Free Republic

After a year-long investigation, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office on Monday announced it had busted a fentanyl distribution organization that was mixing a dangerous animal tranquilizer into the drugs it was selling. The animal tranquilizer, xylazine, is known to cause wounds at injection sites that destroy flesh and can lead to the amputation of limbs. Because it is a sedative and not a narcotic, users who overdose on drugs mixed with the drug might not be revived by treatments like Narcan, said sheriff's spokesman Andrew Gant. Operation Empire was carried out by the Volusia Bureau of Investigation and East Volusia...

The central Florida diner that announced it will not be serving anyone who still supports President Biden was temporarily forced to shutter on Wednesday after selling out of food. Following the Kabul airport attack that killed 13 United States service members and almost 200 civilians late last month, DeBary Diner owner Angie Ugarte posted a sign in the DeBary, Florida, restaurant’s window informing those who “voted for and continue to support and stand behind the worthless, inept and corrupt administration currently inhabiting the White House that is complicit in the death of our servicemen and women in Afghanistan” to take...

A Volusia County restaurant owner angry about the deaths of 13 U.S. service members killed in last week’s suicide bombing at the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, blames President Biden and says she no longer welcomes his supporters at her business. Angie Ugarte, owner of the DeBary Diner, posted a sign on the front door reading: “If you voted for and continue to support and stand behind the worthless, inept and corrupt administration currently inhabiting the White House that is complicit in the death of our servicemen and women in Afghanistan, please take your business elsewhere.”

A 14-year-old girl was hospitalized and a 12-year-old boy was in custody after they were involved in a shootout with deputies in central Florida following a home break-in Tuesday. The incident happened in the town of Enterprise, located in Volusia County, after the girl and boy ran away from a juvenile home for troubled children, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said.

Dear Florida Second Amendment Supporter, The National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund has endorsed Second Amendment supporter Michael Chitwood for Volusia County Sheriff in the Republican Primary election on Tuesday, August 30.

The Central Florida Crimeline Kicks 4 Guns Program to remove unwanted firearms from streets and homes started early for the Volusia County Sheriff's Office this morning. "As the command center opened at 7 a.m., we had our first customer from New Smyrna Beach turning in a 16 gauge shotgun," said sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson. In Daytona Beach, gun owners can stop by the Dickerson Center at 308 S. Martin Luther King Blvd. Walmart gift cards will be offered there as well.

A common theme of this election season is ordinary people who are extraordinary first time candidates birthed out of the Tea Party Movement. In my national travels on Tea Party Express, I have encountered several great conservative first timers.Margie Patchett running for Volusia County Council at Large, Florida is extremely high on my list of national quality candidates. The Orlando Sentinel named Margie Patchett the Tax-Reform Crusader. Margie has been fighting for us, We The People, for years. Google her; 25 pages documenting Margie’s efforts confronting the out of control and wasteful spending; and offering smart common sense solutions to...

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. -- A home in Volusia County is sparking outrage Friday. A homeowner has strung up women's underwear and built mountains of sand in the back and neighbors are desperate for help.

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. -- Governor Charlie Crist visited flood-damaged areas and devastated families Tuesday as recovery efforts began from the historic floods in Volusia County. The coast is drying up and giving families a chance to rebuild. In Volusia County, 619 houses have major damage and may be destroyed and 912 homes had minor damage. Officials are waiting to find out if federal money will come in to help storm victims and if FEMA will get involved.

DELAND, Fla. -- The American flag will not be flying over Volusia County courthouses on Memorial Day. County leaders said they have a long-standing policy of not flying the flag on weekend holidays when everyone is off work. The decision has angered some area residents, but a county spokeswoman said the decision is about finances not being unpatriotic. The spokeswoman said the county doesn't have enough money to pay someone to come out on holiday weekends to raise and lower the flags.

DELAND -- County Councilman Bill Long was arrested early this afternoon on a domestic violence charge after he was accused of striking former domestic partner Patrick Fulton and then damaging Fulton's DeBary home, a Volusia County Sheriff's Office spokesman said. An aggravated stalking complaint also has been referred to the State Attorney's Office by deputies. Long, 43, was arrested at about 2:20 p.m. and taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach for processing, the spokesman said. Bill Long Patrick Fulton The arrest grew out an incident the night before that began when Long is accused of striking...

President Bush visited Daytona Beach Saturday, Oct. 17th. This is the report from a few FR members who attended. Feel free to add any info/pictures.

THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE OF LOCATION FOR SATURDAYS RALLY IT WILL BE AT 525 FENTRESS BLVD., ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE SPEEDWAY AT THE OLD COCA COLA BOTTLING PLANT (CALLED THE ROOT BUILDING). IT WILL NOT BE *IN* THE SPEEDWAY PASS THIS AROUND!!

George Crossley of Deltona talks to people after a rally for restoration of voting rights for ex-felons Tuesday in front of the Volusia County Courthouse in DeLand DELAND -- For 19-year-old Robert Keys, the matter that landed him outside the Volusia County Courthouse on Tuesday was dead serious. It had to do with some arrests -- but not his. Neither Keys' father nor his uncle can vote in November because Florida law does not automatically restore convicted felons' civil rights. "Get hyped. Let's go," he shouted, as he thrust a protest sign skyward. Like about 40 others who showed up...

DELAND -- The NAACP filed a federal voting rights lawsuit Thursday against Volusia County Supervisor of Elections Deanie Lowe, plunging the county into an elections controversy just weeks before the Nov. 2 general election. The suit claims that by having only one early voting site -- in DeLand -- Lowe disenfranchises black voters in eastern Volusia County, where the majority of black residents live. A state law adopted in May requires county elections officials to offer early voting at the Department of Elections office 15 days before an election. Whether to open additional sites is left to local discretion. On...

Rising flood waters in Volusia County that continue to threaten homes and business are now causing problems for at least one cemetery, according to Local 6 News.         Flooding at the Suber Memorial Cemetery in Lake Helen caused a casket to rise in its vault and push off a 2,200 pound cement above ground, Local 6 News reported.   "It's the first time I've ever seen it," Suber Memorial director James Cusack said. "I've seen whole vaults float with the body but never seen the casket push the lid off."   Typically, the concrete vaults that...

CASSADAGA, FL - On September 5, 2002, the Volusia County Council approved a settlement agreement that ends a federal lawsuit filed by Dunamis Community and Outreach Ministries and grants to the church the right to locate in Cassadaga, Florida. The settlement makes Dunamis the first Christian church to locate in Cassadaga, which describes itself as a "metaphysical mecca." Dunamis is represented by Mathew D. Staver, President and General Counsel of Liberty Counsel, and Erik W. Stanley, Litigation Counsel for Liberty Counsel.Believing that God had led it to minister to the community of Cassadaga, Dunamis purchased property 0.8 of a mile...