WEST VERO CORRIDOR — An ongoing feud between neighbors ended with a man firing at a Toyota Corolla with four people inside Deputies said Anthony David McDaniel shot at a man who was standing behind the rear right passenger door The bullet struck the door and deflected into the area above the back right tire No one inside the vehicle was hit from the gunfire McDaniel told the individuals “Next time I’m going to peel your cap back,” reports show McDaniel told deputies he thought his home was being burglarized a spokesperson for the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office said there were no signs McDaniel’s home was burglarized “It appears to be an ongoing neighbor dispute,” Abollo said Abollo also said the four people in the Toyota were not found to be in possession of burglary tools McDaniel was arrested Thursday on charges of attempted murder McDaniel was held Friday at the Indian River County Jail on a $175,000 bond The incident happened Wednesday at the Lakewood Village mobile home park in the 1400 block of 90th Avenue in the West Vero Corridor The driver told deputies he was parked in front of his residence when McDaniel approached the passenger side of the vehicle McDaniel accused the driver and passengers of trying to burglarize his home The driver said McDaniel walked back to his home The father of the driver got out of the vehicle to check the locks on his son’s residence McDaniel pulled out a silver handgun from the front of his waistband and shot at the father The father told deputies McDaniel then walked up to him and pointed the firearm in his face McDaniel yelled at the father then walked back to his home Deputies said they found a single bullet hole in the rear passenger door who detailed his version of events leading up to the gunfire McDaniel said he saw two of the vehicle occupants searching for something in front of his residence earlier that day Deputies said McDaniel briefly left the residence and overheard someone say “they’re not there right now let’s just do it,” through his home surveillance footage McDaniel told deputies his mother-in-law went to his home and got into an argument with the driver of the Toyota McDaniel then went back to the home and confronted the people in the Toyota McDaniel was arrested and booked into the county jail Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2025 32963 Media LLC All rights reserved   |    Contact: [email protected]   |   Vero Beach, Florida, USA | Orlando Web Design by: M5 This function has been disabled for Vero News WEST VERO CORRIDOR — A 39-year-old Vero Beach man riding an electric bicycle was killed after he fell from the bike and was struck by a sports utility vehicle Friday afternoon The wreck led law enforcement officers to block all eastbound lanes on State Road 60 for several hours The crash involving the bicyclist and the SUV happened shortly before 5 p.m Troopers said the bicyclist was traveling eastbound in the bike lane on the south side of the roadway The SUV’s driver headed in the same direction in the outside lane adjacent to the bike lane Troopers said the bicyclist ran over tree debris fell into the outside lane and was struck by the SUV The bicyclist was taken to Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital deputy chief with Indian River County Fire Rescue Jaworski said the man arrived at the hospital with life-threatening injuries Doctors pronounced the man dead Friday evening Troopers with the traffic homicide unit were at the scene investigating the deadly collision Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2025 32963 Media LLC All rights reserved   |    Contact: [email protected]   |   Vero Beach, Florida, USA | Orlando Web Design by: M5 with trips to three of his golf courses high on the agenda Many of these Hands Off Mass Mobilization rallies have "Hands Off!" plus the name of the city and state and "fight back!" in their titles days after Trump signed his Liberation Day executive order (April 2) Welcome home, Trump? Fans and foes taunt each other along the president's route to Mar-a-Lago, Florida In Florida, from Pensacola to Melbourne to Key West, there are 45 locations, including one in Spanish, for the Trump, Elon Musk protests. Click here for the complete list of Florida locations Below is more information about the Hands Off Mass Mobilization rallies scheduled for the Treasure Coast of Florida on Saturday and details about the "anti Donald Trump-Elon Musk" rallies Hands Off is the title, filter and group behind the "mass mobilization" nationwide rallies and protests aimed at Donald Trump and Elon Musk SpaceX and Tesla CEO who is leading the Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE for short Most of the Hands Off Fight Back rallies on Saturday have this message online: "Donald Trump and Elon Musk think this country belongs to them They're taking everything they can get their hands on — our health care our services — and daring the world to stop them we're taking to the streets to fight back with a clear message: Hands off "This mass mobilization day is our message to the world that we do not consent to the destruction of our government and our economy for the benefit of Trump and his billionaire allies and protesting to demand a stop the chaos and build an opposition movement against the looting of our country "A core principle behind all Hands Off! events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values. Check out handsoff2025.com for more information." Why are people protesting Donald Trump and Elon Musk at Hands Off rallies When is the Hands Off Mass Mobilization rally in Florida? What cities in Florida will have Trump, Elon Musk rallies?According to the Hands Off Mass Mobilization website, handsoff2025.com Florida will host 45 rallies − including at least one in Spanish − on Saturday Below is a list in alphabetical order of the Trump Elon Musk rallies on the Treasure Coast of Florida Florida: People's Rally (Hands Off Port St Stuart Fights Back rally will be from 11 a.m at Roosevelt Bridge in Stuart near Flagler Park and Hudsons on the River Vero Beach Fl Fights Back rally will be from noon to 1 p.m at State Road 60 and 58th Avenue in West Vero Corridor there are "Hands Off Fight Back Trump and Elon Musk" protests planned on Saturday Boca Raton Indivisible Fights Back rally will be from 1 to 2:30 p.m Brightline Boca Raton Station and Ichiyami Buffet and Sushi Palm Beach County Fights Back rally will be from 10 a.m at Campus Drive and PGA Boulevard in Palm Beach Gardens near Barnes and Noble and Palm Beach County Library Palm Beach Fights Back rally will be from 3 to 5 p.m Elisabetta's Ristorante and West Palm Beach GreenMarket Convenience-store chain RaceTrac Petroleum Inc. opened its newest travel center in Vero Beach The travel center is located at 8990 20th Street in the West Vero Corridor on Highway 60 The more than 8,000-square-foot store will serve motorists as well as small- to mid-size fleet drivers and construction vehicles with an added high-flow diesel canopy and diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) options at the pump The travel center features an extended canopy  RaceTrac’s new travel center also includes a large outdoor patio as well as a clean guests can choose from a variety of on-the-go food and beverage offerings that include: Looking to increase food safety across its 580 locations, RaceTrac has implementedan automated temperature monitoring solution from Disruptive Technologies the safety of our guests and team members is our No 1 priority and aligns with our mission to make people’s lives simpler and more enjoyable,” said Chase Roth RaceTrac operates approximately 800 retail locations under the RaceTrac and RaceWay brands in 13 states Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here Get today’s need-to-know convenience industry intelligence Sign up to receive texts from CSP on news and insights that matter to your brand Features include helping maximize and forecast sales operational strain and program cannibalization are all concerns says Richard Poye of Food Trends Think Tank Modern oral nicotine pouches continue to stand out as a key driver for 'other tobacco product' segment CSP’s Top 202 details the largest chains in the convenience-store industry and the biggest M&A stories of the past year Welcome to a deep dive into the c-store landscape The industry’s largest distributors by sales volume The latest information on products and trends in the convenience-store and foodservice industries Peek inside new convenience stores to uncover the best in retail store design across North America Corporate retail news affecting the convenience-store industry Do not sell my personal infoPrivacy PolicyCode of ConductContact UsRSS INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A brush fire that spanned 30 acres and caused the evacuation of five homes was fully contained late Saturday Assistant Fire Chief with Indian River County Fire Rescue The fire near 58th Avenue was 100 percent contained by 4 p.m. Firefighters will check the area hourly into the night to make sure the flames do not rekindle The cause of the fire had not yet been determined Residents at The Enclave were allowed to return to their homes about 5:15 