New Smyrna Beach, FL – Volusia County Animal Services are in possession of 16 cats and kittens of various ages that were surrendered by an owner in New Smyrna Beach earlier this week.
The animals were surrendered after VCAS received a tip about potential animal neglect at a home on Lake Ashby Road. An initial inspection determined there were significant issues to cause for concern and an investigation was launched.
The case is under investigation but the focus now is on finding new homes for the cats and kittens. VCAS is asking for the public’s help through fee-waived adoption or fostering. If you are interested in adopting a cat or would like to make a donation to the Animal Welfare Fund toward their care, call 386-248-1790.
You can learn more about the programs and services provided by Volusia County Animal Services online or by calling 386-248-1790.
Deltona, FL – The Deltona Citizen Water Committee is off to a good start according to State Representative David Santiago, who is also serving as Chair of the Committee. During the Committee’s first meeting this past Wednesday (July 17) residents were on hand to offer their comments and suggestions.
During the meeting, the Committee came up with meter reading, types of meters, customer service and how rating and dispute processes are handled with the city as things that should be part of the study.
The goal is to get the information to the point that they can go back to the city of Deltona to put the project out for bid as soon as possible.
Santiago said there will be a second meeting next Wednesday (July 24) at 5:30 p.m. in the third-floor conference room at Deltona’s City Hall. He also said that the city of Deltona will be reaching out to the public to encourage them to share their ideas. Check the city’s web page for more information.
Daytona Beach, FL – A man being convicted for a 2018 store robbery ends up leaving the courtroom just before the jury delivers his guilty verdict.
And now 29-year-old Antonio Gearing is being hunted by federal, state and local law enforcement after a warrant was filed for his arrest.
According to the State Attorney’s Office, it only took the jury around one hour and 30 minutes to return a guilty verdict. But when it came time to deliver, Gearing wasn’t in the courtroom.
State Attorney R.J. Larizza said Gearing was supposedly seen on camera leaving with other males in a black SUV outside of the courthouse. He hasn’t been seen since (July 16th).
“Federal, state and local authorities are actively searching for him,” Larizza said. “He’s presumed to be armed based on his history as this was an armed robbery.”
That robbery Larizza is referring to is one that took place back on May 21st, 2018 at a Dollar General in Daytona Beach. There, Gearing was seen on camera holding a firearm to a cashier’s head while he robbed the store.
But, now that the Daytona Beach Police Department has secured an arrest warrant, Stokes is officially a suspect who is facing first-degree murder charges.
Police confirmed that they are still searching for Stokes and they are looking to the public to get assistance with information regarding his whereabouts.
They believe he is still in the area but DBPD said they’re working with other law enforcement agencies such as the Volusia and Flagler County Sheriff’s Offices in the search for Stokes.
Anyone with information is urged to call Detective David Dinardi at 386-671-5219 or email him at dinardid@dbpd.us.
Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-888-277-TIPS (8477).
UPDATE (07-19-19): Police say that Ponder was behind the wheel of a green Chrysler 300 when he attempted to back up the vehicle, running over the toddler in the process.
The toddler has been identified as Ary’myis Ford. The report says that Ford was found lying on the ground in the parking lot of an apartment building off of 430 North Charles Street.
Ford was taken to Halifax Health Medical Center by paramedics shortly after being found, but he was soon pronounced dead.
DBPD has confirmed that they are now in the process of obtaining an arrest warrant against Ponder on two felony counts of leaving the scene of a fatal accident and driving with a suspended license during a fatal accident.
Earlier reporting below.
Daytona Beach, FL – Police are searching for the suspect who killed a 22-month-old toddler in a hit and run incident.
Not many details are available just yet, but according to the Daytona Beach Police Department, the accident occurred in a parking lot off of North Charles Street around nine o’clock last night (July 18th).
Daytona Beach police also said that they’re looking for 29-year-old Earnest Ponder, who is the main suspect in this incident.
