The City of DeBary has sent Volusia County Schools a cease-and-desist letter intending to halt any attempt to plan or build a school on two parcels known as the Spring Vista property
the school board voted 4-1 to purchase a little more than 25 acres on the southeast corner of Spring Vista Drive and South Shell Road
with the intent to build a K-8 school with a capacity of 1,500 students
That flew in the face of a DeBary City Council unanimous vote in January to deem that type of use of the property is incompatible with the city's comprehensive plan – the tool Florida municipalities must use to ensure orderly development
The school board didn't challenge the DeBary City Council comprehensive plan in circuit court within 30 days
rendering the council's determination final
Rosamonda held a press conference on May 1 announcing the cease-and-desist letter and warning the Volusia County School Board that any attempt to develop the site as a school will result in a legal challenge
“If indeed the school (district) does want to break ground or clear the property
I will do my job and recommend to the City Council that we pursue further legal action to prevent the construction of the school on that site,” Rosamonda said
He also criticized school district officials for poor planning
as DeBary is running out of parcels large enough on which to build a school
there was a 30-acre parcel he described as "ideal," but district officials didn't start talking to him about their desire to build a school in DeBary until 2023
after that acreage had been bought by a developer
The News-Journal has requested any response Volusia County Schools might have sent to DeBary's April 28 cease-and-desist letter
from spokeswoman Danielle Johnson: "We will not be able to comment further due to possible pending litigation."
has one public schoolDeBary Elementary opened in 1996
just three years after the city was incorporated
as well as a Main Street development near the SunRail station
The school board considered building a high school in DeBary in 2003
but the City Council voted that proposal down
Volusia County Schools opened University High as well as River Springs Middle School
The school district purchased a 48-acre parcel just east of U.S
But district officials have since determined that preparation of the land for development would be too costly
As much as $15 million in improvements to U.S
17-92 would be needed and the parcel has a high water table and would demand thousands of truckloads of fill dirt
the school district turned its attention to the Spring Vista site
Despite opposition by some neighboring residents and businesses
school board members said they heard an overwhelmingly positive response from the public in support of the Spring Vista site
School officials cited a Florida Department of Education assessment favoring Spring Vista as a safe location
Many of the students who would attend the school would not have to cross the four-lane U.S
a major artery for commuters bound south for Orlando
The school board didn't address the potential DeBary comprehensive plan roadblock head-on during the April 22 meeting
Some members suggested that even if they can't build on the site
they were confident they would be able to resell the land at or above the price they paid
DeBary's manager said he has no idea how much it might cost if the city and school board end up fighting in court over the matter
as Volusia County Schools will be spending a lot of taxpayer money on design
and other preconstruction costs only to realize they cannot legally build a school at the Spring Vista site," Rosamonda said
"Trying to build a school on this site will violate our statutorily required interlocal agreement and Florida law concerning the city’s comprehensive plan.”
He cited the law itself and three separate Florida attorney general opinions dating back to 1979
was written by then-Attorney General Charlie Crist in response to a dispute between the Hernando County School Board and county commissioners
the Legislature has made it clear that school districts and school boards are subject to local land development regulations enacted to implement local comprehensive land use planning and development."
Rosamonda said he hopes to continue talking with school officials to revive the Buckley site as a landing spot for a school
We understand there are some challenges with that property
but we believe that we can overcome all of those challenges or concerns," Rosamonda said
He said the Buckley site is "only a half-mile away" from Spring Vista
but developers are in line to purchase (Buckley)
They’ve already had offers to buy it," Rosamonda said
We think we can do some innovative stuff at this particular location and make a really fine school for the school board and for the city of DeBary.”
Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal NewsHaley Coomes
DEBARY
– City leaders in DeBary are initiating legal actions against the Volusia County School District regarding plans for a new school
City officials held a news conference on Thursday to discuss the school board’s recent decision to purchase property known as the Spring Vista site
the Volusia County School Board voted to purchase the site for $8 million
The proposed location for the K-8 school—located on Spring Vista Drive near the intersection of Shell Road—would replace Enterprise Elementary
With significant population growth in the area
the district has maintained for years that DeBary and its surroundings require a new educational facility
DeBary city leaders argue that the construction of the school violates Florida law
and issued a cease and desist letter demanding that the school board from any further efforts to design
“We issued the letter to be proactive as Volusia County Schools will be spending a lot of taxpayer money on design
only to realize they cannot legally build a school at the Spring Vista site,” said DeBary City Manager
“Trying to build a school on this site to violate our statutorily required local agreement and Florida law concerning the city’s comprehensive plan.”
The city said it remains committed to working with Volusia County Schools to identify solutions that respect its comprehensive plan and reflect the community’s interests
Copyright 2025 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved
Haley is a digital content producer for ClickOrlando.com and first started as a News 6 producer in October 2014
She's a graduate of Indiana University with a Bachelors of Arts degree in journalism
She specializes in theme parks and lifestyle writing
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Note: This story has been edited to remove an incorrect statement by a school board member
A statement from the district clarified the district faced no penalty or fee if the school board had not agreed to buy the two Spring Vista parcels
The Volusia County School Board bought property in DeBary last year to replace Enterprise Elementary with a K-8 school
only to later determine that the site wouldn't work
the board will consider buying more land that the city has deemed unsuitable for a school
School administrators have placed items on the April 22 school board meeting agenda requesting the board's approval to purchase two adjacent parcels at what's known as the Spring Vista site
One is for $7.2 million and the other $1.2 million
A staff memo states that the board obligated itself to buy the land for a combined total of $8.4 million at an Oct
15 meeting at which the DeBary City Council determined that building a school on that site is incompatible with the city's comprehensive plan
The School Board last fall entered into an interim development agreement with Building Tomorrow's Schools
a nonprofit corporation that has developed several school buildings in Florida while promising to ease the financial burden on local governments
Officials associated with that Palm Beach Gardens company appeared with Board Chair Jamie Haynes before the DeBary council to make their case for why Spring Vista is the right location
voting unanimously against the school proposal after hearing from residents of neighboring subdivisions who voiced concerns about traffic
School board member Donna Brosemer said she did not support buying a second piece of property where a school might not be able to be built
“This is just the screwiest thing I’ve come across in all my years of doing business here,” Brosemer said
Buckley deemed too costly to developThis could become the second parcel Volusia County Schools bought in DeBary for a future school that might not fit the bill
the school board bought a 48-acre parcel at U.S
but has since determined its location will be too costly to develop
the school district's planning and construction director
will require as much as $15 million in improvements such as turn lanes and sidewalks
while a high water table could require $20 million to import fill dirt
The district is looking into putting the Buckley property back on the market
Enterprise, an unincorporated burg surrounded by Deltona on the north shore of Lake Monroe, used to be the Volusia County seat until it moved to DeLand in 1888. Children have attended school in various buildings there since 1912
and School Board Chair Jamie Haynes has pushed for it to be relocated to her city
Haynes is among some residents who are disappointed the city has not gotten its own middle or high school
she joined with Building Tomorrow's Schools officials in making the case that the Spring Vista site was a good location for a school
and perhaps DeBary's last chance to get a second school
Haynes talked about having an infant granddaughter who lives two blocks from the Spring Vista site
saying she hoped the girl would not have to be bused out of DeBary to attend school
"We build in neighborhoods all the time," Haynes said
It's smack-dab in the middle of a neighborhood."
