Local News Now

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- An 18-year-old surfer's right leg was a mistaken target for a 4-foot shark this afternoon in the surf near the South Jetty, the Volusia County Beach Patrol reported.

The unidentified Lake Mary teen was treated on scene by paramedics, but refused transport to the hospital for stitches in favor of a ride from friends for medical care, said Beach Patrol spokesman Capt. Scott Petersohn.

NSBNEWS.net video by Sera Frederick. The newly refoermed City Commission was made official Tuesday night with the swearing in of new Mayor Adam Barringer, new Commissioner Judy Reiker and re-elected Commissioner Jack Grasty, all of whom join Commissioners Lynne Plaskett and Jim Hathaway. Judge Shirley Green administered the oaths of elective office to the three. Barringer and Reiker were elected Nov.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The proposed 112-room, three-story Hampton Inn & Suites for the western end of Flagler Avenue was approved by the newly reconfigured City Commission tonight with the business community firmly in favor of it as an economic generator and the residents of impacted Florida Avenue opposed.

Florida Avenue resident Max Dugas asked pointedly: "Would you want this hotel in your front yard?"

Editor's Note: Marc Goldberg, communications director for Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach, passed along a copy of an op-ed piece Kosmas wrote for Florida Today that was published today regarding her dissenting vote on the Health Care legislation in Washington:

http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200991109027

Nov. 11, 2009: Conan S. Mitchell and Katie K. Malia, New Smyrna Beach; Salvatore J. Caruso and Roxanne P. Thompson, Oak Hill; John N. Mills and Sandra J. Morgan, Edgewater.

Joseph Thompson Jr., 82, of New Smyrna Beach, a retired inventory control supervisor for Corning Glass Co., Walpole, Mass., died Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009.

Bruce Lee Johnston, 52, of New Smyrna Beach, owner and operator of Goldfinger Furniture Restoration, Stripping and Refinishing, died Friday, Nov. 6, 2009.

Thomas William Ravenscroft, 59, of Edgewater, a trucker, died Friday, Nov. 6, 2009.

NSBNEWS.net video by Sera Frederick. Mayor-Elect Adam Barringer spoke with NSBNEWS.net about the swearing in ceremony for himself and Commissioner-Elect Judy Reiker, as well as Commissioner Jack Grasty who won re-election outright in the Sept. 22 primary. Barringer said he anticipates a final commission vote on the proposed Hampton Inn for Flagler Avenue, which he predicted would be very "emotional." He also put to rest opposition campaigning that had the Babe James Center closing if he were elected, which he again dismissed as "politics." He added, if anything, the facility's services would be expanded. He wanted NSBNEWS.net to do its interview with him at the Babe James Center to make that message perfectly clear.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Two brothers, ages 10 and 7, with severe burns on their faces, chests and arms, are hospitalized in critical condition and their mother commited under the state's Baker Act, for psychiatric evaluation, New Smyrna Beach police said of the early Monday incident at a duplex in the 400 block of 10th Street.

Irene W. Vontobel, 93, of New Smyrna Beach, a homemaker, died Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009

George Bryant M. Lawrence, 76, of New Smyrna Beach, an aerospace engineer, died Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009.

Stephanie Adams, 55, of New Smyrna Beach, a cook, died Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009.

Betty J. Overstreet, 82, of New Smyrna Beach, a homemaker, born in Oil City, Pa., who moved to the area at the age of 8, and attended
Wichita State University, died Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009.