siberian Husky, in his New Smyrna Beach neighborhood with his fiancee and her dog when they were accosted by a pit bull that had previously attacked his husky.

VolusiaNews.net and NSBNEWS.net provide 24/7 online-media coverage for a 21st-century world

Editor's note: The following story was submitted by contributing writer Dale Smith:

NSBNEWS.net and VolusiaNews.net provide 24/7 online-media coverage for a 21st-century world

(photos by Dale Smith). To loud cheers and whistles, Santa Claus disembarks the Florida East Coast "Christmas Train" in New Smyrna Beach on Saturday morning and is swarmed by parents and children alike. In the smaller photo, Jazmine, 5, Jayden, 2, and Myron, 4, children of Jessica Dubois of New Smyrna Beach, wait for Santa's arrival.

Editor's note: The following story was submitted by contributing writer Dale Smith:

 NEW SMYRNA BEACH – A preview of what’s to come this Christmas was played out Saturday morning when several hundred families with wide-eyed and fidgety children in tow excitedly welcomed Santa Claus during a brief stop here.

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(Courtesy photo) The Starlite Princess had to be rescued overnight Friday after getting stuck in shallow waters ff Ormond Beach.

ORMOND BEACH -- The 85-foot passenger boat Starlite Princess based in Daytona Beach, returned to port after the vessel ran temporarily aground in the Intracoastal Waterway near Ormond Beach on Friday with 150 people on board, the New-Smyrna Beach-based U.S. Coast Guard said.

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(Photos by Henry Frederick). This egret enjoys the sunny and warm mid-week weather outside the Dairy Queen on U.S. 1 in New Smyrna Beach after a cold front brought nighttime temperatures into the low 30s. It's going to be much colder overnight Sunday with temps in the low 20s.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Overnight Sunday will be the coldest by far this winter season with temperature in the low to mid 20s, the National Weather Service in Melbourne warns.

A wind chill advisory remains in effect until 10 a.m. Monday. Even through mid-morning, temperatures are not expected to climb above 20.

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL 227 PM EST SUN DEC 12 2010

NSBNEWS.net photos by Sera Frederick

Members of the New Smyrna Beach Middle School Stingrays dance team were wrapping Christmas presents for customers at Barnes & Noble bookstore in Daytona Beach  in exchange for donations.