Local News Now

Photo for Headline Surfer / Samantha Hicks and Mathew Ady, Stetson University cross country runnerts, were among the participants in the USF Invitational.

TAMPA -- After a series of thunderstorms, two races were combined into one for 288 tightly packed runners over the weekend at the USF, including those from Stetson University like senior Mathew Ady.

“I loved it,” Ady said. “The mob scene helped me a lot. I came through the mile in 5:50, and I don’t think I’ve ever run a mile that fast. I thought, ‘Oh my gosh!’ Then, when I went through two, it was a pretty even split, so I knew I had it in me and that it would be a special race.”

DeLand campus cross country athlete makes history 

Photo for Headline Surfer / Stetson University freshman cross country runner Amanda Spring is announced Wednesday as 'Runner of the Week' by the Atlantic Sun Conference.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Headline Surfer's latest tourism-related story rocketed to the top of the online Google news directories for New Smyrna Beach, FL, within 15 minutes of publication on HeadlineSurfer.com.

Headline Surfer / NSB News video produced by Multimedia Editor Serafina Frederick / Stetson University's George West leads an ensemble during the 2008 New Smyrna Beach Jazz Festival at the Brannon Center in New Smyrna Beach. West passed away earlier this year at the age of 81.

Photos for Headline Surfer / Local music producer Marc Monteson presents a check from the New Smyrna Beach Jazz Fest Fund in 2011 to composer George West (shown at right and in inset) to further Stetson University jazz programs.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- When the New Smyrna Beach Jazz Festival kicks off Sept. 29, the first in a series of events for the start of the inaugural Fall Beach Weeks sponsored by the Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority, the late Stetson University jazz composer George West of Stetson will be there -- in spirit.  

Graphic for Headline Surfer / The Hatters of Stetson University golf team finished at the bottom of the rankings in its first meet of the season.

PAWLEY'S ISLAND, SC – The Stetson men’s golf team got off to a fair start in its first event of the 2013-14 season, but struggled over the next two days at the GolfWeek Program Challenge.

The Hatters opened with a 298 in the first round, but followed up with consecutive rounds of 309 on Monday and 308 on Tuesday to finish last in the 12-team event at the True Blue Course.

It is the second straight year the Hatters have finished 12th in the event.

Washington Monthly and MilitaryFriendly.com also give kudos

Photos for Headline Surfer / Stetson University was ranked prominently on a national level by US News & World Report, Washington Monthly and MilitaryFriendly.com in a news release issued late Monday and embargoed until midnight to Headline Surfer and other Central Florida media outlets.

DELAND – Stetson University again has earned national recognition for its rigorous academics, commitment to social mobility and service, and military friendliness by ranking among the top universities in recent national surveys.

Headline Surfer graphic / State Road 436, east of Thompson Road, in Apopka was the scene of a deadly hit-and-run accident Monday night that claimed the life of a 16-year-old boy as shown in this snapshot locator map.

APOPKA -- A 16-year-old boy on a bicycle was struck and killed by at least one and possibly two vehicles while trying to cross State Road 436, east of Thompson Road, about 8:20 p.m. Monday in an apparent hit-and run, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The victim, identified as Edward Fernandez, was pronounced dead a short time later at Florida Hospital Apopka.