Book released by local resident

Several agencies stop human smuggling attempt at Sebastian Inlet

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A group of Haitian migrants - along with two Brevard County captains - were in federal custody after local, state and federal agencies blocked a human smuggling attempt Thursday night. The 24 undocumented Haitains, and boat captains, were detained at the Sebastian Inlet and turned over to the U.S. Coast Guard, said Sgt. Kevin Jaworski, a spokesperson with the Indian River County Sheriff's Office. "The captains of the boat were trying to smuggle the Haitians into the country," Jaworski said. The incident led to a multi-agency response, including the Indian River County Sheriff's Office marine unit, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Coast Guard. The smuggling attempt ...

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, ...

From prison to social entrepreneur: Chris Wilson tells youth about ‘Master Plan’

A heart-to-heart conversation a young Chris Wilson had with his grandfather many years ago has stuck with him to this day. His grandfather, dying of cancer at the time, told Wilson he was disappointed in him for not applying himself in school, smoking marijuana and carrying guns. The grandfather made Wilson promise that he would turn his life around. "I was young and already in the streets, trying to figure life out," said Wilson, now 40 years old. For Wilson, that promise would eventually become a reality, but not before several heartbreaks and detours in his journey, from prison to personal tragedy. On Tuesday, Wilson spoke at Gifford Youth Achievement Center about his journey from prison to becoming the owner ...