At the same time, the district is looking to replace Enterprise Elementary, Haynes and other district officials suggested recently the district could look to close some schools as part of a consolidation effort as it faces budget shortfalls
a thriving suburban enclave of 23,000 that prides itself on a small-town feel with 13 city parks
has approximately 3,000 school-age children and exactly one school
So most everyone – school board members, city officials and residents – concerned with the relocation of an aging Enterprise Elementary School agrees it should be built in DeBary
Yet efforts stretching back more than a year to build a new K-8 school have gotten school officials nowhere – with the most likely outcome being a site beyond DeBary's boundaries
The controversial site selection process has led to anger and frustration on the part of DeBary residents, City Council members, and school officials, who extended fingers of blame at one another during an extraordinary, nearly four-hour Jan. 15 City Council meeting
The school district's first choice was a two-parcel site totaling 30 acres at the intersection of Spring Vista Drive and Shell Road
Council members unanimously found the land incompatible with the city's comprehensive plan
while its staff argued the school should be built at a different location closer to the SunRail station
the Volusia County School Board closed on the purchase of a 48-acre parcel at Buckley Drive
17-92 and one quarter-mile south of the commuter rail station
school officials determined it was not suitable for a school
They pivoted back to the Spring Vista Drive site
which they intended to develop through a private-public partnership with a nonprofit organization
which is near several subdivisions as well as commercial and industrial areas
drew NIMBY ire from residents of the closest subdivision
DeBary has just one schoolVolusia School Board Chair Jamie Haynes
has passionately campaigned for the Spring Vista site
Haynes said she has been disappointed to see DeBary miss previous opportunities to have public schools
She noted that some communities in southeast Volusia poised for explosive growth have set aside sites for future schools
The school board opened DeBary Elementary School in 1996
But no other schools have been built in the River City
despite the fact that in the 32 years DeBary has been a city
its population has doubled to nearly 23,000
the DeBary City Council voted down a proposed high school site near the intersection of U.S
and the school board in 2010 opened University High School in Orange City
The district also opened River Springs Middle School – serving DeBary students – in Orange City in 2008
Haynes explained why the school issue is personal to her
"I now have a 2-month-old granddaughter who lives on the corner of Monroe (Avenue) and Shell
what two streets down from where Spring Vista is," Haynes said
"My hope is that she won’t have to be bused out of DeBary to go to school."
Councilman: Lack of DeBary schools is 'not our incompetence'Sell
said during the January hearing Volusia County Schools is to blame for the lack of schools in DeBary
We are also not responsible to save property to build a school in the future
After Mayor Karen Chasez suggested Sell "ratchet it down a little bit," he continued defending the city with 13 parks and one school
“I’m tired of everyone pointing fingers at us because we buy parks
We buy parks because it keeps development out of there," Sell said
"That’s why we buy parks to prevent from building everywhere.”
Then he questioned the school district's purchase of land it later determined was not suitable
“I want to know who bought the Buckley property
How much tax money was spent on it and why is it now unusable?" he asked
Haynes said district officials started due diligence during the Buckley purchase
but could not complete all of the work before the deal closed in April 2024
Volusia County Schools' planning and construction director
explained some of the issues that were uncovered at the Buckley site
which will be costly to prepare for construction
a four-lane highway that sees an exodus of DeBary commuters headed south toward Interstate 4 and Orlando each morning
would require as much as $15 million in improvements
such as turn lanes and sidewalks for two miles in each direction
"The water table is about 12 inches below the surface on Buckley," Young said
"We would have to dewater the site on about 22 to 24 acres."
That would involve thousands of truckloads of dirt and a cost of "about $20 million" just to prepare the site for construction
Volusia County Schools also had the Florida Department of Education evaluate the Buckley and Spring Vista sites
senior educational program director for the FDOE's Office of Educational Facilities
wrote that the Spring Vista location was better suited for a school
including its proximity to railroad tracks and a neighboring auto salvage yard which could cause "possible site contamination."
DeBary manager: School board 'procrastination' led to missed opportunitiesCity Manager Carmen Rosamonda said the Spring Vista site is "inconsistent with our comp plan," and doesn't provide wide enough roads for proper transportation
He said the Department of Education letter does not prohibit Volusia County Schools from using the Buckley Drive site
It just makes it a bit more difficult to develop
After a flurry of building on the city's south end in recent years
DeBary is "nearly built-out," meaning there is little land left within the city where a new school could be sited
"They're three to five years too late," Rosamonda said
there's not going to be another school in DeBary."
Rosamonda – who served on the first DeBary City Council in 1993 and later became mayor – voted in favor of constructing a high school in the city
Volusia County Schools have shown little interest in siting a school in the city
"I find it ironic that the school board is blaming the city for no (school) sites in the city
They have not been in front of this city for (22) years
It is their responsibility to build schools and buy property and build schools
And every prime property that has been in this city for the last (22) years the school board has not taken action on it and has not built it," Rosamonda said
"So by the procrastination by the school board
and when they came to the city just a year and a half ago
He called the Buckley site the only "viable" one that won't impact neighborhoods and adjacent properties
Rosamonda said he wanted to discuss his vision for tying the Buckley site into the Haven
a planned downtown-like new mixed-use development
but school board officials "have shut me down," because they had an ongoing invitation to negotiate
a process whereby companies were welcome to pitch their plans
He challenged Volusia schools' and Florida Department of Education officials' findings about the Buckley site
"The talk about contamination is totally false
We’ve already done a study on (a nearby development site)
There is no evidence that particular site is contaminated and their claim is entirely false.”
