DAYTONA BEACH
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 1, NO. 1
LOCAL MUSIC SCENE PAGE 6A
FREE ON NEWSSTANDS | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2025
Seven-story hotel coming to ISB A Drury Plaza Hotel is set to replace old Miller’s Ale House, Haverty’s Furniture in Daytona Beach. PAGE 8A
Using tech to keep school safe Mainland High School is now equipped with AI metal detectors. PAGE 3A NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER
Dear Reader, You hold in your hand the beginning of the Daytona Beach Observer. It’s brought to you by the same team that publishes award-winning local journalism in Ormond Beach, Palm Coast and The Hammock. Our mission is simple: to build bridges of understanding and to build community spirit. We do this by providing government transparency through unbiased, accurate, compelling journalism, as well as community-focused content about you, your neighbors and your neighborhood. The newspaper is free! Please thank the advertisers for making it possible. You can also follow along at www. daytonabeachobserver.com every day, for free. What should we write about next? Email brian@observer localnews.com. — Brian McMillan and co-owner Hailey McMillan
Mainland crowns homecoming king and queen Bucs, meet your homecoming court for 2025-2026. OBSERVER STAFF
Aysia Thompson and Javon Estes were named Mainland High School’s Homecoming queen and king. Wilcox and Thompson were crowned during a halftime ceremony at the Buccaneer’s Homecoming football game on Thursday, Sept. 25, at Daytona Stadium. Also on the senior Homecoming court were queen candidates Tanala Rayam and Harmonie King and king candidates Javon Estes and Bobbie Roberts. The underclass princes and princesses were: freshmen Danny Sullivan and Alaeja Lopez; sophomores Marquez Hall and Destinee Hines; and juniors Shawn Holmes and Chloe Van Leuven.
Mainland Senior Homecoming Court 2025-2026: Bobbie Roberts and Tanala Rayam.
Mainland Homecoming 2025-2026 King and Queen Javon Estes and Aysia Thompson. Photos by Brent Woronoff
INDEX
Business..................... PAGE 3B Calendar..................... PAGE 2B Cops Corner................PAGE 2A Crossword.................. PAGE 8B Letters........................ PAGE 9A Public Notices............ PAGE 5C Sports......................... PAGE 6B Real Estate................. PAGE 4B
Mainland Senior Homecoming Court 2025-2026: Javeyon Wilcox and Harmonie King.
Junior prince and princess Shawn Holmes and Chloe Van Leuven.
Sophomore prince and princess Marquez Hall and Destinee Hines.
Freshman prince and princess Danny Sullivan and Alaeja Lopez.