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Sanford cops: Man arrested on attempted bank robbery charge

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Joseph Stanaitis arrested by Sanford cops on attempted bank robbery charge / Headline Surfer®Photo for Headline Surfer® /
At left is the booking mug for Joseph Stanaitis, arrested on a felony charge of attempted bank robbery.

SANFORD, Fla. -- On Nov. 21 at 12:58 p.m. a then-unknown man entered the Bank of America, 3094 South Orlando Drive.

Here is a synopsis of what happened as described in a press release sent to HeadlineSurfer.com and other Central Florida media outlets: The suspect entered the financial institution and approached a teller, demanding an unknown amount of currency.

The suspect was last seen wearing a black bandana on his head, sunglasses, a black shirt, jeans, a sports coat, and blue sneakers. The suspect was described as having a thin build and possibly in his late twenties or early thirties. Furthermore, the suspect fled the scene without removing any currency from the financial institution.

VCSO: 76-year-old man struck & killed by van on Highbanks near Walgreens in DeBary

DEBARY, Fla. -- A 76-year-old man was struck and killed by a van in the roadway on Highbanks Road in DeBary near a Walgreens pharmacy about 90 minutes ago, an official with the Volusia Counry Sheriff's Office said.

Here is a synopsis of the pedestrian fatality that was reported at 9:28 p.m. Tuesday and decribed by Sheriff's PIO Andrew Gant in an email alert to Headline Surfer® and other Central Florida media outlets: The caller reported a white Chevrolet van struck a 76-year-old man in the roadway on Highbanks at the intersection with Charles R. Beall Boulevard, near a Walgreens.

Seminole County Sheriff's Office: Capital murder suspect collapses in jail cell, dies at hospital

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Michael Ross Friedman 1st degree murder suspwct, dies in police custody / Headline Surfer®Photo for Headline Surfer® /
Michael Ross Friedman, a former Lake Mary school teacher accused of gunning down his ex-wife's boyfriend in cold blood from her Winter Springs porch in June before allegedly beating her nearly to death while their minor child was home, is dead. 

SANFORD, Fla. – The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of first-degree murder inmate Michael Ross Friedman, 64, of Delray Beach, who collapsed in his jail cell Sunday night and died a short time after he was rushed by ambulance to South Seminole Hospital.

Friedman had been held without bail at the Polk Correctional Facility in Sanford on a capital murder charge out of Winter Springs for the alleged shooting death of his ex-wife's boyfriend.

31. Regan Smith wins 2014 Nationwide race at Daytona; Dale Earnhardt Jr owns up to crash at end of race

Top 100 Local Stories of 2014 in Central Florida / Headline Surfer®

Regan Smith wins Feb 2014 Nationwide Race at Daytona / Headline Surfer®

Video by David Perticarari / Downloaded from YouTube / Headline Surfer® /
Published on Feb 26, 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series - 2014 Drive4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway. Last 2 laps -- green-white-checkered. 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Regan Smith got the bump-drafting help he needed from Trevor Bayne and beat Brad Keselowski to the finish line by .013 seconds to win February's season-opening NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway.

32. Orlando Magic's Victor Oladipo suffers facial fracture early in 2014 season

Top 100 Local Stories of 2014 in Central Florida / Headline Surfer®
Orlando Magic's Victor Oladipo wearing facial mask in 2014 NBA season / HeadlinebSurfer®Orlndo Magic star Victor Oladipo out with injury / Headline Surfer®Photos for Headline Surfer® / Victor Oladipo underwent corrective surgery for a facial fracture. in October 2014, forcing him to wear a protective mask upon his return to the court.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo was ruled out "indefinitely" after suffering a facial fracture during practice Oct. 23, 2014, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced.

Oladipo, 22, who was evaluated that afternoon after taking an inadvertent elbow to the face during a practice drill, underwent a corrective surgical procedure.

Oladipo made his return from injury on Nov. 14, wearing a facial protection mask as he made his season debut against the Milwaukee Bucks. In 25 minutes off the bench, he recorded 13 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists in a 101–85 win.

33. NSB businessman Bob Garrigues dies at age 88; drew controversy by trying to help Steve Dennis

Top 100 Local Stories of 2014 in Central Florida / Headline Surfer®
Bob Garrigues on Canal Strreet during the 2013 Halloween Parade with his wife, Peggy / Headline Surfer®Headline Surfer® photo /
New Smyrna Beach businessman Bob Garrigues was a fixture at street festivals on Flagler Avenue and Canal Street, even in advanced age with his wife, Peggy, by his side, as shown in this image from the 2012 NSB Halloween Parade on Canal. 

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Bob Garrigues was a leading businessman in New Smyrna Beach for decades, before he passed away on July 18, 2014, at the age of 82.

Born and raised in the Baltimore, Maryland area, Bob served in the Army during the Korean Conflict then graduated from Towson State University. He started a staff leasing company in the 1990s but spent most of his career in insurance.

34. New Smyrna Beach Observer ceases publication for good -- again!

Top 100 Local Stories of 2014 in Central Florida / Headline Surfer®

NSB Observer clodsed for good / Headline Surfer®The Observer newspaper ceased publicatiuon in 2014 / Headline Surfer®NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Realtor Tom Alcorn bought the New Smyrna Beach Observer off the scrap heap of federal bankruptcy for $2,500 and re-opened it as a monthly, publishing 18 issues, but as the year 2014 drew to a close,  the paper was dead again.

Alcorn hired Tiffany Evers, who studied journalism in college as his editor, but the Observer never really got on track in terms of substantive reporting and lacked a credible distribution network. As a result, it officially ceased operations on Dec. 31, 2014.

Operation 'Christmas Cheer' under way in New Smyrna Beach

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NSBPD Deputy Chief Donna Lavasllee leading Christmas toy, food, clothing drive for needy / Headline Surfer®NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Between now and Dec. 18, Deputy Police Chief Donna Lavallee and her colleagues in lawn enforcement at the New Smyrna Beach cop shop are encouraging citizens to remember the holidays and the true meaning of giving -- not just among family and friends, but to those less fortunate in the community.

35. Grant Enfinger wins 2014 Arca series race at Daytona

Top 100 Local Stories of 2014 in Central Florida / Headline Surfer®
Buster Graham starts big pile up in 2014 Arca race at Daytona / Headline Surfer®
Video by FOX Sports / YouTube video downloaded by Headline Surfer® / 
Buster Graham starts 15-car wreck at Daytona in the feb. 15, 2014, Arca series race at Daytona.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Buster Graham and Chase Elliott got into it early in the Lucas Oil 200 Arca race at Daytona Internatiobnal Speedway, and in the procress, collected 15 cars.

And while team members from both racing crews were involvrd in a post-race skirmish, Grant Enfinger celebrated his first win at Daytona and his his third career victory in the stock car series.