Springview HOA President Barry Ruot dismissed the school district's traffic study
arguing Shell Road is "packed already," and the "little businesses" in an office complex across Spring Vista Drive will be hurt
are garbage because it’s not true facts of what is going to happen in the community when everything is built up," Ruot said
"We have a lot of building going down there."
Springview resident Michael Messore said a new school would make him and his neighbors "prisoners" because of additional vehicles on Spring View Drive and Shell Road
"This would be like having the Christmas parade on steroids Monday through Friday every single day of the week," Messore said
"Please don’t put it in our backyard because we won’t be able to leave our houses."
Windy Lopez said a school at Spring Vista could lead to problems such as vandalism in her Springview neighborhood
"If I could afford to move if this school goes through
an attorney representing Building Tomorrow's Schools and the school district
and other witnesses from the nonprofit builder said their design would accommodate more than 600 cars in a parent dropoff/pickup loop on site – more than what's anticipated – so backups at the school's entrance on Spring Vista Drive should be minimal
but not in my backyard.' That was the consistent theme
Put it in somebody else’s backyard," Watts said
A school at the Spring Vista site does meet the city's comp plan criteria
and there's a "defined and definite need for a school" in DeBary
"What the city has consistently been doing," he said
"is essentially exporting the problem to the other communities in Volusia County."
DeBary residents in support of Spring Vista siteNot all DeBary residents shared concerns about the Spring Vista site
a DeBary resident who identified herself as a school district employee and mother of two young Volusia students
said she loves DeBary's proximity to "hustle and bustle" but also its "small-town feel."
Neighborhood schools – and not sites isolated from residences like the Buckley tract – would be a better fit for DeBary
“I am in support of the Spring Vista site because it allows our students to stay within our community,” she said
"It allows for a much safer commute for all of our DeBary stakeholders and provides relief to our swelling classrooms much more rapidly
The addition of the K-8 school is ever so crucial at this time of our city’s development and our emphasis should be on having that school as an addition to our city and not a far-off expansion."
Retired teacher Yvette Best – who lives in one of the neighborhoods near the Spring View site – said she has two school-age grandchildren and argued without more schools
How we prepare to serve them will speak volumes of our city,” Best told the council before asking: "Should we make our town motto be: Move to DeBary
The DeBary City Council was eager enough to have the school built at the Buckley Drive site
to grant a future waiver to its transit-oriented development overlay
But council members found Volusia County Schools' turn to the Spring Vista location
and Building Tomorrow's Schools approach untenable
council members Phyllis Butlien and Patricia Stevenson asked open-minded questions of the school officials
but said problems outweighed the arguments for the Spring Vista site
Both Butlien and Sell took issue with a postcard mailed to DeBary residents suggesting the school had already been approved
confusing the community and stirring controversy
"The developer Building Tomorrow's Schools had it on its website as this is where it's going to be," she said
"This is why I'm having issues with this."
Butlien also said the school district could not assure the community that at some point in the future
"they may want to redistrict or bus people in from Deltona and Sanford
Stevenson said she likes the Buckley site because
"that is where all of the new development is going to be."
In addition to homes and apartments already under development on the east side of U.S. 17-92, Gas Light Design is planning a 240-home multifamily development, The Haven, nearer to the Buckley site
which she viewed as a better location for the K-8 school
"I'm having a hard time seeing these pictures (of Spring Vista) with the school squeezed into that little parcel when there is a much larger parcel that was already approved," she said
said Building Tomorrow's Schools' traffic study and engineering appears to professionally done
but misses “real-world” subtleties that DeBary residents see
she said the proposed school’s retention pond follows formulas
or 11.7 inches of rain falling in 24 hours
So that must have been what the 500-year storm (was)
During Ian we had another 500–year storm two years ago," Chasez said
An earlier comment had been made about a poorly planned project – "what idiot built this?" she said
"I will tell you that's what I hear in the back of my head if this proposal were to go forward," Chasez said
After school officials made it clear they don't plan to build on the Buckley site
the district began receiving offers from real-estate developers to purchase it
A 4-1 board vote formally rejected an unsolicited
which said it intended to build 200 single-family homes on the land
The Falcone Group is also developing L'Attitude28°
117 townhomes and 36 "live-work units" within the larger downtown development north of of the SunRail station
That board vote also gave district staff the direction to start negotiations to market and sell the Buckley property in the hope that it will attract a higher offer than the $5 million
Haynes said she and other school officials met with Rosamonda – the DeBary city manager who promised to make the Buckley site "the best school in Volusia County" – but she remained firm on ruling that site out
the lone opponent to the vote to move on from Buckley
said he didn't want to send DeBary the wrong signal
"I will not support this motion because I still think we are in good-faith negotiations with the city and I think that’s going to hinder that," Colón said
Haynes said holding onto the property and continuing to pursue the Buckley site as a possibility would leave "the parents in DeBary confused," because the district's own evaluation concludes that in addition to the millions and years to prepare the site and the Department of Education letter finds it doesn't meet state requirements
“We’ve already hired all of these people to do this analysis and so my nay was because ..
there’s this thought that we can miraculously wave a wand and have the money
have the time and get DOE to change their mind and build on this property," Haynes said
"And my understanding is DOE is not going to change their mind.”
Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal NewsMolly Reed
– Volusia County Schools is considering spending $8 million on a piece of land in DeBary to build a new school
the city has already stated that the land cannot accommodate a new school
The proposed location is on Spring Vista Drive near the intersection of Shell Road
The school board will discuss this issue at its meeting Tuesday night
the district has emphasized the need for a new school in DeBary and the surrounding regions for years
This new school would replace Enterprise Elementary
The school board is focused on acquiring the 19-acre parcel
but the city of DeBary argues that this property can’t handle a school
“It would require significant road improvements; they would have to use eminent domain for residents’ front yards and businesses’ entryways,” said city manager Carmen Rosamonda
“There are hundreds of millions of dollars of commerce that occur in that industrial park there.”
