TREASURE COAST FLORIDA NEWS

REPORTING NEWS 24/7 FOR STUART, PORT ST LUCIE, PALM CITY, JENSEN BEACH, ST LUCIE WEST, HOBE SOUND,
PORT SALERNO, HUTCHINSON ISLAND, INDIANTOWN AND FT PIERCE SINCE FEBRUARY 1999
MONDAY MAY 12, 2008
UPDATED 7 AM EDT
Updated 7 days a week & throughout the day whenever news happens
OWNED, WRITTEN & PRODUCED BY TOM TETER NEWS DIRECTOR AT WSTU AM 1450 STUART, FLORIDA
COPYRIGHT 1999 - 2008 TOM TETER.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 

TREASURE COAST HEADLINES.....

I-95 REOPENS NORTH OF VERO AFTER BRUSH FIRE
THREAT OF BRUSH FIRES VERY HIGH
MAN SHOT IN LEG OUTSIDE PSL BAR

Details Below

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Here's the latest Treasure Coast News

Written by Tom Teter

MONDAY MAY 12

I-95 HAS REOPENED NORTH OF VERO BEACH.  A BRUSH FIRE IN SOUTHERN BREVARD AND NORTHERN INDIAN RIVER COUNTY FORCED THE FHP TO CLOSE I-95 SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND OVERNIGHT.  THE HIGHWAY REOPENED AROUND 6AM

A RED FLAG BRUSH FIRE ALERT WILL BE IN EFFECT STARTING AT NOON.  THIS MEANS CONDITIONS ARE RIPE FOR BRUSH FIRES TO START AND SPREAD IN MARTIN & ST LUCIE COUNTY

A SMALL BRUSH FIRE BURNED IN NORTHERN ST LUCIE COUNTY SUNDAY IN AN OLD CITRUS GROVE.  SUNDAY'S WINDS MADE IT HARD TO PUT OUT

A 19 YEAR OLD PORT ST LUCIE MAN WAS SHOT IN THE LEG OUTSIDE SEASICK SAM'S BAR EARLY SUNDAY MORNING.  ANOTHER MAN HAS BEEN CHARGED

LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMORIAL WEEK BEGINS TODAY HONORING LAW OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.  THE ST LUCIE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE WILL HOLD A MEMORIAL SERVICE AT 10AM AT THE SHERIFF'S HQ ON MIDWAY ROAD



WEEKEND EDITION MAY 10 & 11

45 TO 50 CATS DIED IN A FIRE ON HUTCHINSON ISLAND FRIDAY.  ST LUCIE COUNTY FIRE RESCUE SAYS THE FIRE WAS AT A DUPLEX ON AUQUA RA DRIVE NEAR FT PIERCE.  SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE ATTIC BY TIME FIREFIGHTERS GOT THERE.  THEY WERE ABLE TO RESCUE TEN CATS.  THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED THERE WERE NOT HOME AND THE RED CROSS IS HELPING THEM.

ONE TICKET HIT LOTTO SATURDAY NIGHT.  IT WAS A $2 PLAY AND WINS THE BASE JACKPOT OF $6 PLUS AN EXTRA $10 MILLION.  IT'S THE FIRST TIME A "MAKE-YOUR-OWN-JACKPOT" TICKET HAS HIT THE LOTTO JACKPOT SINCE IT STARTED IN MARCH.  THE NEW JACKPOT FOR THE $1 BASE PLAY IS  $3 MILLION.  LOTTO TICKETS MATCH FIVE NUMBERS ARE WORTH $4,530;  FOUR NUMBERS $66.50 AND THREE RIGHT PAYS $4.50

YET ANOTHER BIG FANTASY 5 JACKPOT WINNING TICKET WAS SOLD ON THE TREASURE COAST.  IT WAS A QUICK PICK SOLD AT THE PORT SALERNO WINN-DIXIE STORE FOR FRIDAY NIGHT'S DRAWING.  IT WILL SPLIT THE $251,000+ JACKPOT WITH A TICKET SOLD IN ST PETE.  BOTH ARE WORTH $ALMOST $126,000.  IT'S THE SIXTH WINNING FANTASY 5 TICKET SOLD ON THE TREASURE COAST IN TWO WEEKS

SOUTH FORK AND JOHN CARROLL HIGH'S ARE BOTH GOING TO THE STATE HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS.  SOUTH FORK SWEPT DAVIE NOVA WINNING THE BEST TWO OF THREE SERIES BY SCORES OF 15-7 AND 7-1.  THE BULLDOGS HIT 6 HOMERS IN THE FIRST GAME.  JOHN CARROLL SHOCKED NATIONALLY RANKED CLEARWATER CENTRAL CATHOLIC WINNING THEIR GAMES 10-8 IN AN EXTRA INNING GAME AND WITH A 2-0 SHUTOUT IN GAME TWO.  SOUTH FORK AND JOHN CARROLL PLAY IN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES NEXT WEEK IN SARASOTA

THE BRUSH FIRE BURNING ALONG THE EDGED OF A DRY SECTION OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE IS HALF CONTAINED.  THE FIRE STARTED OUT LAST WEEKEND AS TWO SMALL FIRES THAT HAD BEEN DELIBERATELY SET AND MERGED INTO TWO.  SMOKE FROM THE MUCK & BRUSH FIRE WILL DRIFT OVER THE TREASURE COAST THIS WEEKEND

TREASURE COAST CONGRESSMAN TIM MAHONEY WILL PASS OUT DOZENS OF CONGRESSIONAL AWARDS TO TREASURE COAST TEENS TODAY.  STUDENTS WHO EARN THEM HAVE HAD TO MAKE EXTRA EFFORTS TOWARD PERSONAL IMPROVEMENT AND DO COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT.  THE AWARDS CEREMONY IS SATURDAY MORNING AT 10 AM AT JENSEN BEACH HIGH

THE 16th ANNUAL STAMP OUT HUNGER FOOD DRIVE IS TODAY (SATURDAY).  TREASURE COAST POSTAL CARRIERS WILL BE COLLECTING NON-PERISHABLE FOODS LEFT OUT BY THE MAIL BOX.  THE HOUSE OF HOPE WILL DISTRIBUTE THE FOOD IN MARTIN COUNTY WHILE IN ST LUCIE COUNTY IT'LL BE DISTRIBUTED BY THE TREASURE COAST FOOD BANK


FRIDAY MAY 9

 TREASURE COAST CONGRESSMAN TIM MAHONEY SAYS SENATOR BARAK OBAMA TOLD HIM THURSDAY FLORIDA'S DELEGATES TO THE NATIONAL DEMOCRAT CONVENTION WILL BE SEATED AND THEIR VOTES WILL COUNT

THE WINDS HAVE SWITCHED TO THE SOUTHWEST WHICH WILL BLOW SMOKE FROM THE MUCK & BRUSH FIRE BURNING IN LAKE OKEECHOBEE OVER THE TREASURE COAST AND PALM BEACHES THE NEXT FEW DAYS.  LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ARE MONITORING THE SMOKE TO SEE IF ANY HEALTH ALERTS MAY BE NECESSARY

TWO 17 YEAR OLDS HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH VANDALIZING THE 15th GREEN AT MARTIN DOWNS COUNTRY CLUB.  THEY ALLEGEDLY CARVED A SWASTIKA, A MALE BODY PART AND THE INITIALS AB AND WP, STANDING FOR ARYAN BROTHERHOOD AND WHITE POWER AND LEFT A DEAD ARMADILLO ON THE GREEN.  A FRIEND OF THEIRS TOLD MARTIN COUNTY DETECTIVES THE BOYS TOLD HIM THEY HAD CAMPED OUT ON THE GOLF COURSE LAST WEEKEND.

