Smyrna students and guests take part in promenade and the prom court at the school's prom at the Modern Maturity Center in Dover, May 3, 2025. See more Delaware prom photos. Smyrna students and guests arrive at the school's prom at the Modern Maturity Center in Dover, May 3, 2025. See more Delaware prom photos. A potential SpaceX rocket launch is on the horizon — and if all goes according to plan Below is more information on rocket launches from NASA and Cape Canaveral and suggestions on where to watch them from this part of Florida Rocket launch tally: Here's a list of all the missions from Cape Canaveral, Florida (psst, there's a lot) For questions or comments, email FLORIDA TODAY Space Reporter Rick Neale at rneale@floridatoday.com or Space Reporter Brooke Edwards at bedwards@floridatoday.com. For more space news from the USA TODAY Network, visit floridatoday.com/space The best views to watch a rocket launch from here is along the beach Readers have also mentioned seeing a rocket launch from New Smyrna Beach • South New Smyrna Beach (Canaveral National Seashore) New Smyrna Beach features 17 miles of white sandy beaches despite its reputation as the "Shark Bite Capital of the World," New Smyrna Beach has always been a haven for surfers who come for the waves The nearby riverside park area is across South Atlantic Avenue with tennis courts The river by the park can be a great viewing spot for manatees • Apollo Beach at Canaveral National Seashore (south of New Smyrna Beach) Canaveral National Seashore runs along Florida's East Coast in Volusia County and Brevard County then travel east until it turns into State Road A1A • Oak Hill riverfront is the southernmost city in South Volusia County This location has about 350 feet of beautifully restored shoreline picnic tables and kayak launching facilities Facilities include a 520-foot observation pier with two covered decks and seating • Bird Observation Pier on River Road across from A.C Facilities include a 100-foot observation pier SAN DIEGO - A proud moment for the town of Smyrna Senior Chief Fire Control Technician (Submarine) Christopher Cook (above right) was recognized for outstanding military service aboard the nation’s undersea fleet During a formal ceremony known as "awards-at-quarters" held on May 2nd presented Cook with the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal—a prestigious award acknowledging meritorious service and dedication who currently serves at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego a squadron that commands four Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarines These powerful vessels play a critical role in U.S supporting missions such as anti-submarine warfare Cook's responsibilities include overseeing complex systems used to detect and engage threats underwater and above the surface—tasks that are vital to mission success and crew safety Hailing from the heart of Middle Tennessee Cook’s rise through the ranks and current leadership position exemplify the strong work ethic and service-minded spirit often found in Smyrna's close-knit community The award presentation not only recognizes Cook’s individual accomplishments but also highlights the essential work being done by submariners around the world to safeguard national security Cook’s dedication continues to reflect positively on his hometown and serves as an inspiration to those in Rutherford County considering military service The Nashville Sounds recently hosted a group of students from Smyrna Elementary School for a special private tour of First Horizon Park Students got an inside look at the stadium It was a fun and memorable way to learn more about what goes on behind the scenes of a pro baseball team the Sounds treated everyone to lunch and surprised each student with two ticket vouchers for an upcoming game Thank you to Karen Campbell from Smyrna Elementary for organizing the visit and to the Sounds for creating a great day for the students This work, Tennessee National Guard’s GRIT program builds resiliency at new Smyrna facility, by SGT Kalina Hyche, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright UPDATE:  Even with the threat of bad weather looming over the tournament King Springs Elementary School rose to the occasion and brought the Jonquil Cup trophy back to school  The team delivered a series of thrilling performances that had fans on the edge of their seats and determination were evident in every match and the coaching trio of Christopher Hardy and Martinique Perry played a pivotal role in guiding the team to victory *    *    *    *    * GA - The students at King Springs Elementary School are gearing up to defend their title at the upcoming Jonquil Cup that brings together young athletes from several local elementary schools  The first game begins at 6:30 PM.  Set to take place at the Riverline Soccer Complex the Jonquil Cup promises to be a thrilling event filled with competitive spirit and community support  This year's tournament will see enthusiastic participating from all the schools with students ready to showcase their soccer skill and teamwork is preparing with great determination and skill aiming to retain their title and demonstrate exemplary sportsmanship who have been instrumental in their preparation and success The event is expected to be a true community affair and local residents coming out to support the young athletes  The atmosphere will be filled with excitement and encouragement the students of King Springs Elementary and the other participating schools are eagerly preparing for a day of thrilling soccer matches and community bonding  The Jonquil Cup continues to be a highlight of the school year The electronic translation service is hosted by Google Translate The quality of the translation will vary in some of the languages offered by Google Google Translate is a free service and currently offers translation in over 50 languages this does not capture all languages or dialects The basic translation’s goal is to capture the general intention of the original English material The Cobb County School District does not guarantee the quality accuracy or completeness of any translated information the District encourages you to confirm any facts that are important to you and affect any decisions you may make The Cobb County School District is committed to parent and it is our hope that by providing this tool on our website that we are making our information more accessible to families whose first language is not English and thereby enabling better engagement in public education By Atlanta News First staffPublished: Apr 2025 at 9:06 PM EDTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInATLANTA (Atlanta News First) - A Smyrna police vehicle was involved in an accident on Thursday night Police said a marked patrol vehicle and another car collided on South Cobb Drive near Ridge Road shortly after 7:30 p.m A spokesperson with the Smyrna Police Department said there were no serious injuries The spokesperson said the Cobb County Police Department responded to assist and will be handling the investigation Check back with Atlanta News First for updates Trump administration shifts in trade and other policies blur the outlook for future employment according to economists at several organizations The Federal Reserve and economists at several organizations have said Trump administration shifts on regulation border restrictions and global trade blur the outlook for the economy the better-than-expected employment report presents some uncertainty It draws on data from mid-April and so offers a limited view of labor market conditions and hiring plans during a period of tit-for-tat tariffs with dozens of U.S immigration restrictions are likely to weigh on payrolls in the coming months especially in sectors like leisure and hospitality and construction,” the Bank of America economists said “Tariffs should also begin to weigh on sectors like trade transportation and warehousing as soon as May.” The April jobs report vindicates the decision by Fed policymakers at their two most recent meetings to hold off on cutting the main interest rate until data provide clarity on the impact from