NEW SMYRNA BEACH — When Angelique Barbara bought more than 11 acres of land in the Samsula, Spruce Creek area to make room for her horses, she realized it was an opportunity to create a home for other animals who might require special care “There was a bunch of orphaned goats that needed a home then we started adopting these pigs that needed a home who has degrees in veterinary science and pathobiology and is a doctor of chiropractic because we have had so many rescue animals the 11 acres provide shelter and care for more than 80 animals of several different species and those with health and/or behavioral challenges that hinder their adoption prospects.” the organization has three in-house staff members who care for the animals daily Caring for animals: Edgewater Animal Shelter agrees to partnership with NSB Police for intake, care of animals stables and shelter spaces to accommodate every animal though some like to roam around and explore a turkey that was surrendered from a farm where wild turkeys would “beat him up so they wanted a place for him to go,” Angelique Barbara “The same farm that (Tom) came from they brought an elderly sheep to us as well that can’t really do much anymore,” she said Almost every animal living at the sanctuary has been surrendered by former owners who no longer had the means to provide the care these animals required “It’s mostly either that they are old and have health issues or the owners just can’t keep them anymore,” Barbara said The first step is to have them checked by a veterinary doctor to determine the care they might need it’s often the case they need to have their hooves trimmed and their tusks trimmed because they will actually grow where they are going in their mouths,” Barbara said would help with until she recently moved out of town because a lot of the animals you can’t really find a vet to treat them so we have to take them all the way to Gainesville,” she said Because of the variety in animal species at the sanctuary it’s always “a process getting to know more about a particular animal and exactly what their needs are,” Barbara said These will often vary between dietary requirements “Like the sheep have been a learning experience,” Barbara said adding that they often face “different health issues than any of the animals.” “They are kind of more sensitive to medication and you can’t really sedate them like other animals,” she added One of the recent challenges involved caring for three baby lambs they rescued three months ago coli enteritis (an intestinal inflammation) “They had to be on special antibiotics,” Barbara said She also incorporates her experience with chiropractic and holistic care into some of the animals’ treatments Raising funds and ‘giving back to the community’Securing the necessary funds to keep up with the animals’ care demands has been another challenge but one that offered an opportunity to engage with the community Barbara opens the sanctuary for scheduled visits especially for people who are looking to decompress from their daily stressful routines spending some time in the “serene” environment “They are a good way for us to raise money for the sanctuary one planned for May and the other for October Anita Barbara said they are “getting more volunteers now,” which also helps alleviate their workload “It’s really a matter of having people helping us in contributions,” Anita Barbara said and we only have so much funds we can allocate towards that So that is our limitation and then also obviously space.” NSB rooster: Kidnapped rooster Garbanzo returned home to Third Wave in New Smyrna Beach They also are open to financial contributions and supply donations from people who can’t volunteer their time anything like that,” Angelique Barbara said Helping community reconnect with animalsIt is the founders’ shared love for animals that keeps them dedicated to their nonprofit’s mission and drives them to expand and hopefully make room for more animals in need Angelique Barbara has her own private company where she teaches “people how to make sure animals aren’t in pain that their bodies are feeling good through massage therapy “I feel like it’s just another way to give back At times we don’t have as much money as we want to for them has been a vegetarian since she was a child saying she hoped that more people were aware of the “violence and brutality” with which farm animals are treated find animals that have been treated humanely — free-range chickens She also encouraged people to interact more with animals so that they are more aware where these animals are coming from “There is a huge disconnect,” Anita Barbara said it’s a drop in the bucket but that’s the kind of difference we really try to make.” To learn more about Angel's Animal Sanctuary visit angelsanimalsanctuary.org or call 407-406-2205 However, monkeys are also a staple within Central Florida, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission These monkeys — called “rhesus macaques” — were originally brought to Florida by the manager of a glass-bottom boat operation who released six on an island in the Silver River to attract tourists the monkeys swam away from the island into the surrounding forest breeding and increasing their numbers over the years While the population of monkeys in the Silver Springs State Park has reached as high as 400 at some points trapping and removal efforts have kept them from getting out of hand the FWC reported that there were around 190 inside the park [EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos] these monkeys can be found throughout the state though the FWC says that these sightings likely stem from the group of monkeys at Silver Springs Aside from environmental concerns, these monkeys pose a threat to public health, as rhesus macaques in Florida have tested positive for herpes B The CDC states that this viral infection is extremely rare but it can lead to severe brain damage or even death The virus can be transmitted by these monkeys through bites In addition, these monkeys may become aggressive when fed by people, so the FWC passed a rule in 2018 prohibiting locals from feeding any wild monkeys in the state According to the FWC’s rhesus monkey tracker the following counties have had credible sightings of these monkeys outside of the core population: Seminole and Lake counties saw a marked increase in rhesus macaque sightings over the past two years there were six reported sightings out of Lake County alone The FWC provides these tips for rhesus macaque encounters: Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us / Follow on Social Media Careers at WKMG Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications EEO Report Disability Assistance Copyright © 2025 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group To purchase photos visit http://photos.newtownbee.com It is almost time for auto racers to start revving their engines for another season of outdoor track auto racing in Connecticut Although we have recently had quite the pileup of snow on the ground Newtown’s Anthony Bello is doing more than gearing up for competition he’s put the pedal to the metal by taking his racing skills down south The 15-year-old has put together an impressive run of success on race tracks most recently winning his first competition in the eBay Motors 602 Modified and claiming the 25-lap Modified championship at the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at the New Smyrna Speedway in Samsula-Spruce Creek Bello may not be old enough to legally drive on the streets but he and his competitors not only drive but exceed the speed limit we are restricted to reaching speeds of up to 125 miles per hour on the course straightaways This young race car driver enjoys crossing the finish line first but it’s not all about claiming that checkered flag