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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. ...

Neighbor accused of spraying dogs with ant killer

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 75-year-old woman suspected of spraying her neighbor's two dogs with ant killer in a residential backyard, was arrested last week, authorities said. A second neighbor saw the woman - identified as Carol Watt - walk up to the fence and spray both dogs in the face repeatedly, reports show. The neighbor told deputies he saw Watt antagonize the pets in the past by sticking her hands between the fence and kicking the fence to get the dogs' attention. The animals were a 2-year-old German Shepherd and a 14-year-old Doberman, authorities said. Deputies on Oct. 19 arrested Watt, of the 1500 block of Lexington Square Southwest, on a charge of cruelty to animals. Watt was released that ...