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February 2020 Blog Archive

Operation Vision Zero Kick-off Conference with Officials at Volusia County Emergency Operations Center. Fri, Feb 28, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz – Belden Communications   Operation Vision Zero officially launched Thursday, but City and Law Enforcement Officials kicked the project off this afternoon, by hosting a press conference at the Volusia County Em... Read More

Volusia County Schools Refuse to Answer Questions Regarding COVID-19 ‘Plans’. Fri, Feb 28, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz – Belden Communications   Last night, a little after 6 p.m. Volusia County School Board sent out an auto-email regarding procedural safeguards that are supposedly in place in the event of an outbreak of the Cor... Read More

Daytona Beach Department of Public Safety Seeking Help in Identifying Couple Suspected in Car Break-In. Thu, Feb 27, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz – Belden Communications     The Daytona Beach Department of Public Safety is searching for a man and woman who were caught on video surveillance breaking into a car from a parking garage at the Oceans 4... Read More

Governor DeSantis Speaks in Tallahassee with an Update on Coronavirus (COVID-19). Thu, Feb 27, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz – Belden Communications   Governor Ron DeSantis, Lieutenant Governor Jessica Nunez, and Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees spoke to the public this morning with updates on the Coronavirus and its effect on Flori... Read More

United Flight Detours Landing to Daytona Beach International Airport due to Small Fire. Wed, Feb 26, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz – Belden Communications   A United Flight, an Airbus 320, traveling from Newark, NJ to Nassau, Bahamas made an emergency landing at Daytona Beach International Airport this morning due to a small fire in the ca... Read More

First Step Shelter, INC. Board Members Air Frustrations and Discuss Progress. Wed, Feb 26, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz – Belden Communications   First Step Shelter, Inc., Board Members met yesterday for their monthly board meeting. While a lot of the discussion focused on the Shelter receiving the $160,000 Grant from the Father... Read More

First Step Shelter to Receive $160,000 Grant to Open a Fundraiser Position. Tue, Feb 25, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz – Belden Communications   The Father’s Table Foundation, a private organization located in Sanford, has granted the First Step Shelter, Inc., a $160,000 grant to open up a Developmental Director position.... Read More

Daytona Beach Police Department Issue Silver Alert for Elderly Man. Tue, Feb 25, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz – Belden Communications Have you seen this man?    A Silver Alert went into effect Monday evening after 76-year old Akbar Abdul Raheem was reported missing to Daytona Beach Police Department.   R... Read More

Embry Riddle Alumni Creates Safety Seat to Prevent Hot Car Deaths. Mon, Feb 24, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz   A 46-year old Embry Riddle Alumni has created a Child Car Safety Seat System that notifies parents via Bluetooth notification if their child is left in the car.   The car seat uses a weight sensor that is ac... Read More

Elderly Man Rescued from Ponce Inlet by Coast Guard. Mon, Feb 24, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz   Early Monday afternoon, a 65-year old man in a wheelchair needed to be pulled out of Ponce Inlet by members of the Coast Guard.   A ‘Good Samaritan’ call was received by the Ponce DeLeon Inlet Co... Read More

Volusia County School Board Unhappy with Custodial Contract; Looking to Reinstate In-House Custodial Service. Mon, Feb 24, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz    ABM Industries, the current contract holder of the Custodial Services Contract is in big trouble with the Volusia County School Board.   The new Superintendent Scott Fritz is unhappy with their servic... Read More

Operation Vision Zero Goes into Effect February 27; Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, Daytona Beach Police Department, Port Orange Police Department, and FDOT to Partner Together. Mon, Feb 24, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz – Belden Communications    The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, Daytona Beach Police Department, Port Orange Police Department, and FDOT have had Operation Vision Zero talks in the works for months, ... Read More

Will Volusia County Council Member’s Add the Renewal of the Volusia Forever and Echo Programs to the November Ballot? Fri, Feb 21, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz – Belden Communications   Both the Volusia Forever and the ECHO programs are set to expire in 2021. It’s been a known issue, but the County Council has set the issue to be added to their March Agenda, to ... Read More

World-Famous Budweiser Clydesdales to Make an Appearance at Bike Week 2020. Fri, Feb 21, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz The Bike Week 2020 Schedule has confirmed a visit from the World-Famous Budweiser Clydesdales at the World-Famous Beach.The visit is slotted for March 6-14th of 2020 at River Front Park located at 126 E. Orange Ave in Dayt... Read More

Small Plane Makes a Hard Landing at Daytona Beach International Airport; All Runways Closed. Thu, Feb 20, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz – Belden Communications   Around 12:25 p.m., a Cessna Citation Mustang Aircraft was landing at the Daytona Beach International Airport when the landing gear failed, causing the pilot and it’s one other pa... Read More

Eerie Quiet from Governor Ron DeSantis, and his Office Raises More Questions and Concern. Tue, Feb 18, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz - Belden Communications   Over the past week or so it seems as though Governor DeSantis is behind in his duties, which prompted an article last week regarding over thirty Ethic Orders piling up on the Governor&r... Read More

Late Night Blaze Destroys Unoccupied Daytona Beach Residence. Tue, Feb 18, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz   Fire crews responded to a large fire at an unoccupied residence around 1 a.m Tuesday morning. The blaze was reported by neighbors around the home located off Jefferson St. in Daytona Beach.   Daytona Beach F... Read More

