Local News Now

NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick. Jim Hunt, 65, of Oshkosh, Wisc., gets his change back after breakfast Sunday with his family at Denny's restaurant on State Road 44 in New Smyrna Beach. Hunt is among thousands of NASCAR race fans staying in greater New Smyrna Beach during Speed Weeks, which ends with today's 52nd running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach. Restaurants throughout New Smyrna Beach -- Ruthie's, Mom's, Pappas' Drive-In, the Beacon, Manny's, Jason' Corner and others were jam packed.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Jim Hunt was among the last wave of race fans that slammed Denny's restaurant Sunday morning on State Road 44 in advance of the Daytona 500.

NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick.
While a bunch of older folks were milling around the Farmer's Market on Saturday morning, several little ones got to experience a thrill of a lifetime inside a NASCAR stock car, in this case, the Ford Fusion replica for Rousch Fenway Racing. The car was parked next to the Little Drug Store as part of Saturday Night Cruising on Canal Street.

NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick. Cloudy morning skies, as shown in the photo on the North Causeway with the bridge up for a passing boat, gave way to midday sunshine and slightly warmer temperatures in the upper 50s, which allowed Troop 995 Girl Scouts Shinirah Simon, 9, of New Smyrna Beach, and Ashley Clark, 10, of Edgewater, to sell their organization's spcial brand of cookies to a packed crowd across from Wal-Mart in the NSB Regional Shopping Center on State Road 44 in New Smyrna Beach.

EDGEWATER -- The Edgewater Public Library will host a two-part genealogy program for beginners in February and March. The program is for people who want to learn how to research their family roots.

NSBNEWS.net photo (at far left) by Henry Frederick.Other photos/courtesy of Dorothy Kirby.

Suzanne Marie Grims poses with New Smyrna Beach police officer Christopher Kirk outside City Hall on Tuesday night following a brief awards ceremony at the begiining of the City Commission meeting. Kirk, and several others, including Mayor Adam Barringer (as shown above)  who rescued the 66-year-old New Smyrna Beach woman who accidentally drove her car into the Indian River on Jan. 7 near the Brannon Center where an awards ceremony was being held for police officers. The mayor and two others jumped into the frigid watesr and rescued her.  Kirk swam out to Barringer with a device to break a car window, but the mayor had already gotten the motorist out.

Courtesy photo/Ponce Inlet. Jeaneen Clauss, 43, of Edgewater, and mother of twins, has been promoted from interim to permanent town manager of Ponce Inlet. Because the town doesn't have a residency requirement, Clauss and her children will continue to reside in her family's longststanding Edgewater home.

EDGEWATER -- By day she's town manager of Ponce Inlet. By night, well, around the clock really, she's a mom. Welcome to Jeaneen Clauss's world.

The "interim" tag has been removed from Clauss's job in Ponce Inlet, and she now has a $90,000 annual salary to go with it.

Courtesy photo/left. NSBNEWS.net photo by Henry Frederick. Guy Grasso is out as police chief in Oak Hill due to injury. Acting Police Chief Diane Young will continue running the police department until a permanent chief is hired, the Oak Hill City Commission determined Monday.

OAK HILL -- With Guy Grasso unable to get medical clearance to come back to his post as chief of police, the Oak Hill City Commission has decided to continue with Acting Chief Diane Young until a permanent hire is made.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The National Weather Service in Melbourne has issued a cold wind chill advisories for tonight with lows in the 30s and wind-chill reads by early Thursday morning in the 20s...

Courtesy photos. Dawn Brooks, 40, and Michael Johnsen, 41, are each charged with possession of illicit chemicals. She was also charged with battery on a law ernforcement officer.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The makings of a meth house was shut down Tuesday by Sheriff's deputies during a "knock and talk" at a residence at 1819 Pioneer Trail just outside the city limits that also resulted in two arrests, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office reported.

Editor's Note: The following was written by Florida Avenue resident Deborah Dugas who lives behind the proposed Hampton Inn & Suites on Flaglar Avenue and is opposed to it:

NSBNEWS.net photo by Henry Frederick. Florida Avenue resident Deborah Dugas, shown at right, is opposed to the proposed Hampton Inn & Suites.

Commissioners & Mayor (Adam) Barringer:

I will be out of town and unable to attend the final reading for the rezoning/hotel proposal at the next commission meeting. I really wanted to address some NEW issues as they appear in the Gladding Jackson report. The CRA paid thousands of dollars for this report and I cannot believe the commission is not addressing/discussing the issues and information in that report before passing the ordinance for the rezoning/hotel proposal on Flagler Avenue.