Trump administration policies The employment report prompted traders in interest rate futures to cut the odds that the Fed will reduce borrowing costs at its June 17-18 monetary policy meeting. They now see a 37% probability of a quarter-point reduction compared with 58% on Thursday, according to the CME FedWatch Tool Policymakers are widely expected not to change the federal funds rate at their next scheduled meeting May 6-7 “After today we think the bar is meaningfully higher for a cut in June and perhaps even July,” Bank of America economists said At a post-meeting press conference on Wednesday Fed Chair Jerome “Powell is likely to reiterate that the Fed is in no hurry to cut rates.” Since the imposition of Trump administration tariffs some so-called hard economic data have signaled risks to growth The economy shrank at a 0.3% annual rate during the first quarter as companies stepped up imports in anticipation of tariffs announced early this month against virtually every U.S Consumer spending increased 1.8% during Q1 — the slowest rate since Q2 2023 — in a foreshadowing of recent surveys that highlight slumping household confidence in economic growth Recent surveys have also revealed a decline in business confidence Manufacturing declined last month, falling for the second consecutive month to a level that marks the border between expansion and contraction the Institute for Supply Management said Thursday “Demand and production retreated and destaffing continued as panelists’ companies responded to an unknown economic environment,” Timothy Fiore chairman of the ISM Manufacturing Business Survey Committee “Prices growth accelerated slightly due to tariffs supplier delivery slowdowns and manufacturing inventory growth,” he said in a statement Get the free daily newsletter read by industry experts scheduled to assess monetary policy during a March 18-19 meeting will likely zero in on a jump in long-term inflation expectations Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic amplified remote work’s possibilities worker bees aren't the only ones resisting the return-to-office call The free newsletter covering the top industry headlines Murfreesboro and Smyrna commuters will gain interstate interchange improvement projects within the next six years The Tennessee Department of Transportation 10-year plan includes two projects in Murfreesboro: TDOT also plans a $22 million project in Smyrna with construction starting in 2029 to improve the Interstate 24 interchange at Almaville Road (state Route 102) Smyrna Town Council member Jerome Dempsey confirmed the I-24 interchange plan at Almaville Road will use a divergent diamond design that's similar to Hickory Hollow Parkway in southeast Nashville to help traffic flow to and from the interstate Road projects: Cherry Lane extension may spark development with link to Interstate 840 The $61.5 million Old Fort Parkway widening project will include $25.2 million in local tax dollars from the Murfreesboro City Council local government spokesman Mike Browning confirmed Murfreesboro's increased population and traffic volumes necessitates reallocating state and city funds to a higher priority, Mayor Shane McFarland said in the press release from Browning “We appreciate TDOT’s commitment to upgrading and widening roadways in Murfreesboro," McFarland said in the press release Murfreesboro's elected council in August added $18.6 million in local tax dollars for the widening project to push the total to $25.2 million “Increasing participation of local funding on Old Fort Parkway helped motivate TDOT to move forward with a very important roadway expansion," McFarland said in the press release The busy Old Fort Parkway includes the city's Old Fort Park with Kids Castle playground Old Fort Golf Course; and many national retailers 'It’s a horrific mess': Officials seek to widen Old Fort Parkway In addition to Smyrna gaining an improved interchange, the local government plans to widen Almaville Road from One Mile Lane to Morton Lane Almaville Road heading west and south after One Mile Lane is two lanes to serve busy traffic that includes students going to and from Stewarts Creek High Stewarts Creek Middle and Stewarts Creek Elementary Commuters on Almaville Road and other parts of Smyrna will be gaining more synchronized traffic lights Road plans for Smyrna: Almaville Road widening project will be 'expensive and complicated,' state Rep. Tim Rudd says The Murfreesboro government press release included comments from Chris Griffith the city's executive director of public infrastructure “Mayor McFarland and the City Council’s commitment to local funding of both projects helped move plans higher up the list," said Griffith “To get two high priority projects is unheard of and a testament to the relationship city of Murfreesboro Transportation Director Jim Kerr has been building with TDOT over the last several years." The city competes with other governments in Tennessee for TDOT road plans Murfreesboro council member Austin Maxwell said TDOT's commitment to two projects in the city is great news "It shows a commitment on the council's part to be aggressive in funding projects that ensures TDOT's partnership and prioritization," Maxwell said Maxwell also noted how the council recently approved funding for a traffic technology project "that can help us get people across town faster." Murfreesboro 2017 road funding decision: $3.5M project to improve traffic light timing for Bridge Over Broad, Rutherford-Northfield Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@dnj.com. To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription for all dnj.com stories Ken Olson won the Smyrna Town Council at-large race by six votes April 29 at Town Hall but one councilman has resigned so another election may be needed Incumbent Councilman Mike Rasmussen lost his reelection bid to Olson in a four-way contest Smyrna Board of Elections Chair Beverly Pinckney announced the results after the polls closed at Town Hall She said the Board of Elections certified the results which now go to the Town Council for final approval at the May 7 council reorganizational meeting Olson did not attend the announcement of the voting results He ran on a campaign to roll back the tax hike from 2024 when the council voted to double property taxes because of rising costs Rasmussen said the decision to raise taxes was complex and long overdue Speaking for himself and not council as a whole he said the town faced a host of higher expenses “the need to pay our pension obligations that had been neglected for many years increased staffing costs due to massive increases in health care costs and a much more labor-friendly employment market inflation across the board and the need to plan for future capital needs rather than take on more debt every time a sewer line breaks,” Rasmussen said He objected to the phrase “budget shortfall” because the town is required to have a balanced budget and the council took steps to do so “We could have chosen to balance the budget as it had been done in the past by not paying all of our pension obligations further stressing our already small and underpaid staff “But instead we chose to do the hard thing that had been neglected for so long and increase taxes to better reflect the true costs of operating the town.” ran for mayor unopposed as another candidate was ruled ineligible More on development in Smyrna: See what's planned on Route 13 near former Papa John's Pizza Johnson decided not to run for reelection after six years in office Gott and George Coates filed to run for mayor but Coates was removed from the ballot after the filing deadline because of the requirement for candidates to live in town limits for at least a year before the election The decision was made at a special council meeting April 8 Mayor Johnson and Councilman Alvin Pope both recused themselves from voting Councilman Michael Rasmussen and Councilwoman Corrine Upshur voted that Coates wasn’t qualified to be on the ballot and she will be the next mayor for a two-year term Gott said she'd like to move forward in a positive manner "I'd like to ensure we have fiscal responsibility complete transparency and a union between our staff our council and our community so that there's an open door," she said In addition to the regular council meetings possibilities to keep people informed include town hall meetings and inviting more people to join committees and attend committee meetings "so everybody knows what's going on," Gott said More about Smyrna: Library closes as transition begins to new 22,000-square-foot regional library About two weeks after the controversial special meeting about mayoral candidates Pressley said he resigned because of the process of removing Coates from the ballot I thought it should have been done before they put him on that ballot,” Pressley said He received numerous calls from residents about the decision ‘You mean Tabitha Gott is our mayor without having anyone else to vote for?’ Pressley said “There were people who had already voted absentee for him [Coates] “I feel it was very wrong for our 14,000 citizens not to have a choice,” Pressley said Coates had to get a criminal background check and he was initially approved as a candidate some council members questioned if Coates lived in the historic Smyrna home he's working on but he has other homes where he also spends time Pressley said many people live in different homes for various reasons – vacations changes in their family – but their official address is in the town “Some people live in Florida for six months but they're still considered residents of Smyrna,” Pressley said Pressley has served on council for about 18 years in non-consecutive terms He said he didn’t run for reelection sometimes to allow someone else a chance Smyrna Council members may discuss how to fill the open seat at the reorganizational meeting May 7 (This story has been updated with new statements from Bill Pressley Sr and from Councilman Mike Rasmussen about the 2024 property tax hike.) Reach reporter Ben Mace at rmace@gannett.com NEW SMYRNA BEACH — There’s a simple question to ask the New Smyrna Beach Barracudas The two-time state champions sit one win away from another trip to the state semifinals “All of our lines really came out and just played well,” coach Jonathan Cunningham said But the girls were able to get themselves back out of that and come back and win all those New Smyrna Beach claimed each line in two sets except Line 5 They’ve now won five of their last six matches “If you told me at the beginning of the year we'd be there I would take that any day,” Cunningham said with a smile After capturing the first Florida High School Athletic Association beach volleyball state title in 2022 the Barracudas brought back the same roster and repeated in 2023 Luoma’s partner during her senior campaign was Gabby Bissell Bissell remains in the top pair as a senior this spring She’s the last remaining starter from New Smyrna Beach’s 2023 championship lineup “Now we're really starting to seam together and work together better,” Bissell said “I feel like it definitely clicked when we played against Bishop Kenny and Ponte Vedra and we were just playing all over the court The Barracudas squared off with Bishop Kenny and Ponte Vedra on April 2 It fell 4-1 against Bishop Kenny for its only loss this season then flipped the score for a 4-1 victory over the Sharks Bissell and Jones beat the Crusaders’ top pair Seniors Abrie Green and Naia Bubaloni fell 2-1 at Line 2 but that’s also when Green saw a shift in her new duo “Just playing against tougher competition (No you really got to see we actually do have the drive and the heart that it takes to get to where we are now,” she said New Smyrna Beach is one win away from its third state final four appearance in four years Two wins away from three finals in four years Here’s that question again: How does it continue as the program changes and matures they've just improved so much,” Cunningham said “All these girls have been a part of the program,” he added “So even though you haven't seen their faces or their names playing year-round and just putting in the work they were ready to step into those positions.” Shop top-rated travel products and services to help you save on your next trip:  This story has been updated to clarify the specific results of the April 8 Smyrna Town Council vote on removing a candidate from the ballot After controversy, Smyrna’s election is set for April 29 from 7 a.m but candidate George Coates was ruled ineligible after the filing deadline Coates was declared ineligible because of the residency rule that requires candidates to live in the town limits of Smyrna for at least one year before the election A special council meeting was held April 8 to decide said town attorney Barrett Edward because she’s running for mayor Michael Rasmussen and Corrine Upshur voted no that Coates wasn’t qualified to be on the ballot incumbent Michael Rasmussen is being challenged by Deborah Camaratta More Smyrna news: Library closes as transition begins to new 22,000-square-foot regional library Outgoing Smyrna mayor reflects on tenureMayor Johnson said he chose not to run for a fourth term because “I felt it was time I found myself becoming a little more vocal I speak my mind and some people like it and some people don’t.” Johnson said the town has weathered highs and lows in the past six years The highs include the Duck Creek Business Campus on Route 13 near Paddock Road and updates to policies and procedures to “put the town in a stronger financial position.” Those include setting up reserve funds for utilities and increasing the town’s contribution to employee pensions which were underfunded More Smyrna business news: See what's planned on Route 13 near former Papa John's Pizza The lows included managing the uncertainty during the pandemic “which I think we handled pretty well,” Johnson said and financial woes which led to the doubling of property taxes to fill the gap He said he appreciated the town employees who said he improved the work atmosphere during his tenure Smyrna Town Manager David Santucci appointed Brian Goss “We are honored to welcome Chief Goss to Smyrna,” Santucci said in a press release from town government spokeswoman Heather Kent leadership in the fire service and dedication to professional standardswill serve our community well as he leads the Smyrna Fire Department into its next chapter.” 'He will make a fine town manager': Smyrna council offers manager job to FL city manager Goss replaces retired former Chief Bill Culbertson Goss has 42 years of firefighting experience starting in 1983 in Bangor “I’ve been fortunate throughout my career to serve in a variety of capacities within several high-performing agencies and I’m excited to bring that experience to work alongside the dedicated professionals of the Smyrna Fire Department," Goff said Chief Goss’s appointment is effective May 19 Goss accepting a firefighting position with Grand Rapids and accepted promotions to serve as a lieutenant Goss moves to Tennessee to serve BrentwoodGoss in 2008 moved to Tennessee to serve as an assistant fire chief for Brentwood Fire & Rescue and accepted promotion in 2011 to serve as the city's fire chief Fire protection: Smyrna officials and firefighters celebrate opening of Fire Station 4 near Interstate 840 Smyrna's new fire chief Goss holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry from Spring Arbor University and is a graduate of both the University of North Carolina's Fire & Rescue Management Institute and the University of Tennessee’s Public Administrator Program Goss has earned the Chief Fire Officer (CFO) and Public Information Officer (PIO) designations from the Center for Public Safety Excellence’s Commission on Professional Credentialing (CPC) where he currently serves as a peer reviewer Government accountability: Complaints against former Smyrna Fire Chief filed ahead of retirement Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@dnj.com. To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription This story has been updated with new information Firefighters are working a 200-acre brush fire near New Smyrna Beach that is only 5% contained but the Tuesday afternoon blaze is currently not threatening homes Volusia County Fire Rescue