Local News Now

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NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Perhaps the middle initial "A" in Alexandria A. Spradlin's name is symbolic of her academic achiement at New Smyrna Beach High School. After all, the senior has been named finalist in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship competition.

"New Smyrna Beach High School is pleased to announce that Alexandria A. Spradlin is a finalist," Principal Jim Tager said.

Spradlin is one of 14,400 semifinalists in the 57th annual National Merit Scholarship program. She is the daughter of Christina and Gregory Spradlin.

DELAND -- The regular meeting of the Volusia Growth Management Commission scheduled for Wednesday, April 25, has been canceled due to lack of substantive agenda items, the county said in a press release.

The next regular meeting of the Commission is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 23, 2012 in the County Council Chambers in DeLand.

EDGEWATER -- A sense of relief came over me with the arrest of George Zimmerman on the charge of second-degree murder in the Sanford shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. As much as the whole state of Florida is a tinderbox of dryness prone to fire, I was more and more feeling that this situation was also a tinderbox that was on the verge of exploding into violence.

EDGEWATER -- The bus full of high school band students I was chaperoning grew quiet so suddenly that it was eerie. When I looked up, I saw the bus driver stop just short of the railroad tracks and open the door to listen then looked all around.

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PORT ORANGE -- A 57-year-old man who allegedly threatened adult family members with an axe before barricading himself in a bedroom with a knife, was taken into custody after Port Orange police stormed the house on Hawks Ridge Road, an agency spokesman said.

Police responded to a 9-1-1 call at 11:45 a.m. to the residence about a domestic situation involving a man armed with a knife. After a police negotiator was unable to get the man to surrender on his own and nearby residents were safely evacuated, the police department's emergency response team -- similar to SWAT-- stormed the house at 749 Hawks Ridge Road just after 4 p.m. Elbert Hale was taken into custody without further incident.

DAYTONA BEACH SHORES -- Even as the Supreme Court sits to later declare unconstitutional Obama’s attempt to push socialized medicine down America’s throat, our president undertook a new and even greater effort to expand his power. Barack Obama re-issued an expanded version of an executive order entitled “National Defense Resources Preparedness” which would enable him to proclaim himself dictator at his own whim.

By Ellen Darden

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Is there no end to hypocrisy when it comes to the argument about legal voters being required to show legitimate identification in order to exercise this important right? To get a library card, board a plane, cash a check, drive a vehicle, buy a bottle of wine and in many other ordinary life events, we are required to produce picture identification.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Fire Chief Dave McCallister is being honored with the Volusia League of Cities' Distinguished Service Award for 2012.

McCallister was recommended by the VLOC nominating committee and voted in by the organization's executive committee.

This award is presented to outstanding individuals who have made their community, and Volusia County as a whole, a better place to live.