Initial reports, according to DBPD’s Public Information Officer Messod Bendayan, says Ponder was seen running north on Charles Street to North Street after the incident.
He’s described as a black male, 5’9″ to 5’11″, 160-180 pounds, with tattoos on his right and left arm, wearing a white shirt, gray shorts and glasses. He also apparently goes by the nickname “Boss.”
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call police immediately.
This story is still developing, check back later for new details.
Bunnell, FL – A 36-year-old Bunnell man told Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies that he stole his roommate’s gun and pointed it at his dog because he was paranoid from smoking meth. Donald Threadgill faces two felony charges in connection with the incident.
Deputies were dispatched to 5244 Tangerine Avenue this past Wednesday (July 17) afternoon to check out a reported disturbance. Deputies made contact with Threadgill and commanded him to raise his hands and then place them on an unmarked patrol car. Threadgill complained that his right arm was hurting because he’d been struck by a golf club. Fire Rescue gave him an ice pack for his injury.
Threadgill told deputies he had been at a nearby residential pool house doing methamphetamine when he started feeling paranoid and felt like someone was going to jump him. He went back home where he got into an altercation with his 55-year-old roommate, David Burley. Burley said that Threadgill demanded his gun, which was between the couch cushions he was sitting on. The men wrestled for the gun which is when Threadgill bit Burley on the arm and managed to get the gun.
Burley said he got scared, grabbed a golf club and ran out of the house. While Burley was outside, Threadgill approached him with the gun. Burley said he hit Threadgill with the golf club to keep him from shooting him. Burley dropped the golf club which is when Threadgill jumped on him and punched him in the face. Burley said Threadgill slammed him to the ground and tried to bite him on the neck. After that, Burley said Threadgill put him in a sleeper hold and knocked him unconscious.
When Burley talked to deputies, he said during the initial confrontation, Threadgill pointed the gun at his dog and pulled the trigger but the gun did not fire. Threadgill then pointed the gun at him, which is when he ran out the door. Burley said he does not keep the gun loaded but could not remember if the magazine had any bullets in it. A search of the area with a K-9 officer found the golf club but did not locate the gun.
Threadgill was arrested, transported to AdventHealth for x-rays and medical clearance, then taken to the Flagler County Jail where he remains in custody on a $21,500 bond. He’s charged with Felony Robbery and Aggravated Assault. He also has a misdemeanor charge of Simple Battery.
Daytona Beach, FL – A 26-year-old man who’s been in the Volusia County Jail since April 26 for selling fentanyl to an undercover officer and trafficking in heroin, is now charged with first-degree murder for causing an overdose death. John Mai is the second person to be charged with first-degree murder for selling the drugs used in a fatal overdose in the past 11 months in Daytona Beach.
Daytona Beach Police Chief Craig Capri talked about the case in a press conference yesterday (July 19). Mai was indicted by a Volusia County grand jury earlier in the day on the murder charge in the death of 22- year-old Samantha Stefanczak.
On March 24, 2019, DBPD discovered Stefanczak and another person unresponsive in a vehicle near the corner of North Beach Street & Michigan Avenue. The person found in the driver’s seat of the vehicle was revived by first responders. Stefanczak did not revive even after being administered Narcan at the scene. She was taken to Halifax Health Medical Center for treatment from. She died on March 29.
The cause of death by the Medical Examiner is listed as an opiod (Fentanyl) overdose. Investigators believe Stefanczak meant to inject heroin into her body that night instead of the straight Fentanyl found in her system during the autopsy. Detectives later identified Mai as the person who sold the drugs and turned that information over to the grand jury.
Mai completed a nine-year prison sentence for vehicular homicide that happened when he was 17 years old. He was released in January, 2019 and has been arrested five times in Volusia County since that time.Mai was arrested three separate times in March and twice in April on various charges, mostly drug- related and traffic-related.
