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Thrived in spite of segregation: Matthew Wood, Sr., Oak Hill's first black policeman, has died at age 90

Remembered as long-time church deacon, mason & forefather of city's incorporation

Matthew Wood, Sr, was Oak Hill, Florida's first black cop / Headline Surfer®"The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death." -- Isaiah 57:1-2
 
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Funeral services will be held Saturday for Matthew Wood, Sr., a longtime mason credited with helping to build Oak Hill City Hall, 234 US 1.

OAK HILL, Fla. -- Matthew Wood, Sr, a forefather of the city's incorporation and its first black policeman for 20 years, died Thursday. He was 90 years old.

 

Daytona State College Board agrees to seek the services of a lobbyist to help secure state funding

Daytona State College President Carol Eaton addresses the Board / Headline Surfer®Headline Surfer® photos /
Daytona State College President Carol Eaton updates the Board of Trustees on the fiscal health of the college. This was expected to lead into her request to be relieved of her presidency in favor of serving as an advisor until her contract expires in August.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla -- It became apparent pretty quickly to the Board of Daytona State College to seek the services of a lobbyist to compete for capital improvements and other such funding funding after DSC President Carol Eaton showed a series of statistics showing the college near the bottom compared to state colleges in South Florida.

VCSO: Pilot of small plane killed in crash in surf off New Smyrna Beach after takeoff from Edgewater's Massey Airport

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Scene of fatal New Smyrna Beach plane crash on the beach / Headline Surfer®Photos for Headline Surfer® /
The identity of a female pilot alone in a small plane that crashed Tuesday night in shallow waters off New Smyrna Beach is expected to be released after an autopsy is performed and nearest relatives are notified.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- A lone woman pilot was killed when the plane she was piloting crashed into 3 feet of surf off New Smyrna Beach on Tuesday night, a Volusia County Sheriff's official said.

The Sheriff’s Office was notified of a possible downed plane at 8:58 p.m. Tuesday night. Sheriff’s deputies along with New Smyrna Beach police, county beach units and county and city fire personnel responded to the scene.

Remembering ESPN anchor Stuart Scott: Personality resonates in story telling

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Like many sports fans across the country and elsewhere in this digital world, I was shocked when I learned through social media that longtime ESPN Sports Center anchor and personality Stuart Scott had died of cancer on this Sunday morning early in the new year. He was 49, though with his youthful look, he seemed ageless.

Man lighting New Year's eve fireworks on the beach near Minerva Road approach has right hand blown off

DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, Fla. -- A 35-year-old man rang in the new year by completely blowing off his right hand while loading fireworks in a canister on the beach near Minerva Road in Daytona Beach Shores, according to multiple media reports.