Smoke near De Soto Ave. from melting of engine block

Low beach attendance for January; no water rescues

VERO BEACH — While chilly temperatures caused a drop in beach attendance last month, lifeguards are happy to report that there were no water rescues that occurred in January. "It's a great thing," Vero Beach Lifeguard Association officials said in a statement. "We hope people are paying attention to lifeguards and condition signs before they go into the water." The Vero Beach Lifeguard Association recently released its monthly report for the beaches at Jaycee Park, Humiston Park and South Beach Park. Lifeguards said about 54,105 beachgoers flocked to the shore in January. The highest beach-attendance record of 65,700 was set in 2019 for Vero Beach, lifeguards said. The record low for beach attendance was set in 2016 with 36,000 people, ...

Student break-up led to Snapchat threat targeting middle school

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A social media threat that caused an increased presence of deputies at a middle school stemmed from a break up between two seventh graders, officials said. The threat - later deemed to be fake - targeted Oslo Middle School, 480 20th Avenue Southwest, deputies said. Detectives were working with the State Attorney's Office to determine if charges will be filed in the case. Indian River County deputies learned a photo, posted to social media app Snapchat, had originated in Alabama. Deputies said a student - a girl - involved in the break up altered the information on the photo before sharing it to the network. Deputies searched the home of the boy who had been in ...

‘No swimming’ advisory lifted for beaches, officials say

VERO BEACH — Authorities lifted a 'no swimming' advisory for three local beaches Tuesday after test samples showed that bacteria returned to normal levels, health department and city officials said. The result means it was safe to return to the water Tuesday, Vero Beach city officials said. The advisory - which was in place for nearly a week - was issued Jan. 31 for South Beach, Humiston Beach and Sexton Plaza Beach after high levels of fecal-related bacteria were reported at the locations. Environmental specialists with the Florida Department of Health in Indian River County collected water samples at the beaches Monday and on Jan. 28. The more recent collection of samples - tested at the Flowers Chemical Laboratory in Port St. ...