⭐Officer Recovering After Shooting, Rescue Teams Save Two Horses

Issue #1053

Author

.George Sloane
22 Sep

NOTE: Your can always» READ ONLINE

Courtesy Ormond Beach Police

🚔 Officer Recovering After Hospital Shooting

Ormond Beach Police Officer Austin Long is expected to make a full recovery after authorities say he was shot in the leg with his own firearm during a struggle with Michael Hightower at a Daytona Beach hospital.

Police said Hightower had been arrested earlier Sunday after allegedly attacking a couple in their 70s at Daytona College. The couple remained in critical condition. Hightower was taken to the hospital for treatment, where Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young said he grabbed Long’s holstered firearm while being prepared for an MRI. One shot was fired, striking Long in the leg before officers subdued Hightower.

Ormond Beach Police Chief Robert Godfrey said Long was in good spirits and surrounded by family. Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the hospital shooting.

Source: MyNews13

Courtesy Flagler County

🐴 Rescue Teams Pull Two Horses From Mud

Two horses are safe after specialized rescue teams from Volusia and Flagler counties worked together to free them from deep mud in northwest Volusia County.

Four members of Flagler County Fire Rescue’s Technical Rescue Team 312 joined Volusia County personnel at the Dexter-Mary Farms Wildlife Management Area. Using equipment designed for large-animal emergencies, crews successfully pulled both horses free before they were evaluated.

Flagler County Fire Rescue Chief Michael Tucker credited advanced training and cooperation between the departments for the successful outcome. Large-animal rescues aren’t entirely unfamiliar territory for the agencies, either.

Among those responding was Capt. Karl Froling, who has years of experience with horse rescues and helped establish partnerships aimed at improving animal technical-rescue training. He was previously named the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Search and Rescue Responder Officer of the Year.

Ormond Beach has no shortage of great places to eat, drink, snack, sip, and celebrate, and now it's time to recognize the local favorites that make our community delicious.

We're kicking off Best Of Ormond Beach Food & Drink 2026, and we want to hear from you. Vote for your favorite restaurants, coffee shops, bars, bakeries, brunch places, pizza joints, breweries, sweet treats, and more.

Whether it's the place you recommend to a friend, the order you crave all week, or the neighborhood spot that always gets it right, this is your chance to give them some love.

Nominate your favorites today and help spotlight the best food and drink in Ormond Beach!

VOTING EXTENDED!! NOMINATIONS CLOSE SEPTEMBER 22

✨✨Local Business Directory✨✨
Please Patronize Your Local Businesses!

Fire and EMS Calls

Dee Gillet Cat 6 Purricane Rescue Partners, Inc

Kitten and Cat Fall Kickoff Adoption Event

When: Saturday, Sept. 26, 12pm - 3pm & Sunday, Sept 27, 12pm - 3pm
Where: Pet Supermarket, 1185 West Granada Blvd, Ormond Beach, FL

What:
Cat 6 Purricane Rescue Partners is a 501(c)3 non-profit cat rescue organization located in beautiful Ormond Beach! We are blessed to have the opportunity to put 7 of our wonderful kittens and 2 beautiful cats up for adoption! Our kittens have been raised in foster homes and have been given so much love and attention and in return have grown to be amazingly friendly loving kittens.

Please see our Facebook page, CAT 6 PURRICANE RESCUE PARTNERS, INC. for pictures of these beautiful babies. We have the 4 siblings, the "M Purricane" group, Morris, MOO, Millie and Mary, and the dynamic brother- sister duo LUCA and LUNA and our little solo buy TJ, short for Tuxi Junior. We also have 2 of the the most amazing adult cats. SKITTLES is a 1 year old Tortie girl and PUMPKIN is a 1 year old long haired dark orange boy.

ALL of our animals have been fully vetted including spay/neuter, rabies and distemper shots, microchipped, flea treated. INTERESTED IN MEETING THEM? Contact Dee 908-380-0946 in Ormond Beach to arrange a meet & greet, or stop by our adoption event.

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Events for Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Ormond Beach

  • Event: 💼 BOSS Program – The Business of Customer Experience, 9:00–10:30 AM
    S.R. Perrott, Inc., 1280 U.S. 1, Ormond Beach, FL 32174
    Ormond Beach Chamber educational program featuring local business leaders discussing customer experience, loyalty, referrals and strategies for building lasting customer relationships. Check-in and breakfast begin at 8:30 AM.

  • Event: 🙏 Legacy Adults Word Study: Christ Who Heals, 10:30–11:30 AM
    Calvary Youth Center, 1687 W. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach, FL 32174
    Faith-based Bible study exploring the theme of Christ as healer and examining healing, restoration and related passages from Scripture.

  • Event: 🌊 Framed Resin Art Class, 11:00 AM–1:00 PM
    The Salty Mermaid Art, 1546 Ocean Shore Blvd., Ormond Beach, FL 32176
    Hands-on coastal art class where participants create an 11-by-12-inch framed mixed-media piece using crushed glass, seashells, pearls and other embellishments finished with high-gloss resin. No experience is necessary.

