Local News Now

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Two years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Hirem Desai became an American citizen. The bloodshed in his native India over the last several days has reinforced his belief that terrorism can happen at any time and any place.

Desai, who works as a cashier at the Marathon gas station on North Dixie Freeway, has been heartbroken over the carnage that claimed nearly 200 lives in Mumbai -- a half dozen Americans.

The world is not big enough for terrorism to hit home, Desai said. "It's bad and getting worse," said the 27-year-old native of Braruch, 200 miles south of Mumbai, India's largest city. Now a resident of South Daytona, he added, "I feel bad for everybody."

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- While countless shoppers got up at the crack of dawn this "Black Friday" morning to rifle through the aisles of the Wal-Mart on State Road 44 in search of super-discounted merchandise, Myrtle Richardson was getting ready to go to do her job -- stand in front of the store all day and ring the bell for the Salvation Army.

"God bless you," she said as every fourth or fifth shopper passed by and dropped a dollar bill or change into the kettle."

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- An 84-year-old woman was found Thanksgiving Day living in deplorable conditions in a home near New Smyrna Beach along with about 50 cats, 15 turkeys, 20 ducks and a dog, Volusia Sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught said, adding deputies learned she had apparently been living in the home against her will, having been set up there by her daughter.

TALAHASSEE, Fla. -- Dear Friends, This week we celebrate the many things we as Floridians – and Americans – have to be grateful for.

This is the season of Thanksgiving. Not just the day, but the season. As Americans, we rarely see people walking around giving thanks for everything we possess and enjoy in this wonderful land: Freedom of speech, freedom to own land, freedom to drive a car, freedom to have a job and earn money and freedom not to work.

All these freedoms come as a right granted to us by the Constitution of the United States of America .

I challenge anyone who is unhappy with the way we live in America to visit a third world country and experience first-hand poverty, rule by authoritarian leaders, the lack of food to feed one’s family. I could go on and on with the list.

Rather than beat this point to death, let’s talk about what it takes to please God for the many blessings we are granted here in the good ole’ U.S.A.

First

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is now under $2 a gallon at most stations in Southeast Volusia, cheaper than a gallon of milk or a pack of cigarettes.

Still, motor vehicles aren't lining up at the pumps.

April Brown had the pumps all to herself this afternoon when she filled her Mercury Grand Marquis for $40. Back in July, that same tank fill-up would have cost her $80 when a gallon of unleaded gasoline was more than $5.

"These prices are reasonable now," the 39-year-old New Smyrna Beach resident said. "They are very beneficial. I can now go more places like Deltona and work another job."

Though gas prices are down, other necessary commodities such as bread and milk are not.

DELAND, Fla -- Nearly 200 trails enthusiasts gathered Friday at Lake Beresford Park in West Volusia to celebrate Florida’s designation as the Best Trails State in America, said Volusia County spokeswoman Pat Kuehn. 

Editor's Note: One week after the New Smyrna Beach 'Cudas finished the 2008 football season with a convincing 21-13 victory over the DeLand Bulldogs, Peter Mallory, a member of the 1952 squad that triumphed in the miracle on the gridiron, was so thrilled by what the 21st-century team had done against their playoff-bound opponents that he was inspired to write this story:

The one thing you had to admire about first year Coach Pete Maman was that he showed absolutely no signs of the panic and despair that must have gripped him as he looked out over the practice field. No matter how many times he counted heads he could only find 12 candidates who had shown up for his first August practice session at New Smyrna High School in 1952. I was among them.