Wanted: A few good men to Walk a Mile in Her Shoes

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 pulling out stun gun on neighbor

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 51-year-old man who deputies said pulled out a stun gun and pointed it in his neighbor's face during a heated argument, was detained Sunday. Deputies arrested Dan Erik Bratches, of the 8000 block of 133rd Place, Sebastian, on charges of assault and trespass on property. Bratches was released Sunday from the Indian River County Jail on $1,000 bond. Indian River County deputies responded to reports of trespassing about 8 p.m. Dec. 21 at a residence belonging to Bratches' neighbor. The neighbors - a husband and wife - told deputies they were showing a new dog to a tenant at one of their rented properties when the dog got loose. The neighbors were trying to get ...

‘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. ...