and firefighters from other departments are fighting the fire The Florida Forest Service has bulldozers at the scene cutting lines around the fire "No homes are threatened at this time," she said Authorities working the fire said it is located between Kola and Magnolia roads with spot overs occurring at Sharp Road near Ranchette Road Matt Rinaldi lives on Omega Ranch Road off State Road 44 He said the fire is at the back of a neighbor's property on the road "I'm extremely concerned for my property," Rinaldi said "I'm going home to put sprinklers on my roof and turn them on and make sure that a firefighters' command unit on scene said three helicopters were dropping water on the fire Shortly after the brush fire was reported near New Smyrna Beach on Tuesday Volusia County officials announced that an outdoor burn ban will take effect at 12:01 a.m warming fires and cooking fires is prohibited Outdoor burning can only be conducted with the authorization of the Florida Forest Service Outdoor cooking done with a contained gas or charcoal grill (excluding a fire pit) is permissible under the ban Volusia County Fire Chief Joe King said the burn ban is necessary because of severe drought conditions Volusia County’s Keetch-Byram Drought Index is 517 The drought index measures soil dryness with zero indicating total saturation and 800 being desert-dry Sheldon Gardner and David Wersinger contributed to this report Smyrna residents head to the polls for an at-large council race Current mayor Robert Johnson did not run for reelection after serving six years as mayor he will be replaced by current District 1 council member Tabitha Gott Gott was slated to run against George Coates for mayor but Coates was declared ineligible to run for mayor because of a residency rule It was determined by Smyrna City Council in a special meeting earlier this month that Coates had not lived in Smyrna for at least a year prior to the election making him ineligible ran unopposed in District 1 to replace Gott There is one council seat on the ballot - a four-person race with incumbent at-large councilman Michael Rasmussen being challenged by Ken Olson All registered voters living in Smyrna can vote at Smyrna’s Town Hall on Tuesday from 7 a.m Joshua Champion has been named Chief Operating Officer (COO) at AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach He officially steps into his new role on April 7 Champion has 15 years of leadership experience within AdventHealth including roles in human resources and hospital operations he served as Vice President of Ancillary Services at AdventHealth Daytona Beach leading a team of more than 850 people across clinical and non-clinical departments and even medical operations at the Daytona International Speedway "Joshua brings a strong track record of leadership and a deep commitment to serving both our team and our patients," said Dr. Dennis Hernandez "His experience and passion for improving health care make him a great fit for our community and I’m excited to see the impact he’ll have in this role." In his new role as COO at AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach he will oversee the hospitals operations in various clinical and non-clinical departments and the strategic development of services for the community at large Josua will also continue overseeing biomedical engineering for all seven hospitals in AdventHealth’s East Florida Division while also working on local initiatives to improve sustainability and health equity in Volusia County "I am humbled and truly honored to join the team at AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach,” said Champion “This hospital has a strong legacy of caring for the community and I look forward to building on that foundation and supporting our incredible caregivers.” Champion earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Health Care Administration from Oakwood University in Alabama and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Webster University He is also a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and a Certified Leadership Coach Champion fills the COO position previously held by Khelsea Bauer who recently became the president and CEO for AdventHealth DeLand Baby Mattie needed a liver transplant but was too sick to even get on the list For the nurses at AdventHealth for Children her organs were shutting down and her little body was fighting a battle that seemed insurmountable AdventHealth is expanding its nursing workforce enhancing hands-on training programs and reinforcing its commitment to exceptional patient care our organization embarked on multiple global mission projects that made a significant impact on the lives of two families in need AdventHealth Carrollwood has been awarded an “A” Hospital Safety Grade by The Leapfrog Group a national nonprofit upholding the standard of excellence in patient safety in hospitals and ambulatory.. Dozens of community members and several organizations came together to help support the AdventHealth Lake Placid and Wauchula Foundations during the 11th annual Clays and Camo fundraiser we honor the extraordinary acts of kindness and compassion demonstrated by our nurses across the region Three remarkable nurses from AdventHealth Avista's surgery center have embarked on.. AdventHealth is proud to join Nemours Children’s Health System as the official medical services provider for the USTA National Campus in Lake Nona A local nurse and a CEO were recognized by the Central Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce the new senior executive officer of AdventHealth for Children speaks with Becker's Hospital Review about the future of pediatric care The spring 2025 Leapfrog grades have been released and four AdventHealth Rocky Mountain Region hospitals have achieved top honors for patient safety AdventHealth North Pinellas achieves elite national status as a straight- ‘A’ for patient safety  Our website uses cookies. Please review our privacy policy to find out more about the cookies we use Browsing our website means you accept these terms If you’ve driven through Smyrna on Route 13 you can’t help but notice the large mounds of dirt and the construction equipment near the former Papa John’s Pizza Crews are preparing the site for apartments and retail buildings and the former pizza shop is part of the plan Smyrna Director of Planning Jeremy Rothwell said the construction is for a site plan approved in 2021 that will include apartments and retail space The former Papa John’s property and the neighboring land to the south once home to the Thomas England House restaurant are being combined by owner Lenape Properties Plans include an apartment building and two mixed-use buildings said Lenape Properties President Lou Ramunno The former Papa John’s will remain and be renovated for a new tenant 24-unit apartment building is planned at the back of the property Two mixed-use buildings are planned near Route 13 each with 6,000 square feet of retail space and 12 apartments More: What's that odd structure on Route 13 in Smyrna? It's essential to town's growth “Living close to amenities is a concept that we think will be attractive to many apartment residents.” The location is close to bus stops along Route 13 and to the Route 1 south Smyrna entrance/exit You can see the demand from national tenants nearby like the new Popeyes Firestone and Planet Fitness,” Ramunno said More: Bayberry Town Center near Middletown makes long-awaited progress on Weis Markets. Here are the details As far as tenants for the new shopping center but it’s a little early to announce anything yet.” restaurants and other food-related businesses will probably be part of the mix Site work to prepare the property for construction is scheduled to take about three or four months “Some of the buildings could be finished in the fall of next year,” Ramunno said Parking will be behind the two mixed-use buildings and in front of the apartment building Several parking spaces will remain in front of the former Papa John's along with some new spaces on the south side of that building The main entrance and exit will be south of the former Papa John's The entrance to that