It’s how you handle yourself and can take the pressure Bello’s racing roots take him back to when his cousin told him about the indoor go-kart track He found a love for speed starting at the age of 7 where he started racing competitively in the league races I’ve been watching NASCAR on TV since I was 1 year old The Newtown High School freshman’s dad owns Bello Motorsports and helps keep his son’s love of racing going strong coming out on top in more than 60 races and piling up championships and the wins have kept coming as Bello has advanced in racing Bello started racing outdoors in the Inex Bandoleros Outlaw Division and raced in Bethel including Rookie of the Year and Connecticut State Champion in 2017 Bello moved up to Inex Legends at the Waterford Speedbowl in Connecticut and the 2019 Connecticut State Championship he raced SK Modifieds at Monadnock in New Hampshire and at the Waterford Speedbowl Bello Motorsports hopes to continue their push up the ranks of the sport and eventually have Anthony compete in one of NASCAR’s top three national divisions, according to the Bello Motorsports website, bellomotorsports.com This young racer said his success has been made possible by support and especially the knowledge and commitment of racing partners and teammates Nick Kopcik of NJK Automotive and his son The teenage race track speedster thinks that the way to improve is more time running laps and racing different tracks Bello will get behind the wheel to race weekly from April through October at the Waterford Speedbowl in the SK Modifieds and Thompson Motor Speedway in his #51 car We’ll hit the track the second week of April From about April until end of October is really my time of the year,” said Bello adding that he enjoys not only the racing element but also the time spent with family and friends at the tracks You must be logged in to post a comment Brenda Argueta VOLUSIA COUNTY – A 49-year-old Deltona woman was run over by two vehicles and killed Tuesday morning on State Road 44 in Volusia County 44 at Ranchette Road near Samsula-Spruce Creek The FHP said the woman was driving a 2016 Suzuki moped east on S.R The woman was ejected from the moped and was struck by a 2014 Honda CRV and a 2018 Nissan Titan The woman was pronounced dead at the scene The drivers of the Honda and Nissan were not injured and remained at the scene Anyone with information about the vehicle that turned in front of the woman is asked to call FHP or Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS Copyright 2023 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved Daniel started with WKMG-TV in 2000 and became the digital content manager in 2009 When he's not working on ClickOrlando.com Daniel likes to head to the beach or find a sporting event nearby Brenda Argueta is a digital journalist who joined ClickOrlando.com in March 2021 She is the author of the Central Florida Happenings newsletter that goes out every Thursday Port Orange environmentalist Derek LaMontagne is a scientist he was forced to play one before a judge in a Tallahassee hearing room where he argued a state agency should not have granted a stormwater permit for a controversial Interstate 95 interchange because it would damage an already impaired Spruce Creek And the table across from him was crowded with eight attorneys − eight − representing the Florida Department of Transportation and St which oversees environmental permitting from northeast Florida down the Atlantic coast to Indian River County LaMontagne found himself in this predicament after the law firm he and his coalition hired resigned from the case citing "fundamental disagreements" with its clients just a few weeks before the hearing was originally scheduled in late August "I could say we did this whole case with our hands (tied) behind our backs," LaMontagne said Gary Early was "forgiving of our situation." He granted a two-month continuance coalition members raised only a few thousand dollars They couldn't afford to fly in expensive expert witnesses or even afford a stenographer for depositions they turned to locals with a grasp on Spruce Creek a 20-mile-long stream that begins in wetlands in Samsula and flows east to the Halifax River dividing Port Orange from New Smyrna Beach knew we were going to win – I hope I don't sound too arrogant saying that – but I wouldn’t have started this case if I didn’t know there was a problem," he said ruling last month that the stormwater permit for the interchange was "not in the public interest," and that it should be revoked Some longtime environmental advocates considered it stunning a rare victory for a small band of conservationists taking on the state on a project that is a priority of Gov “It feels like it should be a Netflix movie because of that David and Goliath quality,” said Lori Sandman a patent attorney who is a member of the Sweetwater Coalition of Volusia County It appears unlikely the judge's ruling will be a fatal blow to the project The I-95 interchange is proposed for Pioneer Trail a two-lane road that passes over the interstate Once the main link between New Smyrna Beach and DeLand the country road is gaining more and more traffic as residential development has sprouted It was first identified as a potential project in 1985 the predecessor to the River to Sea Transportation Planning Organization put it on a 25-year plan and has had the support of local governments Proponents of the interchange argue it's needed not just to serve the thousands of new homes that have been built in the last 20 years has identified it as an important next step to take stress off the building traffic on the two nearest interchanges State Road 421 (Dunlawton Avenue) to the north in Port Orange They say it will help people get to I-95 as a hurricane evacuation route But opposition has been visible along Pioneer Trail and its offshoot where residents have posted signs with the words Pioneer Interchange in a circle with a line through it They have expressed concerns that the interchange will only speed up the development that threatens their homes' rural setting Opponents also include environmentalists who say it will harm the Doris Leeper Spruce Creek Preserve a 2,513-acre conservation area with trails and other recreation amenities The final decision on revoking the permit rests with the St which has 15 days from the date of the decision "Once the exceptions and any responses to those exceptions are filed the statutes require the district to review the record and enter a final order that rules on each exception and makes a final decision to issue or deny the permit," Ashley Evitt "A separate team that was not involved in the litigation work on the review and final order." The Florida Department of Transportation is "disappointed" in the judge's "recommendation," wrote Cindi Lane public information director for the department's Central Florida district "This project brings tremendous value to the community increases mobility and has been developed and prioritized by the community a residential and commercial development near the interchange as the interchange would provide “thousands of people” with better access to the interstate particularly during a hurricane evacuation Hosseini has denied accusations of leaning on DeSantis − a politician he has supplied with thousands of dollars worth of political contributions for more than a decade − to push the interchange forward why has it taken 20 to 30 years for this interchange to be built That’s lousy influence if it takes that long,” he said Hosseini insisted the interchange won't make any difference to the success of Woodhaven many believe the interchange will eventually be built a biologist and Stetson University professor of environmental science and studies who testified during the hearing "but I would say every year that