Rosamonda added that if the district proceeds with building a school on this site
it would violate its interlocal agreement with the city
“The staff and city attorney would probably recommend an injunction
and it would go into the courts,” Rosamonda said
The city has proposed an alternative site for the school—48 acres along Buckley Drive
the school board recently voted to sell this property
as it had focused its attention on the Spring Vista site
School Board Chair Jamie Haynes has been advocating for the new school
She provided a statement emphasizing the importance of the new facility
“As the School Board representative for District 1
I am dedicated to ensuring the highest quality educational facilities and outcomes for our students,” Haynes said
The district indicates that the board will vote Tuesday night on whether to move forward with acquiring a property for the new school and will determine the exact location
DeBARY, Fla. – A massive nature park covering over 200 acres is set to open in DeBary next year
The city bought the land in 2023 to save it from being developed and now
with the help of a recent $2.5 million grant from the county
the city is on its way to making its vision come to life
Alexander Island is stretched along the St
“We’re planning on building not only kayak launches
We want to turn this into a one-of-a-kind nature park,” City Manager Carmen Rosamonda said
Rosamonda walked News 6 through the plans and different areas of the future park
He said a berm created by the Army Corps of Engineers in the 1950s when they dredged the river will turn into a boardwalk along the water and around the property
One of the reasons the city paid $3.5 million last year to save it from being developed into 64 homes is a 50-acre oak forest
“It’ll be unpaved trails through this here
so even during the summertime when it’s hot
there’s a 1- or 2-mile walk of shaded walk through the historic oak hammock and you can see what old Florida really looks like,” Rosamonda said
The city recently received a $2.5 million echo grant from the county to boost its funding
That’ll provide a good foundation for this project
but this is going to be a 10-to-20-year project
taking this boardwalk all the way around the berm on the edge of the river,” he said
The entrance to Alexander Island will be off Fort Florida Road
Just outside of the entrance is the end of the trail that leads down to the SunRail station in DeBary and the future Main Street the city is currently building for a downtown
Rosamonda said the city hopes to have the majority of the park open by December of next year
Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved
Volusia County School Board Chair Jamie Haynes' efforts to get a second school built in DeBary – her home community of nearly 40 years – have taken a big leap forward
Haynes was joined by three other School Board members in voting April 22 to purchase two parcels totaling a little more than 25 acres for $8.4 million
Volusia County Schools officials have worked with a private school-development company
to design a K-8 school that could accommodate upward of 1,500 students
Board members said an email campaign from residents was running about 7 to 1 in favor of building a school at the site
Haynes summarized those emails: "I want a school because I don't want my kids bused out of DeBary
I chose to go across to Seminole County and do a private school
DeBary children that remain in traditional public schools are bused to Orange City for middle and high school, a concern for board members who are feeling the pinch of the school choice movement as declining enrollment has resulted in a loss of revenue
"I've been saying for a long time we are losing the students in DeBary out of Volusia County Schools because we haven't given them a school in their community," Haynes said
The proposed school at the southeast corner of Spring Vista Drive and South Shell Road was rejected on Jan
which voted unanimously to find the site incompatible with its comprehensive plan
DeBary Mayor Karen Chasez and City Manager Carmen Rosamonda spoke against the purchase of land is at the southeast quadrant of Spring Vista Drive and South Shell Road
the DeBary City Council heard a pitch from Haynes
other school officials and representatives from Building Tomorrow's Schools
a nonprofit organization that had an interim agreement with Volusia schools to develop the site
City council members heard four hours of testimony and ultimately determined that a school at that corner is not compatible with the city's comprehensive plan
Both the city and school board offered traffic studies showing different impacts on the neighboring community
Rosamonda cited "the enormous cost of road improvements" and the likelihood of using eminent domain to purchase property from homeowners to widen Shell Road
Chasez described herself as "extra disappointed" because the city and school district had previously collaborated to improve a traffic snag during parent drop-offs and pickups at DeBary Elementary School
"There is no ill will on either side," Chasez said
"It is a different view of what the impact would be and different roles
we are the ones that are going to have the repercussions
Shell Road is the road we believe would need to be expanded
the one that we believe would have to have eminent domain exercised because there is no further right-of-way."
She called the Spring Vista-Shell Road area "a business corridor," and adding a school to the mix will require more traffic capacity
Rosamonda shared with The News-Journal a copy of a 2007 agreement between the School Board and local governments including DeBary that states a school site plan "shall be submitted to the county or city for review
comment and determination of consistency with respect to the comprehensive plan and applicable land development code."
It also states: "The local government's review is limited to consistency with the comprehensive plan
safety and welfare and effects on adjacent property."
But Haynes said there has never been a plan for schools in the comprehensive plan of DeBary
a city that has grown from less than 5,000 when she moved there to more than 23,000 today as residential development after residential development has been approved
"There was no DeBary Golf & Country Club when I moved there
Anybody driven through there and seen how large that is?" Haynes said
"There was no Glen Abbey when I started there
Concerns about traffic backups similar to those that have been seen near DeBary Elementary on Highbanks Road have been mentioned prominently by neighbors who oppose the Spring Vista site
There are residential subdivisions along Shell Road
including one just across from the school site
Haynes said she traveled to Polk County twice to visit a school designed by Building Tomorrow's Schools that uses a concept she believes will keep traffic on Shell and Spring Vista to a minimum
The Spring Vista plot is large enough to accommodate an on-site 2½-mile parent pickup loop – part of which will be double-laned
"Nobody should ever hang out on the street
"We also did it as a way for when you have events there
Donna Brosemer was the lone School Board holdout
including what appears to be an impending legal fight with the city
the school board purchased a different DeBary parcel
17-92 across from the SunRail station for nearly $5 million
only to later determine the site would cost up to $20 million to de-water and prep for construction
"We still are bound by the interlocal agreement that we have with 17 other local governments and we do not have the authority to override the comprehensive plans for any of those local governments," Brosemer said
"so this is really potentially a very large roll of the dice on our part
School Board member Krista Goodrich said the risk of being unable to build a school because of legal hurdles is mitigated by the value of the real estate the board is purchasing
"We are competing against private schools and charter schools
and so we know we have declining enrollments
We are looking at ways to get our kids back in our schools
and if we build a state-of-the-art school and make it phenomenal and keep it in the community of DeBary
I think we are doing a good thing," Goodrich said
"And I am concerned about the legal hurdles that may be in front of us
but I think the property will hold its value enough to more than compensate for that."
