Marion Munster Mutlick, 87, Vero Beach

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, ...

Fellsmere among towns impacted by Hurricane Irma to get infrastructure award

Fellsmere is among several Florida towns that will receive an infrastructure award that will go toward restoration and improvement projects following the damage left behind by the 2017 Hurricane Irma, state officials said Friday. The city of Fellsmere will receive $4,068,300 under the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity's Rebuild Florida Infrastructure Repair Program. The funds will aim to increase accessibility to the city's water plant. "Florida communities are still recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Irma, and helping them rebuild remains a top priority," Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a statement. "This funding will not only help to ensure Hurricane Irma-impacted communities are restored, but also help improve their resiliency against future events." Nearly $100 million has been awarded to ...

11-year-old breaks into church, steals laptop on Christmas Day

GIFFORD — An 11-year-old who deputies said broke into a church and stole a laptop on Christmas Day, was detained. Deputies also arrested the boy's mother after saying she failed to report the boy as missing. The Gifford youth told deputies he stole the $700 laptop because "he wanted something to play with," reports show. Deputies said the juvenile was a runaway. An arrest report noted the incident took place at St. Peter's Missionary Baptist Church, located just south of St. Peter's Academy. Both facilities have the same address at 4250 38th Avenue, Gifford. The report indicated the child previously attended the church or school, but it was unclear which one. Deputies charged the youth with burglary of a structure ...