wildlife gets to live these wetlands can cross through this area Lane said FDOT will continue "to work diligently through every federal and local requirement to achieve our mission and deliver impactful projects to our communities "A recommendation such as this only further delays the delivery of this critical infrastructure project," she said The ruling comes as Florida − as do all recipients − faces deadlines on the expenditure of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 funds the state committed $92 million of its $462 million allotment of ARPA funds to the Pioneer Trail interchange the state has until the end of 2024 to commit the funds to a project while it has until the end of 2026 to fully expend the money the $92 million in federal ARPA funds has been reduced to $44 million Lane said the Pioneer Trail interchange remains fully funded "As FDOT’s 5-year work program is funded by multiple funding streams the department routinely examines and revises the funding sources of each project to ensure all parameters are met," Lane said "This is part of the department’s normal business practice to accommodate for the stringent requirements for federal funding." candidate in chemistry at the University of Florida and former candidate for Port Orange mayor is not new to picking fights with much larger He's filed petitions against Hosseini's Woodhaven project the city of Port Orange and the water management district None of those previous challenges led to a successful ruling like the Pioneer Trail case but LaMontagne says some have produced results such as delaying the city's Yorktowne Boulevard extension When he was valedictorian of Spruce Creek High School in 2003 he told fellow students: "As our schedules get more and more packed full of activity always remember to set aside some dreaming time This will make the events in life that much more meaningful." and a Port Orange less intent on development and more concerned with conserving undeveloped land When the water management district gave FDOT the stormwater permit on Feb LaMontagne looked into the laws and rules governing stormwater management in an Outstanding Florida Waterway as well as the science and math that went into projections for the system of retention ponds and swales They didn't buy the state's claims that the project would result in a net reduction of total phosphorous an element that in overabundance has impaired the creek along with other harmful chemicals both as an individual and as founder of the Sweetwater Coalition of Volusia County formally asked a Florida Division of Administrative Hearings judge to hear their challenge He assembled a number of witnesses including two local professors professor of integrated environmental science at Bethune-Cookman University Volusia County Council Chairman Jeff Brower LaMontagne said another crucial witness was John Baker a Sierra Club member who in the 1980s filed the paperwork that led to Spruce Creek getting the Outstanding Florida Waters designation in 1991 Outstanding Florida Waters have been so designated for special protections due to their natural attributes Spruce Creek's designation played a crucial role in the case Anderson said she challenged FDOT's engineers on a claim that the project would actually reduce phosphorus nitrogen and other harmful elements being diverted to Spruce Creek 'How could this be possible?' and of course "I went back and found their worksheets .. they’ve made some wild assumptions here about how they’re setting the parameters of this model and maybe there's some standard in how they’re choosing that The state's argument that the permit should be allowed was that the project won't harm Spruce Creek or the fish and wildlife in the vicinity and that it's needed because growth in the area demands another route to the interstate to evacuate during a hurricane and to manage traffic incidents on the interstate Judge Early found a precedent that those reasons − hurricane evacuation and traffic incident management − are not environmental factors to determine whether the interchange is "clearly in the public interest." But he also wrote that the state proved its case on three important points: The judge also ruled that because Spruce Creek is an Outstanding Florida Water and if the standard for issuance was whether the project is not contrary to the public interest (I) would have no hesitation in recommending issuance of the permit," Early wrote and the standard is whether the project is clearly in the public interest." It is concluded that reasonable assurances have not been provided that the activities to be authorized by the permit are clearly in the public interest Thus application for (the permit) should be denied." Bear Warriors and other environmentalists who enjoy Spruce Creek and the Leeper preserve are taking a victory lap as environmental fights never are," LaMontagne said "The people of Florida have spoken and we have said we are tired of being invaded by costly and damaging special interest developments," he said LaMontagne maintains the interchange is not needed and will only serve to increase traffic on Pioneer Trail not reduce it on the two nearest interchanges State Road 421 (Dunlawton Avenue) in Port Orange and State Road 44 in New Smyrna Beach "Not only did the Spruce Creek environment finally get a victory this week but so did our community as now we will have cleaner water less risk of flooding and no highway trucks being dumped on our families’ streets "By not building this overpriced interchange which would cut through sensitive wetlands we as taxpayers will save over $120 million which will be a huge benefit for our small business local economy and especially ecotourism related to Spruce Creek," he said said she joined Sweetwater because it was a small organization comprised of citizens concerned about water quality "We were able to stand up to this giant and take on this case from a very grassroots local perspective and overcome what would have been a very bad decision," she said "I think you cant underestimate local citizens committed" to doing what's right and we fought for what was right: protecting our local water quality." She said the key to the success of their case was LaMontagne "He picked up when we had hired counsel and the law firm did back out on us within three weeks of the actual hearing," she said he did an outstanding job representing us before the judge of testimony and the amount of material that Mr LaMontagne was able to present was nothing short of amazing." Editor's Note: A clarification has been made in this story since its original publication to add context about Derek LaMontagne's previous legal challenges to developments in Port Orange I-95 and Pioneer Trail: Environmentalists argue interchange will harm Spruce Creek watershed Spruce Creek Conservation: Volusia County Council approves Volusia Forever land purchase SAMSULA — The land here once produced some of the best corn in Volusia County Or will it continue to reflect what Cindy Merrick sees: One of the area’s last bastions of rural life the Volusia Growth Management Commission and the County Council will consider a developer’s request to rezone the land on the northeast corner of Pioneer Trail and Airport Road Nearly 1,000 local residents signed a petition supporting a change from agriculture to commercial and the county’s Planning and Land Development Regulation Commission voted on Nov a veterinarian who operates her clinic for horses and other large animals about a mile to the west has seen development encroach on her rural enclave for the nearly 40 years that she’s lived in Samsula “I’ve never understood why people move to the country and want to turn it into the city,” Merrick said “It seems like there should be something to who was here first.” South Florida developer