p.m. Indian River County Fire Rescue responded to the blaze in a wooded area west of 58th Avenue between 65th and 69th streets Motorists along 69th Street could see light and five engines – along with a Florida Forest Service plow – worked to contain the blaze Marini said the flames did not endanger any structures “We’ll be here for the next three-to-five hours,” Marini said Indian River County deputies closed 58th Avenue because of the fire a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office Indian River County was not placed under a red flag (fire weather) warning on Saturday weather officials placed Indian River County on a temporary red flag warning because of strong winds and low humidity Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2025 32963 Media LLC All rights reserved   |    Contact: [email protected]   |   Vero Beach, Florida, USA | Orlando Web Design by: M5 Total Wine & More is opening its first store in Vero Beach which will be its third location on the Treasure Coast TCPalm does not know when the store will open because Total Wine & More has not responded to an email Indian River Mall: New stores, hotel, housing eyed to revitalize shopping mall and surrounding area All things food: Roundups of the latest reviews, inspections, new and best restaurants Total Wine & More is a nationwide retailer selling wine, spirits, beers and more. It has 271 stores in 28 states, including 39 in Florida The company began when brothers David and Robert Trone opened their first location in Delaware in 1991 Gianna Montesano is TCPalm’s trending reporter. You can contact her at gianna.montesano@tcpalm.com, 772-409-1429, or follow her on X @gonthescene Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2025 32963 Media LLC All rights reserved   |    Contact: [email protected]   |   Vero Beach, Florida, USA | Orlando Web Design by: M5 WEST VERO CORRIDOR — A man was jailed after deputies said he held a 79-year-old Fire Vape and Lounge employee at knifepoint The suspect also stole the employee’s car keys and took off in the man’s Chevrolet Malibu Andrew John Amo PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE “(The employee’s) left eye sustained severe damage to the point where it was swollen shut,” deputies said in the arrest affidavit resisting officer without violence and battery on a person 65 years of age or older Amo was held Tuesday at the Indian River County Jail on a $1,125,000 bond Amo was also on probation for robbery out of New York Monday at Fire Vape and Lounge located in the 6600 block of 20th Street southwest of the Indian River Mall in the West Vero Corridor Deputies found the employee bleeding heavily from the face and head while standing in the parking lot The man told deputies that Amo approached him earlier while he was eating lunch at a table inside the business Amo began talking with the man about the shop and products inside Amo picked up the knife from the man’s table threatened him and demanded that he open the cash register Amo told the man “I’m robbing you” while pointing the knife at him and a wallet containing $500 in cash along with debit and credit cards Amo struck the man several times in the face Amo left the store and drove off in the man’s vehicle The man told deputies the vehicle belonged to his boss The man was taken to Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital for treatment The Flock Safety license plate reader camera system helped deputies track the stolen vehicle traveling north on Interstate 95 A sheriff’s helicopter spotted the car abandoned on the right shoulder in the northbound lane at mile marker 152 Deputies canvassed the wood line east of the interstate and found several of the employee’s bank cards scattered on the ground who assisted them in reviewing surveillance footage of the attack the sheriff’s helicopter found Amo walking north on I-95 at mile marker 156 Deputies on the ground took Amo into custody Deputies arrested Amo and booked him into the county jail Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2025 32963 Media LLC All rights reserved   |    Contact: [email protected]   |   Vero Beach, Florida, USA | Orlando Web Design by: M5 If you want to live in the most affordable cities in Florida Indiantown was ranked first among the most affordable places in Florida in 2022, moving up from eighth place in 2020, according to a study by Smart Asset, a nationwide financial technology company which the study calls the "west Vero corridor," ranked second in Florida and 115 in the nation mortgage rates as well as the median income These are the annual averages for Indiantown and the west Vero corridor: Past studies: Martin and Indian River rank among top 10 most charitable counties in Florida Housing: Rental prices decreased in this area of the Treasure Coast in 2022, one study says Florida real estate: Treasure Coast housing market continued to stabilize in December West Vero Corridor$4,754: Mortgage payment$952: Property tax$802: Homeowners insurance$2,210: Closing cost$48,083: Median incomeThe study did not give data on other Treasure Coast cities but here's how it ranked each county among other U.S The annual average mortgage payment in each county was: The other areas of Florida in the study's Top 10 list were: was ranked the most affordable place to live Gianna Montesano is TCPalm's real estate reporter. You can contact her at gianna.montesano@tcpalm.com, 772-409-1429 or follow her on Twitter @gmontesano13. If you are a subscriber, thank you. If not, become a subscriber to get the latest local news on the Treasure Coast WEST VERO CORRIDOR — A 39-year-old Vero Beach motorcyclist was killed after a van’s driver turned into the motorcycle’s path sheriff’s officials and fire rescue crews said Several off-duty nurses at the wreckage site tried to resuscitate the injured man before first responders arrived “(The motorcyclist) was taken to the hospital in cardiac arrest,” said Steve Greer The van’s driver and at least one passenger refused treatment The motorcyclist was traveling westbound on S.R 60 when the van’s driver made a left turn in front of the motorcycle The motorcyclist then collided with the side of the van Fire rescue took the motorcyclist by ambulance to Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital Deputies closed the roadway for about four hours Westbound traffic was diverted up to 26th Street Florida Highway Patrol was investigating the cause of the crash Highway troopers were not immediately available for comment Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2025 32963 Media LLC All rights reserved   |    Contact: [email protected]   |   Vero Beach, Florida, USA | Orlando Web Design by: M5 I was a “little" optimistic in May after attending the first in a series of meetings Indian River County held on future growth After a workshop last week at which more than one commissioner sounded more bullish on growth than what consultants recommended, Worried some county commissioners are living in a fantasy world thinking their main constituents are rural landowners Worried some commissioners think allowing suburban development on rural land won’t significantly increase traffic in the rest of the county won’t make it harder for existing homeowners to get water sewer or maintain other important county services and won’t cost us all more to serve broader or remote areas poorly planned growth will hurt our quality of life I'm also worried a commissioner or two slept through the consultant’s presentation when it said county residents wanted to keep the current urban boundary rather than expand it dwindling countryside they have — even if the cities of Sebastian and Fellsmere have plans to develop thousands of acres of land they've annexed essentially expanded the county's urban area created in 1994 1 ― on how to expand urban services west on Oslo Road from 58th Avenue to maybe three-quarters of a mile west of Interstate 95 and I think we have drug it on long enough and it’s time to make a decision Is expanding the urban area along the corridor even a wise decision What exactly would the development pattern look like Loar used one of those hackneyed phrases pro-growth developers use to spin growth-weary senior citizens: “This isn’t going to happen overnight; it would happen in 10 years probably.” Loar wasn’t satisfied with just looking at the Oslo corridor Expanding the consultant’s prudent, limited recommendations Loar suggested possibly changing 20,000 acres — so-called doughnut holes in the middle of the central and south county — from agriculture to urban use He also suggested adding urban services past I-95 on State Road 60 to accommodate future industrial parks Some commissioners show proper prudenceThankfully Chairwoman Susan Adams and commissioners Laura Moss and Joe Earman were vocal about the need to slow down I don’t think we need to start splitting hairs now over what month (Balter’s study) will be finished.” What is important to Moss is the Oslo/I-95 interchange not look like the mess around State Road 60 and I-95 which seems aggressive ― especially if he seeks public input “My worry is to rush this targeted expansion (of the urban area) .. which he said caused problems in Brevard County “I would love to see this