building will be through the new parking lot Florida's digital database of restaurant health inspections is updated regularly with information on which local restaurants pass and fail The database can be searched by county or by restaurant name You will see which restaurants were fined and forced to close temporarily Disclaimer: The Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation describes an inspection report as "a 'snapshot' of conditions present at the time of the inspection." On any given day an establishment may have fewer or more violations than noted in its most recent inspection An inspection conducted on any given day may not represent the establishment's overall 'It's only going to get better': Beloved Daytona Beach restaurant reopens at new location Beloved Hammock restaurant of 24 years rebrands and reopens under original owners Revamped rooftop bar offers craft cocktails, panoramic views of Daytona Beach passed their inspections from April 20 – 26 with zero violations: Daytona Beach.Volusia County restaurant inspections with high-priority violationsThe following restaurants administrative complaints or were temporarily closed due to failed inspections from April 20 – 26: The Smyrna School District is preparing to hold a tax referendum March 15 the referendum would give the district additional operating funds to support staff its new middle school and programs and extracurriculars It would also cover safety and technology costs District voters rejected a similar operating budget referendum last March This new referendum is seeking to increase taxes about 39 cents for every $100 of a property’s assessed value for district residents in New Castle County and 9 cents for every $100 of a property’s assessed value for district residents in Kent County The district said this ask would raise the average tax bill by about $277 annually in both New Castle and Kent Counties providing the district another $5.4 million in revenue in the first year The district’s interim superintendent Deb Judy acknowledged people are feeling the effects of inflation and rising taxes The district passed a capital referendum last year on its second try while the town of Smyrna doubled its property taxes But Judy said supporting this tax increase would be money well-spent “We are the foundation of the Smyrna Clayton Kenton communities then our foundation will unfortunately have cracks.” Judy added the district is already looking at a deficit of 40 positions “We as a district are at a point where we are not able to compete with our nearby districts so teachers and staff are able to drive 20 40 minutes to a district north or south of us and be paid more They have to make a difficult decision for their family to leave a community that they love.” The operational referendum would increase taxes about 39 cents for every $100 of a property’s assessed value in New Castle County and 9 cents for every $100 of a property’s assessed value in Kent County SMYRNA, Tenn. (WZTV) — The Nissan plant in Smyrna, Tennessee announced it will maintain its two shifts, reversing an earlier decision to reduce to one shift in January This decision comes as some employees in the Midstate will benefit from a recent White House tariff policy Nissan plans to relocate some production of its Rogue SUV from Japan to the United States this move is attributed to President Donald Trump's tariffs Nissan gave FOX 17 News the following statement regarding the company's plans moving forward: "We are reviewing our production and supply chain operations to identify optimal solutions for efficiency and sustainability Our objective is to implement the most effective industrial strategy to offer Nissan and INFINITI customers great product and strong value sales volume is sourced from our plants in Tennessee and Mississippi We will maintain two shifts of production of Nissan Rogue at our Smyrna — We are pausing any additional orders of the INFINITI QX50 and QX55 for the U.S market produced at the COMPAS plant in Mexico Production is expected to continue for those models sold in other markets models in Mexico and Japan continues based on market needs The company currently has ample inventory at our U.S retailers that is unaffected by the new tariffs to make any additional adjustments to production.” Get reports like this and all the news of the day in Middle Tennessee delivered to your inbox each morning with the FOX 17 News Daily Newsletter. Smyrna School District’s school board candidates introduced themselves at a virtual forum Tuesday night First State Educate hosted the virtual forum attended by candidates Justine Flint and Charlotte Middleton attending Clayton Elementary and Smyrna High She is currently an auditor for the Delaware Department of Education and has a doctorate in education “I believe in the educational system at Smyrna,” Flint said Middleton is a registered nurse who works in community health who also has a master’s degree in education “I've always wanted to be a part of the school board because I care about children,” Middleton said in her introduction “I had children that have gone through the school system and I just feel that the school system needs to improve and I have a lot of great and fantastic ideas.” Student proficiency was among the topics discussed English and math scores have been stagnant the last several years with state testing in 2024 showing 40 percent of students in grades 3-8 are proficient in English Middleton said the school board should put more checkpoints in place to ensure reading proficiency by fourth grade “And if they don't meet the requirements of learning how to read then they should not be moved to the fourth grade… The policy should be put in place where the focus is on kindergarten to third grade Flint said she would work with the superintendent to develop an action plan “The board should conduct reviews of test scores,” Flint said whether that's every six months or every three months or every year to make a judgment whether your goals are being met and if your goals are not being met or the progress isn't showing that the goals are being met or time to pull it together and come up with another plan.” Smyrna residents rejected an operational tax referendum last month meaning schools will likely see cuts in programs Flint said referendums have seen mixed success for the district and she wants to see the district seek ways to diversify its funding sources by accepting private donations or community-driven fundraising where possible “I think that the referendum is okay for now but it's time for something new to hopefully raise funds,” Flint said adding it’s important for community members to be involved in education to deliver better outcomes “I think that it's important for the community to have some skin in the game so that they can then have a voice and express to the school what they need and what they want,” Middleton said After months of hard work, Smyrna High School is almost ready to roll out the red carpet for its second student-led film. Titled “REAL,” the film explores the line between technology and humanity in a world where technological advancements often outpace ethics the movie offers a powerful commentary on what it is to be human A two-night red carpet premiere is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. April 22 and 23 at the Smyrna Malco Cinema, 100 Movie Row in Smyrna. Additional screenings will be held at 7 p.m. April 28 and 30 and May 5 and 7. Tickets are available at https://smyrnahighschool1.ticketspice.com/real-movie-screening students lead all aspects of the filmmaking process under the supervision of Audio/Visual Production teacher Kyle Dietz with filming taking place at various locations around Smyrna.  “REAL” stars Smyrna High students Marquise Martin Co-stars are students Mackenzie Stephenson Martin Burgess and office secretary Erica Jones “The Strings Attached,” Smyrna High’s first film debuted in April 2024 and won several honors at the Rutherford County Student Media Awards It is scheduled to air on True Blue TV (Comcast Xfinity channels 9 and 1096 in Rutherford County) Amazon Fire TV (True Blue TV app) or on iPhone True Blue TV app at the following dates and times: For more information about "REAL" and ways to support it By MEALAND RAGLAND-HUDGINS & BARTON HENLEYRutherford County Schools Smyrna High School cut the ribbon on its $38.42 million expansion the two-story addition provides Smyrna High School with 38 classrooms and lab spaces in addition to offices and large lecture hall The space was much needed as Smyrna High has the second largest enrollment within Rutherford County Schools and is among the top ten in Tennessee Smyrna High can serve up to 2,500 students under one roof The building houses Career & Technical Education programs including Cosmetology Criminal Justice and Audio/Visual Production World Languages and English as a Second Language classes also meet in the building Students and teachers moved into their new space in early December about 16 months after the August 2023 groundbreaking ceremony and nearly eight months ahead of its projected opening Another 16,000 square feet of space was renovated but this is the main building’s first major update since 2005 Goodwyn Mills Cawood was the project architect with RG Anderson Company as the general contractor Thank you to the Rutherford County Board of Education our state legislative delegation for making this project possible (This story has been updated with new information.) The brush fire that blazed through 338 acres of New Smyrna Beach and Samsula overnight was still about 80% contained as of 4 p.m. according to a New Smyrna Beach Fire Chief Shawn VanDemark still 80% contained," VanDemark told The News-Journal We're hoping that with wind staying calmer than yesterday we should be in good shape." The fire chief said officials hope to have the fire fully contained by the end of Friday though other fires that recently broke out in Lake County are pulling away some of Florida Forest Service resources which have been actively assisting local departments "We're pretty confident right now the way it sits," VanDemark said A Facebook post early Friday morning stated that Volusia County Fire Rescue and Florida Forest Service — Bunnell District would be on scene fighting the fire dubbed the "Honeydew Fire," all day Friday Volusia is still under a red flag warning meaning that "critical fire weather conditions" are underway low relative humidity and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior," the post said The brush fire broke out on the far west side of New Smyrna Beach and reached 75 acres in size at around 4 p.m Thursday south of State Road 44 near South Cucumber and Honeydew lanes according to the Volusia County Professional Firefighters Association according to a statement from Volusia County Spokeswoman Pat Kuehn After 156 years in the same location, the Smyrna Public Library has closed, but the new Duck Creek Regional Library a block away is planning to open in mid-to-late May The Smyrna Library was founded in 1858 and moved into the building at 107 S Now the staff is boxing up about 25,000 books preparing for the move to the new library at 22 S “Leaving behind the old building is definitely bittersweet," said Library Director Pat Young "We’re leaving a space that has incredible history A lot of folks have grown up in this building and grown accustomed to a space that's very homey But Young said the lack of space “held us back from offering programs and resources this community deserves.” but we’re looking for ways to bring that into our new space,” Young said The transition marks two dramatic changes – one that’s easy to see in the larger less visible change in who operates the library More development news: See what's planned in Smyrna on Route 13 near former Papa John's Pizza The new library will be nearly nine times larger than the 2,500 square feet of space on the main floor of the former library The old library has another 2,400 square feet in the basement which was mainly used for storage with a meeting area for about 12 to 15 people “Now we’ll have a remarkable meeting space – state of the art – which will hold about 250 people That opens all kinds of possibilities with a wide range of programming," Young said The meeting room has a retractable wall that can divide the space in half Another meeting room for about 50 people can also be divided “That gives us a lot of flexibility to accommodate different groups at once," Young said The staff plans to “hit the ground running with a program schedule working with community groups,” Young said while expanding the general equivalency diploma program adding English as a second language courses more craft classes and perhaps art and music Other major differences include a children’s wing outdoor seating area and a drive-up window More Smyrna news: Many don't know the abolitionist and AME Church founder honored in this new Delaware mural Kathy Messer is president of the Friends of the Duck Creek Regional Library which organized the fundraising campaign for the new building “This has been a wonderful experience but a very long one,” Messer said “We're looking forward to crossing the finish line and opening this beautiful new library for the community.” The idea for a new library was proposed about 18 years ago by the late Mary Turner who started holding meetings in her home for people interested in working on that goal “We believe we’re the only library friends group that began solely to build a library,” Messer said while funding for the building came from the state the federal American Rescue Plan Act and donations The construction budget is about $18.8 million Town no longer runs the libraryThe transition to the new library also marks a change in how the library operates The town operated the Smyrna Public Library and was responsible for hiring and paying the staff and paying the utilities Town funds were supplemented with the Kent County library tax on properties in the Smyrna-Clayton area outside Smyrna town limits along with state money including from the Delaware Division of Libraries the town allotted about $400,000 in its annual budget for library operations the Friends group will turn over operations to the committee that will be running the library Then the Friends will become a support group for the library pitching in with fundraising and help where needed The new library will be funded by the Kent County library tax on properties throughout the Smyrna-Clayton area including in Smyrna town limits state funds including support from the Delaware Division of Libraries along with a commitment for annual donations from New Castle County because part of the Duck Creek Regional Library District is in that county The library will also ask towns in the district for donations and will be accepting contributions from groups Donations to name rooms in the new library are now being considered. For information, see the Friends of the Duck Creek Regional Library website or call library director Young at 302-653-4579 or Friends president Messer at 302-242-8436 If people have books or other materials they borrowed from the Smyrna Public Library they will need to return them at another public library in Delaware Don't wait until the new library opens to return them The Smyrna Public Library is closed and isn’t accepting returns Smyrna library cards can be used at other public libraries in Delaware including at the new Duck Creek Regional Library What’s happening to the old Smyrna Library?The former library at 107 S is also home to the Smyrna Opera House on the second and third floors Plans for the former library space include providing a home for the Delaware Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and possibly more offices for the opera house Smryna School District voters rejected a referendum to raise money for operating costs Saturday The property tax increase was rejected with a vote of 2,153 to 1,467, according to unofficial results. our commitment to providing the best for our students and community remains unwavering," a Smyrna School District Facebook post said "We will continue to advocate for the resources and opportunities our schools need to thrive." the referendum would've raised $5.4 million to pay for teacher hiring student technology and student