Sheldon Rubin is asking the county to rezone just under 10 acres for commercial development says he has a contract with Publix to build a store and is also asking permission to build an outparcel Publix spokesman Dwaine Stevens told The News-Journal recently he has no information on the plans for a store that’s because a very similar proposal – same corner same developer – sought the same rezoning in 2010 Stowers has been joined by residents of neighboring communities who say it makes sense to allow a little commercial development on a corner that is seeing increased traffic More than 5,000 people live within a three-mile radius in different communities who represents the area as the District 3 county councilwoman said people are mistaken if they whittle the issue down to a vote on a Publix “The council doesn’t determine tenants,” she said “We determine zoning and special exceptions.” She wouldn’t say where she stands on the issue a gardener who loved the idea of wide-open spaces when there was virtually nothing between DeLand and Interstate 95 but trees “I still believe I live in one of the best places on Earth,” he said And that has led to local residents organizing to create the Samsula Local Plan a 5,000-acre area that the County Council declared it would protect from urbanization in 2005 The community also has rallied to keep an elementary school in the area and recently to kill a proposal for an asphalt plant located just outside the protected Samsula area has supporters who say it’s about convenience a retired architect who lives in Venetian Bay told the planning commission that he shops at Publix on State Road 44 in New Smyrna Beach about 7.5 miles from his home The Publix just outside the development would be 1.5 miles away “This Publix would be a three-mile trip as opposed to a 15-mile trip “Do you really want to destroy a community for three or four miles?” she asked Rezoning the property from agriculture to commercial won’t guarantee that Publix – and its solid reputation – moves in Commercial zoning includes many possibilities and she said she thinks a viable option would be a bar a Port Orange attorney whose clients include some of the Samsula residents argued against commercial development on the property because it would build momentum for commercial designations for other parcels in the area “This property is the first in a line of dominoes,” he said the encroachment near (Samsula) has an impact on it.” a farmer with property north of the proposed Publix site grew up in Samsula and returned to “the sticks” in 1968 after a stint in Vietnam with the Army’s 4th Infantry Division “The reason why you become a farmer is you want to be away from people,” he said each night he sees a steady stream of headlights on Airport Road The commercial development on the east side of Airport Road is inevitable he is convinced the Samsula Local Plan will protect the west side from development and he does not believe a neighborhood Publix would threaten that would have been the late Conrad Yelvington's 92nd birthday his family on Sunday will hold a "Celebration of Life" for the longtime Daytona Beach area entrepreneur who died Dec Yelvington founded Conrad Yelvington Distributors in 1948 After growing the business to become the largest rail distributor of sand gravel and other aggregate materials in the Southeast he bought the ownership stakes his daughter and grandson held in another business "After we sold Conrad Yelvington Distributors he needed something to do," said son Gary Yelvington of his father Gary Yelvington remains president of Conrad Yelvington Distributors which employs 220 workers and is now owned by an Ireland-based company Conrad Yelvington continued to oversee Yelvington Jet Aviation until his death The celebration of life event will be at 2 p.m at the headquarters for Yelvington Jet Aviation at 2326 Bellevue Ave on the south side of Daytona Beach International Airport The event will include a fly-over by a restored P-51 Mustang fighter plane from World War II that is part of Yelvington's personal collection of vintage military planes and vehicles The aviation company also has fixed-base operations at the Spruce Creek Fly-In community where the late Yelvington lived with his wife Conrad Yelvington grew up in the Daytona Beach area the youngest of eight children whose father was a general contractor who did site work for the construction of Daytona Beach International Airport Conrad Yelvington forged his own career path dropping out of school to enlist in the Navy on his 18th birthday during the tail end of World War II "He was a self-made man," Gary Yelvington said His father borrowed $300 from a bank upon his discharge from the Navy in 1946 to buy his first dump truck By the time he started the company two years later that would become known as Conrad Yelvington Distributors Conrad Yelvington had grown his operation to a fleet of three trucks One of his drivers in the late 1950s and early '60s was Glenn Ritchey who later became mayor of Daytona Beach and today is owner and CEO of Jon Hall Chevrolet Ritchey will be among those scheduled to speak at the celebration of life event for Yelvington "My brother Frank worked for Conrad for many years as a mechanic and I drove for Conrad for a while when I first moved to Daytona," said Ritchey who relocated to Daytona Beach from Kentucky in his late teens "He (Yelvington) was one of the kindest people I've ever known," Ritchey recalled Ritchey continued to work on and off for Yelvington through the early 1960s while making his primary living as a professional musician after switching careers to auto sales and rising up the ranks to become owner of his own dealership Ritchey contacted his old boss to place an order for sod for the dealership's new facility "Conrad surprised me by giving it as a gift," Ritchey said Gary Yelvington described his father as a "natural-born entrepreneur" who was driven to succeed in business Darlene Yelvington recalled that her dad was "just incredible with figures" and often used napkins to sketch diagrams of the facilities he would go on to build "He always used napkins to describe what he was thinking," said Gary Yelvington Conrad Yelvington's love of flying dated back to his youth when as a boy he would ride his bicycle to the old Samsula Auxiliary Airfield along Spruce Creek to watch planes take off and land "That's how he got the bug (to fly)," she said The airfield was an outpost for Daytona and Deland Naval air stations Gary Yelvington said his dad's ambition as a young man was to earn enough money to buy his own airplane He even built a runway behind the family's then-home on Big Tree Road in South Daytona in the early 1960s Gary Yelvington said his father taught him how to fly at age 12 and later bought him an airplane as a college gift when he earned a football scholarship to play for the legendary coach Bear Bryant at the University of Alabama Dad would fly and bring the whole family to every game," Gary Yelvington recalled Gary Yelvington went to work for his father at Conrad Yelvington Distributors and continued to share his father's passion for flying Conrad Yelvington teamed up with his daughter later served for 10 years as the aviation services company's general manager The business began as a mobile aircraft refueling service for airports throughout Volusia County Massey Ranch Airpark in Edgewater and Spruce Creek Fly-In Conrad Yelvington obtained a lease from Volusia County to build the second fixed-base operation facility at DBIA The company today has three aircraft hangars at the county-run airport and has aircraft fueling farms both at DBIA and Spruce Creek Fiy-In Yelvington Jet Aviation continues to be owned by the Yelvington family and currently employs 18 workers Its services include self-serve and full-service