done correctly (with mixed uses).” Commissioner Joe Earman nailed the bottom line “We don’t have to do anything to the urban services boundary,” he said “We need to look at what our needs are going to be.” Ideally, commissioners would work with Fellsmere, Sebastian and Vero Beach, then St. Lucie and Brevard counties to determine needs and potentially how to solve them. Such collaboration is the only way to avoid potential conflict that is turning St. Lucie County into an overdeveloped megalopolis, as our editorial board said recently. Consultants also said as much in one of their five recommendations that the county negotiate interlocal service boundary or joint planning area agreements with growth-minded Sebastian and Fellsmere Just imagine if the county worked with their neighbors so developers don't shop their plans ― trying to get the best deal — for factories strip malls or new towns between jurisdictions Indian River County governments should unite to serve all of us One of the commission’s goals should be to see there is enough land countywide, including cities, to ensure the county has enough land to accommodate growth by 2050. By then, it is estimated at an average growth rate, to have 208,400 people, up from 167,781 in April 2023, according to state figures. Given all this, must Indian River County expand its services beyond its core? After all, the county already has a development plan for rural areas if developers use what its consultant said are “superior design and a mix of uses to create complete communities.” Urban services would be available for communities of at least 5,000 people on 1,500 acres (east of I-95) or 4,000 (west) with access to an arterial road, the consultant said Such a project would not be easy to develop but ease is what leads to cookie-cutter subdivisions urban sprawl and the kind of development that has ruined communities to the south of us and driven so many of their refugees to the Treasure Coast We don’t want to be like those southern counties you’d better watch the commission closely starting soon Decisions will be made that will dramatically affect our futures and those of our children and grandchildren This column reflects the opinion of Laurence Reisman Contact him via email at larry.reisman@tcpalm.com Facebook.com/larryreisman or Twitter @LaurenceReisman If you are a subscriber, thank you. If not, become a subscriber to get the latest local news on the latest local news on the Treasure Coast Three major construction projects – one commercial two residential – are the most recent along the rapidly developing stretch of State Road 60 west of 43rd Avenue all on the north side between the 74th Avenue and 82nd Avenue The project slated for completion first – a 4,650-square-foot 7-Eleven with a 16-pump gas station – is located at the northwest corner of the State Road 60/74th Avenue intersection at the east end of a predominantly residential section Neighbors of the station include Indian River Estates Cambridge Manor and several small single-family home communities interspersed with a few inconspicuous businesses The county required 7-Eleven to provide abundant green buffering high-tech lighting and other design features to ensure the convenience store will not annoy residents in adjacent Indian River Estates According to the site plan application filed Nov the owner of the 3-acre property was Buildex Inc. a Vero Beach-based company with local businessman George Beuttell shown as president of Palm Beach Gardens was listed as project developer land and equipment and leases them back to the franchisees citing a longstanding limit on commercial pockets within the mainly residential area after additional study and on recommendation of staff the County Commission approved rezoning the parcel Neighborhood Commercial The 7-Eleven will occupy two-thirds of the parcel The remaining 1-acre lot is listed for sale by Lightle Beckner Robison The project is moving along and is slated to open in time for the coming winter high season Concrete block walls are up and underground tanks will be installed soon adjacent to Indian River Estates’ main entrance at Indian Creek Boulevard real estate investment and development firm Waypoint has broken ground on The Mason Land was being graded this week at the 23-acre site A residential development called Vero Grove Estates was planned at the location 20 years ago but before it got off the ground a plume of contaminated earth was discovered on the property dating back to its “historical use as a citrus grove.” with a Site Rehabilitation Completion Order from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection dated Feb garden-style community with six buildings and 176 units “the site will feature amenities including a clubhouse surface parking and detached garages available for rent “The units are designed to have 9-foot ceilings with luxury vinyl plank wood flooring in the kitchen and common areas.” Burnette says above-ground construction is projected to begin during the third quarter of 2022 with first units delivered by the third quarter of 2023 “is a vertically integrated conventional multifamily developer Class A multifamily properties,” according to its website Waypoint has sourced over 130 investment opportunities representing more than $5 billion in total capitalization primarily in high-growth markets throughout the Sunbelt region of the United States.” The first project of the three underway along Route 60 to break ground and a luxury rental development that got moving around the first of the year with Proctor Construction as the builder the builder is another large multifamily development and investment company based in Birmingham and infrastructure is going in to support the three-story 297-unit multifamily complex and surrounding elements The Griffon will be a West Indies-style community built in two phases that will offer 13 floor plans from 553 square feet to 1,909 square feet in 1- Each unit will feature “granite countertops walk-in closets and attached and detached garage options.” salt-water pool; outdoor entertainment and dining; car wash station; and bicycle storage A clubhouse will offer a 24-hour fitness center; yoga studio; business center; private resident conference room; lounge and coffee bar; and pets will have their own fenced play area and spa Crest Residential has not released a project completion timeline but Indian River County Community Development Director Phil Matson says the project is progressing well and that comments he has heard about current development along the Route 60 corridor have been generally positive are filling a need for professionals such as traveling nurses “we strive for mixed uses along Vero’s corridors punctuating residential corridors with carefully chosen commercial entities.” This avoids the unattractive “mile-after-mile of gas stations and strip malls that areas to the south now face.” He points to The Reserve in Vero Beach as the first such entry along the West Vero Corridor Residents at the 159-unit luxury rental community which opened several years ago behind Olive Garden across from Indian River Mall can walk to a wide range of stores The concept appears to be working for developers and investors The Reserve was fully leased with no units shown available on the property website Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2025 32963 Media LLC All rights reserved   |    Contact: [email protected]   |   Vero Beach, Florida, USA | Orlando Web Design by: M5 Tom Cowan bought his piece of paradise in 1999 5 acres about a mile south of where a dirt Oslo Road led to thousands of acres of citrus just west of Interstate 95 having become home to solar farms or grazing cattle “It’s really sad so see our industry so devastated by disease (such as citrus greening),” said Cowan who spent more than 30 years selling fruit to retailers such as Publix and Costco “Our forefathers saw the wonderful natural resources of this area of land with lakes forests and pastures and worked hard to keep it,” said Cowan who lives in a small community that has its own airstrip the county agricultural countryside is seriously threatened as in the small-town feel that attracted so many of us to this area It’s why he plans to attend upcoming meetings the county will hold to gauge residents' thoughts on what the western Oslo Road corridor should look like once an interchange with Interstate 95 is completed in 2027 Urban service boundary jeopardizedThe county will hold meetings: Aside from the massive annexations in Fellsmere and Sebastian projected to accommodate an estimated 95,000 more people to the county what happens in and around Oslo Road west of 58th Avenue could be the next major growth domino to fall In short, it's about whether county commissioners risk expanding the urban service area the county doesn’t need growth along the corridor The unincorporated county ― not including Sebastian or Fellsmere ― already has room for 51,049 more people, with only about 37,100 new folks expected by 2050, according to a 2024 consultant report A medium state of Florida estimate projects the county's population will grow to about 207,000 How would you like to see that part of the county grow but can we have something nice?” Cowan said