VIDEO: Vero Council Candidates: The Heady factor

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. ...

Vero Council candidates introduced at forum

VERO BEACH — Six candidates running for two seats for City Council in the upcoming nonpartisan election answered questions at a Taxpayers' Association of Indian River County forum. The candidates for the Nov. 7 election are incumbent Harry Howle, Val Zudans, Randy Old, Jay Kramer, Megan Hoots and Brian Heady. There is neither early voting nor primaries this year, and the deadline to vote by mail is Nov. 1. The meeting, hosted by Taxpayers' Association President John Kistler, was held shortly before noon Wednesday at the Vero Beach Country Club, 800 30th St. More than 100 people, including city and county officials and representatives from the School District, were in attendance. The candidates answered questions on topics such as the 2035 ...