DBPD received a grand jury indictment in a similar case in August 2018. That was 23-year-old Justin Torrence from an overdose death in October 2017.
Tallahassee, FL – Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said review times for applications for concealed-weapons licenses have been reduced. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which Fried heads, said review times for people with no prior issues have been reduced from 50 days when Fried took office in January to one day in July.
Meanwhile, people with prior arrests or prosecutions now face an average review period of 25 days, down from 88 days in January. “We’ve made our concealed weapons license program more efficient — but we’ve also made it more accountable,” Fried tweeted on Friday. “I said on day one: everyone who applies to carry concealed weapons in Florida will get the full background check required by law. And now, they do.”
In another tweet, she credited “major changes of leadership, staffing, & culture to get it right” as the “licensing program we inherited had serious failures of oversight.” Fried announced the statistics during an appearance at the Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office.
An auditor general examination of the licensing process under former Commissioner Adam Putnam pointed to a lack of management oversight by the department. Putnam’s administration said the issues were being addressed.
Issues with the background-check process where first highlighted last summer in various media reports. At least 300 concealed-weapons licenses were later revoked. Under Putnam, Florida’s concealed-carry program in 2012 became the first in the nation to surpass the 1 million mark. As of June 30, the state reported more than 2 million concealed-weapons licenses were active.
Daytona Beach, FL – The Council on Aging of Volusia County is in need of volunteers for all the services they provide but right now they really need drivers for the Meals on Wheels program. Gladys Lacen, who manages the Meals on Wheels program, the Senior Centers and the Respite Program, said that more than 148-thousand meals were delivered in Volusia County in 2018. Besides delivering meals, the service is also a wellness check and a way for people living alone to have some outside contact.
Other programs available from COA include Guardianship for when a senior is no longer competent to make important decisions for themselves and has no family member or friend willing or able to serve as their advocate, COA can help. There’s also a Respite Program for caregivers to give them a much-needed break. It offers primary caregivers of loved ones with early-stage dementia, aged 60 years of age and older, some downtime from their responsibilities. At the Senior Activity Centers in Ormond Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Deltona, and Orange City, a variety of fun events, classes, and daily activities are available for active Volusia County seniors.
Lacen said they are really in need of volunteers at all eight sites around Volusia County. Expansion is planned for all of the programs offered by COA but to expand, volunteers are needed. Volunteering is easy. Lacen said if you’d like to volunteer, contact the office at 386-253-4700, Extension 239. You can visit the COA website by clicking here.
Daytona Beach, FL – Tickets for North America’s most prestigious sports car race and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season opener are on sale soon.
The sale starts tomorrow (July 23rd) at 9 a.m.
An international field of drivers from multiple disciplines will meet at the World Center of Racing in exotic sports cars to battle through the track and infield on the 31-degree high banks of the Daytona International Speedway in this twice-around-the-clock challenge.
Those wishing to witness the race in person have a number of different options to select from.
Four-day tickets, which includes front stretch general admission and infield access, UNOH Fanzone and Garage Access, start at $110.
Two-day infield-front stretch tickets also start at $60 and two-day garage access starts at $45. Children 12 and under get free entry to general admission areas, UNOH Fanzone, Garage Access and camping.
In addition to the race, fans will have plenty to do around the track with activities such as the massive driver autograph session, the Daytona 5k Run/Walk, manufacturer displays, carnival rides and fireworks.
The 2019 edition of the Rolex 24 was highlighted by the return of two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso, who joined Wayne Taylor Racing and co-drivers Jordan Taylor, Renger van der Zande and FIA World Endurance Championship regular Kamui Kobayashi in capturing the overall victory in the No. 10 Cadillac DPi.
For more information on tickets and how to purchase them, you can call 1-800-PIT-SHOP or you can visit the speedway’s website.
The 58th Annual Rolex 24 at Daytona will run between January 25th and 26th, 2019.
Port Orange, FL – Residents who need help getting their hands on a valid Florida ID will have their chance later this week.