President Trump Made an Appearance at the Daytona 500 Sunday Before Rain Delays 'Great American Race' Until Monday. Sun, Feb 16, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz     President Trump is only the second President in history to attend the Daytona 500 in an election year, making it a huge part of his campaign trail. He is also the first President to take a lap around the ... Read More

Daytona Beach Police Department Chief Craig Capri "Perfectly Executed for a Non-Threat" Fri, Feb 14, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz   Daytona Beach Police Chief Craig Capri confirmed this afternoon that the ‘active shooter call’ that over 100 officers across multiple agencies responded to yesterday around 12:30 p.m at Mainland High ... Read More

Social Media Threat to Mainland High School Follows 'Test' to Police Response Time Fri, Feb 14, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz   Following yesterday’s incident involving firecrackers being set-off on Mainland High School’s campus in Daytona Beach, the Daytona Beach Police Department received reports of a threat of a shooting at t... Read More

The Accused 'Daytona Serial Killer' to Appear in Volusia County Courts For the First Time Today. Thu, Feb 13, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz   In cases dating back over a decade, three women were murdered between 2005 - 2006. Laquetta Gunther, Julie Green, and Iwana Patton’s murder cases until recently have all been left unsolved but that all change... Read More

Investigation Pending in Fatal Crash on Nova Road Monday Thu, Feb 13, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz   According to a news release sent out by Messod Bendayan from the Daytona Beach Police Department, an investigation is still underway regarding the crash on Nova Road, Monday evening that claimed the life of 63-year... Read More

Firecrackers Cause Lockdown at Mainland High School; Investigation Underway Thu, Feb 13, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz   Around 12:30 p.m. The Daytona Beach Police Department received reports of shots fired at Mainland High School campus in Daytona Beach.  The campus went into immediate lockdown procedures, while officers flock... Read More

Ed Kelley's Final Address; The Volusia County State of County Address Wed, Feb 12, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz   Tuesday evening, at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach County Chair, Ed Kelley delivered his final State of the County Address.  Kelley hinted towards the future of the county and its ties to the aerospace indu... Read More

Is the President Coming to Daytona Beach this Weekend? FAA Issues Notice of VIP Movement in the Area. Wed, Feb 12, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz   While the Daytona 500 is the big news for this coming weekend, the FAA issued a notice to expect the VIP movement on February 16, 2020, in the Daytona Beach area.    The Official notice States:  E... Read More

Man Wanted by Daytona Beach Police Department Over Weekend, Turned Himself in Monday. Tue, Feb 11, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz  The man wanted by Daytona Beach Police Department in a Murder Case over the weekend, Terrell Jones, has turned himself into police custody Monday Evening. According to an arrest report sent out this morning, Terrell... Read More

Unaddressed Ethics Orders Piling High on Governor Ron DeSantis' Desk. Mon, Feb 10, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz The Florida Commission of Ethics surely is not happy with Governor Ron DeSantis, and his negligence in reviewing and finalizing over 30 Ethic Order cases that have been piling up on his desk. The Ethics Commission works w... Read More

Local Pastor, Nina Tidwell, of Ponce Church to Start New Ponce Village Homeless Women Housing Project. Thu, Feb 06, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz   Nina Tidwell, a Co-Pastor of Ponce Church located in Ponce Inlet, has had many years of fulfilling a mission to help the homeless in her community. Her cause started in Arizona helping the local shelter, Chrysalis ... Read More

FDOT and DBPD Will Be Conducting a High Visibility Enforcement Detail until May 2020. Thu, Feb 06, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz   According to Alert Today Florida, an organization under FDOT, along with the Daytona Beach Police Department will be conducting a High Visibility Enforcement (HVE) operation for the Daytona Beach Area. Daytona Bea... Read More

Daytona Beach Police Department Searching for Woman in PTA Fraud Case. Wed, Feb 05, 2020 Written By Kristen Schmutz   Police are searching for Amber Davis (pictured above), regarding a PTA Fraud case from Palm Terrace Elementary School in Daytona Beach. The School was alerted of the potential fraud back in November when the sch... Read More

Airbnb Announces a 'Bed Tax' Began on February 1, 2020 for Volusia County. Tue, Feb 04, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz Airbnb, an online marketplace for local homeowners to put up their homes as short-term rentals announced Tuesday, that as of February 1, 2020, they initiated a bed tax for its hosts in Volusia County. The bed tax, also kn... Read More

First Transit Management Services Will Conduct Contract Negotiations with VC County Council for a Six-Month Trial Period Over Votran. Tue, Feb 04, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz   Volusia County Council voted this morning to give First Transit Management Service time to negotiate a contract for a trial period of six months. The Council added that if no contract has been agreed upon then the... Read More

Daytona Beach Police Department Arrest Man for Writing Manifesto on Killing Police. Tue, Feb 04, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz   Jeffery Daniel, a 42-year old Daytona Beach Resident has been arrested and held in police Custody on No Bond for writing "On Killing the Police - A Manifesto for the Mentally Ill.” According to Daytona Beach... Read More

Bethune-Cookman University Accreditation in Jeopardy; School Going into Second Year of Academic Probation. Mon, Feb 03, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz   Back in June of 2018 Bethune-Cookman University was placed on academic probation for non-compliance for multiple infractions according to the Board of Trustees of Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSC... Read More

Volusia County Sherriff’s Office Integrating Facial Recognition Technology. Mon, Feb 03, 2020 Written by Kristen Schmutz   The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office has been catching some heat in their recent announcement to integrate facial recognition technology, that their new software will violate resident’s privacy. Sheriff... Read More