aircraft fueling facilities as well as overnight and permanent rentals of hangar space said Conrad Yelvington "built a first-class facility that added to our airport He was a good partner to the airport who will be missed." Feaster recalled that for years Yelvingtion would bring out his vintage military aircraft and Jeeps to show at Honor Air events that the airport put on to honor World War II veterans Yelvington's collection of planes and vehicles from World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars will be on display at the celebration of life event was a part-time worker at the Kress dime store on Beach Street in downtown Daytona Beach They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in March with a big event held at Spruce Creek Fly-In and grandchildren Chadd Collins and Jourdan Yelvington the Yelvington family asks that donations in Yelvington's memory be made to a Christian charity Condolences may be shared with the family through an online guestbook at lohmanfuneralhomes.com Both Volusia and Flagler school districts maintained their “B” grades in the Florida Department of Education’s report released Wednesday all Flagler schools received an “A” or “B” grade “I am so proud of the hard work of our faculty staff and students and the amazing support of this great community,” Flagler Superintendent LaShakia Moore said in a district sponsored video “I am so excited to get started with this school year This is exactly the momentum that we need to go after being in an ‘A’ district.” Volusia County Schools Superintendent Carmen Balgobin was equally pleased with her district's results “Volusia County Schools is thrilled to narrow the gap toward an ‘A’ and continue to see significant academic progress even with a shift in the state’s grading scale," she said in an emailed statement released Wednesday evening "Our focus remains on continuous improvement and we are excited to build on this success in the upcoming school year." The Florida Board of Education approved the DOE’s updated grading scale at its July board meeting. According to a press release from the state DOE the grading formula now includes annual learning gain components in English language arts and mathematics Elementary schools were graded on the scale previously used from the 2014-15 school year to the 2021-22 school year and all other schools are graded using the new scale “This approach takes into consideration the different components included in the school grade formula for different school types and ensures our school grades accurately reflect the performance of our schools,” according to the Florida DOE press release Fifty-three percent of schools statewide increased their grade or maintained an “A.” Sixty-four percent earned an “A” or “B,” and less than 4% earned a “D” or “F.” Here is where Volusia and Flagler schools stand Fifteen schools in Volusia County improved their grade from the 2023 informational baseline grade the county has 18 “A” schools; 28 “B” schools; 25 “C” schools; 2 “D” schools; and one “F” school Here is where each Volusia County school falls in the 2023-24 report: Flagler County SchoolsTwo schools in Flagler County improved their grades from the 2023 informational baseline grade the county had three “A” schools and six “B” schools The county didn’t see any “C,” “D” or “F” grades this year Here is how each Flagler County school performed in the 2023-24 report: DELAND — The Volusia County Council meets today at 9:30 a.m. Stick with us for live coverage all day long The agenda can be found online here. Tune in to the live stream here On the agenda: Some landfill fees to increase at the Volusia County Council's first meeting of 2022 Applications open next week: 500 more Volusia County households can apply for COVID rental assistance in 2022 January 6 insurrection coverage: Volusia County Proud Boys leader Joe Biggs continues fight for release ahead of trial The next meeting will be back to a Tuesday County Manager George Recktenwald said the Treasury Department finally provided a 400+ page document outlining the final rules on the allocation of American Rescue Plan Act dollars Heather Post asked for an update on the flooding complaints at Lake Talmadge Utilities Director Ben Bartlett said they're dealing with FDEP right now and trying to settle issues of who's responsible for keeping the canals clear Danny Robins asked if staff could work on issues with state inmates being kept in the Volusia County Jail too long Recktenwald said they had been fighting this battle for years and agreed it was a serious burden He said he was hoping to receive a plan from the state and could draft a new letter on the council's behalf Billie Wheeler asked about Pelican Bay residents' outcry over Amazon's decision to build a warehouse nearby in Daytona Beach She mentioned another community meeting was going to be held on Monday and would include city officials and the Speedway She asked somebody from county staff accompany her Wheeler said she felt she was unfairly told previously by Daytona Beach's city manager to ask Recktenwald to add a traffic light at Williamson to alleviate traffic concerns Barb Girtman asked about efforts to protect Gemini Springs and whether council could do anything to help support the spring's health Jeff Brower asked whether they could write to the state to reopen its monoclonal antibody site and said he would draft a letter Brower also returned to the Amazon matter and questioned whether it would be worth it to jeopardize the nearby residents' quality of life Volusia County must appoint a councilmember to the Opioid Abatement Funding Advisory Board which advises the group of local municipalities dealing with opioid settlement funds. The council selects Danny Robins and the vote is unanimous We'll receive a COVID update from Assistant County Health Department Director Ethan Johnson. COVID cases have been surging worldwide and Volusia County is no exception Johnson said case positivity has shot up above 22% and cases are rapidly multiplying He said omicron doesn't appear to be making people as critically ill as previous strains. we would have seen a significant increase by this time in hospitalizations," Johnson said we appear to be approaching an endemic phase of the pandemic but added delta remains prevalent locally. Barb Girtman encouraged continued prevention and cautions The omicron surge: COVID hospitalizations at Halifax Health more than double since Sunday courtesy of county spokesman Kevin Captain: The county will receive a $2.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under the Home Investment partnerships Program. This allocation under the American Rescue Plan Act may be used to help the homeless and those at risk of homelessness or housing instability A plan for the money must now be crafted They're also adding more than $2.5 million to the budget for the State Housing Investment Partnership program. Community Services Director Dona Butler said they've never had this much money in this fund at one time Expectations were exceeded because a developer sold two large multi-family developments and had to repay their county loans This money will be placed in reserves to be used for eligible homeownership or rental activities More on stimulus money: Volusia County must reallocate COVID relief spending, may dedicate more to infrastructure The council unanimously votes to award a three-year contract to Empire Tire of Edgewater (an Orlando-based company) for waste processing of tires The fees charged at the landfill for disposing of tires will go up substantially to help cover the costs It’s now $172 per ton of vehicle tires and $288 per ton of oversized tires Residents should know they can still bring by four passenger vehicle tires on Saturdays for free at the Tomoka Landfill Internal auditor