All of us have different definitions of “something nice.” Maybe we can agree “nice” is not like 85% of every other I-95 exit and corridor Indian River County’s other two I-95 corridors don’t make me confident Oslo will be any better unless we demand it and take the time to figure it out Traffic along State Road 60 and County Road 512 is bad and getting worse especially as officials continue to approve new homes The reality is almost everyone travels east for work from the north county line to almost SR 60 has the best opportunity to add enough people in a compact area to create a legitimate live-work-play community reminiscent of small towns many of us grew up in where promises of live-work-play partly work but where commuters clog Interstate 95 and surface roads and where growth continues unabated to the west 4 miles south of Indian River County and part of 28 square miles in the towns villages and countryside plan crafted in the 2000s with input from landowners and planners It would have created a large live-work-play community incorporating environmental and transportation needs The area remains largely undeveloped, but St. Lucie County officials have approved a massive Buc-ee’s at the Indrio/I-95 interchange hardly in keeping with the neighborhood concept About 3,600 homes planned near the interchange look like they will be in more standard subdivisions than what some of us had hoped for once known for quality golf communities and small locally developed subdivisions where you could build your own home it's easier to clear-cut trees and erect the same home right next to another there could be wall-to-wall subdivisions along an already gridlocked stretch of 43rd Avenue Those plans were originally approved about 20 years ago but roads have not kept up with home growth a former Indian River County sheriff and commissioner who opposed the interchange He sees how Indian River County has changed when he comes back who likes small towns and controlled growth "It's so grown up with subdivisions and commercial development I get turned around and sometimes don't even know where I'm at." talks about the importance of devising solid plans for Oslo now ― before and if — rights beyond agricultural use are granted to property owners a landowner is entitled the underlying zoning consistent with that,” he said “Then you just lose the ability to require good development.” If we don’t want to blow our one shot at getting it close to right That means doing some thorough homework as to what the lasting impacts of any changes will be And those impacts must be explained carefully to county residents a city planner in England who became a TCPalm columnist made some great points about Florida ― before he saw what the south part of his St “For three decades we've allowed low-density cities to spread farther and farther west,” he wrote “It used up open land at a ruinously extravagant rate and sprawl costs a fortune in public services to maintain.” He then quoted a book, "Sprawl Kills," by Joel Hirschhorn, which noted that “adding more lanes to a crowded highway to cure traffic congestion is like trying to cure obesity by letting out your belt a couple of holes “If we are to accommodate all the growth that's coming our way former head of the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council “It’s not like we are begging for development,” Busha said citing the demand coming from South Florida and national developers who enjoys the quiet and nature of his rural home “Developers will buy up all the land they can if you allow them to develop it,” he said urging commissioners to ensure our agriculture and environmental heritages are preserved “I don’t know what’s going to happen to our county.” folks are moving here to avoid what they’ve experienced in other parts of the country It’s our obligation not to make the same mistakes that have been made elsewhere small-town feel’ of Indian River County by making Oslo Road a beautiful entrance to our community and a model for other communities,” Cowan said INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A man on probation for attempted murder was seriously injured following a police chase this week that ended when his car struck a tree and burst into flames A sheriff’s deputy and Vero Beach police officer pulled the man from the wreckage moments before the vehicle became fully engulfed in the blaze had a broken femur and was taken to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce faces charges of fleeing and eluding an officer and driving while license suspended James was released from prison on probation in 2023 following a 16-year-stint for an attempted second-degree murder charge in Seminole County The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office on Monday released body-camera footage of the aftermath from the fiery wreck The incident unfolded shortly after 11 p.m Sunday when Vero Beach police spotted a vehicle they described as suspicious in the parking lot of the European Flight Academy located in the 2900 block of Pro Flite Drive Police knocked on the passenger’s door to wake James Officers said they announced themselves several times when James woke up James replied “Yo,” reports show Police asked James to roll down the window so they could speak with him James “made movements as if he was attempting to roll the window down,” reports show Officers said James reached for his keys and turned the vehicle on James put the car in reverse and drove away at a high rate of speed without switching on his headlights or any running lights Police activated their emergency lights and sirens as they followed the car Officers briefly lost track of the car as it sped off Police eventually found the vehicle in flames on the west side of the intersection of 26th Street and 82nd Avenue in the West Vero Corridor James was taken by ambulance to the hospital INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A mother and son were displaced from their home after a kitchen fire spread throughout the property late Monday but two birds and a dog were killed in the blaze Assistant Chief with Indian River County Fire Rescue “They were cooking on the stove,” Greer said Firefighters responded to the incident about 7:07 p.m at the residence in the 3400 block of 2nd Place in the Emerson Park neighborhood Crews arrived and saw heavy flames coming from the front of the home Greer said the property was deemed uninhabitable American Red Cross officials were helping the family with financial assistance Details on if the mother and son have found shelter elsewhere were not immediately available Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2025 32963 Media LLC All rights reserved   |    Contact: [email protected]   |   Vero Beach, Florida, USA | Orlando Web Design by: M5 County officials want citizens to attend workshops this month about expanding the Urban Service Boundary westward but the thing most people really want to know is: Who owns all that property that will go up in value if brought into the fold of county services The current boundary where county water and other amenities stop is located roughly at Interstate 95 except for an area along the State Road 60 corridor and property within the City of Fellsmere Most of the land west of Interstate 95 is undeveloped Based on information obtained from the county Property Appraiser’s website thousands of acres are owned by corporations with varying names but all with the same address in Atlanta The layers of LLCs eventually trace back to CT Corporation System which has headquarters in New York City and is a subsidiary of Netherlands-based Wolters Kluwer a global provider of professional information a real estate company that specializes in land banking owns about 1,300 acres west of Interstate 95 in Vero Beach that could be slated for development Hugh Corrigan Limited Partners and Banack Family Limited Partnership are among the other large landholders west of the interstate County Commissioner Laura Moss wants the decision on whether and where to extend the boundary to be the result of a vast consensus among residents from Vero Sebastian and the barrier island – not just of the entities who may see their property values soar “I just want to encourage everyone to participate It’s probably the single most important decision for the county in addition to potable water,” said Commissioner Laura Moss who believes the county should be very cautious in making any change “We still have areas (inside the boundary) that can be filled in,” she said But planners are presenting the issue as a choice between increasing population density – a scary proposition for some – or expanding the Urban Services Area Indian River County’s population is expected to grow by 25 percent through 2050 It was 167,781 in 2023 and is anticipated to reach 210,100 by 2050 The current boundary was established 34 years ago county officials can increase densities within the existing urban service area boundary or expand it An extra $10,800 was added to the original $128,010 cost of the study last month bringing the workshop total from three to six The total cost of the nine-month long study which is being conducted by Orlando-based Inspire Placemaking Collective approximately 87,000 