Among the choices highlighted above for Top Story of the Year: Jimmy Johnson wins the Daytona 500 in crash-marred race, George Zimmerman is found not guilty of 2nd degree murder and there are moral, ethical and legal/criminal questions in Volusia County Councilwoman Deb Denys having SEV Ad Authority Chair Palmer Wilson removed an unprecedented 2nd time.
DAYTONA BEACH -- Headline Surfer® is counting down the biggest stories from the year that was in the award-winning 24/7 internet newspaper's multimedia platform in words, sight and sound. So what ultimately will be the No. 1 story?
What follows are 20 contenders in no particular order, any of which could end up as the biggest story of the 2013:
* Jimmy Johnson wins the Daytona 500;
* Who's the rat? SEV board members provide cover for director who used agency credit card for free lunches;
* Volusia County Councilwoman Deb Denys pushes for ouster of Southeast Volusia Ad Authority Chair Palmer Wilson who was removed an unprecedented 2nd time, calling into question a host of moral, ethical and legal/criminal issues in her motives;
* Ku Klux Klan drops recruitment flyers in New Smyrna Beach black neighborhood;
* Orange County man executed for rape and murder of woman in her apartment;
* Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer seeks 21% pay raise;
* George Zimmerman found not guilty of 2nd-degree murder in gunshot slaying of Trayvon Martin;
* Volusia Republican Party leader Tony Ledbetter challenges World History book with chapter on Islam;
* Volusia Republican Party turns on County Chair Jason Davis at final budget hearing;
* New Smyrna Beach Mayor Adam Barringer & City Manager Pam Brangaccio escape ethics charges;
* New Smyrna Beach rape victim stands up to accuser and he's sentenced to life behind bars;
* Volusia League of Cities locks out media from awards dinner to shield ethics-challenged mayor;
* Tire and other debris from wreck in Nationwide race at Daytona injures racing fans;
* Volusia County Council hires attorney Jon Kaney to investigate Waverly park bench contracts;
* Two motorcyclists killed when their bikes get tangled during racing practice at Daytona;
* Deltona man charged with murdering estranged wife, says someone else killed her two kids & refuses to lead investigators to bodies;
* Amway Arena hosts WWE's Monday Night Raw; Triple H orders fans out of arena;
* Big year for Daytona Beach Police Chief Michael Chitwood: Bitten at Bike Week, violence & gruesome murders;
* Alex and Sierra win X-Factor; become darlings of Daytona with keys to city;
* New Smyrna Beach CRA spending frenzy culminates in Cinco de Mayo DUI death on South Causeway.
Counting 'em down:
We're counting 'em down in the year that was -- the Top 100 stories in greater Daytona Beach-Orlando metro area
Posted Sat, 2013-12-28 17:38