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(Photo credit / Motorsports Images and Archives) Lane Construction employee Miguel Soto waves the checkered flag as paving is completed just inside Turn 1 at Daytona International Speedway. This last section marks the end of paving in this historic project.

DAYTONA BEACH -- The checkered flag was waved Friday for Lane Construction workers as they finished the final paving of Daytona International Speedway.

The paving crew wrapped up the final pass on the apron in Turns 1 and 2 in the late afternoon, following some inclement weather in the morning.

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(Courtesy photos) Lekeefe D. Lee, 25, of Daytona Beach, shown here far left, was found shot to death Friday night inside his car that had crashed into a FPL pole in the 700 block of Magnolia Avenue. Click on the attachment to read the police report, which indicates Lee, who was armed, was fleeing after ripping off the alleged gunman, 26-year-old Emanuel Laboy Rivera,  of $900 worth of pot.

DAYTONA BEACH -- In what Daytona Beach police are describing as a  drug deal gone bad, a 25-year-old city man was found shot to death in his car Friday night, having crashed into a pole after being shot two blocks away on Magnolia Avenue.

The gunman turned himself in and was charged with felony drug offenses, but police did not charge him in the homicide while their investigation continues.because he may have been defending himself.

Responding cops found LeKeefe D. Lee slumped in his car, having suffered a gunshot wound to the to the right side of his body below the armpit, apparently crashing the vehicle after being shot. Lee was pronounced dead at the scene inside the car.

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(Photo by Dale Smith). Glenn Storch, local attorney for the developers of the proposed Hampton Inn on Flagler Avenue in New Smyrna Beach, asks the CRA for a six-month extension to secure funding., pushing groundbreaking on the $15 million project until July 2011 at the earliest.

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

NEW SMYRNA BEACH – The attorney of HiHo, LLC, developers of the proposed Hampton Inn on Flagler Avenue, received unanimous approval from the Community Redevelopment Agency for a six month extension in order to secure funding for the $15 million project.

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DAYTONA BEACH -- The woman found dead Wednesday n the charred home destroyed by fire in the Daytona Highridge Estates subdivision just west of Daytona Beach has been identified as the homeowner, 54-year-old Lynda J. Thomas, a Volusia County Sheriff's spokesman said.

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

DELAND – Nineteen consent agenda items will precede public hearings on zoning changes and a proposal from Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson on an ordinance that would provide tougher county regulations on secondary metals recyclers when the Volusia County Council meets Thursday.

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(photos by Dale Smith). The Flagler Avenue Boardwalk design may change if the city commission approves removing the end structure like this one. The boardwalk has two, 35-foot-long extensions from the main structure. Removal of them would provide for better visibility. In the smaller photo, the copula has been a roosting place for pigeons over the years. Looking straight up, one can see why pigeons favor the inside.

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

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The question of what to do with the Flagler Avenue Boardwalk became somewhat clearer Wednesday when the Community Redevelopment Agency members approved what they think is the best way to fix and preserve the structure.

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DAYTONA BEACH -- Volusia County sheriff's investigators along with county firefighters were on the scene of a house fire just west of Daytona Beach Wednesday afternoon where the body of a woman was found inside the charred home in the Daytona Highridge Estates subdivision.

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(photos by Dale Smith). The empty lot at Flagler and Cooper avenues will be turned into an ice skating rink during the upcoming Winter Festival, sponsored by The Hospitality Group, comprised of merchants of Flagler Avenue.

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

NEW SMYRNA BEACH – The jet stream from Canada has dipped so low they’ll be ice skating on Flagler Avenue. Ok, maybe not the actual frozen stuff, but there will be artificial ice for everyone to glide around on.

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(Video by Sera Frederick). The 2010 New Smyrna Beach Christmas Parade draws several thousand people with plenty of candy for the little ones.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Everyone loves a parade, especially a Christmas one and what better place than here in New Smyrna Beach where several thousand people lined the streets from the beachside to the mainland downtown.

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SOUTH DAYTONA - Warner Christian Academy Superintendent Mark Tress will be hoisted onto the roof of the school 2 p.m. Tuesday by a Giles Electric bucket truck) and live there for 24 hours straight to raise funds for need-based scholarships and facility improvements.

During a recent fundraising auction, Tress challenged parents and students to raise $20,000. In return, he promised to spend 24 hours on the roof. That was a challenge that Warner supporters could not resist.