A Michigan woman was brought to the Volusia County Branch Jail on accusations she used a Google photo of a garage with a John Deere tractor in the lot to fraudulently sell the machine on social media to a DeBary man
Volusia County sheriff's investigators said
was booked into the jail Tuesday and remained their Wednesday on charges of organized scheme to defraud involving more than $50,000 and grand theft over $20,000
A Volusia County Sheriff's Office Facebook post shows Latimer arriving at an airport and met by Sheriff Mike Chitwood before she was taken to Jail
a DeBary man called in December to report that he had been scammed into buying a John Deere tractor he saw on sale on Facebook Marketplace
The victim said he wired $52,000 in three installments to a Matt Pickins and Charlie Larson of Menard Holdings
the company that advertised the John Deere
the DeBary man could not get in contact with them and realized he had been scammed
A sheriff's office investigator looking into the case discovered that the address given on Facebook Marketplace for the tractor was simply a large garage with a tractor in the dirt lot
"The scammer chose this location due to the John Deere tractor visible on Google images," the investigator wrote in the report
The same group apparently had a similar scamming scheme in Menard County
where they used a historical military barn and its location at Fort McKavett to scam victims
The Volusia County sheriff's office investigator then checked telephone numbers and Bank of America accounts that led to Latimer
Latimer initially said the Bank of America account was created by a company she worked for but then said she could not talk because she was in a store
Volusia County investigators then got in contact with the Warren Police Department
A detective from that agency interviewed Latimer
The woman said she worked for Khadim Real Estate
and an employer asked her to open an account in her name
Investigators said Khadim Real Estate was a scam company
Latimer said money was deposited to her account
which she then transferred into other accounts
"Due to the facts and circumstances presented in this investigation
Detective Hinkson determined probable cause exists to believe Demetria Latimer has a key role in laundering funds scammed from (the DeBary victim) and other possible victims across the United States," investigators wrote in the report
Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal NewsMark Lehman
– City leaders in DeBary postponed its decision whether to proceed with a plan to build a K-8 public school west of U.S
the DeBary City Council moved the discussion of the school proposal to Jan
The school would be located south of Spring Vista Drive and east of Shell Road
Volusia County Schools has been working to build a new school in DeBary
but the city has taken issue with the location of the district’s most recent proposal
the area is not supportive of a high volume use of a school
would create drainage issues for the area and would be detrimental to surrounding neighborhoods by adding a high level of traffic
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City Manager Carmen Rosamonda said the proposed school site is not large enough and would have a negative impact on the nearby Springview neighborhood
“This site that’s been tied up by a developer is not the right location for a school because of it’s impacts not only to the road infrastructure
but to the businesses and the neighboring residents,” Rosamonda said
The proposal came as a surprise to the city after the council approved plans in July for a school near Buckley Dr
“There’s a lot of better advantages and a lot more opportunities on this 48-acre site and it fits inside the city of DeBary better,” Rosamonda said
the school district purchased the 48-acre site off Buckley Drive
but received a different proposal since the land purchase
a developer has gotten in here and given them all kinds of proposals and everything else,” Rosamonda said
“It provides a shining example of a school
but some of the facts are just not true that they’re presenting.”
After the city makes a decision on the site near Spring Vista Drive
Rosamonda hopes the school district will move forward with the original site near Buckley Drive
“We’re going to make this a great school and it’s going to be one of the best ones in Volusia County,” he said
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Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal NewsPatricia Tolley
DeBARY
– Volusia County Schools pulled the plug Tuesday on discussing the possibility of selling land that is set aside for a K-8 school in DeBary
The discussion about negotiating a land sale of 48 acres off 25 Buckley Drive was an agenda item for Tuesday’s meeting
A South Florida-based real estate firm sent the school board a letter on Nov
18 with intent to purchase the land for $5 million to build 200 homes
school board members decided to postpone these talks and removed the item from the agenda
“I think it’s important that folks understand there was a lot of misconceptions on that item when it was put on the agenda,” Volusia School Board Vice Chair Ruben Colon said
“As we continue to work with our municipal partners and making the school a reality in DeBary
I think it’s very prudent to not consider this today.”
It was not revealed if or when the school board was going to discuss selling this land at a future time
or rather discuss beginning construction of the K-8 school
Once built, it would provide relief to the city and school district as there is only one public school in DeBary, and it’s only K-5. The district previously sent News 6 data which revealed that in 2022
16 schools were over capacity as more than 200,000 homes were projected to be built in the county
“We’re looking at the growth in Volusia County
We all know Florida is growing a lot right now
and it’s growing in some spaces more than others,” District Spokesperson Danielle Johnson previously told News 6
Volusia School Board Chair Jamie Haynes clarified that the board was not going to sell the Buckley Drive property on Tuesday
“It would never be sold until it would come back before the board
and we would have to vote on that and approve the sale of the property,” Haynes said
have heard a lot of different information out there
And when people are putting out misinformation
it is our responsibility to correct that information.”
Meanwhile, this property was approved to be used for a new K-8 school by the DeBary City Council in July, according to the city’s website.
“This location was chosen to align with DeBary’s vision for balanced
sustainable growth while minimizing neighborhood impacts,” a statement on the city’s website reads
However, developers started asking the school district to build the school on an alternative site off Shell Road and Spring Vista Drive. DeBary City Manager Carmen Rosamonda previously told News 6 this area is not large enough and it would have a negative impact on nearby neighborhoods
DeBary city council members also officially decided that the Shell Road site is “inconsistent with the city’s comprehensive plan” during the Jan. 15 meeting, per the city’s website.
“This site that’s been tied up by a developer is not the right location for a school because of its impacts not only to the road infrastructure
On the other hand, Violet Brown
who is a part of the educational facilities office at the Florida Department of Education
She said the school board worked with the FDOE and she supported the plans for construction off Shell Road
and a school cannot be built there per the assessment she and her team did
Issues Brown and her team found during this required assessment include hazardous walking conditions
possible site contamination because of a nearby auto salvage yard and 12 acres of wetlands on the property
“I have heard a lot of the community members talking about ‘not a school in their neighborhood,’” Brown said
“From a standpoint that we saw there are some environmental concerns on the Buckley site and there needs to be some due diligence.”
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Fla — Flooding has been a major issue in a number of Volusia County communities following Hurricane Milton
residents are stepping out of their homes and inspecting their communities for the first time since the storm has passed
and they’re surprised at the damage they’ve seen
A recreational area in one community that is equipped with a park
children’s play area and a basketball court is now underwwater following Hurricane Milton
only the basketball stanchion can be seen where the court is located
Resident Vanessa Olivera said her daughter plays at the park from time to time
so seeing that area underwater was unbelievable.
“The school bus would come that way and the kids would play in that area
we’re grateful that that’s the only thing that happened to our community
Only bad thing that happened in our community.”
