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Dear Friend,

As we spend this Christmas season with our loved ones, we can celebrate the wonders of life, as seen in the miraculous birth of our Lord. This is a time when we enjoy the blessings of friends and family as we look back upon the previous year and prepare for the year ahead.

This season, I urge you to remember the brave service men and women, including those in the Florida National Guard, who are fighting overseas that we may continue to enjoy our freedoms. As they fight so nobly to bring peace and liberty to other parts of the world, we pray for their safe return.

DEBARY -- The Volusia County Sheriff's Office's Major Case Unit has launched a homicide investigation to determine who killed a 36-year-old DeBary woman on Christmas Eve.

The victim has been identified as Christina Barber. Her body was found inside her home on Wednesday afternoon after deputies were dispatched there to check on her well-being.

"While the cause of death is not being released at this time for investigative reasons, the Sheriff's Office is working the case as a homicide based on evidence at the scene

DELTONA -- A 14-year-old Galaxy Middle School student was arrested May 12, after she made a 5-second 911 call, claiming there was a bomb at the school, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office said.

The 8th-grade student was charged with making a false report of a bomb when she told the 911 operator, "There's a bomb at Galaxy Middle School" and immediately hung up, Sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught said.

School administrators and Sheriff's deputies quickly tracked down the 14-year-old girl who had made the call on her cell phone just before 2 p.m. while on campus.

PONCE INLET -- A 250-pound, 5-foot-long loggerhead sea turtle was released Nov. 26, after being cared for at the Volusia County Marine Science Center and at a Clearwater facility after nearly a year of coordinated care.

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

The turtle was found stranded in Ormond-by-the-Sea on Dec. 1, 2007. With the help of the Volusia County’s sea turtle patrol volunteers and the county’s Beach Patrol staff, Patti was brought to the center.

DELEON SPRINGS -- A fire at 1 a.m on the morning after Christmas at the Strawn Property was the work of an arsonist, Volusia County officials said.

Volusia County Fire Services responded to 911 calls for the blaze fire at 5175 N. Hwy 17.

Crews arrived to find the single-story, wooden structure fully engulfed in flames. Volusia County Fire Services Battalion Commander John Moak reported 16 crew members launched a defensive attack from the outside upon arrival. On scene were three engines, one squad, two battalions, and three tankers from Volusia County Fire Services.

PORT ORANGE -- A 9th-grader at Atlantic High School was arrested on campus Oct. 10 on charges of bringing a gun to school.

The boy kept the gun -- which was unloaded -- along with some ammunition in a case in his book bag and didn't display it or threaten anyone. A Volusia County Sheriff's
deputy stationed at the school seized the weapon early that morning before classes started.

The deputy was alerted by the boy's mother after she discovered the gun was missing from the house and called the deputy because she suspected her son may have taken it to school.

DeLAND -- A woman was taken into custody April 16 after interrupting the flow of traffic by walking around topless, city police reported.

Police received a number of calls about the 30-year-old woman's state of undress at the intersection of South Orange and West Euclid avenues.

Police reported finding the woman "foaming at the mouth" while talking to herself when they arrived.

She told cops she was instructed by God to direct traffic, according to a police report.

New Smyrna Beach -- A shopper at the Walmart on State Road 44 in New Smyrna Beach hopped back and forth between moving carts as she tried to decide between a cross necklace and a heart-shaped one.

Noticing they were just $5 each, she decided to buy both. Nearby, a toddler threw a temper tantrum when his father wouldn't let him get a big plastic firetruck.

Still others hovered around the large DVD bin, trying to decide on the bargain-basement movies that everyone likely has seen before such as "Legally Blonde" and "Rambo, First Blood."

DELAND -- Votran service will close two hours early Christmas Eve, Wednesday, Dec. 24, said Michelle Coats, Volusia County spokeswoman.

Votran will not operate bus service Christmas Day, Thursday, Dec. 25, and New Year’s Day, Thursday, Jan. 1, in the Greater Daytona Beach Area, Southeast and West Volusia County areas. Orlando Express and Connector routes also will not operate, she said.

For further information, please call (386) 761-7700 in Daytona Beach, (386) 943-7033 in West Volusia or (386) 424-6800 in Southeast Volusia.

As another Christmas comes to us in New Smyrna Beach, the residents here have a lot to be joyous about. We live in one of the best cities in the best nation on earth.

Contrary to the words of the doom and gloom media, things have never been better and the future has never been any brighter or more exciting than they are right now. Compared to a decade ago we are healthier, more prosperous and have more opportunities to improve ourselves as well as the rest of the world, even with the downturn in the economy.