Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach Commissioner Paula Reed to welcome citizens to 'Community Unity Festival'

Internet newspaper banner / Headline SurferCommunity Unity Festival in Daytona Beach, FL / Headline Surfer

DAYTONA BEACH -- City Commissioner Paula Reed wants you to join her on Aug. 17, for Daytona Beach's "Community Unity Festival." 

Live music, food and fun for the entire family is in store from 10 am. to 10 p.m. on that Saturday at Daisy Stocking Park. 550 3rd Ave. The festival gives residents a family-friendly venue and age-appropriate activities to celebrate summer's end in the heart of Daytona Beach.

Daytona Beach City Commissioner Paula Reed / Headline SurferDaytona Beach City Commissioner Paula Reed

"As a new commissioner, I wanted to host a fun event where all residents would feel welcomed and embrace our great community," Reed told Headline Surfer. "I also wanted to raise money for the Rose Marie Bryon Center. They do so much for the children in our community and I want them to know how much I appreciate their service."

Daytona minister: Black clergymen to rally for Trayvon Martin Saturday in front of 5th District Court of Appeal

Part of Al Sharpton-organized national vigil in 100 cities

Rev L. Ronald Durham to rally black church goers for Trayvon / Headline SurferPhoto for Headline Surfer / Greater Friendship Baptist Church Senior Pastor L. Ronald Durham is leading a local rally in the wake iof the George Zimmerman not-guilty verdict on Saturday in front of the 5th District Court of Appeal.

DAYTONA BEACH -- A local black pastor said he and other clergymen are following the Rev. Al Sharpton's request for a "Justice for Trayvon National Day of Action Vigils in 100 Cities" this Saturday in front of federal court buildings. The rally is to begin at noon.Because there are no federal court buildings in Daytona Beach, the Rev. L. Ronald Durham said he and other locals will meet in front of the 5th District Court of Appeal, 300 S. Beach St.

The vigils, taking place in 100 cities, will be a call to action pushing for federal charges for Violation of Trayvon's Civil Rights, against George Zimmerman leading up to an Aug. 24 March on Washington, Durham said. "We are calling for pastors across the nation to organize a "Justice for Trayvon" National Day of Action Vigil in your city if you have a federal court or building," Durham said.

NASCAR Garage Cam: Pre-Coke Zero 400 racing hype at Daytona International Speedway

YouTube video / for Headline Surfer / NASCAR garage cam at Daytona International Speedway.

DAYTONA BEACH -- NASCAR is pulling out all the stops for the fans at Daytona International Speedway prior to tonight's Coke Zero 400 race from Daytona International Speedway.

Kyle Busch has pole, Matt Kenseth on front row too for tonight's Coke Zero 400 at Daytona

Kyle Busch wins pole for Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway / Headline SurferTodd Warshaw/Getty Images / DIS / Headline Surfer / Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, poses with the pole award after finishing the fastest during qualifying Friday for the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway.

DAYTONA BEACH – Toyota dominated Friday’s Coke Zero 400 qualifying with Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch take the pole and teammate Matt Kenseth joining him up front on the outside for tonight's 160-lap, 400-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway.

Daytona State ranked among top 100 community colleges

DAYTONA BEACH -- Community College Week, one of the nation’s leading publications focusing on higher education institutions that offer two-year associate degrees, has named Daytona State College among its list of Top 100 Associate Degree Producers.

Daytona State ranked 35th nationally in awarding the two-year associate degree, among some 5,000 public and private institutions. In addition, the college ranked 9th in the awarding of associate of science degrees in communication technologies, 19th in liberal arts and science degree awards, 45th in associate degree in nursing graduates, and 77th in the awarding of one-year college and vocational credit certificates.

Volusia League of Cities calls cops on internet newspaper to protect embattled mayor from glare of media spotlight

Show me the Money: Volusia League of Cities / Headline Surfer

DAYTONA BEACH -- The Volusia League of Cities called the cops to ensure greater Daytona Beach's internet newspaper wouldn't rain on the parade of embattled New Smyrna Beach Mayor Adam Barringer, who received the taxpayer-funded organization's top award Thursday night even though he's facing multiple state ethics charges.

Daytona Beach cops: Man gunned down early this morning in motel room

Homicides continue unabated: 5 slain by gunfire, 1 run over & another beaten to death

Daytona murder locale / Headline SurferHeadline Surfer snapshot locator map / Shots were fieed just before 5:48 a.m. Sunday in a room at the Sunshine Inn, 12 34 S. Ridgewood, where police found a man dead in room 108.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Gunshot blasts woke up guests inside the Sunshine Inn, a rundown motel on South Ridgewood and when cops got there, they found a black man in his early 40s dead in a pool of blood inside one of the rooms. Police received at least one 9-1-1 at 5:48 a.m. about shots being fired, but very little other than the frightened caller saying he heard the gunfire.

Daytona chamber recognizes Volusia Days delegation

Volusia lawmakers delegation / Headline SurferMaureen France and Carl Lentz at Volusia Days / Headline SurferState Rep Dave GHood of Ormond at Volusia Days / Headline SurferHeadline Surfer photos by Henry Frederick / At left, Volusia County lawmakers are shown in a poster for Volusia Days. Maureen France and Carl Lentz, III, listen to proceedings in House legislative chambers. At right, State Rep. Dave Hood, R-Ormond Beach, discusses economic issues at the podium during Volusia Days at the state capitol.

DAYTONA BEACH -- The lawmakers who helped carry the message of jobs in Tallahassee during the Volusia Days event at the state capitol were recognized this morning by the Daytona Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Sheryl Crow to perform in pre-race concert at Daytona International Speedway for Coke Zero 400

Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway / Headline Surfer

Sheryl Crow to perform at Daytona International Speedway / Headline SurferDAYTONA BEACH – Nine-time GRAMMY winner Sheryl Crow, whose long list of hits include “All I Wanna Do,” “Soak Up The Sun” and her latest single “Easy,” will perform a hour-long pre-race concert prior to the 55th annual Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Saturday, July 6 at Daytona International Speedway.

And you won't find a bigger fan than Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood. 

Rollover survivor on NSB South Causeway tells Daytona paper he & deceased wife were partying at 'Cinco de Mayo'

Alcohol-fueled street party on Flagler Avenue funded with CRA taxpayer dollars

South Causeway fatality in NSB / Headline SurferNSB deadly rollover / Headline SurferNEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The husband who survived a rollover crash early Monday on the South Causeway Bridge that resulted in the violent death of his wife, told the Daytona Beach News-Journal they had been partying on Flagler Avenue's "Cinco de Mayo," an alcohol-fueled festival sponsored by the Flagler Merchants Hospitality Group and funded in part by CRA-taxpayer dollars.