ANOTHER WINNING FANTASY 5 LOTTERY TICKET HAS BEEN SOLD IN OUR AREA.  A TICKET SOLD AT THE CHEVRON STATION ON GATLIN BLVD IN WESTERN PORT ST LUCIE WAS ONE OF THREE WINNING TICKETS SOLD FOR THURSDAY NIGHT'S DRAWING.  EACH IS WORTH $75,129.  IT'S THE FIFTH WINNING FANTASY 5 TICKET SOLD IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS IN MARTIN AND ST LUCIE COUNTY


IN EARLIER TREASURE COAST NEWS...

MARTIN COUNTY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT DR SARAH WILCOX SAYS IT'S FITTING THAT THE DISTRICT'S OUTSTANDING FCAT WRITING TEST SCORES COMES DURING TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK.  4th, 8th & 10th GRADERS ALL SCORED ABOVE THE STATE AVERAGE.  ST LUCIE COUNTY SCHOOL OFFICIALS ARE PLEASED THAT TEST SCORES AT MOST SCHOOLS WERE UP.

FORESTRY OFFICIALS THE BRUSH FIRE BURNING ALONG LAKE OKEECHOBEE COULD BURN FOR WEEKS, MAYBE EVEN MONTHS. THAT'S BECAUSE ITS A MUCK FIRE WHICH BURNS MOSTLY UNDERGROUND

MARTIN COUNTY DEPUTIES SAY THERE'S A GROUP OF MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS USING THE INTERNET TO TARGET STUDENTS THEY DON'T LIKE FOR BEATINGS.  THE BEATINGS BEGAN IN FEBRUARY DUE TO A DISPUTE OVER A BOY.  THE GIRLS ARE USING MySPACE PAGES TO TARGET OTHERS FOR BEATINGS. 

PORT ST LUCIE POLICE AND ST LUCIE COUNTY DEPUTIES WERE AT PORT ST LUCIE HIGH SCHOOL THURSDAY WAITING FOR A STUDENT PROTEST THAT NEVER HAPPENED. THERE WERE RUMORS THAT FIRED BIKINI TEACHER TIFFANY SHEPARD WOULD BE AT THE CAMPUS TO RETRIEVE PERSON ITEMS FROM HERE CLASSROOM. SHE NEVER SHOWED UP AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS ORDERED STUDENTS TO LEAVE CAMPUS AT 2:15 THURSDAY AFTERNOON

THE MOTHER OF STUDENT INVOLVED IN A FIGHT AT ST LUCIE WEST CENTENNIAL WAS ARRESTED THURSDAY. DEPUTIES SAY HER DAUGHTER AND ANOTHER GIRL WERE FIGHTING IN THE STUDENT PARKING LOT AND SHE SEPERATED THEM WHEN HER DAUGHTER WASN’T GETTING THE BEST OF IT. MOM WAS ARRESTED, CHARGED WITH CHILD ABUSE, FOR LETTING THE GIRLS GO BACK AT IT

SHE MAY BE THE OLDEST PERSON ON THE TREASURE COAST.  LEONA VOGEL OF PORT ST LUCIE CELEBRATED HER 106th BIRTHDAY THURSDAY

SOUTH FORK AND JOHN CARROLL HIGH PLAY REGIONAL FINAL BASEBALL SERIES TODAY.  IF THEY WIN, THEY'LL ADVANCE TO THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT NEXT WEEK

 
THURSDAY MAY 8

TREASURE COAST STUDENTS SHOWED IMPROVEMENT ON THE FCAT ESSAY PART OF THE TEST THIS YEAR.  MARTIN COUNTY 4th, 8th AND 10th GRADERS ALL SCORED ABOVE THE STATE AVERAGE.  SEAWIND & PORT SALERNO ELEMENTARY AND JD PARKER SCHOOL SHOWED BIG INCREASES IN SCORES.  SO DID INDIANTOWN MIDDLE AND JENSEN BEACH HIGH.  ST LUCIE COUNTY STUDENTS ALL DID BETTER, BUT 8th AND 10th GRADERS SCORED BELOW THE STATE AVERAGE.  26 OF THE 37 SCHOOLS MADE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES OR HAD 90 PERCENT OF THEIR STUDENTS PASS THE FCAT WRITING TEST. 

A 70 YEAR OLD WOMAN DIED IN A FLORIDA TURNPIKE CRASH LATE LAST NIGHT IN THE HOBE SOUND AREA.  THE FHP SAYS 70 YEAR OLD KAREN GOLDING WAS THROWN THRU THE WINDSHIELD OF A MOTOR HOME DRIVEN BY HER HUSBAND.  THEY WERE GOING SOUTH WHEN THE MOTOR HOME HIT A SLOWER-MOVING TURNPIKE MAINTENANCE TRUCK THAT WAS BEHIND A TRUCK CLEANING DEBRIS FROM THE HIGHWAY AT THE 133 MILE MARKER.  THE CRASH CLOSED THE SOUTHBOUND TURNPIKE LANES FOR ALMOST 6 HOURS

PRESIDENT BUSH TODAY SIGNED THE LEGISLATION DESIGNATING THE JUPITER LIGHTHOUSE AND 126 ACRES AROUND IT AN "OUTSTANDING NATURAL AREA."  IT'S THE FIRST LIGHTHOUSE ON THE US EAST COAST TO BE SO NAMED.  THE DESIGNATION WILL HELP PRESERVE THE AREA FROM DEVELOPMENT AND SHOULD HELP TOURISM.  THE BILL WAS SPONSORED BY TREASURE COAST CONGRESSMAN TIM MAHONEY.

NuCO2 SHAREHOLDERS VOTED TODAY TO SELL THE COMPANY TO AURORA CAPITOL GROUP IN LOS ANGELES FOR $30 A SHARE.  THIS WILL TAKE THE COMPANY PRIVATE.  NuCO2 IS THE NATION'S LARGEST SUPPLIER OF CARBONATION USED IN SOFT DRINKS AND HAS ITS CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS IN STUART.  THE $487 MILLION DEAL IS EXPECTED TO CLOSE BY THE END OF THE MONTH

PATRICK HAYES FILED PAPERS TODAY TO RUN AGAINST MARTIN COUNTY COMMISSIONER LEE WEBERMAN IN THIS FALL'S REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.  HAYES RAN AGAINST WEBERMAN FOUR YEARS AGO AND GOT BEAT.

TREASURE COAST HIGH SCHOOL IN WESTERN PORT ST LUCIE WAS EVACUATED BY A BOMB THREAT THIS MORNING.  POLICE HAVE CHARGED A 16 YEAR OLD STUDENT FOR ALLEGEDLY MAKING THE PHONE CALL AND POLICE ARE CHECKING TO SEE IF ANY OTHERS WERE INVOLVED

A TRUCK ROLLOVER SPILLED HUNDREDS OF BOTTLES OF GATORADE ON HIGHWAY 27 NEAR WESTON FLORIDA TODAY.  THE TRUCK RAN OFF THE ROADWAY, THE DRIVER OVERCORRECTED AND ROLLED OVER IN THE MEDIAN.  WESTON IS IN WESTERN BROWARD COUNTY RIGHT ALONG THE EVERGLADES


IN EARLIER TREASURE COAST NEWS...

ONE PERSON WAS KILLED IN A CRASH ON THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE OVERNIGHT IN THE HOBE SOUND AREA.  BOTH SOUTHBOUND TURNPIKE LANES WERE CLOSED FOR ABOUT 6 HOURS BY THE 11:23 PM CRASH.  REPORTS FROM THE SCENE INDICATED ONE PERSON WAS THROWN THRU THE WINDSHIELD OF A MOTOR HOME DURING THE CRASH

THE US SENATE VOTED NOT TO INCLUDE HURRICANE WINDSTORM DAMAGE COVERAGE TO THE GOVERNMENT'S FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM, A PLAN PUT TOGETHER BY TREASURE COAST CONGRESSMAN TIM MAHONEY.  THE BILL PASSED THE US HOUSE SO THE WHOLE THING NOW GOES TO CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.  IT'S POSSIBLE, THOUGH A LONG SHOT, THAT HURRICANE COVERAGE MAY YET SURVIVE.

