Jonathan Rose new Exchange Club member

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, ...

Man charged after opening pipes in fire suppression system

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A man who deputies said purged the water supply to several businesses by opening up the pipes of a fire suppression system, was detained Friday. The man - identified as Cordero Laremy Mitchell - told deputies "he did it for the people who needs water," reports show. Mitchell's arrest report did not indicate there was a fire at the time of the incident. Deputies arrested Mitchell, 33, described as homeless, on a charge of preventing or obstructing the extinguishment of a fire. Mitchell was held Monday at the Indian River County Jail on $1,500 bond. Indian River County deputies responded to a suspicious incident about 1 p.m. Friday. Deputies said they saw Mitchell - completely drenched ...

Boil water notice issued for Osceola Magnet School

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Officials issued a precautionary boil water notice for a school after a leak from an internal copper pipe on the campus, authorities said. The notice will last for 72 to 96 hours at Osceola Magnet School, School District of Indian River County spokeswoman Cristen Maddux said. Florida Department of Health officials will conduct a couple rounds of tests for bacteria to make sure the water is safe to drink again. Officials noticed the leak Sunday afternoon at the school, located in south county, Maddux said. Parents and staff were alerted about the leak from a school notification call. The pipe was repaired by 7 a.m. Monday, before classes began, Maddux said. Bottled water was delivered to ...