activities like sports Background: Smyrna heads to school-tax referendum this weekend to support operating costs: What to know Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on southern Delaware and beyond With thousands of Central Florida high school students about to be simultaneously set free for spring break next week the City of New Smyrna Beach isn’t wasting any time in preparing to control the potential for disruptive behavior In accordance with Florida law, the New Smyrna Beach Police Department will establish a Special Event Zone starting at 8 a.m action tied to the expectation of big crowds tied to "Senior Skip Day" unfolding that day throughout Central Florida The boundaries of the zone encompass an area that includes all of the beachside east of the Indian River from Beachway Avenue to the north and 3rd Avenue to the south The designation will remain in effect for as long as necessary, according to a post on the department’s Facebook page Signs have been placed to alert those in the area What is a Florida 'special event zone'?Under a law established in 2022 Florida law permits a municipality to designate an area as a special event zone in response to events including unpermitted activities or gatherings organized via social media that involve 50 or more people and cause significant disruptions to the normal flow of traffic on public roadways The law includes the following provisions: Virginia Stephens is bracing for impact of another unwelcome invasion of teenage students at the Seahorse Inn the 20-room hotel on the beachside end of the popular tourist thoroughfare “We’re dreading it,” she said of a potential invasion that has become a source of congestion occasional bad behavior and aggravation over the past three years for business owners along one of the city’s marquee tourist thoroughfares Compounding that dread is the fact that students in six Central Florida school districts — Volusia Seminole and Osceola counties — all will be on vacation next week the influx is spread across multiple weeks but it doesn't seem to ease the potential for disruption they were all on spring break same week and everyone was like they did that and the misery just lasted for three weeks instead of one." “They (students) are killing businesses,” said Stephens who has owned the beachside hotel with her husband “We have regulars who just don’t come in March anymore They are infiltrating us on every holiday.” Stephens and other Flagler Avenue merchants applaud measures taken by the City of New Smyrna Beach and its police department to control spring break crowds and behavior They state that several preventative measures in place for the last two years have changed the tone of spring break in the city for the better A citywide spring break curfew for minors has been in place annually since 2023 a year after New Smyrna Beach endured the presence of hundreds of spring breakers that flooded the streets and wreaked havoc along the main business district That 2022 spring break mayhem contributed to an 89% increase in juvenile arrests in 2022 The curfew measure prohibits unaccompanied minors from being in public from 11 p.m the New Smyrna Beach police department has bolstered its presence The increased patrols also received a positive review from Wayne Lundberg a Flagler Avenue restaurant closer to the river and the police chief had his guys really on the ball Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood has offered numerous blunt warnings to spring breakers and their parents about the consequences of bad behavior “Let the word go forth, if you act a fool we have a place for you,” Chitwood said in a Feb. 24th Facebook video that has garnered nearly 200,000 views I don’t care if you’re in Naples or Tampa or in Georgia You are coming down to pick up your child and remove them from our community.” Volusia County Sheriff’s deputies made 52 arrests and issued 200 citations during spring break in 2024 Chitwood said that he expects last year's arrest totals could potentially double this year Such messages are music to the ears of Virginia Stephens “Every time I hear Sheriff Chitwood say something else I’ve never lived anywhere where they leapt into action like they did in response to this.” Students arriving next week will encounter extra officers stationed at popular hot spots “We are increasing patrols along Flagler Avenue and the beach approaches to ensure that crowds are managed effectively,” she said “Additional officers will be assigned to these areas Our primary focus will be to ensure public safety and minimize any disruptions that could arise from larger crowds.” There is a zero-tolerance approach to illegal activities during the event “Respect for the community and its laws is essential We encourage everyone to enjoy their time responsibly and be respectful of residents and other visitors Anyone caught breaking the law will be held accountable.” Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More — The South Causeway Bridge has begun to reopen to traffic in New Smyrna Beach as police conduct an investigation into a multi-vehicle crash Officials say the crash stemmed from reports of a reckless driver on who Volusia County Sheriff's Office deputies attempted to make a traffic stop Police say the driver sped away from deputies and crashed on the west side of the South Causeway Bridge near Magnolia Street Five vehicles were involved in the crash and two people Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInNASHVILLE (WSMV) - An officer-involved shooting happened in Smyrna The shooting happened at the Sterling Apartments on Saturday around 2 a.m According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) Smyrna PD officers were called to a report of people breaking into vehicles the TBI said for reasons still under investigation the situation escalated and at least one officer fired his service weapon and hit one of the suspects The TBI said the suspect was taken to a local hospital where he is being treated Officials said a second suspect’s location is not known at this time The TBI said no law enforcement officers were injured in the incident “TBI agents are working to independently determine the series of events in the shooting including collecting evidence and conducting interviews,” the TBI said investigative findings will be shared with the district attorney general for his further review and consideration The TBI acts solely as fact-finders in its cases and does not determine whether an officer’s actions were justified in these types of matters That decision rests with the District Attorney General requesting TBI’s involvement.” (WZTV) — Nissan has confirmed that its plants in Smyrna The company stated it would initially seek volunteers for the job cuts offering severance packages to those who opt-in Nissan's Smyrna plant has approximately 5,700 employees and Decherd has approximately 1,700 employees but a spokesperson for Nissan declined to confirm the number of employees who will be affected by this decision FOX 17 News was issued the following statement by Nissan: "Nissan is taking measures to ensure that we align our production to meet the needs of the market and customers ensuring competitiveness and offering strong value with our vehicles These actions include changing shift patterns at our U.S facilities to match production volumes with market demand Nissan is offering certain hourly U.S.