THE TREASURE COAST'S OTHER CONGRESSMAN ALCEE HASTINGS SAYS HILLARY CLINTON SHOULD STAY IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE AS LONG AS SHE WANTS.  HE SAYS SHE'S EARNED THE RIGHT TO DECIDE FOR HERSELF WITHOUT PRESSURE FROM PARTY LEADERS HOW LONG TO STAY IN THE RACE

NEW HOMES ARE SELLING STEADY AT THE TOWN OF TRADITION.  OFFICIALS SAY THEY'VE AVERAGED SELLING A HOME A DAY THE PAST FEW MONTHS.  617 FAMILIES MOVE IN TO NEW HOMES IN TRADITION LAST YEAR.  57 HOMES SOLD DURING FEBRUARY & MARCH

RICK LUSSEY HAS FILED AGAIN TO RUN FOR MARTIN COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISER.  IT'S THE 6th TIME HE'S RUN.  HE'S LOST EVERY TIME

INSURANCE AGENT TERRY MOSELY HAS FILED TO RUN AGAINST ST LUCIE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER CAROL HILSON

WE HAVE SOME OUTSTANDING STUDENTS ON THE TREASURE COAST. WE HAVE A TOP CHEF AND SEVERAL TOP STUDENT ENGINEERS. DANIEL CLARK OF MARTIN COUNTY HIGH WON THE GOLD IN CULINARY ARTS AT THE FLORIDA SKILLS USA COMPETITION HELD LAST WEEK IN BRADENTON. JENSEN BEACH HIGH HAD TWO WINNERS…SAM BALLARD IN ARCHITECTURAL DRAFTING AND NICK LORD IN TECHNICAL DRAFTING. TREASURE COAST HIGH STUDENTS WORKING IN TEAMS ALSO BROUGHT HOME GOLD FOR AUTOMATED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY, CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION AND ROBOTICS AND AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGY. SASHEL MARQUIS-WEDDERBURN OF TREASURE COAST HIGH WON IN SPEECH

WEDNESDAY MAY 7

THE PORT ST LUCIE HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHER WHO CLAIMS SHE WAS NOT REHIRED BECAUSE SHE WORKS AS A BIKINI MATE FOR A CHARTER FISHING BOAT HAS AN OFFER FROM PLAYBOY MAGAZINE.  TIFFANY STEPHENS SAYS PLAYBOY HAS OFFERED HER $25,000 FOR EACH PHOTO THEY RUN OF HER.  SHE HASN'T DECIDED IF SHE'LL DO IT

ST LUCIE WEST CENTENNIAL HIGH WAS EVACUATED FOR A SHORT TIME TODAY WHEN AN AC-AIR HANDLER BEGAN SMOKING.  THE FIRE ALARMS WENT OFF AND STUDENTS WERE EVACUATED UNTIL THEY FOUND OUT THE CAUSE.  POWER WAS TURNED OFF AT THE CAMPUS FOR A TIME AS WELL

A PORT ST LUCIE WOMAN TOLD AUTHORITIES HER HUSBAND RIPPED HER LEG OFF DURING AN ARGUMENT.  SHE HAS AN ARTIFICIAL LEG AND SAID HE BECAME POSSESSED AFTER THEY LEFT A BAR AND STARTED YELLING AT HER, RIPPING HER ARTIFICIAL LEG OFF DURING THE ARGUMENT ALONG CASHMERE BLVD.  POLICE CHARGED THE HUSBAND WITH DOMESTIC BATTERY.

A PORT ST LUCIE WOMAN SAYS SHE WAS ROBBED WHEN SHE HAD CAR TROUBLE IN STUART THIS MORNING.  THE VICTIM SAYS SHE AND HER BOYFRIEND PULLED IN TO THE PARKING LOT OF A BAR ON INDIAN STREET WHEN THE CAR OVERHEATED.  ANOTHER CAR PULLED UP AND A GUNMAN JUMPED OUT TAKING HER PURSE WITH $1000 CASH, A WATCH AND BRACELET. 

IN EARLIER TREASURE COAST NEWS....

7:30 AM UPDATE:  THEY HAVE REOPENED I-95 BETWEEN FT PIERCE AND VERO BEACH.  THEY CLOSED ALL SIX LANES BETWEEN MIDWAY ROAD AND VERO BECAUSE OF THICK FOG EARLIER THIS MORNING

MARTIN COUNTY WILL BUILD AN AQUATICS COMPLEX.   COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DECIDED TUESDAY TO BUILD A $5 MILLION COMPLEX WITH A 50 METER POOL ALONG WILLOUGHBY BLVD BY 2012.  COMMISSIONS ALSO AGREED TO ASK THE SCHOOL BOARD TO KEEP THE CURRENT COMMUNITY POOL AT MARTIN COUNTY HIGH OPEN UNTIL THEN

A FT LAUDERDALE DEVELOPERS WANTS TO BUILD A $150 MILLION 350 ROOM HOTEL NEAR THE DOWNTOWN FT PIERCE POWER PLANT.  THE PROJECT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE RETAIL SHOPS.

PEOPLE ALONG SOUTHBEND BLVD IN PORT ST LUCIE ARE UPSET ABOUT INITIAL PLANS TO BUILD A NEW K-8 SCHOOL WITH THREE-STORY TALL BUILDINGS.  THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ASKED THE CITY'S P&Z BOARD TO POSTPONE A ZONING HEIGHT VARIANCE VOTE FOR TWO WEEKS WHEN THEY'LL BE BACK WITH NEW PLANS FOR SMALLER BUILDINGS

A FT PIERCE BANK ROBBERY SUSPECT HAS BEEN CAUGHT.  POLICE SAY WILLIAM "SCOOBY DOO" BOWLING IS THE MAN WHO HELD UP THE BANKATLANTIC BRANCH ON VIRGINIA AVENUE TUESDAY MORNING.

MARTIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPROVED PLANS TO BUILD A GIANT NATURAL GAS STORAGE FACILITY NEAR INDIANTOWN

TREASURE HUNTERS HAVE FOUND SOME INTERESTING ITEMS IN THEIR SEARCH OFF THE ST LUCIE NUCLEAR PLANT FOR A SUNKEN SPANISH TREASURE SHIP

A SWASTIKA CARVED INTO THE 15th GREEN AT MARTIN DOWNS COUNTRY CLUB BY VANDALS IS BEING TREATED AS A HATE CRIME

FIRE DESTROYED A HOME IN HOLIDAY PINES IN NORTHERN ST LUCIE COUNTY TUESDAY AFTERNOON




TUESDAY MAY 6

FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT IS ASKING THE STATE TO HAVE CUSTOMERS PAY FOR EXPANSION OF SEVERAL POWER PLANTS.  FPL WANTS TO PASS ALONG $259 MILLION IN COSTS TO EXPAND SEVERAL POWER PLANTS, INCLUDING THE ST LUCIE NUCLEAR PLANT,  TO CUSTOMERS STARTING NEXT YEAR.  THAT WOULD COST A RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER USING 1 THOUSAND KILOWATTS A MONTH ANOTHER $2.51 A MONTH

MARTIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPROVED A GIANT NATURAL GAS STORAGE TANK FACILITY FOR INDIANTOWN TODAY.  THEY LISTENED TO FOUR HOURS OF PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE VOTING 4-1 TO APPROVE THE TANK THAT WILL STORE 8 BILLION CUBIC FEET OF GAS TO INSURE MORE STABLE SUPPLIES OF THE FUEL THAT WILL BE PIPED TO POWER PLANTS AROUND THE STATE.  THE PROJECT IS STILL GOING THRU THE FEDERAL APPROVAL PROCESS

SIGNS WILL BE GOING UP AT MARTIN COUNTY BEACHES WARNING NO SEX IS ALLOWED..  COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TODAY APPROVED 40 SIGNS WARNING PEOPLE NOT TO SOLICIT SEX AND THAT THE BEACH AND PARKING LOTS ARE PATROLLED BY UNIFORMED AND PLAIN-CLOTHED DEPUTIES.  DOZENS OF MEN HAVE BEEN ARRESTED OVER THE YEARS FOR LEWD AND LASCIVIOUS SEX ACTS

MARTIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS VOTED 3-2 TODAY TO APPOINT FORMER COUNTY COMMISSIONER BUD WILCOX TO THE AIRPORT NOISE ADVISORY BOARD.  AIRPORT CRITICS BLAME HIM FOR THE RUNWAY EXPANSION TEN YEARS AGO THAT THEY SAY LED TO MORE JETS AND MORE NOISE.  WILCOX WAS NOMINATED FOR THE BOARD BY WITHAM AEROCLUB.  A STUART RESIDENT, WHO LIVES IN THE AREA IMPACTED BY NOISE, DEBRA CARY WAS ALSO APPOINTED TODAY.  COMMISSIONERS VALLIERE AND WEBERMAN VOTED AGAINST WILCOX'S APPOINTMENT

A FT PIERCE BANK ROBBERY SUSPECT WAS CAUGHT SHORTLY AFTER THE HOLD UP THIS MORNING.  THE BANKATLANTIC BRANCH ON VIRGINIA AVENUE WAS ROBBED AROUND 10:30 AM

A WOMAN WHO ALLEGEDLY EMBEZZLED $150,000 FROM A JENSEN BEACH CHURCH WAS SENTENCED TODAY.  CHRISTINA NEILSON,33, GOT 8 YEARS IN PRISON.  SHE WAS THE BOOKKEEPER AT ALL SAINTS EPISCOPAL CHURCH WHEN SHE WAS ARRESTED LAST DECEMBER.  SHE WILL ALSO HAVE TO REPAY THE CHURCH

STUART POLICE WILL BET A BONUS AND A COST OF LIVING RAISE, BUT NOT A PAY RAISE.  CITY COMMISSIONERS TODAY VOTED TO GIVE POLICE A 2.5% INFLATION RAISE AND BONUSES OF BETWEEN $750 TO $1,000

21 YEAR OLD BRIAN JUSTIN GOODWIN GOT 6 YEARS PROBATION AFTER PLEADING NO CONTEST TO MANSLAUGHTER CHARGES IN MARTIN CIRCUIT COURT MONDAY.  HE HAD FIRST BEEN CHARGED WITH SECOND DEGREE MURDER FOR ALLEGEDLY THROWING A SUCKER PUNCH DURING A BRAWL AT A SANDBAR IN THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON WHICH KILLED A STUART MAN

IF YOU SMELL SMOKE OUTSIDE TODAY, CHANCES ARE IT WILL BE COMING FROM A BIG BRUSH FIRE BURNING DRY MARSH AREAS ON LAKE OKEECHOBEE'S NORTH SIDE.  ITS BURNING AN AREA THAT'S NORMALLY UNDER WATER WHEN THE LAKE IS AT NORMAL LEVELS

PEOPLE WHO WANT THE COMMUNITY POOL AT MARTIN COUNTY HIGH WILL PUSH FOR IT AT TODAY'S MARTIN COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING.  THEY WANT THE COUNTY TO AGREE TO HELP OUT WITH FUNDING TO KEEP IT OPEN PAST NEXT YEAR'S SCHEDULED CLOSING DATE

STUART NEWS:  MEL FISHER'S DAUGHTER HAS CHARTERED A TREASURE HUNTING BOAT TO SEARCH AN AREA OFF HUTCHINSON ISLAND NORTH OF THE ST LUCIE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT THIS WEEK FOR A SUNKEN SPANISH TREASURE SHIP

BONUS CHECKS OF MORE THAN $1,000 ARE COMING SOON FOR MOST ST LUCIE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYEES

ST LUCIE COUNTY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SAY 50 TO 60 COUNTY EMPLOYEES FACE BUDGET CUT LAYOFFS

MARTIN COUNTY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SAY 57 COUNTY EMPLOYEES INCLUDING SOME FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAVE AGREED TO TAKE EARLY RETIREMENT

THE NEW MINI PALM CITY BRANCH LIBRARY OPENS TODAY BEHIND THE OLD PALM CITY FIRE STATION AT MARTIN DOWNS BLVD AND MAPP ROAD.  IT HAS A BOOK DROP OFF AND A DRIVE THRU PICK UP WINDOW FOR BOOKS PATRONS REQUESTED.  THE LIBRARY OUTPOST WILL BE OPEN WHILE THE MAIN PALM CITY LIBRARY IS EXPANDED

MONDAY MAY 5

THERE'S A BIG BRUSH FIRE BURNING ALONG THE EDGE OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE.  TWO FIRES WERE SET BY SOMEBODY AND SUNDAY THEY MERGED INTO A BIG ONE THAT'S BURNED 3,500 ACRES AS OF MONDAY MORNING.  THE FIRE IS BURNING DRIED OUT MARSHLANDS THAT NORMALLY WOULD BE UNDER WATER.  DIVISION OF FORESTRY OFFICIALS SAY THE FIRE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO SCORCH 6,000 ACRES BEFORE THEY PUT IT OUT.

ST LUCIE COUNTY SCHOOL IS BEING ACCREDITED BY THE SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS.  THE DISTRICT-WIDE ACCREDITATION MEANS EVERY SCHOOL IN THE DISTRICT AND EVERY DEPARTMENT AND OPERATION MEETS THEIR STANDARDS.  ONE ONE THIRD OF ALL THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN FLORIDA ARE ACCREDITED.  THE ACCREDITATION TEAM ALSO COMMENDED THE ST LUCIE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR ITS DEVOTION TO STUDENTS AND LEARNING

THERE WERE 13 HOME BURGLARIES OVER THE WEEKEND IN PORT ST LUCIE.  10 OF THEM WERE WEST OF THE TURNPIKE.  IN ONE, THIEVES BROKE IN TO A HOME IN TRADITION AND GOT AWAY WITH $85,000 WORTH OF JEWELRY.  IT HAPPENED SUNDAY AT A HOME ON SW STRATTON DRIVE IN THE LAKES OF TRADITION DEVELOPMENT DURING THE 20 MINUTES THE HOMEOWNER WAS GONE

A STUART MAN HAD HIS CAR, WALLET, CELLPHONE AND CASH STOLEN SATURDAY MORNING BY AN EXOTIC DANCER HE'D MET AT A BAR FRIDAY NIGHT.  HE TOLD MARTIN COUNTY DEPUTIES SHE ASKED IF SHE COULD STAY AT HIS HOME BECAUSE SHE HAD NO PLACE TO SLEEP.  THE LEFT THE PAPER MOON CLUB, WENT TO HIS PLACE, HAD SEX AND SHE LEFT WITH THE GOODS

ANOTHER WINNING FANTASY 5 JACKPOT TICKET WAS SOLD ON THE TREASURE COAST.  A QUICK PICK SOLD AT THE CIRCLE K ACROSS FROM PORT ST LUCIE CITY HALL WAS ONE OF TWO SOLD FOR SATURDAY NIGHT.  IT'S WORTH MORE THAN $137,000.  IT'S THE FOURTH FANTASY 5 JACKPOT WINNING TICKET SOLD IN LESS THAN A WEEK IN MARTIN AND ST LUCIE COUNTY

TREASURE COAST STATE SENATOR AND FLORIDA SENATE PRESIDENT KEN PRUITT CONGRATULATES THE LEGISLATURE ON HOLDING THE LINE ON TAXES WHILE COMING UP WITH THE NEW $66 BILLION STATE BUDGET DURING THE SESSION THAT WRAPPED UP FRIDAY

DRIVERS LICENSE, BOAT REGISTRATION, AND COURT FEES WILL BE GOING UP THIS NEXT YEAR TO HELP BALANCE THE STATE BUDGET

MARTIN COUNTY OFFICIALS THINKING ABOUT CLOSING THE BRITT ROAD FIRE STATION THAT SERVES THE TREASURE COAST MALL AND NORTH RIVER SHORES AREA TO SAVE MORE THAN $1 MILLION A YEAR.  THE FIRE STATION IN STUART OR THE JENSEN BEACH STATION ON SAVANNA ROAD WOULD HAVE TO COVER