emails were sent to registered voters asking their input “We would like citizens to have the opportunity to directly share their personal vision for the future of our County,” said Commission Chair Susan Adams residents are invited to attend any of the four remaining workshops The findings of the study will be presented to the Board of County Commissioners in the fall For more information or to complete the survey visit the Urban Service Boundary website at https://www.inspire-engagement.com/indian-river-usb Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2025 32963 Media LLC All rights reserved   |    Contact: [email protected]   |   Vero Beach, Florida, USA | Orlando Web Design by: M5 A large luxury apartment and townhome development called The Griffon is getting underway on Route 60 west of 74th Avenue next to Indian River Estates has been cleared and infrastructure is going in for a 297-unit community The Griffon is being developed by Crest Residential a large multifamily development and investment company based in Birmingham which is listed on county paperwork as prime contractor Crest principal Matt Benak told Multifamilybiz.com “Our team is excited to fill a void for upscale multifamily housing in the Vero Beach community with The Griffon We’ve thoughtfully designed a development authentic to Vero with unmatched amenities that meets the need of the underserved Vero Beach market for a true luxury rental option.” The Griffon will be a “West Indies-style community offering 13 floor plans from 553 square feet to 1,909 square feet with 1-bedroom as well as carriage houses and townhomes,” according Multifamilybiz.com “Each unit will feature granite countertops walk-in closets and attached and detached garage options.”’ The community’s planned “superior amenities” include a resort-style A spacious clubhouse will offer a 24-hour fitness center Residents’ pets will have their own fenced play area and spa Indian River County Community Development Director Phil Matson said of the project: “We welcome it while the county has a substantial number of “affordable housing” rental developments the only other recent market-rate rental development is The Reserve which opened in 2020 on the south side of Route 60 behind Olive Garden and Outback Steakhouse Matson said The Reserve has been “very successful and now we’ll see more development coming,” noting that the West Vero Corridor along Route 60 is nowhere near build-out There remain hundreds of acres of undeveloped land – as much as 60 percent of the roadside property – still available for development He said construction along the corridor has seen an “uptick” recently “but it’s not going crazy nothing like [what we see in] other counties.” At least some nearby residents are supportive of The Griffon development When residents of the small neighboring community to the west of the project were asked what they thought of having the apartment complex as a neighbor “the consensus was that they would far rather have the upscale development particularly with its planned 300-foot buffer than be crowded by single-family residences with a far narrower buffer.” Crest Residential focuses “on ground-up development and acquisition opportunities,” according to the company website It has completed “projects throughout the southeast and Texas Augustine and New Smyrna and one ‘in development’ in Destin for a combined history of more than 6,300 units and a total investment of $800 million.” When Crest announced The Griffon project in September pre-leasing was expected to begin the third quarter of 2022 INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Morning walks became a way for Patricia Velde to reconnect with her father Charles “Chuck” Starcevich a World War II veteran who served in the U.S Navy before settling in the Sunshine State The two would stroll at least a mile every day near his home along the West Vero Corridor “My dad was very strict and a disciplinarian when I was growing up But he did a lot of things with us and for us,” said Velde I have a tremendous appreciation for him as a father The most exciting thing in my life is my 100-year-old dad.” Those little walks Velde did as an adult with Starcevich opened up space for honest conversations allowing the two to rekindle their bond as father and daughter Starcevich’s longevity and healthy lifestyle can be attributed to a constant urge to keep his body moving and makes his own meals,” Velde said Velde described Starcevich as an extraordinary and many others in the surrounding neighborhood Starcevich is one of countless heroes whose military service decades ago allowed Americans to enjoy the freedoms held today “We call him ‘The Chuckster,'” Velde said “He was always a very independent man the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office and community members held a special drive-by celebration recognizing the military veteran’s birthday The surprise event was held outside of Starcevich’s home “It was an honor for me and our agency to celebrate this hero’s centennial birthday with him,” Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers said “My grandfather was a World War II veteran it’s an honor even to spend a few minutes with someone from that Greatest Generation.” Neighbors waved American flags as they followed behind sheriff’s motorcycles during the drive-by parade Flowers presented Starcevich with the agency Honor Guard and Motor Unit Challenge coins “Those are decorative coins made for specific units to represent unity of membership in that unit,” sheriff’s spokesperson Sgt “They are typically given out or traded between law enforcement and military.” It was a remarkable event as relatives and the community witnessed Starcevich reach the milestone of 100 years an age that many don’t live to experience Starcevich being a World War II veteran made the birthday celebration even more noteworthy “There’s not many left,” Velde said Serving in World War II was a big part of Starcevich’s life Velde said her father didn’t speak much about his war experience during Velde’s childhood “They packed them in box cars (railroad cars),” Velde said Starcevich served as first class Shore Patrol in the U.S He also served in war theaters across the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean including Pearl Harbor where his duty was to protect General George Patton Jr. Starcevich’s secret to longevity – regularly exercising and staying fit throughout his life and permanently moved in 1997 to Vero Beach “My father has always been physically active He was once the second oldest dive master in the U.S.,” Velde said “My dad used to go jogging every morning in his 70s and 80s in the neighborhood I think being active all these years made a difference.” Velde said her father was an avid golfer and fisherman Starcevich worked as a supervisor and steamfitter for Standard Brands Inc food company and also for several nuclear power plants before he retired and moved to Florida her father making fish nets and hosting fish fry events for the family “We called it ‘Chuck’s Traveling Fish Fry.’ He made them with oil and batter,” Velde said “We had cherry trees and grape vines He was always busy… always doing something.” Velde also said her father is a man committed to his beliefs and true to his words Starcevich usually enjoys eating with family at Cracker Barrel restaurant Starcevich is also heavily involved with the Vero Beach Elks Lodge a fraternal organization focused on charity Starcevich was married for 76 years to his wife Virginia six great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren Velde said her father is an honorable man who has lived a good life “He lived wherever he wanted to live and traveled wherever he wanted to travel,” Velde said “He did everything he wanted to do in life.” Photos provided by Indian River County Sheriff’s Office Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2025 32963 Media LLC All rights reserved   |    Contact: [email protected]   |   Vero Beach, Florida, USA | Orlando Web Design by: M5 The oft-celebrated John’s Island West golf course continues to impress industry experts who annually rank it among the nation’s best as well as one of the elite layouts in the state The latest recognition comes from Golfweek magazine which earlier this month ranked John’s Island’s mainland jewel No 4 on its 2022 list of the “Best Private Courses” in Florida Calusa Pines (Naples) and Mountain Lake (Lake Wales) golf clubs 18 on Golf Digest magazine’s “Best Courses in Florida.” “Appearing on these lists helps raise your stature as an elite club,” John’s Island General Manager Brian Kroh said last week “It’s just another reason to want to become a John’s Island member.” Vero Beach-area courses were included among Golfweek’s “Top 200 Residential Courses in the U.S.” – Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club (No Orchid Island General Manager Rob Tench said he appreciated Golfweek’s recognition “It’s a great golf course and a lot of fun to play.” was puzzled by his course’s appearance on the list “We are not residential,” and that “not one person from Golfweek has even contacted us.” which was designed by famed architect Tom Fazio and opened for play in 1988 is currently undergoing a