-based manufacturing employees a voluntary separation package in FY25 This approach ensures more efficient operations at the plants under current market conditions while giving us flexibility to expand when future product programs require." This move follows Nissan's announcement late last year that it would reduce its global workforce by 9,000 jobs. Each state has a mix of appealing and undesirable places to live in While personal preferences dictate some of that status other times it directly correlates with how a city performs across various metrics set out to find the worst place to live in each state Spring sports in full swing: Check out more than 500 photos from Delaware Online Baseball and Softball Media Day reported in late 2023 that income inequality is more pronounced in the United States than it is in much of the rest of the world Due to that disparity, the company used data from the Census Bureau, the FBI and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to create a weighted index of 22 measures to identify the worst areas to live in in every state The measures fall into one of three broad categories of economy community or overall quality of life and cover factors such as poverty unemployment and access to essential services boroughs and unincorporated communities with sufficient data and a population of at least 8,000 Smyrna had the following notable outcomes:  higher than the 11.4% representing the state overall less than the $269,000 for Delaware overall less than the $72,724 representing the state overall  A drug-induced mortality rate of 42.8 deaths per 100,000 people less than the state’s 47.8 deaths per 100,000 people Contact Krys'tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com – Nissan today marked the start of production for the newly redesigned Nissan Murano at its award-winning Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant "This is a proud day for the team," said Brian Crockett vice president of manufacturing for the Nissan Smyrna plant "The hard work and dedication of thousands of Tennessee team members has brought this vehicle to life The new Nissan Murano reflects our ongoing commitment to innovation and meeting the evolving needs of our customers." Nissan Smyrna has delivered nearly 145,000 Murano vehicles to customers in the U.S and Canada since it began production there in 2020 Nissan aims to ramp up Murano assembly in Smyrna to more than 6,700 vehicles per month by March 2025 Consumers can expect vehicles to be delivered early next year Nissan executives and community leaders joined manufacturing employees from both Smyrna and Decherd to witness the first MY2025 Murano roll off the line The Murano is powered by engines produced at Nissan's Decherd Powertrain Plant "The new Murano is a testament to the strength of Nissan's manufacturing operations across Tennessee," said David Sliger "Today we're celebrating the result of incredible teamwork and a shared dedication to delivering vehicles of the highest quality." "This vehicle represents the best of Nissan—bold design advanced technology and a commitment to exceeding expectations," said David Johnson "This moment is about more than launching a vehicle however; it's about celebrating the incredible people behind it passion and teamwork made this vision a reality." "Tennessee continues to lead the nation's automotive industry and Nissan has been a vital partner in creating manufacturing success for more than 40 years," said Tennessee Governor Bill Lee "The start of production for the new Murano demonstrates Nissan's commitment to innovation job creation and our highly skilled workforce and I thank them for their continued investment." For more information about the 2025 Nissan Murano, visit https://usa.nissannews.com/en-US/releases/2025-nissan-murano-press-kit The first auto assembly plant in Tennessee Nissan Smyrna currently builds the Nissan LEAF Nissan has invested $7.1 billion USD in the Smyrna plant With more than 5,700 employees and an annual production capacity of 640,000 vehicles Nissan's Smyrna operations represents the largest U.S manufacturing site within the company's network and one of Nissan's largest factories in the world — Dry conditions continue across Central Florida as crews in New Smyrna Beach monitor a 300-acre brush fire Responders tell Spectrum News 13 that the Honeydew fire is 90 percent contained The Florida Forest Service and Volusia County Fire Rescue will still at the scene “Nothing soothes the heart or gives the heart more joy than to help someone," said Samsula resident Mike McDonald She was trapped back in there yesterday," he said The woman returned to her home Thursday as conditions were more under control so the less they can be out in the woods and possible get in our way and get anyone injured it would be better that they didn’t," he said low relative humidity and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior This is a developing story. Stay with Spectrum News 13 on-air, online and the Spectrum News app for updates The Smyrna School District’s operating budget tax referendum fails The district was seeking an additional $5.4 million dollars to fund staff salaries school safety and the district’s new middle school Voters rejected it Saturday by 686 votes – 2,153 to 1,467 would have raised the average tax bill by about $277 annually for district residents in both Kent and New Castle County The district warned that if the referendum failed and other resources that directly impact students and staff Smyrna’s interim superintendent Deb Judy said the district realized this was a big ask after the town of Smyrna doubled its property taxes last year while the district passed a capital referendum the district is currently looking at a deficit of 40 positions and needs to be able to complete with nearby districts who pleaded guilty last year to a federal charge of coercing and enticing a 16-year-old girl he was communicating with online was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison Michael Anthony Kealty was originally facing federal charges of possessing and distributing child sex abuse material after he was captured on social media describing his love of rape Federal court documents obtained by Delaware Online/The News Journal show he also used vulgar and racist language when referring to girls and women The court documents detail conversations found on Kealty's social media account including one in November 2022 in which he offered someone on social media pictures of young girls from a football game where he was working overtime as security The documents also revealed a sexually charged conversation the former officer had with a 16-year-old girl on his Snapchat account — an instant messaging app whose pictures and messages are only available for up to 24 hours "I don't know if I'll ever be able to forgive myself," Kealty told U.S Andrews before he was sentenced on Tuesday BACKSTORY: Rape images, racist chats: Evidence against ex-Smyrna detective facing child porn charges apologizing to the girl who court records said he communicated with online from April 2021 to October 2021 Kealty asked the girl various questions of a sexual nature including asking her to send him pictures of her breast vagina and whether a third person would be into watching him have sex with the girl As federal prosecutor Briana Knox explained on Tuesday how Kealty tried to entice the girl into sending him nude photos Judge Richard Andrews interrupted and said he "wore" the girl down said his client was suffering at the time from undiagnosed and untreated mental health issues But now that Kealty understands his issues Spodek said his client is doing much better and has even become a model inmate helping others at the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia More: Ex-Smyrna officer charged with possessing child pornography hires 'Inventing Anna' lawyer Kealty came under the FBI's scrutiny after the federal agency received a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in September 2023 telling them about a report earlier that year from Snapchat that said one of its users "jasonkyle221," was in possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) The FBI said it was a prepubescent girl engaging in a sex act Investigators were able to obtain the IP address linked to jasonkyle221 and learned it belonged to Kealty at the time a Smyrna police corporal detective and Air Force reserves staff sergeant The investigator obtained warrants on Sept Before Kealty invoked his right to an attorney court documents say the officer confirmed he and his wife were the only people with access to his home internet network Kealty was fired from the Smyrna Police Department shortly after he was charged in October 2023 with distributing and possessing child sex abuse material He pleaded guilty last October to coercion and enticement of a minor Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com.