Another resident of the community said other homes were built in the area where the park is now located
but a hurricane in the early 2000s flooded the area then
The repeated flooding is a clear sign that the community needs better flood management
According to Volusia County Emergency Services Director Clint Mecham
the National Weather Service said the county received about 15.6 inches of rain during Hurricane Milton
Show Breaking News BarCloseTrafficBrandon Hogan
VOLUSIA COUNTY
– A 54-year-old DeBary man riding a motorcycle in Volusia County died and his passenger was hospitalized after they collided head-on with an SUV on Thursday
The crash occurred around 8:30 p.m. at Charles R. Beall and DeBary Plantation boulevards, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office said on social media
The DeBary man was traveling south on Charles R
when the driver of a northbound SUV attempted to make a left turn onto DeBary Plantation Boulevard in front of the motorcycle
The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene while his passenger was hospitalized for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries
The 76-year-old DeBary man driving the SUV was not injured and showed no signs of impairment
adding lanes reopened to traffic overnight
joined the ClickOrlando team in November 2021
The Volusia County Sheriff's Office is asking the public to help them find a golf cart driver who attacked a motorist in a road rage incident in DeBary last month
Deputies have followed many leads in the case but have not been able to find the golf cart driver or his identity
according to sheriff's office Facebook post
The incident occurred on March 5 at Sackett Road and Lake Drive in DeBary
The golf cart driver was upset with the actions of the driver of a sport utility vehicle on the road
opened the door and began hitting the motorist
When the woman took out her phone to call 911
the golf cart driver grabbed it from her and threw it in the bushes
The golf cart operator was described as a white male in his 50s who is bald or balding
Anyone with information is asked to contact Det
Akhil Patel at ANPatel@volusiasheriff.gov or call 386-668-3830
DeBary, Fla. — The city of DeBary has received a $2.5 million Volusia ECHO grant for its Alexander Island project
The money awarded by the county comes from the Volusia ECHO program
which is funded by county taxpayers to finance acquisition
or improvement of facilities to be used for environmental/ecological
or outdoor recreation that must be open for public use.
the city of DeBary can now move forward with the Phase I of this Alexander Island project
which will give the public access to the property and pay for the construction of facilities like parking
ADA bathrooms and some amenities for families to enjoy as soon as next year.
The 170-acre Alexander Island — which exist in the heart of the city — was originally intended to be developed for the construction of 64 homes
but the city decided to buy it and preserve it.
“Alexander Island is a dream that began almost five years ago
and there’s been so many thousands of hours of work on it by our staff and myself and many other people
as we’ve worked through the project,” DeBary Mayor Karen Chasez said
The city bought the site in 2023 for $3.5 million wioth the goal of protecting it from being developed
and to preserve the riverfront for the public
At the last Volusia County Council meeting
the city was awarded an ECHO grant for $2.5 million to put toward building what’s needed in the Phase I to open the park to the public
“It is incredibly gratifying to be able now to start to let the people see what their money bought for them
as well as everyone in Volusia and neighboring counties,” Chasez said
Alexander Island is home to more than 50 species of birds
parking and trails for walking and bicycling
“We are now within shooting distance of being able to open up this spectacular property for all here to enjoy," Chasez said
throughout the rest of Volusia County and the entire region
who can easily access it from SunRail."
Alexander Island offers easy access for visitors from out of town
being located just about 1.5 miles from DeBary’s SunRail station.
“It’s an additional jewel to our community
bringing the amount of green acres that we have around SunRail to something like 660 or 700 acres of parks and green space,” Chasez said
The mayor said the next step in the process will be for the work to begin on the entrance of the property
as well as the parking and the bathrooms.
Chasez said she hopes residents will be able to see the gates open in about a year
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A crash involving a motorcycle and an SUV in DeBary Thursday night left a motorcyclist dead and his passenger injured
The 54-year-old DeBary man died of injuries he suffered in the crash that occurred just before 8:30 p.m
The motorcyclist's passenger was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries
Deputies said the initial crash investigation showed the motorcycle was traveling southbound on Charles R
Beall Boulevard when a sport utility vehicle turned left onto Plantation Boulevard cutting into the motorcyclist's path
This caused a head-on collision that killed the motorcyclist at the scene
was not injured and did not show any signs of impairment
DOVER, Del., Feb. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (NYSE: CPK) celebrated the opening of its second Safety Town training facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in DeBary
Chesapeake Utilities' Florida Safety Town is a state-of-the-art facility that provides the Company's Florida operations teams with hands-on and classroom training enabling collaboration with first responders and other community partners
The one-acre center was modeled after Chesapeake Utilities' Safety Town training facility in Dover
and features specialized learning environments
including simulations for hit line and gas leaks
The facility houses technology-equipped training rooms
equipment and vehicle storage areas and multiple training houses that present various real-life safety scenarios
"This facility underscores our dedication to safety
for our employees and the communities we serve across Florida
Safety Town's specialized training environments provide invaluable
hands-on preparation for our team members and local first responders," said Jeff Sylvester
senior vice president and chief operating officer
"It allows for seamless classroom instruction and the ability to practice skills immediately."
The curriculum at Safety Town is designed to enhance technical expertise and emergency preparedness through comprehensive training programs
additional training areas will be identified
and the curriculum will continue to expand to meet industry needs
In accordance with Chesapeake Utilities' mission to deliver energy that makes life better for the people and communities served
the Company has established a tradition of making a charitable contribution to a local nonprofit organization at the launch of its new facilities
a $10,000 check was presented to the Florida Fire Chiefs' Association Foundation
stating: "Chesapeake Utilities' generous donation helps advance the Florida Fire Chiefs' Foundation's mission by supporting education and scholarships for fire and emergency services professionals
We are proud to celebrate the opening of the new Safety Town facility in DeBary
which will serve as a valuable training resource for Florida's first responders."
those in attendance were offered tours and safety demonstrations
highlighting the training opportunities available through the new facilities
The Company's natural gas and electric mobile training units were also on display
These units allow on-site safety training for contractors and community first-responder teams throughout our service territories
"Chesapeake Utilities' commitment to safety and continuous improvement are on full display with this state-of-the-art training facility," said Karen Chasez
"Having this type of hands-on training in our area will help ensure first responders and community partners have the resources they need to help keep our community safe."