Jonathan Edwards is here now to present his plan for audits in 2022 but undertook a somewhat cryptic discussion about Edwards having the authority to go outside of his priorities to investigate something that requires urgency Heather Post mentioned something that came up in October Barb Girtman asked Edward direct questions about his perception of his authority and what would happen if a councilmember asked for something to take precedence Post did ask me to look at something," Edwards said adding that county management was already looking into that issue and that it was included in this year's audit plan Jeff Brower asked whether it was appropriate for Edwards to leave it there Ben Johnson said councilmembers shouldn't be directing the auditor on a day-to-day basis and made a formal motion seconded by Fred Lowry County Attorney Mike Dyer said they'd have to bring this back as an amendment to the ordinance. We're still talking in very general terms about this incident County Manager George Recktenwald said Edwards knows his role and is performing it as designed He said Edwards can at any time deviate from the plan set at the beginning of the year She said she doesn't believe any councilmember should be going straight to any department head with direction Post said members of the public reach out to her when they have concerns just as they reach out to the auditor She said the council should not be dwelling on the fact that she brought it up "I in no way directed Jonathan to do anything." Edwards finally says what they're dancing around is the inmate trust fund accounts matter It's the highest weighted priority on Edwards' list for 2022 Lowry asked Dyer directly whether Edwards had the authority at discussion here Dyer replied that he does and Lowry said he had a problem with Post bringing this up because it suggests there's a problem with the auditor when there isn't. We're back from lunch and first up is County Engineer Tadd Kasbeer for the five-year road program update Here's the list of new projects the county will prioritize: Heather Post helped push the Dunn Avenue extension up the list citing safety issues when the roads are blocked in that part of Daytona Beach Barb Girtman is asking for ways to be more proactive in addressing these road issues Another eight items on the agenda when we get back around 2 p.m The county council will now select a firm to provide beach concession services They received solicitations from two LLCs: Each will make presentations and the council must vote Beach Rentals and Refreshments has a sizeable show of support from the audience and was lavished with praise by Billie Wheeler and Jeff Brower. They said their work involves partnerships with 60 families throughout the county which says it would invest a couple million in the county says it would work with the existing contractors here. 'We would never try to change the fabric of the community We want to be part of the community," one of the representatives said including how much they'd pay workers and whether they would be local works Barb Girtman and Ben Johnson both said they were not 100% satisfied but were still inclined to support the local company The president of Boucher Brothers said the brand of Volusia County's beaches could use elevating and they could provide the capital to make that happen Heather Post said she felt the same way as Girtman and Johnson though she joined them in saying she loved the Boucher Brothers' commitment to excellence Jeff Brower said he is satisfied with the current company and believed it would be wrong to abandon the 60 families who have "stuck it out" over the decades We now turn to the members of the public who wish to speak on the matter About 10 people are passionately advocating for the local company Another said going with local just because they're local backfired previously Everyone picked Beach Rentals and Refreshments of Volusia County and they get the contract It will be negotiated by the county manager and return for a final vote later this year We're skipping around a bit now to get some more items in before lunch Two sponsorship requests are unanimously approved: | Preserving Volusia County wildlife corridorsResource Stewardship Director Brad Burbaugh is here to make a presentation on the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act signed into law by Gov The act aims to connect natural areas in the state and sets $300 million aside to do so there are more than 430,000 acres considered priority areas 55% of which are already conservation land That's the second most done by any county in the state Another 9,687 acres are currently being considered under Volusia Forever or Florida Forever Jeff Brower asked a few technical questions about the requirements and now we'll hear from the public asked the county to fast-track applications for state money before the money runs out She asked a public presentation be quickly arranged to seek out willing sellers around the county said the county should approach every developer in these areas about the potential of selling for preservation or adding conservation easements said councilmembers should call on the legislature to fully fund Florida Forever as it prioritizes acquisition and conservation easements for Volusia Forever Shannon Geis spoke on behalf of the Florida black bear Stetson professor Wendy Anderson discussed the scientific reasons behind the need to conserve wildlife corridors She encouraged the county to go above and beyond Johns River to the Atlantic Ocean was always a wildlife corridor where animals moved freely," Anderson said "Much of that orginial wildlife habitat is severely degraded now from expanding human land use." a landowner in the Farmton area and president of Family Lands Remembered spoke about their conservation easements and efforts spoke about shorelines and their role in the conservation landscape She said small lots under Volusia Forever should be used to protect shoreline habitats Daytona Beach resident John Nicholson said native plants should be required more often and added that the map concerned him because conserving land and preventing development would take it off the tax roll said the region's wildlife is key to our success as a tourist destination Brower said he wants the public to know the council is just as concerned about this as they are They vote unanimously to accept the report Heather Post then motioned to direct staff to return with further discussion and look into revising countywide plans County Manager George Recktenwald said they were targeting April for a workshop on managing growth and this could be part of that Ben Johnson asked to recuse himself due to a potential financial interest Barb Girtman said another "Green Ribbon Panel" incorporating feedback from a variety of disciplines could be helpful The council unanimously agrees this should also be brought back in April Danny Robins asked landownership rights also be clearly defined and motioned for staff to analyze the impact on the tax base "I want people to see both sides of this with adding regulations and the impacts on the landowners," Robins said In discussing an agreement with the city of Oak Hill to work together to provide a sewer system to residents of the Indian Harbor Estates development on the Mosquito Lagoon, the council got into a discussion on septic pollution A scientist recently named septic tanks the primary threat to water quality in the Indian River Lagoon | Barb Girtman elected vice-chairThe first order of business today is to select a vice-chair who was unanimously voted in without a discussion Now we must formally adopt the list of meeting dates the next of which is back to a Tuesday (Jan Check out the full list here There's two a month every month this year Ben Johnson asked July and December be limited to