Local News Now

EDGEWATER -- Train traffic was shut down Thursday afternoon for about an hour in a wooded area just southwest of the Indian River Elementary School on Roberts Road and some nearby homes while firefighters tended to a brush fire.

Firefighters contained and extinguished the blaze that consumed 1 1/2 acres in the westtward moving fire about 2 p.m. that that included the Florida East Coast railway easement and within a stone's throw of of homes on India Palm Drive.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A 51-year-old Auburn Avenue man was taken into custody and transported to the hospital for a mental evaluation last night after refusing to put down a rifle while on his porch and at one point putting the barrel end into his own mouth, threatening suicide and asking cops to shoot him, New Smyrna Beach police said.

The SWAT team was called in and negotiators were called out after the gunman, identified as Duane Henry Grove refused to put the rifle down after police responded to an 8:36 p.m. 911 call of a male threatening to commit suicide.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Senior citizens always need to keep up their guard against those looking to prey on them and that's why a new course at the Brannon Center could prove very useful.

Whether the threat comes from a mugger, rapist or terrorist, your life is at stake and you must be prepared to do whatever it takes to survive. Fighting for your life is no game – there is a difference between sport rules and street combat – must give up any notion of fair play.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Carol Kelley, principal of New Smyrna Beach High School, is out of work indefinitely after undergoing surgery March 3 for a broken pelvis and hip suffered in an earlier car accident, according to the school's Web site.

Assistant Principal Teresa Marcks is serving as acting principal while the 62-year-old Kelley recuperates from the Feb. 28 accident.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The way City Commissioner William Hathaway sees it, nothing will be lost by allowing City Attorney Frank Gummey and interim City Manager Khalid Resheidat to meet next week with members of the Angler's Club before the city spends money on outside counsel to investigate the legitimacy of a longstanding lease agreement for prime public waterfront property.
"If it blows up in our face, we re-group," Hathaway said earlier tonight.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH --

Blenda J. Avignone, 92, of New Smyrna Beach, a former owner of a pharmacy, died Thursday, March 5, 2009.

Edna S. Boggess, 93, of Edgewater, a former component winder for Utrad Television Component Corp., Huntington, Ind., died Wednesday, March 4, 2009.

Lawrence Corrado Jr., 53, of New Smyrna Beach, co-owner of Beachside Hurricane Protection, died Wednesday, March 4, 2009.

Andrew B. “Andy” Davidson, Jr., 84, of Edgewater, retired from the Seneca Army Depot in Waterloo, N.Y., as deputy director of services and a supporter of Special Olympics, died Tuesday, March 3, 2009.

Courtesy photo. Congresswoman Susanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach, announced Friday $1.15 million in federal funding for law enforcement in Volusia County as part of a $135 million aid package to Florida.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Congresswoman Susanne Kosmas announced Friday that Volusia County was receiving $1.15 million of a $135 million federal aid package for Florida law enforcement and criminal justice entities.