8 minute read
Briefs
from OBO 03 11 21
Volusia deputy suspended after second DUI arrest
An off-duty Volusia County Sheriff’s deputy has been arrested on his second charge of driving under the influence in the past year.
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Deputy Aaron Chavez was pulled over by a DeLand police officer shortly before 2 a.m. Friday, March 5, after the officer witnessed Chavez’s truck traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of International Speedway Boulevard.
The officer followed as Chavez’s truck proceeded through a red light, made a left turn onto Woodland Boulevard, swerved and pulled over for the traffic stop.
When the officer approached the truck, he noticed a smell of alcohol and noted that Chavez’s eyes were glassy and his speech slurred.
Chavez was taken into custody without incident on charges of DUI and refusal to submit to DUI testing, and he was cited for traveling on the wrong side of the roadway, failure to stop at a red light and violation of driver’s license restrictions (allowing driving for business purposes only).
Chavez, 34, was previously arrested for DUI on March 21, 2020, when a Volusia sheriff’s sergeant responding to complaints about a reckless driver pulled him over north of DeLand. Chavez was off-duty in that incident as well.
As a result of the prior March 2020 arrest, Chavez was suspended for 24 hours and reassigned to a non-lawenforcement position while his case was pending. Chavez pleaded no contest to an amended charge of reckless driving and was sentenced to probation, which he successfully completed. After resolution of his case, Chavez was reassigned to courthouse duties, and later to a patrol assignment.
Chavez is currently suspended pending the results of an Internal Affairs investigation.
Ormond woman dies in crash with fire truck
A 52-year-old Ormond Beach woman died on Saturday, March 6, after she crashed into the tail end of a Daytona Beach Fire Department truck, injuring five firefighters.
Daytona Beach Police reported that officers responded at 5:19 p.m. to the crash, which occurred on North Clyde Morris Boulevard near the Halifax Health Medical Center. Investigators believe the woman, who was driving a silver Pontiac, was going an estimated 80 mph as she hit the fire truck, flipping the vehicle onto its side. The fire truck was struck as it attempted to cross the southbound lanes of Clyde Morris Blvd.
The woman was transported to Halifax Health, where she died from her injuries shortly afterward, according to DBPD. Her identity has not yet been released.
The firefighters suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene.
Critics fired up over state’s proposed pot caps
Many Republican lawmakers in Florida haven’t hidden their skepticism about the use of marijuana as a medical palliative.
A pair of new legislative proposals would place a 10% THC cap on smokable marijuana and limit THC levels to 16% in other medical-marijuana products, excluding edibles. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the main psychoactive component of marijuana that makes users feel high.
The bills, filed by Rep. Spencer Roach, D-North Fort Myers, and Sen. Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero, would also impose advertising restrictions on doctors who order cannabis for their patients. Currently, about 2,500 of the state’s roughly 90,000 physicians have undergone the requisite training allowing them to order medical marijuana for qualified patients.
Medical marijuana advocates fiercely criticized the bills (HB 1455 and SB 1958), which they maintain will force patients to spend more money to achieve the same effects from their medical treatment.
While Republicans control both legislative chambers as well as the governor’s office, the Florida Senate has put the brakes on proposed THC limits the past two years.
But the 2021 legislative session, which begins Tuesday, March 9, could be a turning point.
Source: The Florida Department of Health
Volusia County cases per day
Volusia positivity rate
Florida positivity rate
CDC recommends face coverings
“Cloth face coverings may ... help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.”
Adult hospital ICU beds available
VOLUSIA: 33, OR 16%
Hospital patients with COVID-19
VOLUSIA: 68 (DOWN FROM 140 ON FEB. 2)
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Classifieds 15 Real Estate 14 YOUR NEIGHBORS
Stories of freedom
JARLEENE ALMENAS ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Celebrating black history isn’t limited to the month of February.
The Ormond Beach Historical Society is paying tribute to black achievers in the United States via an exhibit, titled “Stitching Lives Together: Stories and Symbols of Freedom,” which will be on display through May 22. The exhibit explores the people and symbols that supported African-Americans as they escaped through the Underground Railroad. There will be displays, biographies on abolitionists, as well as storytellers and artifacts representing local black history.
It was an effort put together very quickly thanks to a hardworking committee, said Erlene Turner, education chair for the Historical Society. She presented the idea to her fellow committee members in January, and thanks to a mini-grant by Volusia County’s parks, recreation and culture division, sought by Historical Society Executive Director Julia Bussinger, the idea came to fruition in late February.
“Without them catching on to the vision, and going forth, I don’t think it could have been done,” Turner said.
Many of the exhibits on display feature a personal touch. The numerous books celebrating black history in the library of Anderson-Price are from Turner’s own collection; she acquired them through the years while working with young people in her church and as a former educator.
Turner is also featured in one
Traditional African garments are on display in the exhibition, courtesy of Erlene and Jerome Turner, and Carolyn Parker.
The display of books was composed of Erlene Turner’s own collection. of the videos that forms part of the exhibit, where she tells her great-great-grandparents’ story as they relocated after they were freed from slavery.
One of the key historical figures featured in the exhibit is Harriet Tubman, who after escaping slavery, conducted 13 trips south to help others do the same. That’s what stands out the most to Turner.
Not only does the exhibit feature black history, but it is a history of how working together can benefit all, something Turner said is a needed reminder in today’s age.
The centerpiece of the exhibit is a quilt that is currently on loan from the Historic New Bethel AME church. The quilt was made by Ruth Mielke, Nora Sgro and Joan Radula and donated to the church in 2018 during a raffle fundraiser to help restore the church’s steeple after it was damaged during Hurricane Matthew.
Each of the 14 squares on the quilt illustrate symbols that Tubman used to lead the slaves to freedom.
The church has not yet opened back up for services due to COVID-19 and Turner thought the exhibit would be a great place to showcase it in the meantime.
“It was just hanging in [the church] and I said, ‘Oh, that’s a good idea,’” she recalled.
In addition, storyteller Judy Yenwo will host two events — one on March 20 and the second on April 17 — where she will conduct presentations about Tubman’s life. Another storyteller, John Anderson Jr. will present the life of American abolitionist Frederick Douglass on May 8.
The beautiful part of the exhibit is the length of time it will be displayed, Turner said. When she was growing up, black history was only celebrated during a week in February. Now, black history has the whole month dedicated to it.
IF YOU GO...
What: “Stitching Lives Together: Stories and Symbols of Freedom” When: 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, until May 22 Where: Anderson-Price Memorial Building, 42 N. Beach St. Details: See this exhibit celebrating black history, with a focus on the Underground Railroad and Harriet Tubman. Donations appreciated. Live storytelling dates are as follow: Judy Yenwo, Life of Harriet Tubman Part 2: 11:30 a.m. March 20 Judy Yenwo, Life of Harriet Tubman Part 3: 11:30 a.m. April 17 John Anderson Jr.. Frederick Douglass: 10 a.m, 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. May 8
Photo by Jarleene Almenas Randall Herron and Erlene Turner stand in front of the Historic New Bethel AME church’s quilt.
