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Man charged with battery after slapping a sex offender

A New Smyrna area man was charged with battery on an elderly person after deputies said he slapped the victim for being a sex offender. Investigators said Chad Bunfill, 38, came out of his house on Mills Drive and yelled at the victim who had stopped to pick some fruit from a persimmon tree. The tree was not on Bunfill's property, but Bunfill allegedly shouted and swore at Ross Johnson, 68, who was convicted of a sex offense in 1999. Deputies said Bunfill smacked Johnson in the face, telling him to stay away from his home where he lives with his children. Johnson told deputies he wants to press charges.

Fees increased for admission to oceanfront parks

Effective immediately, the cost to drive into two Volusia County oceanfront parks is up from $3.50 to $5. The increase is for Smyrna Dunes Park in New Smyrna Beach and Lighthouse Point Park in Ponce Inlet. County leaders said the increase will help them better manage the parks and is consistent with the current beach toll. For $20, locals can get a yearly pass that will allow access both to the beach and the parks.

Election results announced

Election day saw some sweeping changes in several local cities including New Smyrna Beach and Ponce Inlet. By a narrow margin, current New Smyrna Beach Mayor Sally Mackay lost her bid for re-election to newcomer and businessman Adam Barringer. Zone one city commission incumbent Randy Richhenberg was also defeated by challenger Judy Reiker. Ponce Inlet incumbent Mayor Tony Goudie won re-election, Tony Rutledge took the Seat 3 race and Tami Lewis won the race for Seat 5, beating challenger and former Mayor Nancy Epps.

Woman turns in live grenade

Police officers see a lot on the job, but this was one for the books recently in South Daytona when someone brought a live grenade to the police department. Police said a woman was cleaning out her garage and found an old pistol and the grenade. Her son-in-law boxed them and drove them up to the police department. South Daytona police called the bomb squad in and they quickly learned the grenade was live. Bomb squad officials carefully taped up the pin and took custody to detonate it under controlled circumstances.

One teen dies from stabbing

Daytona Beach police said they arrested three people, all of them members of the Crips gang, in connection to the stabbing death of a teenage girl. Two other people were stabbed, but are expected to recover. Police said two groups who know each other showed up at the boardwalk bandshell just after midnight last Sunday morning in a fight over a girl.

Apparently an old boyfriend text messaged his ex, angering a new boyfriend. Police said the new boyfriend, Dustin Lind and the ex, Jordan Hess agreed to meet at the bandshell to settle their differences. Several of Lind's friends came to help him, and police said when someone in the other group started to beat up Mr. Lind, his friends took out a knife.

Police said Raymond North, 23, stabbed Robin Munsch, 16, once in the chest, killing her. Desiree Juras, 22, suffered two stab wounds and the ex boyfriend, Hess, was stabbed in the upper arm. Suspect North escaped, according to police, with the help of Dallas Mobbs and Carl Beck. All three were later arrested at an apartment in South Daytona. While North is charged with first-degree murder, the other men face accessory charges. Despite their gang affiliation, police don't believe the stabbings were motivated by gang related activities.

Jury finds men guilty of first-degree murder

A Volusia County jury found two men accused of murdering a man and dumping him into the Halifax River, guilty of first-degree murder and later recommended life in prison for them without the possibility of parole. Barry Gallagher and David Morrow beat David Sanders near Ormond Beach in late 2007. The killers dropped a five-pound weight on his head, then drowned him in the river after the men fought over drugs. The convicted killers could have faced the death penalty, but the jury recommended life and the judge immediately imposed the life sentences.

Man sentenced to five years

A man who Daytona Beach police said made threats that he wasn't afraid to kill cops, will spend five years in prison. Police had called Anthony Kilner, 20, one of their most wanted after an armed robbery in August. Weeks later, police heard that Kilner made threats against law enforcement and the search escalated. In early September, Kilner was spotted, ramming into a police vehicle near the Volusia-Flagler County line and taking off on foot. He was later arrested in a nearby subdivision.

Judge will receive reprimand

The State Supreme Court will publicly reprimand a Volusia County judge for her dealings with a convicted felon. The judicial qualifications commission recommended the sanction in August after it found Judge Mary Jane Henderson demeaned the office by loaning Henry Wheeler money for an apartment, cell phone, cab fare and other things. Judge Henderson acknowledged her actions gave the appearance of impropriety. A date for the reprimand before the high court hasn't been set.

Day laborer bit by water moccasin

A day laborer working for Volusia County at the landfill was rushed to the hospital after he was bit by a water moccasin. The worker, in his late 20s or early 30s, was moving something at the Tomoka Landfill near Daytona Beach and didn't see the snake under the item until it was too late. The water moccasin bit him on the wrist, then slithered back into some water. The victim had two clear puncture wounds and his hand was starting to swell when he was rushed by EVAC ambulance workers to the hospital. He's expected to make a full recovery after being treated with anti-venom medication.

Get together planned in memory of murdered teen

The family of a murdered teenager held a get together at City Island Park in Daytona Beach last Sunday on what would have been the boy's 14th birthday. Lloyd Robinson Jr. was visiting his father over the summer when gunmen tried to break in, in what police called a botched home invasion robbery. The suspects opened fire killing the teen and wounding his father. Police arrested all five suspects in the weeks following the July 20th shooting.

Governor visits area school

Governor Charlie Crist recently stopped at Hinson Middle School in Daytona Beach to applaud a program designed to help break the poverty cycle for homeless and disadvantaged school children. Resident and community activist Forough Hosseini created the program called Food Brings Hope, after learning some of the stark facts surrounding under- privileged children in the area. Governor Crist met with children who are part of the program in six area elementary and middle schools. Organizers offer tutoring and nutritional information and reach out to families to ensure kids have enough to eat. The governor called the program, which has seen stunning success as grades and school attendance improves, the kind of effort we should all be involved in, helping one another. The program is funded by a community endowment that focuses on needs other social service organizations don't address.

VCHD moves to make people aware of diabetes

The Volusia County Health Department has announced an initiative involving all area hospitals and health care providers to sound the alarm on diabetes. Health Department Director Dr. Bonnie Sorenson said the numbers are staggering with more than 40,000 people in the area struggling with diabetes and Dr. Sorenson said some aren't even aware they are sick. The group plans a yearlong effort to raise awareness through education programs and community forums.

Among the speakers at a recent press conference was Rev. Jeffrey Sumner from Westminster by the Sea Presbyterian Church. Rev. Sumner was diagnosed 10 years ago after a random cholesterol screening showed he had diabetes. He quickly realized that symptoms he had been living with, including thirst, fatigue, weight loss, blurry vision and confusion, were indicators of diabetes, but he didn't have the information to put it all together. Dr. Sorenson said obesity is a huge escalator in the increase in diabetes locally and around the country. She said if the obesity trend continues, one of every three people born after the year 2000, will suffer from diabetes. Health educators said the year -long effort will go a long way to teaching area residents what to look for when it comes to their health.

Food drive was a success

Florida Hospital Memorial in Daytona Beach were delighted that a two-day effort to fill the pantries at local charities was a success. They believe they reached their goal of 7,500 pounds of food. The eighth annual food drive was organized by Hospital Chaplain Farzad Nourian, who said the need is greater this year with new families who had not struggled before, now needing community help just to survive.

Sarah Palin to speak at chamber event

Former Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin will be the guest speaker at the annual Daytona Beach/Halifax area chamber of commerce meeting. Chamber officials confirm Ms. Palin has committed to an hour speaking engagement at the Feb. 15 meeting. The chamber is currently soliciting sponsors for the event and won't reveal Ms. Palin's speaking fee.

County looking for input on bridge

Volusia County officials have sent out notices to area residents who live in and around the Veterans Memorial Bridge on Orange Avenue, asking them for input on what should be done with one of the few remaining draw bridges in the county. The bridge, built in the mid '50s, is rundown and deteriorating and has parts so obsolete, county officials can no longer get replacement parts. It costs nearly a million dollars for yearly maintenance and the bridge often gets stuck or has to be closed for days on end. A high-rise bridge is among options the county is considering, but a new high-rise would cost more than $50 million and the county could not shoulder that without significant state and federal help. The county will also consider ongoing rehabilitation until they just can't any longer and they may even think of removing the bridge entirely.

Lottery ticket was never claimed

The winner didn't beat the clock and a small fortune slipped through his or her fingers. Lottery officials told WESH 2 a winning fantasy five ticket, purchased in Ormond Beach, went unclaimed. The ticket was purchased at a Kangaroo Express on U.S. Highway One near Airport Road in the May 6 drawing. The jackpot was shared by four winners, but only three came forward before the recent deadline. Whoever had, and probably lost the winning ticket, lost out on a share worth more than $58,000.

Claire Metz is the WESH 2 News bureau chief for Volusia and Flagler counties.