Henry Frederick's blog

NSBNews.net was the first media outlet to file a story on Mitt Romney's visit to Ormond Beach. We'll have Romney's entire speech for you to see and here in a series of videos this afternoon and we'll have local reaction to what he said and whether it will inspire Republicans to stick with him as the frontrunner or go with conservative Newt Gingwich or Rick Santorum or Ron Paul.

NSBNews.net also has exclusive interviews with Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and a whole host of other stories, photos and videos from the Romney rally.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- As hard as I work to get to the truth in reporting I have to realize that I am just one person with so many hours in a given day. I can tell you as of this writing, I am embarrassed and frustrated -- embarrassed to see the big story in the Daytona Beach News-Journal on suspended Southeast Volusia Advertising Director Nicole Carni. Frustrated because had there been a level playing field with the release of her payroll figures -- denied to NSB News -- then I might have had the story today as well, maybe even sooner.

NSBNews.net is proud to announce that New Smyrna Beach Vice Mayor and City Commissioner Jim Hathaway has agreed to write an exclusive weekly blog for us. Hathaway replaces Mayor Adam Barringer who said he couldn't make the commitment anymore.

Hathaway's exclusive blog for NSBNews.net is called "Vice Mayor" and in it, he'll give his take on issues that he feels are important. Hathaway is an announced 2012 candidate for the Volusia County Council district 3 seat held by Joie Alexander, who opted not to seek re-election to that post. Alexander has not ruled out running in a different race.

Anyone who read the glowing story on Kent Sharples plastered Wednesday on the front page of the Daytona Beach News-Journal can relate to steroid slugger Mark McGuire's refrain before Congress in that he's "not here to talk about the past. Certainly, it is not in my place to tell the News-Journal how to report the news, but as someone with a vested interest in the media, as well as being a taxpayer and a family man, I find the print media becoming more and more a marketing arm of the power elite.

On the eve of my 50th birthday, I couldn't be more proud of our standing in the community with NSBNews.net -- not only here in New Smyrna Beach, but across Volusia County in the public and private sectors. Since our April 7, 2008, launch, we have been accessed by more than a million unique visitors. Because we are growing so fast, we are going to have a new umbrella name: Headline Surfer.

Ed Pankonin, the treasurer and board member of the Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority, resigned. He and George Richford, who earlier resigned, were the two dissenting board members in action taken by the other five SVAA board members to fire Nicole Carni as director last month.

Supposedly, the letter fron Pankonin was written to Volusia County Manager Frank Bruno. The News-Journal had a story about it today. They had a reporter at the County Council meeting Thursday. I was in bed sick with bronchitis, though I did get out to an open house Thursday by the Sheriff's House in Oak Hill.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- One of the things I've learned early on as a journalist and reinforced over the years is that things are not always as they appear. Nothing could be more true than the situation at hand here in New Smyrna Beach, a beautiful seaside community with some ugly secrets.

I knew when I embarked on our investigative project "Show Me the Money: New Smyrna Beach," that NSBNews.net and myself, in particular, would be labeled a troublemaker. It comes with the territory.

I have been sick the last few days with bronchitis, but I'm feeling a little better today and hope to have fresh news throughout the day, including follow-up stories on Mitt Romney's visit to Ormond Beach, an update on the Show Me the Money investigative series and other pertinent news.

We'll also be posting our top 10 Florida stories of 2011. After that comes the top 25 Volusia stories and then the top 100 greater New Smyrna Beach stories.

ORMOND BEACH -- With a nation eager to see how Mitt Romney would respond a day after his crushing second place finish in South Carolina to Newt Gingrich, the roar of 2,500 strong here tonight at the Allstar Building Materials lumberyard was just the kind of boost the GOP frontrunner needed as the focus turns to Florida's Jan. 31 primary.

Romney spoke a mere 15 minutes, spending three times as much time working the crowd: shaking hands, signing autographs and hearing the praises of the Republican faithful.

NSB News will have much more coverage as the evening progresses.

ORMOND BEACH -- Sera and I are here at the Mitt Romney Rally and the place is mobbed with supporters as we approach the 6 o'clock hour.

No sign of Romney yet. We'll keep you posted.