MILITARY PHOSPHOROUS FLARE CLEARED FROM WAVELAND BEACH.  THE ST LUCIE COUNTY BOMB SQUAD WAS CALLED IN TO TAKE IT AWAY AND DETONATE IT SAFELY

FT PIERCE COUPLE KILLED IN MOTORCYCLE CRASH IN BREVARD COUNTY FRIDAY NIGHT.  THE FHP SAYS JOSEPH SELPH, 42, AND MARINA SELPH, 38, DIED WHEN THEIR MOTORCYCLE HIT A GUARDRAIL IN THE MEDIAN ON A CURVE

5000 PEOPLE CELEBRATED CINCO DE MAYO WITH A FESTIVAL SUNDAY AT THE ST LUCIE COUNTY FAIR GROUNDS. 


WEEKEND EDITION MAY 3 & 4

AN INFANT DIED IN AN APARTMENT FIRE IN DELRAY BEACH THIS MORNING.  THE FIRST STARTED IN A BACK BEDROOM OF THE SECOND FLOOR APARTMENT ON AUBURN CIRCLE AND WAS REPORTED AT 4:11 AM

SOUTH FORK HIGH SCHOOL ADVANCES IN THE BASEBALL PLAYOFFS WITH A 2-1 WIN FRIDAY OVER WEST BOCA RATON.  JENSEN BEACH LOST TO ROCKLEGE 12-0

130 VOLUNTEERS HELPED PEOPLE WHO NEED IT IN SATURDAY'S ST LUCIE COUNTY UNITED WAY DAY OF CARING. THEY PAINTED AND PUT IN LANDSCAPING AT A BOYS & GIRLS CLUB CENTER IN FT PIERCE

ONE TICKET MATCHED ALL SIX NUMBERS IN SATURDAY NIGHTS LOTTO DRAWING.  IT WAS A $1 BASE JACKPOT TICKET AND IS WORTH $3 MILLION.  LOTTO TICKETS MATCH FIVE NUMBERS ARE WORTH $5,353  FOUR NUMBERS $74.50  WHILE THREE RIGHT PAYS $5

ONE OF RIO'S FAMOUS PEACOCKS IS RECOVERING AT A PALM CITY VETERINARIAN'S OFFICE AFTER BEING SHOT AT LEAST 9 TIMES WITH A BB GUN.  MARTIN COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL GOT A CALL ABOUT A PEACOCK LIMPING NEAR THE FRANCES LANGFORD ESTATE AND FOUND THE WOUNDED BIRD.  ONE PELLET HAD BROKEN ITS LEG.  DR MATT SCHMIDT DID THE SURGERY AND TELLS THE STUART NEWS THE PEACOCK HAD BEEN SHOT WITH A SINGLE SHOT BB GUN MEANING WHOEVER DID IT HAD MALICIOUS INTENT BECAUSE THEY KEPT SHOOTING AT THE BIRD

THE OWNERS OF VERO'S HISTORIC PATIO RESTAURANT PROPERTY SAY THEY WILL REOPEN IN COMING WEEKS

A MAN WANTED FOR A RAPE IN MARYLAND HAS BEEN FOUND IN ST LUCIE COUNTY.  OFFICIALS SAY RICHARD ROBINSON ALLEGEDLY RAPED A TRANS-GENDERED MAN IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY MARYLAND IN 2005, BUT APPARENTLY ESCAPED TO ST LUCIE COUNTY.  HE WAS ARRESTED IN APRIL HERE FOR DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND DNA TESTS MATCHED THE DNA OF THE RAPIST.  ST LUCIE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DETECTIVES THINK THERE MAY BE OTHER RAPE VICTIMS HERE

FRIDAY MAY 2

THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE HAS APPROVED A NEW $66 BILLION STATE BUDGET.  THE BUDGET IS $9 BILLION SMALLER THAN THE LAST BUDGET UNDER GOVERNOR JEB BUSH THREE YEARS AGO.  LAWMAKERS BLAME LESS STATE REVENUES DUE TO THE SLUMPING STATE ECONOMY FOR THAT.  THIS NEW BUDGET CUTS MONEY FOR TREASURE COAST SCHOOLS.  ADOPTION PROGRAM FUNDING FOR FOSTER KIDS, SENIOR HEALTH CARE AND HOSPITAL TREATMENT REIMBURSEMENTS ALSO TOOK A HIT IN THE BUDGET. COLLEGE TUITION FEES WILL BE GOING UP.  SO WILL DRIVERS LICENSE FEES, BOAT REGISTRATION FEES AND COURT FEES.  THE BUDGET STILL HAS TO BE APPROVED BY GOVERNOR CHARLIE CRIST.

THE VICTORY FORGE MILITARY ACADEMY IN PORT ST LUCIE WILL REMAIN OPEN.  A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE DIRECTOR DR ALAN WEIERMAN SAYS THEY ADAMANTLY DENY ALLEGATIONS OF CHILD ABUSE MADE BY ONE CADET AND THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES.  DCF HAS REPORTEDLY RECOMMENDED PARENTS TAKE THEIR SON OUT.  DR WEIERMAN CONTINUES THAT HE AND THE VICTORY FORGE STAFF HAVE BEEN FULLY COOPERATING WITH THE DCF INVESTIGATION AND HOPES IT WILL COME TO AN END AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THEY MAY CONTINUE THEIR WORK REBUILDING THE LIVES OF "AT RISK" BOYS.  DR WEIERMAN SAYS DCF HAS THEMSELVES COMMITTED CHILD ABUSE IN THEIR OWN HANDLING OF THE CASE.  ONE OF THE CADETS HAS REPORTEDLY SAID HE WAS SHACKLED AFTER TRYING TO RUN AWAY FROM THE ACADEMY

A MARTIN COUNTY FUGITIVE HAS BEEN CAUGHT IN GEORGIA.  MCKENZIE ROGERS, 28, WAS FOUND IN VALDOSTA GEORGIA.  HE'S BEEN ON THE RUN SINCE CHRISTMAS OF 2006 WHEN HE FAILED TO SHOW UP FOR HIS TRIAL IN STUART ON CHARGES HE RAN FROM MARTIN COUNTY DEPUTIES THE YEAR BEFORE.  JUDGE LARRY SHACK ALLOWED THE TRIAL TO CONTINUE WITHOUT ROGERS AND THE JURY CONVICTED HIM IN ABSENTIA

THURSDAY AFTERNOON'S BRUSH FIRE NEAR PANTHER WOODS THAT FORCED THE FHP TO CLOSE I-95 FOR AN HOUR IN ST LUCIE COUNTY IS OUT.  ST LUCIE COUNTY FIRE RESCUE SAYS THEY HAD 16 FIREFIGHTERS ON SCENE ALONG WITH 3 BRUSH TRUCKS, 3 FIRE TRUCKS, AND 2 WATER TANKER TRUCKS.  A HELICOPTER MADE 9 WATER DROPS ON THE FIRE DROPPING MORE THAN 256,000 GALLONS

FOR THE THIRD TIME THIS WEEK A WINNING FANTASY 5 LOTTERY TICKET HAS BEEN SOLD ON THE TREASURE COAST.  A TICKET SOLD AT STAR LIQUORS III IN STUART MATCHED ALL FIVE NUMBERS THURSDAY NIGHT.  IT WAS ONE OF SIX TICKETS IN FLORIDA THAT DID.  THEY'LL SPLIT THE $234 THOUSAND JACKPOT.  EACH IS WORTH $39,139.  OTHER WINNING FANTASY 5s WERE SOLD EARLIER THIS WEEK IN HOBE SOUND AND FT PIERCE

PALM BEACH POST:  SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE HAS GIVEN A SCIENTIST THEY WANTED TO RECRUIT A $1 MILLION MORTGAGE FOR AN OCEAN FRONT CONDO TO LURE HIM TO PALM BEACH COUNTY.  SCRIPPS COO SAYS IN THE WORLDWIDE COMPETITION FOR TOP SCIENTISTS THEY HAVE TO MAKE OFFERS LIKE THIS.  THEY WON'T SAY IF ANY OF THE MILLIONS IN STATE INCENTIVES TO GET SCRIPPS TO FLORIDA WAS USED TO LURE THE SCIENTIST.

THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE IS DEBATING THE FINAL VERSION OF THE NEW $66 BILLION STATE BUDGET IN TALLAHASSEE.  DEMOCRATS ARE CRITICAL OF BUDGET CUTS REPUBLICANS SAY ARE THE RESULT OF LESS STATE TAX REVENUE

THE LEGISLATURE HAS PASSED TREASURE COAST STATE REPRESENTATIVE BILL SNYDER'S BILL THAT GOES AFTER GANG LEADERS.  THE MEASURE LETS JUDGES SENTENCE GANG LEADERS AND RECRUITERS TO LIFE IN PRISON, OUTLAWS USING THE WEB LIKE YouTUBE TO RECRUIT GANG MEMBERS AND OUTLAWS GANG TATTOOS, CLOTHING STYLES AND HAND GESTURES USED BY GANGS

INDIAN RIVER COMMUNITY COLLEGE GRADUATES ITS BIGGEST CLASS EVER TONIGHT WITH COMMENCEMENT AT TRADITION FIELD.  1,550 STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE DEGREES. 

ST LUCIE COUNTY SHERIFF KEN MASCARA IS ASKING FOR JUST A 1% BUDGET INCREASE.  MARTIN COUNTY SHERIFF BOB CROWDER SAYS HE'S AIMING FOR A 0% INCREASE

ST LUCIE COUNTY GETS AN AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION GRADE OF "A" FOR HAVING OZONE-FREE AIR.  MARTIN COUNTY WASN'T MEASURED

THIES DISTRIBUTORS SAYS IT WILL CLOSE ITS STUART BEER DISTRIBUTION CENTER IN STUART, LAYING OFF 22 EMPLOYEES.  THIES JUST BOUGHT THE CENTER IN 2005

SOUTH FORK AND JENSEN BEACH HIGH'S BOYS BASEBALL TEAMS BOTH HAVE REGIONAL PLAYOFF GAMES TONIGHT.  SOUTH FORK HOSTS BOCA RATON WEST AT 7PM.  THE GAME WILL BE BROADCAST LIVE ON WSTU AM 1450.  JENSEN BEACH TRAVELS TO ROCKLEGE.  WSTU WILL HAVE REPORTS FROM THAT GAME DURING THE SOUTH FORK GAME


THURSDAY MAY 1

I-95 WAS CLOSED FOR A TIME THIS AFTERNOON BY A BRUSH FIRE IN ST LUCIE COUNTY.  IT BURNED NEAR PANTHER WOODS AND SMOKE FORCED THEM TO CLOSE THE INTERSTATE WHICH REOPENED BEFORE 4PM

UPDATE:  THE FIRE THAT DESTROYED A HOME IN EAGLE MARSH THIS MORNING WAS AN ACCIDENT.  IT STARTED IN A BACK ROOM USED AS A HOME OFFICE.  THE HOME ON NW ROYAL OAK DRIVE WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES BY TIME FIRE FIGHTERS ARRIVED AROUND 6:20 THIS MORNING.  FLAMES WERE SHOOTING OUT FROM ALL SIDES AND FIREFIGHTERS HAD THEIR HANDS FULL KEEPING THE FIRE FROM SPREADING TO OTHER HOMES

UPDATE: A DUPLEX FIRE IN PORT SALERNO LEFT TWO FAMILIES HOMELESS.  THE 7PM FIRE ON SALVATORI ROAD LEFT 3 ADULTS AND FIVE CHILDREN WITH NOTHING.  THE MARTIN COUNTY RED CROSS IS HELPING THEM

ONE PERSON WAS AIRLIFTED FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT AFTER AN OXYGEN TANK BLEW UP WEST OF STUART THIS AFTERNOON.  THE TANK BLEW IN THE INDUSTRIAL SECTION OFF JACK JAMES DRIVE NEAR KANNER HIGHWAY AND I-95.  WITNESSES FELT THE CONCUSSION TWO BLOCKS AWAY.

ST LUCIE COUNTY SHERIFF KEN MASCARA SAYS HE NEEDS A SMALL INCREASE IN HIS BUDGET THIS NEXT YEAR.   HE ASKING FOR ONLY A 1% INCREASE TO COVER THINGS LIKE HIGHER FUEL COSTS, INCREASES IN JAIL INMATE FOOD AND MEDICAL COSTS AND HIGHER MEDICAL BENEFIT COSTS FOR EMPLOYEES.  THE BUDGET PRESERVES THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM AND HAS NO PAY RAISES FOR DEPUTIES

CONGRESS PASSED A TRANSPORTATION FUNDING BILL TODAY THAT WILL HELP KEEP COMMUNITY COACH BUSSES ROLLING ANOTHER YEAR ON THE TREASURE COAST.  IT WILL TAKE EFFECT IF PRESIDENT BUSH SIGNS THE BILL.  THE CHANGE ALLOWS SMALLER CITIES LIKE PORT ST LUCIE AND MARTIN COUNTY TO USE FEDERAL MONEY MEANT TO BUY BUSSES TO OPERATE THE BUSSES TOO.  THIS WILL ALLOW THE MARTIN COUNTY COUNCIL ON AGING TO CONTINUE RUNNING ALL 18 OF ITS BUS ROUTES ANOTHER YEAR

A 26 YEAR OLD PORT ST LUCIE MAN ENDED UP IN JAIL AFTER A TRAFFIC CRASH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.  AFTER THE CRASH NEAR SAVONA AND GASTONBERRY, JOEL DAIGLE APPEARED TO PANIC, RUMMAGING THRU HIS TRUNK AND TAKING SOMETHING WRAPPED IN A BLANKET IN TO THE WOODS.  POLICE FOUND THREE STOLEN RIFLES IN IT.  AFTER HIS ARREST, POLICE SAY DAIGLE TRIED TO KICK THE WINDOW OF THE PATROL CAR AND THEY ENDED UP TASERING HIM


A SEMI HAULING CITRUS FRUIT OVERTURNED NEAR INDIANTOWN THIS MORNING SPILLING FRUIT ALL OVER WARFIELD BLVD.  THE DRIVER WAS SERIOUSLY HURT AND WAS AIRLIFTED BY THE LIFESTAR MEDICAL HELICOPTER

FLORIDA HAS FALLEN FROM BEING THE TOP STATE NON-HISPANIC WHITES WANT TO MOVE TO TO 29th ON THE LIST IN JUST THE PAST THREE YEARS.  THE CENSUS BUREAU BLAMES THE SLUGGISH FLORIDA ECONOMY, THE SLOW HOUSING MARKET AND A HIGHER COST OF LIVING

SEA TURTLE NESTING SEASON BEGINS IN MAY.  LAST YEAR THE NUMBER OF LOGGERHEAD NESTS WAS ABOUT HALF WHAT IT WAS TEN YEARS AGO ON HUTCHINSON ISLAND, BUT THERE WERE DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF RARE GREENS AND LEATHERBACK NESTS

FIRE DESTROYED PART OF A STUART DUPLEX ON SALVATORI ROAD LAST NIGHT.  FIRE DAMAGED A HOME ON NW ROYAL OAK DRIVE IN EAGLE MARSH THIS MORNING

THE PORT ST LUCIE HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHER WHO SAYS SHE WAS FIRED BECAUSE SHE WORKS AS A BIKINI MATE ON A CHARTER FISHING BOAT DID INTERVIEWS WITH INSIDE EDITION AND ACCESS HOLLYWOOD TV SHOWS.  MEANWHILE THE ST LUCIE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT SAYS THE REAL REASON TIFFANY SHEPHERD IS NOT BEING REHIRED FOR NEXT YEAR IS BECAUSE SHE'S MISSED MORE THAN 30 DAYS OF WORK THIS SCHOOL YEAR

A STUART MAN HAS BEEN CHARGED AFTER MARTIN COUNTY DEPUTIES FOUND HIM USING A HACK SAW TRYING TO STEAL A LARGE METAL SIGN FROM A BUSINESS TO SELL FOR SCRAP METAL.  THE OWNER SAYS THE SIGN IS WORTH $15,000.

