Local News Now

DELAND -- The Volusia County Property Appraiser’s Office released updated damage assessment totals today resulting from the significant rainfall, showing New Smyrna Beach was among the hardest hit in terms of govrernment infrastructure/property damage.

Reported damage to public (government) facilities and infrastructure is estimated at almost $9.8 million. New Smyrna Beach and Port Orange are tird for second with $1.45 million each, with Daytona Beach highest at $1.58 million.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas today applauded the Obama administration's announcement that the president has issued a Major Disaster Declaration for Volusia County, triggering the release of federal funds to help families and individuals recover from the severe storms and flooding that have devastated the region.

William R. Everitt, 74, of Edgewater, a former maintenance worker for Victaulic Foundry, Easton, Pa., died Sunday, May 24, 2009.

Elinore Lackey, 96, of Edgewater, a homemaker, died Saturday, May 23, 2009.

Joyce L. Fraunfelder, 83, of Edgewater, a former manager in the retail industry, died Friday, May 22, 2009.

Richard Morris, 64, of New Smyrna Beach, a native of Atlanta, died Friday, May 22, 2009

Joseph M. Kelly, 46, of New Smyrna Beach, the owner and operator of Kelly & Son's Appliance Service, died Wednesday May 20, 2009.

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May 27, 2009: Dwayne D. Wood and Jennifer L. Huckle, New Smyrna Beach.

May 26, 2009: Thomas P. Greiner and Susan K. Gibbs, New Smyrna Beach; Neil E. Bonds, Rocjledge, and Kelly L. Foreman, Edgewater; Paul J. Delfino, New Smyrna Beach, and Kimberly A. Adamson, Springfield, Mo.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- U.S. Reps. Suzanne Kosmas and John Mica sent a letter to President Obama today urging him to expedite the review process and issue a Major Disaster Declaration for Volusia County, which endured a week of flooding from as much as 27 inches of rain that resulted in more than $50 million in property damage.

NSBNEWS.net video by Sera Frederick. New Smyrna Beach Mayor Sally Mackay talked Monday about the recent flooding at Riverside Park Monday as part of her twice monthly Q&A segment with NSBNEWS.net.

NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick. At left, Alan Ayoubee, district 19 commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4250 and a Vietnam veteran, proudly holds the American Flag at a Memorial Day Ceremony at Riverside Park In New Smyrna Beach. Among the 150 in attendance were Mayor Sally Mackay, who addressed the gathering, and Vice Mayor Jack Grasty, also a Vietnam War veteran stationed in Thailand in 1969, at right. 

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Alan Ayoubee served in the Vietnam War, but he's particularly partial to World War II on this Memorial Day. That's because his father, Raymond, who died three years ago, served in that war.

NSBNEWS.net photos by Sera Frederick. Columbus, off of Atlantic, is the last of the closed streets due to nearly 20 inches of rain over the past seven days that ended Sunday as shown in these photos taken on Memorial Day. Only Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach fared worse with as much as 27 inches of rain.  

I came to America from Italy in 1931, when I was 6 years old. At the age of 17, I enlisted in the Air Force. That was 1942. I was honorably discharged in 1945 at war's end.

America gave me my freedom, and all these years later, I've enjoyed it. America has given you your freedom, which is why Memorial Day is so important. That's because many in the military wars we fought did not come home. They died for our country. They died for our country's freedom.

With that in mind, I found this write-up at Ancestry.com, which is appropriate for today's Memorial Day holiday: