Vero Beach breaks daily heat record

Huge backups on first day of bridge closure

The first two days of the week-long total closure of the 17th Street Bridge went about as expected – with long lines on the alternate route between the island and the mainland of Vero Beach, the Merrill P. Barber Bridge and its approaches. Motorists traveling between the island and the mainland found out that it took them about twice as long as normal to reach their destinations as all traffic that normally takes the 17th Street Bridge, about 20,000 vehicles per day and perhaps more in season – was detoured and rerouted to the Barber bridge. The Vero Beach Police Department warned motorists about delays and said it had officers out on Indian River Boulevard Tuesday to help direct the ...

Tornado that formed in SLC hit Central Beach, meteorologists confirm

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A tornado that swept through northern St. Lucie County - killing at least six people - continued northeast, damaging homes in the Highlands before rampaging through Central Beach on the barrier island, meteorologists said. Weather experts on Monday said the EF-3 tornado traveled 21 miles within 30 minutes, packing 155-mph peak winds spanning 500 yards. "The same tornado that started in St. Lucie County ended in Central Beach on the barrier island," said Zach Law, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Melbourne. The tornado slightly weakened to an EF-2, carrying 125-to-135 mph winds, before crossing into Indian River County. Meteorologists said the tornado began moving about 5 p.m. Wednesday in St. Lucie County and ...

Medical examiners ID body found in woods near Old Dixie Highway

VERO BEACH — Medical examiners used dental records to identify the decomposed remains of a man found in a wooded area more than two weeks ago. The man was identified as 46-year-old Jeffrey R. Bartholomew, according to Vero Beach police. "The family has been notified and the Vero Beach Police Department investigators and the Medical Examiner's Office are still actively working to determine the cause and manner of death," police officials said in a statement. "This remains an active investigation." Sheriff's deputies and police responded to reports of a deceased person the afternoon of Sept. 11 near the 1300 block of Old Dixie Highway, west of the railroad tracks, in Vero Beach. Investigators arrived and turned the body over to ...