WEDNESDAY APRIL 30

A SUSPECT IN THE EARLY MORNING SHOOTING AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY'S MAIN CAMPUS IN BOCA RATON HAS BEEN ARRESTED.  THE LOCKDOWN HAS BEEN LIFTED.  FAU HAD BEEN IN LOCKDOWN AND CLOSED AFTER AN EARLY-MORNING SHOOTING AT AN ON-CAMPUS APARTMENT.  TWO SHOTS WERE FIRED DURING A FIGHT AT A PARTY.  THE PERSON INJURED MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN GRAZED BY A BULLET.   THE FAU CAMPUS IN ST LUCIE WEST IS OPEN

THE BODY OF A MAN WAS FOUND AT A BURNED CAMP SITE IN ST LUCIE COUNTY THIS MORNING.  FIREFIGHTERS PUT OUT A SMALL BRUSH FIRE ALONG OLEANDER JUST NORTH OF SILVER LAKES ESTATES.  THE AREA THAT BURNED WAS A MAKESHIFT CAMP WITH A TENT WERE THE BODY WAS FOUND

MARTIN COUNTY SHERIFF'S DETECTIVES HAVE NOW CHARGED A PENNSYLVANIA MAN WITH A BANK ROBBERY LAST WEEK IN HOBE SOUND.  THEY SAY BRYANT REEVES HELD UP THE SEACOAST NATIONAL BRANCH AS PART OF A BANK ROBBERY SPREE THAT SAW BANKS IN BREVARD COUNTY AND PALM BEACH COUNTY HELD UP.  REEVES TOLD OFFICIALS HE WAS ON HIS WAY TO MISSISSIPPI AND NEEDED MONEY FOR DRUGS

TCPALM.COM:  LANDMARK THE PATIO RESTAURANT IN VERO BEACH HAS CLOSED

THE JUPITER LIGHTHOUSE IS ABOUT TO BE NAMED A US OUTSTANDING NATURAL AREA.  THE HOUSE IN WASHINGTON HAS JOINED THE US SENATE IN DESIGNATING THE HISTORIC LIGHTHOUSE AN OUTSTANDING NATURAL AREA GIVING IT AND THE 126 ACRES AROUND IT ADDED FEDERAL PROTECTIONS.  ALL THAT'S NEEDED IS FOR PRESIDENT BUSH TO SIGN IT.  TREASURE COAST CONGRESSMAN TIM MAHONEY AND US SENATOR BILL NELSON SPONSORED THE IDEA

TREASURE COAST SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO TAKE A HIT UNDER THE NEW SMALLER STATE BUDGET THAT WILL BE VOTED ON IN TALLAHASSEE THE END OF THE WEEK. WITH THE ECONOMY THE WAY IT IS, THERE’S LESS MONEY COMING IN TO THE STATE. ALMOST EVERY AREA OF GOVERNMENT IS TAKING A HIT INCLUDING THE SCHOOLS. UNDER THE PROPOSED BUDGET, MARTIN COUNTY SCHOOLS WILL GET $3.3 MILLION LESS THIS NEXT YEAR….ST LUCIE COUNTY WILL GET $6.7 MILLION LESS FROM THE STATE

FLORIDIANS ARE NOT FEELING REAL GOOD ABOUT THE STATE ECONOMY THESE DAYS. THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA’S CONSUMER CONFIDENCE LEVEL HAS DROPPED TO A 16 YEAR LOW. FLORIDA RESIDENTS SURVEYED HAVEN’T FELT THIS PESSIMISTIC SINCE THE RECESSION IN 1991. THEY ARE MOST PESSIMISTIC ABOUT THEIR PERSONAL FINANCES SAYING THEY EXPECT TO BE WORSE OFF A YEAR FROM NOW. ON THE POSITIVE SIDE, MORE FLORIDIANS SAY NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO MAKE A BIG TICKET PURCHASE

TUESDAY APRIL 29

MARTIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPROVED A SCALED-BACK STUART JET CENTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN TODAY.  AT FIRST STUART JET CENTER WANTED TO BUILD 87,000 SQUARE FEET OF HANGER SPACE TO REPLACE HANGERS DESTROYED BY THE HURRICANES.  THEIR LEASE WITH MARTIN COUNTY PERMITS REPLACING HURRICANE DAMAGED FACILITIES, BUT THE FIRST REQUEST WOULD HAVE ADDED SQUARE FOOTAGE.  THIS AFTERNOON THEY CHANGED THEIR REQUEST TO BUILD ABOUT HALF THAT SQUARE FOOTAGE IN NEW HANGERS, AGREEING TO WAIT ON BUILDING THE OTHER HALF.

MORE TREASURE COAST HOMES ARE IN FORECLOSURE.  REALTYTRAK SAYS 2,240 HOMES IN ST LUCIE COUNTY ENTERED SOME PART OF THE LEGAL FORECLOSURE PROCESS THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR.  THAT'S 700 MORE THAN WENT IN TO FORECLOSURE DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2007.  IN MARTIN COUNTY 458 HOMES ENTERED FORECLOSURE BETWEEN JANUARY AND THE END OF MARCH, UP FROM 115 THE YEAR BEFORE

A PORT ST LUCIE MOTHER GOT 34 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR CHILD NEGLECT LATE MONDAY.  25 YEAR OLD JAILEEN SOLIMAN PLEADED NO CONTEST AFTER HER THREE CHILDREN, AGES 10,7 AND 1 WERE FOUND LIVING IN FILTHY CONDITIONS LAST NOVEMBER AT THEIR BIRKEY AVENUE HOME.  A POT BELLIED PIG, A PITT BULL AND 8 CATS ALSO LIVED IN THE HOME

A PORT ST LUCIE MAN HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH BEING A PEEPING TOM.  34 YEAR OLD ROBERT PINTAGRO WAS ARRESTED MONDAY NIGHT AFTER A WOMAN NEIGHBOR COMPLAINED TO POLICE SHE SAW HIS FACE IN THE BATHROOM MIRROR PEERING IN THRU THE WINDOW AS SHE WAS GETTING READY TO TAKE A SHOWER

HOBE SOUND AND JUPITER ISLAND GOT HIT BY A POWER OUTAGE AROUND 11 O'CLOCK THIS MORNING.  A POWER POLE FIRE KNOCKED OUT POWER TO 1,200 FPL CUSTOMERS.  TRAFFIC LIGHTS IN HOBE SOUND WERE OUT FOR A TIME

ONE OF THE FIVE WINNING FANTASY 5 TICKETS SOLD FOR MONDAY NIGHT'S DRAWING WAS SOLD IN FT PIERCE.  IT WAS A QUICK PICK SOLD AT A CUMBERLAND FARMS STORE ON SHORE WINDS DRIVE AND IS WORTH $43,710

PORT ST LUCIE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TOLD THEIR STAFF LAST NIGHT TO COME UP WITH CHANGES TO TOUGHEN THE CITY'S NOISE LAW WHICH WOULD ALSO FINE VIOLATORS.  THE NEW STANDARD WILL BE IF YOU CAN HEAR A NEIGHBOR'S MUSIC, OR FEEL THE BASE BEAT INSIDE A HOME, IT'S ILLEGAL

FIRE BADLY DAMAGED RAY'S REAL ESTATE IN FT PIERCE MONDAY AFTERNOON.  IT STARTED IN A SHED AND SPREAD TO THE MAIN BUILDING

STUART AND MARTIN COUNTY COULD BOTH SAVE MONEY BY MERGING THE CITY'S FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH THE COUNTY'S.  BOTH ARE UNDERSTAFFED NOW.  THE STUART FIREFIGHTER'S UNION IS FOR IT.  THEY GUESS THE CITY COULD SAVE $300,000 TO $400,000 A YEAR AND THE COUNTY COULD SAVE BY NOT HAVING TO PAY AS MUCH OVERTIME

A PENNSYLVANIA MAN HAS REPORTEDLY CONFESSED TO MARTIN COUNTY SHERIFF'S DETECTIVES OF ROBBING THREE FLORIDA BANKS JUST DAYS AFTER GETTING OUT OF PRISON.  THEY ALSO THINK HE MAY HAVE HELD UP THE SEACOAST BANK IN HOBE SOUND LAST WEEK

STUART CITY COMMISSIONERS APPROVED THE IDEA AN INDIANTOWN COUPLE HAS TO OFFER 20 MINUTE HORSE CARRIAGE RIDES THRU DOWNTOWN STUART.