  • Event: 🎨 Autumn Woods Painting with Bob Ross Instructor Heather Alimonti, 1:00–3:00 PM
    Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Gardens, 78 E. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach, FL 32176
    Certified Bob Ross instructor Heather Alimonti teaches the wet-on-wet oil-painting technique while participants create the “Autumn Woods” landscape. All skill levels are welcome and painting supplies are provided.

  • Event: 🤖 Lead Generation Unlocked: 3 AI Lead Magnets You Need Right Now, 2:00–4:00 PM
    The Boardroom Coffee Co., 26 Bovard Ave., Ormond Beach, FL 32176
    Free in-person workshop covering practical AI-powered marketing and lead-generation strategies, particularly for real-estate professionals. Doors open at 1:45 PM.

  • Event: 📚 Art Book Club, 4:00–5:00 PM
    Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Gardens, 78 E. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach, FL 32176
    Happy-hour book discussion of Barbara Kingsolver's “The Lacuna,” exploring art, identity, revolution and public perception. Refreshments are provided and RSVPs are encouraged.

Daytona Beach

  • Event: 🏫 Mainland High School Open House, 5:30–7:00 PM
    Mainland High School, 1255 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach, FL 32114
    Scheduled high-school open house giving Mainland families an opportunity to visit the campus, meet school staff and learn about the school year.

  • Event: 👶 Tour The Baby Place – Daytona Beach, 6:00–7:00 PM
    AdventHealth Daytona Beach, 301 Memorial Medical Pkwy., Daytona Beach, FL 32117
    In-person maternity-unit tour for expectant parents interested in becoming familiar with The Baby Place and its facilities before delivery.

  • Event: 🩺 FAPA Daytona Beach Dinner Program, 6:00 PM
    Blue Flame at The Daytona, 1870 Victory Circle, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
    Florida Academy of PAs professional dinner program focused on Inspire Therapy, networking and discussion among physician assistants and PA students. The organizer currently lists online registration as closed

Events for Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Ormond Beach

  • Event: 🏗️ Site Plan Review Committee, 9:00–11:00 AM
    Ormond Beach City Hall, Training Conference Room, 22 S. Beach St., Ormond Beach, FL 32174
    Public committee meeting reviewing site plans and development-related matters submitted to the city.

  • Event: 🎨 Veterans Creative Expressions, 11:00 AM–12:30 PM
    Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Gardens, 78 E. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach, FL 32176
    Free 90-minute art workshop for U.S. veterans and active-duty personnel. All supplies are provided and no art experience is necessary; registered participants may bring a family member or friend age 16+.

  • Event: 🏛️ City Commission Meeting, 7:00 PM
    Ormond Beach City Hall, Commission Chambers, 22 S. Beach St., Ormond Beach, FL 32174
    Public City Commission meeting covering municipal business, including scheduled development, land-use and funding matters.

  • Event: 🏙️ Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting, 7:00 PM
    Ormond Beach City Hall, Commission Chambers, 22 S. Beach St., Ormond Beach, FL 32174
    Public meeting of Ormond Beach's Community Redevelopment Agency, held in conjunction with the evening's city proceedings.

Daytona Beach

  • Event: 🌮 City Hall Eats – Food Trucks, 4:00–8:00 PM
    Daytona Beach City Hall, 301 S. Ridgewood Ave., Daytona Beach, FL 32114
    Community food-truck gathering at City Hall offering an early-evening opportunity to grab dinner from participating mobile food vendors.

  • Event: 🏈 Gather for Good: Spruce Creek High School Football Boosters, 5:00–8:00 PM
    4 Rivers Smokehouse at ONE DAYTONA, 1866 Victory Cir., Suite J-100, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
    Community fundraising night supporting the Spruce Creek High School Football Boosters; families, friends and Hawks supporters are invited to gather for dinner while supporting the program.

  • Event: 🏛️ City Commission Meeting, 6:00 PM
    Daytona Beach City Hall, 301 S. Ridgewood Ave., Daytona Beach, FL 32114
    Public meeting of the Daytona Beach City Commission covering scheduled city business and municipal matters.

  • Event: 🏙️ Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting, 6:00 PM
    Daytona Beach City Hall, 301 S. Ridgewood Ave., Daytona Beach, FL 32114
    Public CRA meeting addressing matters involving Daytona Beach's community redevelopment areas.

  • Event: 💼 Downtown Development Authority Budget Hearing, 6:00 PM
    Daytona Beach City Hall, 301 S. Ridgewood Ave., Daytona Beach, FL 32114
    Public budget hearing for the Downtown Development Authority concerning the downtown district.

NOTE: Event information is gathered from online sources without verification. Readers are advised to check with the venue or other sources to confirm info.

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