Hibiscus Festival Juried Fine Art Show accepting registrations

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, ...

Fertilizer restrictions to go into effect next month

A reminder from the Indian River Neighborhood Association to residents of Indian River County, City of Vero Beach, Sebastian and Orchid. We are coming into our rainy season when more nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous are likely to be washed from our lawns, driveways and roads into the storm water system and, ultimately, into our local waterways such as the Indian River Lagoon. The fertilizer ordinances passed by our communities goes into effect June 1st. It prohibits the use of lawn fertilizer between June 1st and September 30th. No fertilizer containing Phosphorous is to be used anytime. All fertilizers must contain at least 50% slow release Nitrogen. Finally, no fertilizer is to be applied within 10 feet of any ...

Deputies: Caregiver steals, pawns $35K in jewelry items

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 37-year-old caregiver was arrested Thursday after deputies said she stole $35,000 in jewelry from a residence before pawning the items at pawn shops. Melitta Lahazel Thornton told deputies she cared for one of the victims' parents and was often alone with them at their home, reports show. Thornton denied stealing and pawning the jewelry. This is the second incident this week involving suspects stealing and pawning thousands in jewelry from county homes. Deputies arrested Thornton, of the 4000 block of 41st Square, on charges of giving false information to a pawn broker and third-degree grand theft. Thornton was released Thursday from the Indian River County Jail on $20,000 bond. Indian River County deputies began investigating the ...