Breaking News Alerts

REPORTED HERE FIRST

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Alleged serial arsonist James Bates admitted to setting fires as far back as the 1970s, but said he managed to suppress the urge for some time, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office in announcing his arrest this evening.

That all ended back in December, when Sheriff's investigators said Bates returned to old habits.

In a span of less than seven weeks starting in early December, five fires were intentionally set in the New Smyrna Beach area.

WINTER SPRINGS -- A 72-year-old Winter Springs woman in a flashy new Chevrolet Corvette hit the gas pedal instead of the brake and slammed into the Goldenrod Post Office, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The yellow Corvette sustained some front-end damage and took out a large window of the post office, but neither the driver nor any postal works or customers were hurt in the 1:55 p.m. Monday crash at the post office, 7501 Citrus Ave and Goldenrod Place.

Ruth Lawyer, who was wearing her seat belt, was attempting to park her new sports car when the mishap occurred, Florida Highway Patrol spokesman Sgt. Kim Montes said. She said Lawyer was issued a ticket chargingh her with careless driving.

Here in the early stages of the Daytona 500 is the first of two wrecks -- the earlier one on lap 2 taking out Jimmy Johnson and David Ragan. Though she was in the middle of the melee, Danica Patrick survived the wreckage.

NSBNews.net photo by Henry Frederick / Former New Smyrna Beach Mayor Sally Mackay confers with her "Hub" group's attorney, Bill Preston, during Monday night's City Commission meeting.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Former Mayor Sally Mackay's Hub artist rental program on Canal Street was approved tonight by the City Commission as a de facto Community Redevelopment Agency, a move that essentially puts the CRA out of business as a governing body.

The CRA couldn't act on the program earlier this month because it's down to four members and one of them, attorney James C. Petersen, its acting chairman, had a conflict of interest and had to abstain, leaving the board without a quorum.

OAK HILL -- This little city, famous for Mosquito Lagoon and more recently the demise of its police force, has a connection to Super Bowl lore. It's the winter home of Miami Dolphins great Larry Csonka.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Jim Kosmas has resigned his seat on the CRA, the fifth board member to do so since April, which moves the responsibility for the disbursement of funds on the shoulders of the City Commission.

Like the others, the resignation was effective immediately, but this has a far greater personal tone to it by Kosmas who has felt disrespected by commissioners and even misled by his board's own attorney.

DELTONA -- A 26-year-old woman was struck and killed early Wednesday night after she stepped into the path of an oncoming vehicle while crossing Howland Boulevard in Deltona, a Volusia Ciunty Sheriff's spokesman said.

The crash, which occurred at  6:20 p.m. where Howland and Courtland boulevards intersect, is under investigation by the Sheriff's Office. Shinnique Comer, a Deltona resident, was crossing the road when she was struck by a mini-van that was traveling westbound on Howland Boulevard.

"Several people witnessed the collision and called 911 to report the crash to the Sheriff's Office," agency spokesman Brandon Haught said. "Deputies were on-scene within 4 minutes, where an off-duty paramedic was attempting to revive the victim. Witnesses told deputies that she was talking on a cell phone while crossing the street."

Vince Carter is gearing up for the NBA season on Christmas day with his new team, the Dallas Mavericks, who open up at home against the team they beat in the finasls last season, the Miami Heat.

DAYTONA BEACH -- The Dallas Mavericks have good reason to be pleased with the addition of Vince Carter as the NBA season begins Christmas Day. Carter, the Mainland High School McDonald's All-American, known as "Vinsanity," practiced for the first time Thursday, slowed by tendinitis in his knee.

DELAND -- Due to high water levels in the St. Johns River associated with recent rains, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is asking boaters to stay off populated areas of the river until the waters recede.

Primarily affected are populated portions in Volusia, Seminole and Orange counties. Most areas in Brevard County are rural and wooded and will not be negatively affected. However, problems could arise in the canal systems of lakes Poinsett and Washington.

Although water levels have not yet reached flood stage, officials feel they probably will in some areas. Once flood stage is reached, emergency idle speed, no wake zones go into effect automatically in portions of the river. The locations of these mandatory emergency idle speed, no wake zones and flood stages can be found online at www.srh.noaa.gov/serfc/index.php.

exclusive on-scene coverage 

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Ray Guiser was able to keep the spirit of jazz alive while still providing a pop flavor when he performed Van Morrison's "Moondance" on a flute for an overflowing dining crowd Saturday night at That's Amore.