IDignity Volusia is hosting a free client event this Friday (July 26th) at the Port Orange Presbyterian Church off of Clyde Morris Boulevard.
There, the Florida Licensing On Wheels bus will be on hand to process driver’s license renewals and ID cards. Volunteers will also be on hand to help attendees apply for copies of birth certificates, marriage licenses or other documentation needed to prove their identity.
This event will also feature free vision and diabetes screening by the Ormond Beach Lions Club, as well as hepatitis and HIV screening by the Volusia County Health Department.
Intake is set to run between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Those interested in attending are advised to arrive early as there is limited capacity.
Gas prices were poised for declines last week, but a brief increase came as a delayed response to Tropical Storm Barry, which caused a short-lived surge in crude and gasoline futures the week before.
But, that upward pressure evaporated early last week after learning that Barry did little to no damage to Gulf Coast refineries.
“After quickly rising last week, Florida gas prices are already on their way back down,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA. “Prices at the pump are falling at an average rate of one penny per day. The state average could reach $2.55 per gallon in the next two weeks unless futures prices quickly change course.”
Futures price drops accelerated in the middle of last week. Crude oil and gasoline futures sank to four-week lows, following a bearish report from the US Energy Information Administration, which fueled oversupply concerns.
The EIA’s report mentioned weakening gasoline demand, higher gasoline stocks and smaller-than-expected drop in oil supplies.
On Friday (July 19th), the price of crude oil settled at $55.63 a barrel, a discount of nearly $5 a barrel when compared to this time last week. Wholesale prices also dropped nearly 16 cents per gallon, lowering prices for retailers.
Right now Volusia County drivers are watching averages hover around $2.67 per gallon, which is on par with the state’s average and four cents more than last week’s average on Monday (July 15th).
Flagler drivers are seeing averages at a penny less with $2.66 per gallon, but when compared to last week’s starting price drivers are seeing a penny more at the pumps.
West Palm Beach-Boca Raton secured a spot for the state’s highest prices again with $2.74 per gallon, which beats out Gainesville’s price last week by five cents.
Pensacola is seeing the lowest averages in the state with $2.63 per gallon, four cents less than Volusia and six cents more than Punta Gorda’s low averages seen last week.
The national average is hovering around $2.76, which is a three-cent drop compared to the average seen at the start of last week.
Holly Hill, FL – Holly Hill Police have arrested 21-year-old Kelix Moon after his motel room key was found at the scene of the crime. Officers were called to a home in the 700 block of State Avenue around 6:14 a.m. today (July 22). The victim told them that he saw Moon in his garage at about 5:45 a.m.
The victim confronted Moon who pushed him to the ground as he was trying to escape. The victim sustained minor injuries in the fall. He attempted to catch up with Moon, who had run northbound on State Avenue. The victim told police that a child’s Razor scooter, valued at $400, a skateboard valued at $100 and a gas-powered weed eater valued at $50 were missing from his garage.
During the investigation of the area, officers found a motel room key from the Twi-Light Motel believed to have been dropped by the suspect. Officers went to the motel located on Ridgewood Avenue in Holly Hill to room number 9. Contact was made with Moon and his girlfriend, Izetta Marie Pierce. Police secured consent to search the room where they found the skateboard and the child’s scooter. A further search outside found the weedeater.
Moon’s story is that he was walking on State Avenue when he noticed the garage door at the residence was slightly open. He admitted he went inside and stole the property in question but says he did not confront the victim or push him. Moon said he heard the man yell at him but kept going.
Moon is in the Volusia County Jail charged with two felonies: Burglary of an Occupied Structure and Theft of over $300. He also has a misdemeanor battery charge. His bond is set at $8500.
Palm Coast, FL – A License Plate Reader hit on a stolen Porsche leads to the arrest of 40-year-old Damien Dennis, a man with 19 different aliases, six social security numbers and six different birthdays.