complete renovation that Kroh said will “take an outstanding golf course to an even higher level.” Located off 58th Avenue just north of County Road 510 in Wabasso six miles from the John’s Island club and community and built on 300 acres along a natural sand ridge that provides stunning changes in elevation Kroh said the course will be completely re-grassed – “for the first time in 20 years” – a new irrigation system will be installed and the grading on some holes will be restored with all the work being done by Fazio’s design company “The course was built on a very unique piece of property for Florida,” Kroh said The Moorings at Hawk’s Nest and Indian River Club which all enjoy a natural change in topography.” which played host to the 2015 United States Golf Association Mid-Amateur Championship but the clubhouse offers outdoor dining and panoramic views John’s Island has two other courses on its barrier-island footprint and Kroh said all three layouts are equally played by the club’s members and guests is generally considered to be more challenging and has received more national acclaim the courses on its 2022 lists were judged by hundreds of raters who “continually evaluate” the layouts based on 10 different criteria The private-course list was restricted to private clubs that don’t accept daily-fee or resort play The residential-course list focused solely on the golf courses and not the communities as a whole or other amenities The modern-course list provides the rankings of golf courses built from 1960 to the present No local courses were included on Golfweek’s “2022 Best Classic Courses” list Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2025 32963 Media LLC All rights reserved   |    Contact: [email protected]   |   Vero Beach, Florida, USA | Orlando Web Design by: M5 After spending many of their retirement years enjoying everything Vero Beach has to offer Bob and Bonnie Meyer decided they wanted to get out of town a little way to a quieter That’s what they found at Verona Trace just west of Interstate 95 you travel past cows grazing in pastures and citrus groves blossoming with the scent of oranges before coming to the growing neighborhood It’s almost as if you’ve taken a step back in time One of the biggest draws for the Meyers was this quiet and solitude paired with the convenience of being just a few minutes’ drive away from the interstate restaurants and the Vero West corridor with dozens of shopping centers and big box stores It’s also incredibly convenient for commuters heading to Melbourne The Regal model is one of only a few single-story townhomes in the community says Alex MacWilliam Real Estate agent Julianne Gallagher The couple moved into the newly built townhome at 10095 W Villa Circle in Verona Trace just over a year ago While they adore the townhome and community the couple has decided they want to be closer to their children and are ready to make a move to North Carolina A paved driveway and path lead to the front of the house and accommodate at least two cars outside the extended one-car garage with overflow parking near the communal center The foyer opens into a hallway with the formal living room off to the right and guest bedrooms on the left The rooms share a bath located nearby with access for guests when entertaining bright kitchen includes stainless-steel appliances and quartz countertops with an island bar providing a linear barrier differentiating the kitchen and dining nook The family room is generous in size and overlooks the pine forest behind the house through a pair of sliding glass doors that open onto a small stoop It’s a perfect spot to sit and enjoy a glass of wine as the sun sets or watch children or grandchildren tumble down the berm the owners enjoy an added dimension of privacy and there are lots of animals in the neighborhood,” notes Gallagher The spacious owner’s suite is accessed off the family room with a walk-in closet and en suite bathroom A double vanity and walk-in shower offer everything you could need “The neighborhood is very diverse in lifestyle Verona Trace is a Lennar Homes community touted as the world’s first WiFi Certified Home Design The software allows homeowners to control lights security and entertainment with voice commands through Alexa With an increasing number of professionals working from home Internet connectivity is more important than ever This technology works to simplify both home and work life daily by integrating features that seamlessly work without any more effort than it takes to say it will include 447 single-family homes and townhouses Amenities will include tennis and basketball courts Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2025 32963 Media LLC All rights reserved   |    Contact: [email protected]   |   Vero Beach, Florida, USA | Orlando Web Design by: M5 INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The big-box shopping corridor along State Road 60 west of Vero Beach has virtually anything you'd want to shop for.  especially the smaller ones, are in for a rocky 2020 That could make for less robust shopping options from 58th Avenue one of the busiest intersections in the county, to 66th Avenue The corners of that 58th Avenue intersection feature: The nearby mall has suffered some major exits Yankee Candle closed at the end of January and there are several vacancies in the food court The corridor stores have been more resilient than the mall stores with no major store closures in recent years and strong financial performances by the larger companies More: Help decide the fate of Vero Beach's three corners | Opinion Having a stable number of nationally recognized stores can attract other business to Indian River County economic development coordinator for the county's Chamber of Commerce The chamber's goal is to recruit companies to Indian River that will bring higher-wage jobs with benefits "If you're someone from out of state and you see familiar stores or signs it helps you feel more comfortable," Caseltine said.  Some of the smaller stores along the corridor may face some peril though.  Pier 1 Imports plans to close as many as 450 locations The company hasn't officially announced the locations, but the company began removing stores from its website in mid-January 11, the store just south of Target remained open and listed.  “Fiscal third quarter sales and margins remained under pressure as we completed our efforts to clear out non-go-forward merchandise," said Pier 1 CEO and Chief Financial Officer Robert Riesbeck who was named CEO in November. "Looking ahead we believe that we will deliver improved financial results over time as we realize the benefits of our business transformation and cost-reduction initiatives." The commonality among the jeopardized store locations was a poor performance in their third quarter last year CVS Health announced it plans to shutter another 22 locations this year CVS has a store in the southwest corner of S.R Office Depot plans to close 50 stores this year and Bed Bath & Beyond closed 60 stores in 2019 Unlike the other big-box chains that suffered in the third quarter Michaels was opening stores across the country Its parent company also acquired the craft-store chain A.C Moore and will convert those into Michaels stores One of those stores is located at Town Center at St Lamaur Stancil is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Contact him at 321-987-7179 or lamaur.stancil@tcpalm.com or follow him on Twitter @TCPalmLStancil. Staff writer Miranda Moore contributed to this report.  Support local journalism and become a subscriber. The Florida Department of Health records data tracking COVID-19 positive tests by ZIP code and by county The ZIP code reflected in the data ideally is a representation of a COVID-19 positive person's residence there are instances where the ZIP code may reflect the hospital where a person/case was admitted or tested Did you know?: Cleveland Clinic's Florida Research and Innovation Center to study cancer, dengue, COVID-19 The Florida Department of Health reported 80 new COVID-19 cases Thursday and verified five additional deaths on the Treasure Coast Palm City and Port Salerno, a total 1,288 cases of the virus have been reported since March according to Thursday's Health Department data Here are Thursday's statistics by ZIP code.  Max Chesnes is a TCPalm reporter covering health, welfare and social justice on the Treasure Coast. You can keep up with Max on Twitter @MaxChesnes email him at max.chesnes@tcpalm.com and give him a call at 772-978-2224 If you are subscriber, thank you. If not, please consider supporting quality local journalism by subscribing here.  