For more information about Safety Town or to inquire about safety training opportunities, please email Tom Boursier, training coordinator, at [email protected]
Alexander NyeDirector, Strategic Communications727.754.0136[email protected]
Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (NYSE: CPK) will host a conference call on Thursday
Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (NYSE:CPK) today announced that video recordings of the presentation and panel discussions from the Company's recent ..
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A 26-year-old man who was hospitalized after crashing his white pickup Saturday night in DeBary died from his injuries Sunday morning
according to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office
The man had been driving a white Chevrolet pickup truck erratically before the fatal crash
Deputies responded to calls about the driver around 8 p.m
Witnesses reported the truck was swerving in traffic
which had crashed at the Highbanks Boat Ramp at 499 W
Highbanks Road in DeBary and was partially submerged in the St
A witness reported the truck hit a tree at high speed
Deputies report that the driver was breathing but unconscious when they approached and was seriously injured
They broke a window to gain access and apply pressure to the driver’s injury
He was later extricated from the vehicle by Orange City Fire Rescue and transported by ambulance to an area hospital as a trauma alert
Show Breaking News BarCloseHurricaneLaverne McGee
– Residents in some DeBary neighborhoods still can’t get their cars out of their garage or drive down the street because of severe flooding
Preliminary reports from the National Weather Service show that Hurricane Milton dropped nearly 15 inches of rain in a short period of time in the city
Officials said that is one of the reasons why it is taking some time to get the water cleared
News 6 visited some of the folks on Florence Boulevard
Selena Lamp and her family just moved into their house here
They have to wade through the water to go anywhere and can’t their car out of the garage because it is flooded
“I’m in the middle of trying to move from the house
Some longtime residents in the neighborhood told News 6 the same thing happened back in 2022 when Hurricane Ian hit
They say officials put a pump in after Ian
to prevent future flooding,but it isn’t working because it is almost under water
...I just want to move out of Florida,” Lamp said
And I understand that there’s people in worse condition than us
But it’d be nice just to get a word of ‘Hey
DeBary’s city manager says they pumping water out of these neighborhoods as fast as they can
Laverne McGee joined WKMG-TV as a reporter in March 2024
– Resident who live near Miller Lake near the Orange City area of Volusia County are finally going to get some relief
About five to six feet of flood water is still standing around the community following Hurricane Milton
DeBary city officials are stepping up to help get the water out
yeah you have surface water that moves there
but you also have for the next 30 to 45 days ground water that infiltrates the lowest area,” said Carmen Rosamonda
Rosamonda said they wanted to help their friends down the road so they came up with a plan to help
FDOT will pump the water into one of DeBary’s ponds
and it will then be pumped to the city’s burrow pit near the St
“We couldn’t help until now because our pumping and our emergency storm water management system was at full capacity,” Rosamonda said
which is technically unincorporated Volusia County
but water from Orange City and other neighboring areas drain into the basin
DeBary is hoping to move one million gallons a day
which will make about a two-to-three-inch difference every day
I’ve been here for 25 years and this water just sits here,” said resident David Hill
Hill said they are grateful for any help they can get until the county can come up with a permanent solution
and the city of Orange City to do something
The next hurricane is one summer away,” he said
This agreement for DeBary to help is a one-time deal
“We’re all going to get together and determine what can be done long term
Every hurricane you learn from and you try to put the infrastructure in so it’s a county lake and county water
they’ll lead the discussion on what kind of infrastructure needs to be put into place,” Rosamonda said
Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal NewsEmily McLeod
– As cleanup from Hurricane Milton begins across Central Florida
some are still dealing with flooding fears
Streets in the Lakeside neighborhood in DeBary are flooded and people who live there are worried the water will creep into their homes
when News 6 anchor Matt Austin interviewed DeBary City Manager Carmen Rosamonda live on air about the flooding
We went back out there on Saturday morning to check in with neighbors and see if they could tell a difference
“I think it went up maybe a couple of inches yesterday but then stayed there and then maybe this morning down a couple of inches,” Chris Van Singel said
have been back to check on their homes every day to make sure water hasn’t intruded
it was about an inch away from getting inside of my house
and it was just an inch away from the lift to get in the house,” Krazeise said
“My prayers is when I go down there that it’s either stayed or it’s an inch below.”
Hayes said she can’t tell a difference in the flooding on her street
“I haven’t been down there yet,” Hayes said
“Our friend has and she said it’s not in the house yet
So we know it’s in the garage about quarter of the way in the garage
Some neighbors said they could tell a difference
with one neighbor saying it had gone down an inch and a half since Friday
“We got a state-of-the-art pumping system here
unfortunately (we) have about 100,000,000 gallons here,” Rosamonda said
Rosamonda was back out there Saturday morning where we were able to speak to him again
He said groundwater is causing the flooding in the Lakeside neighborhood
I wish it was a lot faster but we got 15 inches of rain in 12 hours and it’s just something that you can’t predict,” Rosamonda said
He said he expects the flooding to definitely last a couple of days if not longer as the pumps continue to work to get rid of the water
“Keeping it out of the houses is our major goal,” Rosamonda said
Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal NewsMike Valente
you’d know them: they’re Eastern lubber grasshoppers
“They look like big ugly critters,” said John Ryan
Ryan’s perspective isn’t exactly neutral — nor does he try to hide it
after observing these grasshoppers swarm the plants in his front yard
he hired a pest control service to get rid of them
It was a separate neighbor on Ryan’s block who suggested News 6 send a crew to check out the clusters of grasshoppers in the area
We found these insects in large groups on plants and trees on a couple properties in the neighborhood
They appeared to be feeding off the vegetation
a professor of entomology at the University of Florida
“It’s also somewhat toxic so animals could perhaps get a little sick from chewing on them
The toxins help the grasshopper stave off potential predators
but do not necessarily make them dangerous to humans
humans don’t generally try to eat them,” Dr
Leppla said these grasshoppers tend to grow as they age
but that they only produce one generation per year
“So it’s nice for people to know they’re going to go away fairly soon and won’t be back again till next year,” he said
Human remains discovered in DeBary in 1997 have been identified as Ryan L
the Volusia Sheriff's Office announced Thursday in a Facebook post
Stone was 22 when he was last seen by his family in 1994
but his family has been notified that he was found
Stone, a John Doe since surveyors found the remains in a wooded area, was identified through forensic genetic genealogy testing and research at Othram Labs
Othram Labs has been working with the Volusia Sheriff’s Office and Medical Examiner’s Office to test DNA and identify victims in cold cases
software and process to build a better and more robust infrastructure for justice by breaking through previously impenetrable forensic DNA barriers and close previously unsolvable cases
Father had not seen son in 30 yearsThe sheriff's office said Othram began working Stone’s case in February 2024