A Flagler County Sheriff’s sergeant located a stolen 2013 Porsche Panamera at a gas station on Palm Coast Parkway at Boulder Rock Drive just before midnight this past Saturday (July 20). The sergeant saw a black male, later identified as Dennis, pumping gas. The man dropped to the ground and started doing push-ups once he noticed the fully marked FCSO patrol vehicle.
Deputies conducted a felony traffic stop using the RAPID ID system, which did identify the man as Damien Dennis. Further investigation revealed the extra alias’, birthdays and social security numbers associated with Dennis. Also discovered was the fact that Dennis’ real driver’s license is suspended and that he is on Florida Inmate Release Status in reference to Possession of Counterfeit Tools.
The Porsche had been reported stolen after the owner discovered the buyer, “Ervin Beiler” bought the car using fraudulent I.D., a fraudulent social security number and a false credit application. When Dennis was detained, deputies found him in possession of a fraudulent Georgia driver’s license with his picture but identified him as “Jessie Alexander Galgano.”
Dennis told deputies he bought the car in Jacksonville and had bought the fake I.D. online. He also told deputies that he’d intended to take the Porsche back to the rightful owner but that the owner had told him to sell the car for parts. Dennis was then placed under arrest.
A search of the vehicle found marijuana and a small plastic baggie containing a shredded identification card.
“This is yet another great example of how technology aids law enforcement in quickly apprehending criminals before they can commit crimes in Flagler County,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “Both the LPR system and RAPID ID have helped us on countless cases, and this one is no different. This is a guy who will use any means, except the truth, to get what he wants. Thanks to our deputies and this technology, he will have to answer for his crimes.”
Dennis is charged with Burglary of a Conveyance, Grand Theft Auto, and Possession of a Counterfeit ID. He was taken to the Flagler County Jail where he posted a $10,000 bond and was released.
The two suspects caught on surveillance (Daytona Beach Police Department)
Daytona Beach, FL – Two thieves caught in the act apparently stole around $20,000 worth of merchandise from a Daytona Beach boutique.
Messod Bendayan, the public information officer for the Daytona Beach Police Department, says DBPD was called to Bossy Boutique off of Aviation Center Parkway around 8 a.m. on July 3rd in reference to a shattered window at a business.
That call was made by another renter in that business center who noticed the shattered front window of the store.
According to the report, the reporting party called the renter of the Bossy Boutique and told her about the break-in. She was in Kissimmee at the time but she ended up driving out to Daytona Beach to deal with the burglary.
The reporting party, who works as a property manager at the All Aboard Storage, said they do have video surveillance on the property.
The footage they gave showed a black car driving up to the business around 3:15 that morning. Two suspects were seen leaving the car from the passenger side before they went up to the business and broke the glass window of the store.
While police investigated, the owner of the store contacted their security company, who sent someone out to provide the surveillance to the police department.
That video showed two males, dressed head to toe in light-colored jackets with black pants, grabbing merchandise off of the wall. Detectives now estimate that around $15,000 to $20,000 was stolen from the business.
This investigation is still ongoing, anyone with information is asked to call Detective Simone Alexander at 386-671-5218 or email them at AlexanderSimone@dbpd.us
Daytona Beach, FL – The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission is stepping up their patrol efforts to keep boaters and manatees safe.
And it’s not just for Volusia County, it’s also for Lee and Brevard as well.
According to the FWC, these three counties have reported higher numbers of boat strikes on manatees so far this year.
“We strategically assign officers to patrol certain areas based on boating activity and manatee data,” said Colonel Curtis Brown, director of the FWC Law Enforcement division. “We also work closely with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and local partners to make sure that boaters know to look out for manatees. We want (everyone) to be safe.”
Boaters can do their part too by paying attention to their surrounds to keep people and manatees safe. They can also abide by posted speed zone signs, wear polarized sunglasses to reduce glare on the water’s surface, which makes it easier to see manatees.