Eighteen huge new apartment buildings have sprung up along a stretch of State Road 60 west of the mall that was pastureland and forest until very recently – part of the ongoing push of new development rapidly filling in the space between Vero Beach and Interstate 95 Divided between two major apartment complexes 2- and 3-bedroom units ranging in size from 500 to 2,000 square feet Rents will range between $1,800 and $4,000 a month and both communities have begun “pre-leasing” ahead of anticipated summer openings It appears coincidental that these two big upscale rental projects – The Griffon and Aspire Vero Beach – are being built almost next door to each other at the same time by different developers but county officials say the new rental homes fit in well with the county’s plans for the route 60 corridor and fulfill an important housing need As the projects were getting underway in 2021 then Indian River County Development Director Phil Matson commented that “new upscale rental developments [along Route 60] are filling a need for professionals such as travelling nurses who stay in an area for months at a time.” Located a mile east of I-95 at 7700 20th St The Griffon – a 297-unit luxury townhome development – sits on a 49-acre 2-parcel site between Indian River Estates to the east and a small single-family residential community to the west and extends north from State Road 60 to 26th Street Purchased in July 2021 from the estate of Sassan Kassab for $2.9 million by Griffon Residential LLC the undeveloped property was cleared later that year The Griffon North wraps around a portion of Indian River Estates The Griffon South main entrance is off of State Road 60; a roadway curving through the two-section development connects the entrances is a multifamily development and investment company based in Birmingham which is “focused on ground-up development and acquisition opportunities,” according to its website “with projects throughout the southeast and Texas Augustine and New Smyrna and one in development in Destin.” The company said it has a “combined history of more than 6,300 units and a total investment of $800 million.” The Griffon is a West Indies-style community offering 13 floor plans from 553 square feet to 1,909 square feet in 1- as well as options for carriage houses and townhomes Amenities at the gated community include a “resort-style saltwater pool with sun ledges and private poolside cabanas; poolside entertainment deck with outdoor grilling kitchen and fire pits; cardio and flex gym with Peloton bikes + HIIT studio with on demand fitness classes; resident lounge featuring beer on tap and coffee/espresso bar; luxurious pet spa with tile wash bays and grooming station; bike workshop and storage; electric car charging stations; and complimentary car wash center Proctor Construction of Vero Beach is the general contractor Pre-leasing at The Griffon is underway now 2- and 3-bedroom units renting for $1,710 to $,3,745 per month according griffonverobeach.com the second new apartment community is now called Aspire Vero Beach where six three-story buildings with 176 units sit on 21.99 acres at 7590 20th St A prior residential development called Vero Grove Estates was planned for the site two decades ago; however before that project could get off the ground a plume of contaminated soil was discovered on the property dating back to its “historical use as citrus grove,” according to county documents That problem was resolved with a Site Rehabilitation Completion Order from The Florida Department of Environmental Protection dated Feb and current project developer Waypoint Residential began grading later that year according to Waypoint Account Executive Teddy Burnette the first units were expected to be delivered by the third quarter of 2023 2- and 3-bedroom units between 685 and 1,321 square feet are pre-leasing now with rents ranging between $1,825 and $2,705 Check the website for most current availability Also coming along the same dynamic stretch of state highway at the 74th Avenue intersection is a 4,650-square-foot 7-Eleven with a 16-pump gas station and all the newest 7-Eleven amenities When the 7-Eleven site plan application was filed on Nov it listed as the owner of the 3-acre property Buildex Inc. a Vero Beach-based company with local businessman George Beuttell named as president of Palm Beach Gardens as project developer With the addition of these two luxury rental complexes and the bright new 7-Eleven Matson’s vision for Vero’s long-term corridor growth is taking a big step forward: “We strive for mixed uses along Vero’s corridors punctuating residential corridors with carefully chosen commercial entities to avoid the unattractive mile-after-mile of gas stations and strip malls that areas to the south face,” Matson told Vero Beach 32963 last year Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2025 32963 Media LLC All rights reserved   |    Contact: [email protected]   |   Vero Beach, Florida, USA | Orlando Web Design by: M5 one of Indian River County’s most historic and picturesque buildings has likely found a new home on the Vero Beach campus of Indian River State College College Provost Casey Lunceford told Vero Beach 32963 that “we are in the process of preparing a memorandum of understanding” that should go before the college Board of Trustees at its August or September meeting the Laura Riding Jackson Foundation board was surprised and dismayed to learn that the 118-year-old structure one of the few remaining examples of Florida Cracker architecture and home of the widely noted 20th Century poet and environmentalist would have to be relocated from the site it had occupied on the Environmental Learning Center campus for a quarter century to accommodate the Center’s multimillion-dollar expansion project The home was moved to the ELC campus years ago to save it from being demolished and the Foundation has since paid $2,100 a year to the ELC the charming house served as a gathering place for well-attended literary and educational events and provided a tangible example of sustainable architecture and a sense of history on the otherwise modern campus With the current lease set to expire in December the fate of the house seemed precarious when ELC leaders announced it did not fit into their plan for the Center’s future After a January story in Vero Beach 32963 revealed the home’s plight Foundation President Marie Stiefel scheduled a meeting to gather ideas and options from the public and was overwhelmed with the positive response: “We have felt alone – but we’re not,” said Stiefel “There is so much support – it is a tribute to the people of Vero Beach.” Several governmental entities and private organizations offered support and relocation ideas was one of the most enthusiastic: The Vero Beach campus of Indian River State College sufficient parking and a venue compatible with the home’s numerous historic and literary associations The west side of our campus is very open and natural and we’d be glad to host [this important historic house].” Executive Director Molly Steinwald made it clear the ELC expansion master plan would indeed require all the campus’ acreage but said there was no immediate deadline for removing the house the learning center extended the lease renewal deadline for a year giving the Foundation more time to finalize relocation plans Foundation board member and Indian River County’s first poet laureate Sean Sexton has said that being forced to relocate could well be blessing in disguise He is excited about the possibility of moving the irreplaceable structure to the college campus near the Indian River Mall Sexton said the college location would offer convenient access for visitors along with a ready-made demographic focused on education and inclined to appreciate the home’s historic and literary value: In May it was named by the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation as among “the most threatened historic properties in the state”; it’s also listed as a Friends of Libraries USA Literary Landmark The Foundation board is now compiling a list of expenses related to the move including painstakingly disassembling and then reassembling much of the house; hooking up to electric water and sewer infrastructure; landscaping at the new location; and achieving ADA compliance If the college board of trustees approves the proposal as expected the transportation cost alone – moving the century-old structure from south of the Wabasso Causeway to the West Vero Corridor on State Road 60 – would run at least $150,000 The board continues to seek funding though grants and other avenues Of the potential partnership between the Foundation and the college Stiefel says: “There are lots of wonderful possibilities seeing a significant benefit to the college in “the mission of education the Laura Riding Jackson group brings to the table.” Stiefel’s ultimate vision for the house is for it to become environmental and literary significance” such as the Hemingway House in Key West; Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’ home in Cross Creek; and Robert Frost’s home in Vermont – “promoting literary programs that nurture passion for the written word; a place of literary legacy and history and a center for education and personal growth through writing.” Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2025 32963 Media LLC All rights reserved   |    Contact: [email protected]   |   Vero Beach, Florida, USA | Orlando Web Design by: M5 SEBASTIAN — A man in his 70s died after police said he shot himself in the city hall parking lot on Election Day The Sebastian man had called officers and threatened to commit suicide just moments before he carried out the act Wood said the shooting had no connection to the municipal election underway Sebastian City Hall was not a polling place Police have not released the man’s name Sebastian police responded to reports of gunfire about 5:14 p.m Wood said a few witnesses saw different parts of the incident Officers found the man’s body outside of a vehicle that belonged to a family member Police recovered a handgun found near the man’s body The man was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders Officers ruled the man’s death as a suicide Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2025 32963 Media LLC All rights reserved   |    Contact: [email protected]   |   Vero Beach, Florida, USA | Orlando Web Design by: M5 The ZIP code reflected in the data ideally is a representation of a COVID-19 positive person's residence Since March, the Health Department has reported 10,631 total cases of COVID-19 on the Treasure Coast, and the death toll across the region increased to 232 Thursday.  Here are Thursday morning's statistics by ZIP code.  More: COVID-19 on Treasure Coast: What you need to know Thursday, July 30 More: Martin County has highest COVID-19 pediatric positivity rate in Florida For more news, follow Max Chesnes on Twitter by clicking here.  two Treasure Coast ZIP codes have surpassed 1,000 cases: Port St Lucie's 34953 and Martin County's 34997.  Since March, the Health Department has reported 10,272 total cases of COVID-19 on the Treasure Coast, and the death toll across the region increased to 215 Tuesday.  Here are Tuesday morning's statistics by ZIP code.  More: With region's most COVID cases, Martin County's Golden Gate gets face masks, education More: COVID-19 on Treasure Coast: What you need to know Tuesday, July 28 The ZIP code reflected in the data ideally is a representation of a COVID-19 positive person's residence The Florida Department of Health reported 138 new COVID-19 cases Thursday and verified 11 additional deaths on the Treasure Coast Palm City and Port Salerno, a total 1,158 cases of the virus have been reported since March according to Thursday's health department data Here are Thursday afternoon's statistics by ZIP code.  Publix is moving forward with plans for a new supermarket at State Road 60 and 82nd Avenue in Indian River County Publix signed a 20-year lease April 28 for the 12.5-acre site, formerly the site of a Texaco gas station and Mrs according to county records. Both already have been demolished The shopping center is to be called West Vero Crossings and would be developed by Brock Development of Palm Beach Gardens according to county records. Brock also developed Harbor Point shopping center on U.S Harbor Point also is anchored by a Publix store “We’re excited to be returning to Vero Beach,” said Jarrett Brock “It’s always been a great location for us and we’re glad we were finally able to get this deal done.” More: Which Publix stores in Indian River County are offering COVID-19 vaccines? Here's a list. Newsletter: Sign up for the free TCPalm on Indian River County newsletter State Road 60: Don't want to lose about half of State Road 60 through downtown Vero? Speak out | Opinion Two smaller stores would be built next to the new supermarket according to County Planning Director Ryan Sweeney They could include a Publix Liquors and a small restaurant or retailer A separate retail strip of about 20,000 square feet would be divided into 10-15 smaller tenant spaces There also is land for two outparcels along S A site plan was submitted to the county Planning Department on May 12 Sweeney said he expects the site plan to be reviewed over this summer construction could start within four to five months Publix representatives did not return calls seeking comment The company has not said whether that store would remain open after the new store is built If you like articles like this and other TCPalm coverage of Treasure Coast news please support our journalism and subscribe now INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — With the arrival of the Fourth of July holiday fire rescue crews want to remind residents that they can only set off legal fireworks in their backyard “There are health dangers and dangers to the environment (from using illegal fireworks),” Fire Marshal David Johnson “There could be skin burns and eye injuries.” any firework that explodes or shoots in the air is considered illegal Some illegal fireworks include shells and mortars Residents should still use caution when using sparklers. Sparklers that are lit can reach temperatures between 1,300 and 1,800 degrees – which is 200 degrees hotter than the standard butane lighter, according to the South Walton Fire District Johnson said he thinks most residents will do the right thing and use legal fireworks He said the county has seen a slight increase in injuries and fires caused by fireworks during the summer Statistics on the incidents were not available Only licensed dealers with display companies are allowed to shoot exploding or shooting fireworks Cities and towns use contractors throughout the state to conduct the fireworks shows Fireworks that either explode or shoot in the air remain hot for a short amount of time When the residue from that firecracker falls down it still remains hot and could spark a fire if it lands on anything fire-prone dry vegetation – anything that can be easily lit by a match can be easily lit by firework residue,” Johnson said Those who break the law will have to answer to law enforcement Fireworks cause an average of nearly 18,500 reported fires each year, according to the National Fire Protection Association Sparklers make up for about 25 percent of emergency room fireworks injuries Residents who use illegal fireworks can face prosecution ranging from a fine to an arrest spokeswoman for the Vero Beach Police Department “We try not to arrest people for fireworks but it might come to that,” DeWitt said “It would depend on the situation and how they’re using the fireworks.” Statistics on local arrests involving fireworks were not immediately available Most larger chain stores and tent stores in the county sell legal fireworks For a list of legal sparklers, visit the state fire marshal’s website. Tips from fire rescue on safely using fireworks Update: The roadway reopened about 7:30 p.m SEBASTIAN — Police are searching for a man driving a black Sedan following a Sunday afternoon shooting between two motorists that closed County Road 512 — Nicholas Samuel (@JournalistNickS) June 14, 2020 Officers responded to reports of the shooting about 4:40 p.m Two vehicles were involved in the incident Wood said one vehicle was damaged from bullet holes The make and model of the vehicle was not immediately available a four-door black Sedan with heavy rear end damage It was not immediately clear if the Sedan was involved in a crash with the first vehicle Wood said the Sedan is a vehicle of interest in the case Officers were at the scene speaking to witnesses Officers advised motorists to use alternate routes It was unclear when the roadway would reopen Details on what led to the shooting were not immediately available An Indian River County sheriff’s crime scene van could be seen in the area Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2025 32963 Media LLC All rights reserved   |    Contact: [email protected]   |   Vero Beach, Florida, USA | Orlando Web Design by: M5 VERO BEACH – The conviction of 29-year-old Anthony Baines will continue to stand the Fourth District Court of Appeal recently decided Baines is in state prison serving multiple life sentences stemming from a high-speed crash that killed a Vero Beach couple seriously injured their daughter and killed their unborn grandchild in November 2005 Baines tried unsuccessfully to argue that the state’s prosecution failed to prove an unbroken chain of circumstances between the fatal car crash and the shooting he was involved in less than an hour before “Even though the state could not account for the defendant’s every action between the two events the state introduced sufficient evidence to prove that the defendant was escaping from the shooting when he caused the crash,” the records state The appellate judges ruled that the break in the chain of sequences was “relatively short – approximately 46 minutes – and it was unnecessary for the state to account for every moment of Baine’s actions “The crash was a predictable result of the defendant’s escape from the shooting we affirm the defendant’s felony murder convictions,” the judges wrote The state proved in its prosecution that Baines had been involved in two shootings at various bars during the evening hours of Nov and that he was fleeing from authorities when he crashed into the Stalquist family near Interstate 95 and State Road 60 in the early hours of Nov Blackman’s injuries resulted in the death of her unborn child Baines was sentenced to five life sentences – one each for the three killed in the crash and another each for attempted felony murder of Blackman and attempted second degree murder of Oliver Delacruz Baines shot Delacruz multiple times at what was then Lenny’s Lounge at SR 60 and 43rd Avenue Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2025 32963 Media LLC All rights reserved   |    Contact: [email protected]   |   Vero Beach, Florida, USA | Orlando Web Design by: M5 This function has been disabled for Vero News.