Martha Gomez Luna, 44, Fellsmere

Passion builds as soccer academy brings free program to Fellsmere

On any given Friday, the enthusiasm builds as the young team members race across the manicured fields to play their favorite sport at Fellsmere Elementary School. Loud cheers echo throughout the campus as players effortlessly kick the soccer balls until they rocket into the goal nets.  Head coach Ian Brice’s mission is simple; He wants the young athletes to have fun at the free program, made possible through donations from Indian River Shores residents.    “No lines, no laps, no lectures. No one wants to stand in the hot sun listening to the coach. No one wants to stand in line waiting for their turn. No one wants to run a lap as a punishment,” said Brice, a Vero Lago resident ...

Port St. Lucie man in custody after bank robbery, high-speed chase, crash

TREASURE COAST — A Port St. Lucie man who stole more than $5,000 from a Fellsmere bank, then drove southbound at speeds of up to 120 mph before crashing his vehicle in St. Lucie County, was in custody Thursday afternoon, sheriff's officials said. The incident led nearby Fellsmere Elementary School to be placed on a brief lockdown. "(The suspect) demanded money be placed in a pillowcase he brought with him," Fellsmere police said. The incident caused a multi-agency response across two counties to capture the suspect. Police identified the man as 44-year-old David Abram Ziesel. Police learned that Ziesel was on federal probation for robbing a bank in 2019 in Oakwood, Ohio; further details on that case were not immediately ...

Fellsmere awarded $700K for community development

Fellsmere was one of 48 cities and counties to be awarded state funding toward community development Wednesday, according to the office of Gov. Ron DeSantis. The $700,000 grant for the city will go toward replacing streets, sidewalks and landscaping from North Broadway Street to South Broadway Street, officials said. "Making investments in our small communities helps build opportunities for generations to come," DeSantis said in a statement. "I am proud to make these awards to 48 communities throughout the state to help them build economic resiliency and strengthen their communities." DeSantis issued more than $35 million to the communities through the Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant. The funds will be used for economic development, commercial and neighborhood revitalization, ...