2011 Top Stories

SOUTH DAYTONA, Fla. -- "Appearances can be deceptive." So goes the one-liner in the comedy spoof on espionage in the 2008 movie, "Burn After Reading." Such a one-liner could apply to local resident Phillip Moore, who rides a biycle like the dim-witted Brad Pitt character, Chad Feldheimer.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Dr. Thomas Murphy, a Chicago-area cardiac surgeon who raced in the 24 Hours of Daytona, now known as the Rolex 24, at Daytona International Speedway, died Nov. 21. He was 80 years old.

Murphy was on the Specter Werks Sports Team that droves a Chevrolet Corvette and finished 28th overall in the 1999 Rolex 24 sports car endurance race. Other drivers on the team were Jeff Nowicki, Rick Mancuso and Mike Farmer. It was Murphy's lone time in the world class sports car race.

Remembrance of Murphy's run in the 1999 Daytona sports car endurance race and his death comes in at No. 78 in the HeadlineSurfer.com countdown of the top 100 stories of 2014.

ORLANDO -- The Orlando Magic weren't going anywhere last season while the Los Angeles Clippers had a chance to come out of the Western conference for the NBA finals, which made for a new lease on life for "Big Baby" Glen Davis.

SANFORD, Fla. -- A man who was cash-strapped offered an undercover woman police officer posing as a prostitute a chicken dinner and $3 n exchange for sex during a sting in early November, Sanford cop said.

Of the seven men arrested in the sex sting, the offer by 32-year-old Steven Torres of Melbourne was the lone barter offer leading to his arrest for solicitation of sex, police said.

The chicken for sex offer comes in at No. 80 in the HeadlineSurfer.com countdown of the top 100 local stories of 2014.

BUNNELL, Fla. – A Palm Coast man accused of raping an 11-year-old girl was convicted after trial by a jury and sentenced to life in prison plus 30 years on Sept. 17.

Shaun Everette Whitt, 32, was convicted of sexual battery on a victim under 12 years of age, a first-degree capital felony, and engaging  in sexual conduct with a minor, a first-degree felony.

Assistant State Attorney Christina Opsahl prosecuted the case, outlining the frequent and repeated sexual abuse on the 11-year-old victim by Whitt during the previous year when she was 11 years old. Physical evidence in the victim's own bedroom and a medical examination presented at trial corroborated her claims that Whitt routinely forced himself on her when she as home alone while her mother was at work.

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NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- An alert construction worker helped police catch a homemade chemist turned burglar the day after Thanksgiving.

Just after 8 a.m., a construction worker called 9-1-1 to report smoke coming from the men’s restroom in Detwiler Park, 701 Oakwood Ave. The worker also saw a young man running from the area carrying a bag and Justin Hill, 20, of New Smyrna Beach, was apprehended a short time later and charged with trying to cook up meth in the men's bathroom at Detwiler Park.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Hey Orlando Magic fans, you can rejoice: Dwight Howard and the Houston Rockets were a bust in the NBA playoffs back in May.

Howard and the Rockets, the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference with a 54-28 regular season record, were bounced out of the first round in just six games by the Portland Trailblazers, 99-98 on a Friday night.

Howard and his Rockets' quick exit from the NBA playoffs comes in at No. 84 in the HeadlineSurfer.com recep of the top 100 local stories of 2014.

DAYTONA BEACH -- A pace car from the 500 made a pit stop at the 2014 Turkey Run at Bellair Plaza, the last of the big annual special tourism events that is held during the extended Thanksgiving weekend.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. — A woman wanted in Florida for a fatal DUI was arrested in Indiana on Sept. 24, local authorities said.

Kimberly Ann Yurchison was allegedly under the influence of cocaine and prescription narcotics back on March 17 when she struck and killed 82-year-old John Curtin in the 4000 block of South Atlantic Avenue in New Smyrna Beach, police said. Curtin was crossing the street when when he was struck and killed, but was not in a designated crosswalk.

The apprehension of Yurchison comes in at No. 86 in the HeadlineSurfer.com countdown of the top 100 stories of 2014.