one a month the two-per-month is unanimously agreed upon The last organizational matter to address — board assignments for county council members but one appointment is made: former councilmember Frank Bruno to serve on the Canvassing Board We'll kick things off this morning with public participation The first is railing against critical race theory and drawing councilmembers into his example He mispronounced the sole Black councilwoman Barb Girtman's name several times in the process. asked for greater attention to springs instead of focusing on retreating wastewater. spoke about the importance of preventing pollution from entering storm drains which advocates for policies ensuring affordable housing No easy solutions: Volusia County leaders gather to discuss affordable housing as rents soar Another woman spoke about an item showing up later on the agenda — the contract for beach rental services and asked it be kept with the same local company John Nicholson, who speaks at every meeting, spoke about a number of issues, including this News-Journal report on the fate of the council which has six seats up for grabs this November "There was an endless stream of people that went way back whose lives she touched," said close friend Billie Wheeler A celebration of her life will be held Monday The event is being put on by the Rotary Club of Daytona Beach Alexander was a member and a Paul Harris Fellow of the club More: Tributes pour in for Joie Alexander, longtime Volusia County Councilmember, educator she's always just been mom and 'Mimi,'" the nickname Gleason's now-grown children called Alexander when they were little Who was Alexander?Alexander worked for 25 years as an educator with Volusia County Schools, including stints as a teacher at DeLand High School, working in human resources for the public school district, and eight years as principal at Samsula Elementary School her final year before retiring from the school district she was named the Florida Art Education Association's "Elementary Principal of the Year." In 2002, Alexander decided to run for a seat on the Volusia County Council, despite no previous experience as an elected official. She won, handily beating longtime incumbent Big John by a nearly 2-to-1 margin co-owning Budget-Rent-A-Car of DeLand with then-husband Bill in the 1980s and early 1990s and later becoming a Realtor with Hayward Brown Inc colleagues and former students describe Alexander as a hard-working caring person committed to consensus-building she was firm with a no-nonsense attitude and an attention to detail She was both fearless and fiercely competitive and twice beating Volusia County's then-County Council Chair Frank Bruno in driving a Votran bus through an obstacle course Alexander was born Josephine "Joie" Dasher on Sept Her first job at age 12 was for a local general store she became the first in her family to attend college earning both bachelor and master's degrees in education from Georgia Southern University It was there that she met her future husband Bill who also earned a master's degree in education at Georgia Southern in 1966 when Bill got a job as assistant basketball coach and head golf coach at Brevard Junior College Joie applied for a teaching job at a nearby school but her car broke down on the way to the interview when she was sideswiped by a logging truck she flagged down a ride from a passing produce truck "Once the interview concluded the principal said he would walk her to her car," said Gleason of the story her mom loved telling He told her the next two interviews were formalities because she got the job!" It's a story that typified Alexander's never-say-quit attitude who became friends with Alexander after initially seeking her advice as a newly elected County Councilwoman in 2016 "She was someone I admired as a human being Alexander and her husband returned to Georgia in 1967 when he accepted a job as director of athletics and head basketball and golf coach at Armstrong State College in Savannah moved to Volusia County in 1977 when Bill got hired as assistant athletic director and assistant basketball coach at Stetson University in DeLand Joie Alexander became a teacher at DeLand High School The couple in 1981 went into business when they started Budget-Rent-A-Car of DeLand after Bill left his job at Stetson Joie continued to teach at DeLand High while handling "payroll and everything else" for the business at night was a student of Alexander's at DeLand High taking both accounting classes from her as well as later doing an internship at Budget-Rent-A-Car She just wanted all her students to learn." After several years working in human resources for Volusia County Schools Alexander became principal at Samsula Elementary School in 1991 a job she continued to hold until retiring from the school district in 1999 a specialist in budgets and grants for the public school district was the administrative assistant to Alexander at Samsula Elementary She credited Alexander's mentorship with putting her in a position to get promoted to her current job who added that Alexander was constantly engaged with both students and parents "She'd be out there at the parent pick-up/bus loop What prompted her to enter politicsAlexander became a Realtor and was actively involved as volunteer with various local nonprofits after retiring as an educator She became a surprise challenger to longtime incumbent Volusia County Councilman Big John in 2002 "Alexander said she feels she can handle the job because she has lived and worked in almost all sections of the county and is familiar with the issues that frustrate Volusia," The Daytona Beach News-Journal reported in an article headlined "Daytona woman challenges Big John." A subsequent News-Journal article that year described Alexander as "soft-spoken and subtle," and "always dressed in two-piece Chanel-like suits and matching pumps," a sharp contrast to the "loud and flashy" Big John a larger-than-life personality who went on to become a long-running local radio talk show host until his death in 2022 Alexander in a 2002 interview said the main difference between her and Big John "is our approach to leadership The county is in disarray and we need more collaboration." 'She really loved Volusia County'Bruno served for eight years as the first-elected county chairman for Volusia Seven included Alexander as his vice chair "On the County Council, she was a real pistol, let me tell you," said Bruno of Alexander. "She really loved Volusia County And everybody knew she was going to scrutinize the minutes she was meticulous in taking notes and did everything in shorthand all filed and catalogued in cabinets that filled the garage of her home She continued that practice for the nonprofit boards she joined said Wheeler who served on the Boys & Girls Clubs board with her Former County Councilwoman Pat Northey also remained friends with Alexander after both left the council her mind was sharp as a tack," said Northey one of several close friends who spent time with Alexander in her final days "She was still texting people wanting to know things even when she was being treated at Halifax hospital." Even Big (John) begrudgingly realized she was a positive force." Northey said Alexander and Big John wound up becoming friends Both belonged to the Rotary Club of Daytona Beach who added that Alexander's strong Christian faith was a motivating factor "That was her whole purpose: to serve people." four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren the family requests that donations be made in Joie Alexander's memory to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Volusia/Flagler Counties The motorist arrested for striking a bicycling Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood on Thursday told police she was using her cellphone to shop