And they advise that people try to stay in deep-water channels whenever possible and avoid boating over seagrass beds and shallow areas.
Ormond Beach, FL – The second suspect involved in a street race that killed a 73-year-old woman is finally brought into custody.
According to the Ormond Beach Police Department, 26-year-old Anthony Panos Jr. was the other driver racing 24-year-old Erik Worthington in Ormond Beach back on June 5th.
The report released by OBPD says that Panos’ 2015 Subaru WRX was just feet from Worthington’s Camaro as it hit Spanos’ Cadillac SUV.
Police were able to receive a copy of dash camera footage showing what happened during the crash. While watching that footage, police were able to make Panos’ vehicle as well as part of the driver’s body, as his arm was leaning out of his window.
They noticed that the driver had tattoos on his arm and that the Subaru had decals on its back windshield, including a decal of a turbocharger with the caption “Blow Me.”
Images from the dashcam footage were sent to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office Crime Center in an attempt to get some assistance locating the Subaru. It wouldn’t be long until detectives received a tag number of a Subaru that matched the images given to them.
VCSO was able to utilize photos from the owner’s social media accounts. Those same photos also showed tattoos that matched those seen on the driver’s arm in the dashcam footage, leading to a suspect.
While investigating the vehicle and the owner, officers learned that the vehicle had ties to the At Thee Garage off of 8th Street in Holly Hill.
At the garage, officers found a blue Subaru with a matching tag, but no decals. Although, upon further investigation, detectives saw that the vehicle’s rear window had “ghost” images of decals, showing that they had been removed.
In fact, officers noticed the outline of a turbocharger decal along with the words “Blow Me,” matching the description of decals on the suspect car.
Police met with the father of the driver, who said that he would be at the shop in about five minutes. That’s when officers identified the driver as Panos. But, when police tried to question Panos, he said he didn’t want to speak unless he had an attorney present.
A few days later, a woman reached out to the Ormond Beach Police Department and told officers that she had more information regarding the incident.
She showed OBPD investigators video of Panos and the vehicle, that was backed into a driveway just after the crash. She advised that it was the same Subaru she saw racing a Camaro on Nova Road, just before the crash that killed Spanos.
Panos is now in custody at Volusia County Jail, charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving death, vehicular homicide and racing on a highway.
Daytona Beach, FL – Volusia County could reach 1,000 sea turtle nests on the beaches this year according to Volusia Forever Activity Manager Rob Walsh. As of yesterday (July 22) the count is 747 Loggerheads, 41 Greens, 3 Leatherbacks, and 3 Kemps Ridleys. Walsh said the nesting season continues through the month of August which is why he feels we could see 1,000 nests.
Sea turtle hatchlings from nests made in May are already digging out and making their way into the ocean. Digging out can take days and once they make it to the surface they’re vulnerable to predators and anything that distracts them from what should be a straight shot to the sea.
Walsh said if you do see hatchlings when you’re walking the beach, leave them alone. If it’s night and you’re using a flashlight or cell phone to see, shut them off.
Any visible unnatural lights (like lights on houses, hotels, condos, businesses, and even lights from a cell phone or camera) can disorient nesting adult females but are even more harmful to hatchlings. Once they make it to the surface they use the reflection of star-light and moon-light to orient themselves towards the water. If they see unnatural light, they may become confused and head towards land.
Walsh said the hatchlings are making their way out to the Sargasso Sea, some 30 miles off the beach, where hatchlings have food and shelter.
Remember, digging into a sea turtle nest, entering a posted area, or picking up a sea turtle hatchling to take a photo is against the law, though Walsh said if you do see a hatchling entangled in seaweed onshore you should take it to a lifeguard so it can be taken to the Marine Science Center
To learn more about Volusia County’s sea turtle program call 386-238-4668, or go to VolusiaSeaTurtles.org. To learn more about lighting on the beach and how it impacts nesting sea turtles and hatchlings click here or call 386-238-4773.