the lab notified sheriff's investigators that through genetic genealogy they had identified a man in Seminole County who was likely the Stone's father
A DNA sample collected from the father confirmed the match
There were no indications of foul play at the scene where Stone’s skeletal remains were discovered the morning of Nov
The site was off the 600 block of Fort Florida Road
The medical examiner at the time determined Stone died one to three years prior to discovery of his remains
Detectives determined Stone had gone through a difficult breakup in 1993-94 and had left home to take some time for himself
There were no indications of suicidal thoughts or substance abuse
His parents described him as a loving and caring person
Anyone with information about Ryan Stone around the time of his death is encouraged to call the Major Case Unit at 386-245-1535 or email Detective Teske at dteske@volusiasheriff.gov
The Volusia ECHO program has approved $2.5 million for the city of DeBary's Alexander Island park project
The city purchased the 170-acre property on Fort Florida Road in 2023 for $3.5 million to keep it from being developed as a residential community and to preserve the riverfront for the public
"This is going to be ... one of the greatest natural assets in Volusia County. I promise you that," DeBary City Manager Carmen Rosamonda told the County Council
the city will build what's needed to open the park in late 2025
Alexander Island is about 1 1/2 miles from DeBary's SunRail station
The city is required to provide at least an equal amount of match funding to the Volusia ECHO money
The city's match is coming from over $1.8 million in cash plus part of what they spent on purchasing the property
The approval by the County Council on Tuesday night came alongside other ECHO projects for over $3.9 million
or outdoor recreation" projects that benefit the public
Here's a look at some other items from the County Council
District 2 Councilman Matt Reinhart was not at Tuesday's meeting
Volusia County flooding to be in focus at District 1 town hallDistrict 1 Councilman Don Dempsey will host a town hall for residents to ask questions or raise concerns about flooding and other problems
5 in the County Council chambers on the second floor of the Thomas C
in DeLand.Volusia County Chairman Jeff Brower
Public Works Director Ben Bartlett and Growth and Resource Management Director Clay Ervin will be there
Other County Council members could also attend
along with the unincorporated areas of Astor
and surrounding areas," according to the county
The County Council voted 6-0 to approve the latest round of funding for the Community Cultural Grant program
The county awarded $611,758 to about 30 organizations
The program supports organizations that provide "visual art
literary art or heritage-based programming to Volusia County residents."
Two major expansion projects for water reclamation facilities in the county are moving forward
The County Council unanimously approved construction contracts for projects at the Southwest Regional Water Reclamation Facility and the Southeast Regional Water Reclamation Facility
The southwest project will expand advanced wastewater treatment capacity from 2.7 to 4.5 million gallons per day and reclaimed water storage from 4.5 to 9.5 million gallons
The southeast facility project will add an advanced wastewater treatment process and expand treatment plant capacity from 600,000 to 1.2 million gallons per day
The contracts approved Tuesday were for parts of the projects but represented the last council approval needed for them
The total cost of both projects combined is expected to be over $103.2 million
The cost is heavily supported by grant funding sought by Water Resources and Utilities Director Mike Ulrich
The southeast facility is in Oak Hill and provides wastewater treatment for Oak Hill and a portion of Edgewater
The facility is going to advanced wastewater treatment will allow the operation to "meet more stringent water quality standards established under the North Indian River Lagoon basin management action plan
adopted by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection," according to the county
The southwest facility treats wastewater and provides reclaimed water "for residential and commercial use in the cities of DeBary
and a portion of Deltona." The expansion will allow the facility "to meet increased demand from anticipated growth and to accommodate septic remediation strategies within the Gemini Springs and Volusia Blue springsheds."
Both projects are expected to be completed in early 2027
The Boys & Girls Club of Volusia/Flagler Counties received $571,724 from Volusia County after initial concerns over the group's financials delayed the support
The group acts as a lead agency to provide youth development services to the community on behalf of the county
The county looked into the matter and found no fraud or unethical behavior
County Community Services Director Brad Burbaugh said
The county recommended a change in accounting to show more detail on how the agency bills service hours
and the nonprofit had already begun correcting the issue before the County Council meeting
All 5 Releases
Chesapeake Utilities Florida Corp. has opened a second public safety training facility for their Florida operations team
Chesapeake unveiled the “Safety Town” training center in DeBary this week
It will provide personnel for the company education and classroom sessions between employees and community partners
in the event of an emergency or service disruption
The Central Florida facility is the company’s only training center in the Sunshine State
but it’s fashioned after an existing facility the company owns in Dover
The Safety Town educational compounds use simulations and other avenues to prepare their emergency workers to deal with multiple case considerations
The centers have training rooms equipped with technology for running simulations for multiple real-life safety scenarios
“This facility underscores our dedication to safety for our employees and the communities we serve across Florida
Safety Town’s specialized training environments provide invaluable
hands-on preparation for our team members and local first responders,” said Jeff Sylvester
senior vice president and chief operating officer for Chesapeake
“It allows for seamless classroom instruction and the ability to practice skills immediately.”
— Underground utility line locating and excavation safety
— Meter and regulating station meter installation and repairs
and additional curricula could also be expanded
In addition to collaborating with first responders, Chesapeake Utilities officials also donated $10,000 to the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association Foundation
accepted the donation in the form of a check
“Chesapeake Utilities’ generous donation helps advance the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Foundation’s mission by supporting education and scholarships for fire and emergency services professionals
which will serve as a valuable training resource for Florida’s first responders,” Morgan said
Drew Dixon is a journalist of 40 years who has reported in print and broadcast throughout Florida, starting in Ohio in the 1980s. He is also an adjunct professor of philosophy and ethics at three colleges, Jacksonville University, University of North Florida and Florida State College at Jacksonville. You can reach him at [email protected]
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– The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office is seeking help from the public regarding a road rage incident involving a golf cart in DeBary
The incident occurred on March 5 at the intersection of Sackett Road and Lake Drive
the altercation began when the driver of a golf cart became upset with the actions of an SUV
opened the door and began striking the driver
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but the golf cart driver grabbed it and threw it into the bushes
The golf cart driver is described as a white male in his 50s
the sheriff’s office shared a surveillance photo showing a parked SUV and a golf cart
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Patel at ANPatel@volusiasheriff.gov or call 386-668-3830