How quickly the news shifts. It was just a few weeks ago that Jamie McMurray rocketed across the finish line at Daytona International Speedway to win his first Daytona 500. The next day, former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin was welcomed to the Ocean Center by a raucous crowd. New Smyrna Beach residents were at both events.
Mayor Adam Barringer's draft Economic Development Plan was presented to the City Commission last week with little fanfare.
Now the focus is on Bike Week, with promoters, bars, campgrounds, hotelsd, time shares, restaurants, apparel salespeople, and others competing for dollars from a seemingly smaller biker crowd, due in large part to the national recession.
We'll continue our daily coverage on the entertainment, economics and safety issues surrounding the 10-day motorcycle rally.
Of course, we have lots of other news, too. Former NSB city manager finalist John Drago is a finalist for the top job in DeBary (in Party Lines on the Opinion page). There are two concerts scheduled later this week (stories on the Entertainment page), and the Sheriff's Office apprehended a violent fugitive in Deltona (story on the Community page).
And we hope you enjoy the writing of NSBNEWS.net's newest blogger, Shane Porter, president of the Counseling Center of New Smyrna Beach, whose first blog examines addictions and how they can be kept in check.
The Web site is somewhat scrambled as we continue to upgrade. The readership response is tremendous as more and more of you discover us.
Thank you and God bless.