This portion was written by the staff at the News Service of Florida in Tallahassee.
Tallahassee, FL – Gov. Ron DeSantis touted private-sector job creation Friday as Florida’s unemployment rate held steady from May to June.
The 3.4 percent jobless rate for June reflected 349,000 Floridians out of work — down 4,000 from May — from a workforce of 10.3 million, according to numbers released by the state Department of Economic Opportunity.
After the monthly numbers were posted, DeSantis issued a statement crediting the state’s “low taxes and reasonable regulations” for “fueling a strong private-sector job growth rate.”
DeSantis pointed to year-to-year gains in the categories of education and health services; professional and business services; leisure and hospitality; construction; trade, transportation and utilities; and financial activities.
The state’s unemployment rate remains below the national rate, which ticked up from 3.6 percent in May to 3.7 percent in June. Among the state’s metropolitan statistical areas, the Crestview-Fort Walton-Destin region had the lowest jobless rate at 2.9 percent in June, while the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford area was at 3.2 percent.
The state’s overall rate is seasonally adjusted, while the regional rates are not. The highest rates were found in the metropolitan statistical areas for Homosassa Springs and The Villages, each at 5.2 percent.
The Panama City area, which continues to recover from Hurricane Michael, was at 3.9 percent. The storm-battered region started the year with a 6 percent unemployment rate,
Local Impact | Volusia & Flagler
This portion was written by News Daytona Beach’s Patrick Murphy
It seems that for the past couple of months, the jobless rate in Volusia and Flagler Counties continues to rise, despite an increase of over 2,000 workers when compared to the same month (June) last year.
(Florida Department of Economic Opportunity/CareerSource Flagler Volusia)
Losses were seen in some local industries. The information industry lost 100 workers when compared to the same month last year, marking a 4% decrease. The professional and business services industry took a bigger hit with a loss of 1,200 workers, a 5.1% decrease.
However, despite an increase, the jobless rate from June of this year is still lower than June of 2018, which was 4.1%, marking a drop of 0.3%.
Some other increases were also seen on the board. The mining, logging and construction industry saw the highest jump in workers with 1,200 people finding jobs, an 8.6% increase over last year.
Education and health services saw the second-highest jump with 900 people finding work, a 2.3% jump over 2018.
DeLand, FL – Volusia County School Board members are making it possible for high school students to have a little more freedom in their choice of school clothes. Some minor changes to the school uniform policy suggested in March got approval on Monday (July 22) during a scheduled meeting.
VCSB Chair Carl Persis said that information was gathered from school principals on what was liked and what wasn’t pertaining to the dress code. Both elementary and middle school principals want the policy in their schools to stay the same but high school principals asked for some changes.
High School students will be able to wear polos in any solid color or school spirit shirt on any day of the week, and bottoms in any solid color. Ripped jeans are still not allowed. They will also be allowed to wear sandals and other open-toed footwear.
Elementary and middle-school students will still abide by policies that have been in effect like wearing polos in colors selected by the school, and bottoms in the standard navy, black, khaki or gray. The Board did not create a policy relating to hoodies for middle-schoolers.
Another item on the agenda was hiring a new School Superintendent. Persis said after a discussion with the Florida School Board Association, the organization hired to help in the Superintendent search, the decision was made to change the salary range for the position to between $185,000 and $225,000 annually.
Persis said the School Board really wants the community to share their ideas on what qualities and skills they’d like to see in the new Superintendent. That involves an online survey, which should be available in about a month or so. He said a Citizen Advisory Board will be convened to review resumes when they start coming in, which will happen in October. A community reception is also planned for people to meet the final candidates.
The School Board expects to make a decision on who will be hired by the Thanksgiving holiday and for that person to begin their duties when the second semester of the school year begins in January 2020.
The Volusia County School Board has a special meeting scheduled for 2 p.m. and a budget hearing at 5:30 p.m., both on Tuesday, July 30.