at the time of the mishap "She says she was shopping on Amazon on her phone when she hit me," Chitwood said in a social media post. "Please let this be a warning to put your phones down while you’re driving before you kill someone." Friday and charged with leaving the scene of an accident with serious bodily injury She was released from the Volusia County Branch Jail shortly before 10 a.m Volusia County sheriff's deputies assisted Port Orange police in gathering information on the vehicle that struck Chitwood which was caught on a Waste Pro truck's dash camera video The sheriff was riding his bicycle in Port Orange in the 1600 block of Town West Boulevard at about 4:30 p.m Thursday when a maroon-colored Hyundai Sonata veered into him The Waste Pro truck's video shows the Sonata taking off while Chitwood writhed in pain in the grassy shoulder of the road Chitwood was taken to Halifax Health Medical Center in Port Orange where he received 10 stitches He said he also suffered road rash and a broken left fibula that doctors are hoping can heal on its own without a cast Body camera video shows a deputy directing Bergman and a man to place their hands on the back of the Sonata which was found at a home in the 3200 block of Sardinia Terrace in Deltona The deputy went to the passenger side of the vehicle and confirmed that it was missing a side view mirror which was found at the scene where Chitwood was hit. The deputy informed Bergman's grandparents that they were conducting a crash investigation involving their granddaughter's vehicle As the deputy approached the grandfather Bergman can be heard in the background saying she hit a mailbox earlier in the day "Was somebody standing next to it?" the grandfather asked the deputy Do you wanna know what she hit?" the deputy replied As her grandmother gasped in the background Bergman's grandfather asked if the sheriff was on a bike at the time Chitwood wasn't far from his residence when Bergman's car struck him "I got hit hard from the rear," Chitwood said Thursday night. "I go flying off the bike and all I could tell you was it was a burgundy-colored car because the mirror was impaled in my back." The first two people who crossed Chitwood's mind after he was hit were Frank Scofield and Shawn Bradley Scofield was a senior deputy with the sheriff's office when he was riding his bicycle in June 2019 in the Samsula-Spruce Creek area and was fatally struck by a vehicle that failed to stop at an intersection. Chitwood a former NBA center for the Dallas Mavericks was left paralyzed after suffering a traumatic spinal cord injury when a car struck him from behind while he was riding his bicycle in Utah. The wreck occurred on Jan but details of Bradley's condition were just released Wednesday More: Report: Volusia cities again among most dangerous for pedestrians More: Former NBA player Shawn Bradley paralyzed after car struck the bicyclist in January Chitwood took to social media Friday morning to highlight those who helped him the WastePro truck driver who witnessed the crash got it on video and pulled over to give me a hand: I will never forget what you did for me There were several others who pulled over to help and I appreciate each and every one of you," Chitwood said The sheriff stopped by Waste Pro's Daytona Beach site on Friday afternoon to thank Ramos in person for stopping to help him "I'm proud to have you in our community," Chitwood told Ramos The sheriff said Friday he now knows the hit wasn't intentional "That’s what a lot of distracted drivers say after they cause a tragedy," Chitwood said. "Just imagine if that had been a child or an elderly person on that bike or if the car drifted a couple more inches to the right." He said distracted driving has become "a cultural thing and I don’t know how you break it." Chitwood said everyone is guilty of distracted driving at some point that can capture someone's attention while they're behind the wheel According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration there were 3,142 fatalities in distraction-affected crashes in 2019 the number of distraction-related crash fatalities was 2,858 it has been illegal to text while driving in Florida motorists may be cited for not using a device "in a hands-free manner in school and work zones," according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has been struck by a vehicle while riding his bike He suffered two cracked vertebrae and a broken left hand after he was struck by a pickup while riding in Ponce Inlet in September 2017 The driver in that crash stayed at the scene and was cited for failure to yield after being found at fault Chitwood was greeting people while patrolling Main Street as the police chief in Daytona Beach A man, later determined to be Michael Dangelo Dangelo spat on Chitwood, and while Chitwood was trying to take him into custody After punching Dangelo in an attempt to get him to let go Dangelo was sentenced later that year to five years in prison to be followed by 10 years' probation Subscribe today using the link at the bottom of this page and never miss a story Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood was in good spirits Thursday night after a hit-and-run driver hit him while he was riding his bicycle In a video posted to the sheriff's social media accounts Chitwood said he was just outside of his Port Orange neighborhood about 4:30 p.m when he was struck near Town West Boulevard and Daylily Street I got hit hard from the rear," Chitwood said. "I go flying off the bike and all I could tell you was it was a burgundy-colored car Chitwood said a Waste Pro truck's camera caught the incident that left him with minor injuries "From what the (Waste Pro) driver had said to me was it looked like the guy slowed down and ran at me on purpose," Chitwood said He said staff at Halifax Health's hospital in Port Orange were taking great care of him and that he was having scans and X-rays taken "We know this could've been a hell of a lot worse," Chitwood said "And hopefully we'll catch who this son of a bitch is here in the very near future." the sheriff said he was grateful to all those who stopped to help him after he got hit and that "somebody up there" must like him road rash and a broken left fibula that Chitwood says doctors are hoping can heal on its own without a cast He said the first two people who crossed his mind after he was struck were Frank Scofield and Shawn Bradley More: 'Fearless and dedicated' Volusia deputy killed in bicycle crash Scofield was a senior deputy with the sheriff's office when he was riding his bicycle in the Samsula-Spruce Creek area and was fatally struck by a vehicle that failed to stop at an intersection in June 2019 Chitwood also was riding that day and even pedaled past Scofield at one point was left paralyzed after suffering a traumatic spinal cord injury when a car struck him from behind while he was riding his bicycle in Utah. While the wreck occurred on Jan details of Bradley's condition were just released Wednesday The sheriff cycles often. This is the second time the sheriff struck by a vehicle while riding his bicycle In September 2017 he suffered two cracked vertebrae and a broken left hand after he was struck by a pickup while riding in Ponce Inlet The driver in the Ponce Inlet crash remained at the scene and received a citation for failure to yield after being found at fault while serving as police chief in Daytona Beach Chitwood was greeting people while patrolling Main Street when he was injured in an altercation A man named Michael Dangelo began criticizing law enforcement the suspect bit Chitwood's right index finger Chitwood then broke his left hand after punching Dangelo in an attempt to get him to let go Dangelo ultimately was sentenced to five years in prison to be followed by 10 years' probation.