Top 100 Stories

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

PONCE INLET -- A 250-pound, 5-foot-long loggerhead sea turtle will be released today after being cared for at the Volusia County Marine Science Center and at a Clearwater facility after nearly a year of coordinated care, said Michelle Coats, a spokeswoman.

The adult female loggerhead sea turtle now known as Patti will be released at 11 a.m.. The beachside release will be on the north side of Winter Haven Park, 4589 S. Atlantic Ave.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The Daytona Beach News-Journal raised the price of its daily newspaper by a quarter, from .50 cents to .75 cents, effective today. An announcements was posted with sales racks throughout Southeast Volusia with this morning's delivery.

The announcement was addressed "attention customers" and stated: Effective Monday, November 24th, the Daytona Beach News-Journal daily edition price will increase to $.75. This increase does not include the Sunday edition."

There was no mention of the price increase in the Sunday or Monday newspaper editions.

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.

DAYTONA BEACH -- The Ocean Center box office has moved to its new home at 101 N. Atlantic Ave., after months of temporary facilities set up during Ocean Center construction activities. The relocation is just in time for the Glenn Wilkes Classic over the weekend.

DAYTONA BEACH -- The Volusia County Council is seeking public input on the implementation of a competitive process for awarding concession service contracts on Volusia County public beaches.

The County Council will hold a special listening session at 6 pm. Monday. The meeting will be at the Volusia County Beach Safety Headquarters, 515 S. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach.

To support this effort, a web-based public input questionnaire has been developed to assist the County Council in developing beach concession service standards, Volusia County spokeswoman Michelle Coats said.