DeLand

Chubby Checker to twist in DeLand tonight

Chubby Checker in DeLzndDELAND -- Chubby Checker, whose song "The Twist," was the dance sensation of the early 1960s, will be coming to town tonight in celebration of Florida Hospital DeLand's 50th anniversary.

There will be a free street party from 6 to 9 p.m. on Indiana Avenue, during which we will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the most people twisting in the street, said Jeremy Reidenberg, san organizer of the event. At 7:30 p.m., Chubby Checker will perform a benefit concert at the historic Athens Theater, located at the end of Indiana Ave.

Romney reaction: GOP State Committeeman Robert Fortner of DeLand pleased with acceptance speech Henry Frederick Fri, 08/31/2012 - 02:51

GOP State Committeeman Robert Fortner of DeLand / Headline SurferCourtesy photo exclusively for Headline Surfer / Robert Fortner of DeLand, a Republican state committeeman from DeLand, cheers during Mitt Romney's acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in Tampa.

TAMPA -- Robert Fortner, a GOP state committeeman from DeLand liked what he heard from Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney in his acceptance speech at the convention.

"He gave us what we wanted to hear," the 68-year-old retired custom automotive car and boat manufacturer said on his way back to his hotel. "He had a job to do to accept the nomination and he delivered. He was very positive for the country's future."

Stetson University in DeLand hires new head of career development

Stetson University hire Joseph ProtopapaDELAND -- Joseph Protopapa, director of integrated career services and employer relations at the Career Center at the University of Akron (Ohio), has been selected as Stetson University's executive director of career development and academic advising. He starts this month.

Sheriff's Office: Pizzeria employee in DeLand robbed of night bank deposit at gunpoint while getting into car

Robbery outside DeLand pizzeriaThe arrow points to the Papa Johns restaurant outside the DeLand city limits where an employee was robbed by a lone gunman.

DELAND -- The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the armed robbery of an employee of a North Woodland Boulevard pizzeria who had the night deposit cash on him when a gun was shoved in his face as he was getting into his vehicle.

Deputies arrived within 3 minutes of the 1:52 a.m. Saturday 9-1-1 call made by the victim outside the Papa Johns.

"Once there, deputies learned that an employee was getting into his car when a stranger emerged from an adjacent parking lot, thrust a gun through the passenger side window of the victim’s car, pointed the weapon at the victim and demanded his money," Sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson said. "The victim immediately complied and handed over a bag containing the cash for the night deposit."

County Council, DeLand City Commission to discuss SunRail project June 15

DELAND -- The Volusia County Council will meet with the DeLand City Commission to discuss phase two of the SunRail project, which extends commuter rail service to the DeLand Amtrak station. The meeting will be at 9 a.m. Friday, June 15, in the second-floor training room of the Historic Courthouse, 125 W. New York Ave., DeLand.

The elected officials will review the latest concept for development around the station that was proposed in the “Transit-Oriented Development Workshop Sketchbook,” completed in summer 2011. The public is invited to attend the workshop, and public participation will be permitted. For more information, please call the County Manager’s Office at 386-736-5920.

Stetson Hatters of DeLand sign 7-footer transfer from Michigan's Oakland University

City

Kyle Sikora played for Miami's Florida Christian

Kyle SikoraDELAND -- Kyle Sikora only averaged 1.5 points and 1.8 rebounds per game for Michigan's Oakland University, but Stetson University men's basketball coach Casey Alexander likes his size. Sikora is a 7-footer who weighs 240 pounds.

“We’re really excited that Kyle chose Stetson,” Alexander said. “His size and skill level is perfect for our offensive system and his presence in the paint will mean a lot for the future of this program.”

Ex-con suspected of killing DeLand restaurant owner in March found dead in mobile home, along with girlfriend, after standoff in Hillsborough County

J. SeagravesKayla NemotoJames Seagrave and his apparent girlfriend, Kelly Nemoto were found dead inside a mobile home Thursday afternoon after a lengthy standoff with a Hillsborough SWAT team. Seagrave was the prime suspect in the March 31 fatal shooting of Tom Walsh, the manager of the Mainstreet Grill restaurant during a botched robbery.

DELAND -- The man believed responsible for murdering the manager of the Mainstreet Grill on New York Avenue in March was found dead in a mobile home today in Hillsborough County after a standoff with a SWAT team, authorities said.

James Seagraves, a convicted felon, shot and killed the manager, Tom Walsh, during a bothed robbery on March 31. The 29-year-old suspect had just been released from prison March 2, after serving a two-year term for an armed robbery in Marion County.

The standoff ended just after 6 p.m. in Gibsonton, a rural unincorporated community in Hillsborough County. The SWAT team entered the mobile home where Seagraves had barricaded himself after tear gas cleared and found his body and that of a woman presumed to be his girlfriend, Kayla Nemoto, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Detective Larry McKinnon said. How they died has not yet been released.

College baseball: Lindsey Caughel strikes out 7 in Stetson's 4-2 win over Bison

Stetson's Lindsey CaughelFor the second time in as many days, the Stetson Hatters got solid starting pitching from starter Lindsey Cauhel (5-2) and just enough offensive production Saturday to defeat visiting Lipscomb Bison at Melching Field in DeLand.

DELAND -- Stetson pitcher Lindsey Caughel faced the minimum through five innings as the Hatters took a 4-2 victory from the Bison at home earlier today.

Caughel allowed just one earned run in 6.2 innings of work with one walk and seven strikeouts. The victory moved Stetson (25-13 overall, 8-6 in the Atlantic Sun Conference) past Lipscomb (17-22, 9-8) into fourth place in the league race. In order to hold that spot, the Hatters will have to complete the series sweep on Sunday. The final game of the weekend is set for an 11 a.m. start.

Volusia County Growth Management meeting for April cancelled

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.

Stetson University to hold panel discussion Tuesday at DeLand campus on slaying of Trayvon Martin

City

NSBNEWS.net Investigative Reporting

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Justice for Trayvon: A Search for AnswersTrayvon Martin

DELAND -- Having already held a student rally in support of justice for Trayvon Martin, Stetson University will again be the setting for more dialogue.

Stetson University’s Diversity Council will host a panel discussion to address the Feb. 26 shooting death in Sanford of the 17-year-old Miami teen and the implications this incident might have on society's understanding of what has been called a post-racial, or a color-blind America.

This panel discussion, which is open to the public, will be held on 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Rinker Auditorium, inside the Lynn Business Center, 345 N. Woodland Blvd.