Eli Witek is a reporter for The West Volusia Beacon, focusing on local news in the De Land area of Florida. With a strong interest in community issues and events, Eli covers a range of topics including crime, education, local government, and cultural happenings.
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West Volusia, Florida, United States (Local)
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DeLeon Springs residents must move to modern, more expensive septic tanks, and now they have some money to help. Grant money to the total of $2.2 million, via state funding […]
BEACON PHOTO/ELI WITEK BIG UNDERTAKING — A grand old oak tree towers over the newer section of the Lake Helen-Cassadaga Cemetery. Both the new section and the older section have spotty mapping, making it difficult for city officials to determine where unoccupied plots are located and preventing residents from buying their future resting places.
Vote on annexation may be coming up Editor’s note: This is Part I of a two-part series examining annexation of Spring Hill into DeLand. The second part will run in […]
By: Eli Witek
A sight familiar to parents and students in Deltona for years: Timbercrest Elementary Principal Lonnie Tidmarsh ushering cars through the parent drop-off loop every morning, his dark beard down to […]
BEACON PHOTO/DARA SHAPIRO ACTIVE INVESTIGATION — Crime-scene investigators from the DeLand Police Department are on Frankfort Avenue Jan. 18 near an alleged murder scene. Mental-health counselor Travis McBride was arrested Jan. 18 and charged with first degree murder.
Groups across Florida are cautioning the public to not interfere with tracking gear attached to manatees ahead of the release of more than a dozen gentle sea cows from rehabilitation […]
Nevermind the cool weather, nearly 6,000 people got out of bed early Saturday, Feb. 3, to run 5 kilometers around DeLand as part of the ME STRONG 5K. Families, kids, dogs and even a mariachi band all got in on the fun.
BEACON PHOTO/ELI WITEK A BROTHER AND A SON — Lauren Shaw considers a framed picture of her brother, Jared, and father, David. Jared Shaw was sentenced to life in prison Feb. 13 in the stabbing death of Christine McCaleb. “This picture breaks our hearts,” sister Megan Shaw said. “I know Dad is telling him what a wonderful life he has and will have, how he will help others.”
A gunshot blew out the right window of DeLand Pilates in Downtown DeLand around 7:04 p.m. Monday, March 4. Woodland Boulevard was closed for about two hours from State Road 44 to Indiana Avenue while police and crime scene technicians investigated.
PLANNING THE FUTURE — DeLand’s 1960s Old Jail is directly across New York Avenue from the Historic Volusia County Courthouse, in the midst of the bustling Georgia Avenue entertainment district. BEACON FILE PHOTO
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