Local News Now

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- About 400,000 gallons of raw sewage spewed into a wooded area Thursday morning near Sugar Mill Drive, but was contained to a low-lying area that stopped it from continuing into a nearby drainage ditch, county officials said.

The spill was blamed on a broken 30-inch pipe that has since been repaired, officials said. The same mainline was affected by a broken pipe off of Glencoe Road a year ago.

County officials said the spill does not pose any health risks because of its remote location and is being cleaned up.

Editor's note: This is a courageous topic on the part of the blogger. It's a reminder for all of us to learn as much as we can about the importance of proper nutrition and daily exercise. Please see your physician before undertaking strenuous exercise.

Obesity is epidemic in this country. This is a fact we all know. Some thin people look at fat people with disdain because they feel the fat person has done this to themselves and could just undo it.

This is just not so.

I have fought obesity most of my life and I am currently losing the battle, again.

Robert James Engelkamp, 83, of New Smyrna Beach, a retired postal supervisor for the U.S. Postal Service in Cincinnati, died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2008.

Shelly Jo Johnson, 38, of Edgewater, a homemaker, died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2008.

Betty Landrove, of New Smyrna Beach, who worked data processing in the health care industry, died Thursday, Jan. 6, 2008.

Marjorie McDowall Morris, 93, of New Smyrna Beach, a former office secretary for Avon Tube Corp., in Rochester, Mich., died Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2008.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Harpist and vocalist Melody Long Anglin will perform at the New Smyrna Beach Regional Library at 2 p.m. Saturday. The concert is free and open to the public.

A renowned harpist, Anglin recently won a first place award in WESH-TV’s “Best Music in Central Florida” contest. She received a master’s degree in musical performance at the University of Tulsa and plays a variety of music styles, including classical, jazz, pop, therapeutic, sacred and Celtic harp.

This “Live in the Library” performance is sponsored by the Friends ofthe New Smyrna Beach Regional Library.

Photos by Sandi Carroll. Cutline: At left, Danielle Grau as secretary Jane Worthington, tries to keep a snoopy waiter, played by Don Campbell, out of the closet. At right, The Hotel manager, played by Larrie Tiffany, is shocked by the event taking place in English Conservative Member Richard Willey's room.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The Little Theatre of New Smyrna Beach will present "Out of Order" at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. on the next two Sundays at 726 Third Ave., on the beachside.

The comedy centers around English Conservative member of Parliament, Richard Willey, who is attempting to have an affair with one of the secretaries of the leader of the Opposition Party in a top London hotel.

Naturally, conservative Republicans are disappointed that former Gov. Jeb Bush decided not to run for the U.S. Senate seat in 2010 with the announced retirement of Mel Martinez. Jeb Bush is considered by many conservatives as being the finest candidate for any political office. He would have been a shoo in to become senator -- so much so that he was not expected to have any challengers from inside the party.
However it is quite understandable with all the mud and propaganda that has been thrown at his presidential brother that he decided to keep his powder dry and make his move later on.

Courtesy photo. Cutline: This photo of Suzanne Kosmas was taken when she was a member of the Florida Legislature. She easily outpolled incumbent Republican Congressman Tom Feeney for the District 24 seat in Washington D.C.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Suzanne Kosmas of New Smyrna Beach was sworn into office Tuesday as part of the 111th Congress.

Courtesy photos. Cutline: Kristilyn Smith, 25, and her father, Alton Everett Smith, 46, were both charged today with incest. Both are from Palm Coast. The father was apprehended Monday in New Smyrna Beach as a fugitive from justice on 37 counts of child pornography. His wife, Tina Marie Smith, 36, was arrested Dec. 10, on similar child porn charges.

PALM COAST -- Alton Everett Smith, the 46-year-old fugitive from justice apprehended Monday by New Smyrna Beach police and the United States Marshall Service after trying to escape by climbing down six stories from the Oceania Beach Club on the beachside, has now been charged by Flagler County authorities with felony incest with his own daughter, 25-year-old Kristilyn Smith. She, too, was charged today with incest.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Everything from ballroom dance to doing the YMCA is on tap at the Brannon Center 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, starting this Thursday.

This will be a time to party, make new friends, and bring your own group and dance.

There's a big Valentine’s Party Thursday, Feb. 12.

Tickets are $5 at the door, for more information, please call Nicole Charbonneau at (386) 424-2280. The Brannon Center is at 105 S. Riverside Drive in New Smyrna Beach.