Local News Now

Headline Surfer locator map / The deadly blaze occurred 1:30 a.m. Monday at an apartment complex in the 1400 block of South Nova Road.

DAYTONA BEACH -- A 47-year-old man was found dead early this morning in his dwelling unit in the Ridgecrest Park Apartments, officials with the Daytona Beach Fire Department said.

Firefighters responded to 9-1-1 calls at 1:30 in the apartment complex in the 1400 block o South Nova Road.

After forcing their way into the apartment where the flames originated, firefighters found a 47-year-old man lying face door behind the door and unconscious and not breathing, apparently overcome by heavy smoke and unable to get out in time.

Unable to revive him during transport to Halifax Health Medical Center, the man was pronounced dead a short time later in the emergency room. The victim's name was not released while authorities try to make contact with his closest relatives. 

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The sun is setting on July and making way for August, but before the month is over lets take a look at what July brought us for tourism fun.

Yes, the Fourth of July fireworks were were short, thanks to an errant projectile that landed on a tiki hut and caught fire to the straw and thatch roof, but they certainly were pretty while they lasted. 

Though the fireworks were to go for about 15-18 minutes, at about the 8-minute mark one of the projectices didn't climb as high as expected from the barge where it was shot from in the Intracoastal Waterway and landed on the roof of the tiki hut on the site of the ciry's former administrative office building, alao known as the AOB site.

Half million visits in first half of 2013

Headline Surfer snapshot graphic / Headline Surfer's story on an armed robbery Saturday night led the Google News Directories for New Smyrna Beach, Florida as shown here at left.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- When it comes to breaking news -- day or night -- or anytime around the clock for that matter, Headline Surfer, the 24/7 award-winning internet newspaper has you covered via HeadlineSurfer.com.

Headline Surfer is the smallest of the media outlets that pursue breaking news, but is very competitive nonetheless and typically during the overnight hours -- 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. -- when the other media outlets have sent their reporters home for the night.

By the time they can get crews assembled to go out and get the news during these overnights, Headline Surfer already has it trending in the major search engines and on our Facebook social media pages.

Be on the lookout: Gunman remains at large

Headline Surfer locator / New Smyrna Beach cops are on the lookout for an armed African-American gunman, described as wearing a white tank top and white shorts who shot a man in the 300 block of Palm Street as shown here at left.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A man was transported to Bert Fish Medical Center with a gunshot wound to an ankle after he was robbed by another man in the 300 block of Palm Street Saturday night, New Smyrna Beach police said.

Here is a synopsis of what occurred in the 9:16 p.m. incident: The victim, 39-year-old Jimmie Lee Clark, Jr., said he was robbed by a fellow African-American man armed with a small-caliber handgun.

Resurfacing of four-lane road to be completed in August

Headline Surfer photo by Henry Frederick / The blinking light at State Roadd 44 and Sugar Mill Drive will soon be replaced with a regular traffic light. The signal light qill cost $61,000, along with a $5 million resurfacing of the four-lane road, all paid for by the Florida Department of Transportation,

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The intersection of State Road 44 and Sugar Mill Drive soon will be safer for motorists with a new traffic signal to be installed in Auguest, a city official said.

“The new traffic signal is a result of a State traffic impact analysis to improve safety at the intersection – particularly the southbound left turn lane for Sugar Mill Drive motorists,” said Kyle Fegley, a city engineer.

Photo for Headline Surfer / Guitarist Gladius brings his unique guitar playing talents to the New Smyrna Beach Regional Public Library. 

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Atlanta guitarist and composer Gladius will give a free performance at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 31, in the New Smyrna Beach Regional Library auditorium, 1001 S. Dixie Freeway.

Trooper: 16-year-old didn't know 2-year-old was behind the vehicle

APOPKA -- A toddler was struck and killed Wednesday afternoon by a 16-year-old relative who didn't know she was behind the SUV he backed up in the family driveway in the 300 block of Avalone Drive, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

While backing the 2000 Ford, the boy struck the 2-year-old with the left rear tire, running her over in the process, a trooper reported. the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The victim, Amararis Martinez, was rushed by paramedics to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando where she succumbed to critical head injuries less than an hour after the 3:20 p.m. accident, FHP spokeswoman Sgt. Kim Montes said.