Ken Daige – Challenger

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, ...

‘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. ...

Man loses nearly $2K after post office mail is stolen, altered

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 71-year-old man got a surprise when he found out his utility bill payment he put in the post office mailbox was altered from $14 to nearly $2,000, and made out to an unknown person, an incident report shows. This is the latest incident involving stolen checks at the post office, located just west of Vero Beach. Deputies spoke to the Vero Beach man, about noon Friday at the Sheriff's Office. The victim said he spoke with his neighbor a few weeks ago, who told him his daughter's mail was stolen from a mailbox at the U.S. Post Office, 8500 20th Street. The woman's check was also altered, with thieves cleaning out her checking account, authorities said. ...