A FT PIERCE MAN WAS KILLED SATURDAY NIGHT WHEN HE SKIDDED THRU AN INTERSECTION AND HIT A BUILDING AND SIX CARS IN THE PARKING LOT. THE FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL SAY JORGE OLASCOAGE WAS DRIVING NORTH ON US ONE AND HIT THE BUILDING AT THE MINNESOTA AVENUE INTERSECTION

A COMPANY SPECIALIZING IN OCEAN TECHNOLOGIES IS RELOCATING TO STUART.  THE MARTIN COUNTY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BOARD’S RON BUNCH SAYS CONTINENTAL SHELF ASSOCIATES HAS MOVED FROM PALM BEACH COUNTY TO A 20,000 SQUARE FOOT OFFICE NEAR I-95 AND KANNER HIGHWAY
CUT BUNCH-GOOD COMPANY. THE COMPANY IS BRINGING 60 HIGH PAYING JOBS.  THE COMPANY SERVICES OFF-SHORE OIL & GAS INDUSTRIES, SUBMARINE TELECOMS AND SCIENTIFIC MARKETS. 

MONDAY APRIL 28

A FT PIERCE REAL ESTATE OFFICE WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED BY FIRE THIS AFTERNOON.  ABOUT A QUARTER OF RAY'S REAL ESTATE SERVICE WAS DESTROYED AT 33rd STREET AND VIRGINIA AVENUE AND THE REST OF THE BUILDING SUSTAINED SMOKE DAMAGE.  EVERYONE GOT OUT SAFELY.  PART OF OKEECHOBEE ROAD HAD TO BE CLOSED BY POLICE WHILE FIREFIGHTERS BATTLED THE BLAZE.  IT APPEARS THE FIRE STARTED IN A SHED NEXT TO THE BUILDING

A COMPANY SPECIALIZING IN OCEAN TECHNOLOGIES IS RELOCATING TO STUART.  THE MARTIN COUNTY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BOARD SAYS CONTINENTAL SHELF ASSOCIATES HAS MOVED FROM PALM BEACH COUNTY TO A 20,000 SQUARE FOOT OFFICE NEAR I-95 AND KANNER HIGHWAY BRINGING 60 HIGH PAYING JOBS.  THE COMPANY SERVICES OFF-SHORE OIL & GAS INDUSTRIES, SUBMARINE TELECOMS AND SCIENTIFIC MARKETS. 

A 21 YEAR OLD MAN WAS SHOT IN AN APPARENT DRIVE-BY SHOOTING IN FT PIERCE OVERNIGHT.  POLICE SAY A WITNESS TOLD THEM HE AND THE VICTIM, DIAMOND KINDRICK, WERE WALKING TOWARD A GAS STATION IN THE 2700 BLOCK OF AVENUE M WHEN A CAR STOPPED AND THREE MEN GOT OUT AND SHOT AT THEM.  KINDRICK WAS SHOT IN THE HEAD AND WAS AIRLIFTED TO A TRAUMA CENTER IN CRITICAL CONDITION AROUND 10PM SUNDAY

TREASURE COAST CONGRESSMAN TIM MAHONEY CHAIRED A ROUND-TABLE DISCUSSION ON ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES TODAY.  IT WAS HELD AT IRCC IN FT PIERCE.  SCIENTISTS FROM HARBOR BRANCH, THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, FLORIDA ATLANTIC AND FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, FLORIDA SOLAR ENERGY CENTER ALONG WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CENTER AND GEOPLASMA  PARTICIPATED IN THE TALKS.  MAHONEY OUTLINED HIS PLAN TO ENCOURAGE FLORIDA'S BIOFUEL INDUSTRY

A ST LUCIE COUNTY SCHOOL BUS DRIVER HAS BEEN TAKEN OFF HIS ROUTE AFTER AN 11 YEAR OLD GIRL'S STEPFATHER COMPLAINED HE MADE SEXUALLY ORIENTED COMMENTS TO HER.  THE BUS DRIVER ALLEGEDLY ASKED ABOUT HER PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT AND ASKED IF SHE LIKED BOYS, REPORTEDLY TELLING HER THAT WOULD CHANGE AFTER WHEN HER BODY WENT THRU PHYSICAL CHANGES WHEN SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T

A 19 YEAR OLD FT PIERCE MOTHER WAS CHARGED WITH CHILD NEGLECT SUNDAY AFTER POLICE AND SOCIAL WORKERS DISCOVERED HER YEAR OLD BABY LIVING IN FILTH.  POLICE REPORT FINDING HUMAN WASTE, DIRTY DIAPERS, ROTTING FOOD, FILTH AND NO RUNNING WATER AT MARY E FASNACHT'S HOME ON REVELS LANE

THE MOTHER OF THE STUART WOMAN CHARGED ALONG WITH HER BOYFRIEND OF KILLING HER STEP FATHER WITH A SWORD BLAMES THE BOYFRIEND FOR BRAINWASHING HER DAUGHTER IN TO THE MURDER.  KRISTAN JENSEN TELLS CBS 12 CHRISTOPHER TOMLINSON IS EVIL

A PORT ST LUCIE MAN WAS ATTACKED BY AN 11 FOOT LONG ALLIGATOR WHILE RETRIEVING GOLF BALLS FROM A POND AT A TAMPA GOLF COURSE.  DWIGHT MONREAL SAYS THE GATOR GRABBED HIS ARM AND TRIED TO PULL HIM UNDER.  HE FOUGHT WITH THE ALLIGATOR FOR 7 MINUTES BEFORE PULLING FREE.

A HUGE CROWD OF ADULTS AND KIDS CAME TO A SPECIAL CELEBRATION OF PHIL KAVANAUGH'S LIFE AT THE BLAKE LIBRARY LAST NIGHT.  THE LIBRARY ENTERTAINER KNOWN AS MR FUNNYBONES DIED LAST WEEK FROM CANCER

INDRIO ROAD IS OPEN TODAY AFTER A BRUSH FIRE FORCED ITS CLOSING SUNDAY.  ABOUT 50 ACRES BURNED WITH FLAMES COMING CLOSE TO HOMES AND LAKEWOOD PARK ELEMENTARY


WEEKEND EDITION APRIL 26 & 27

A MAN WAS STABBED IN PORT ST LUCIE SATURDAY NIGHT.  FIRE RESCUE REPORTS THEY TRANSPORTED A 37 YEAR OLD MAN FROM THE SCENE IN THE 900 BLOCK OF SW WHITTIER TERRACE.  A 17 YEAR OLD HAS BEEN CHARGED.  WHILE AT HIS GIRLFRIEND'S HOME, THE TEEN REPORTEDLY STABBED THE VICTIM WITH A POCKET KNIFE WHILE TRYING TO BREAK UP A DOMESTIC DISPUTE BETWEEN THE MAN AND HIS WIFE

ONE PERSON WAS KILLED IN A CRASH ON THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE IN PORT ST LUCIE LATE SATURDAY NIGHT.  THE CRASH AND VEHICLE FIRE WAS REPORTED AT 11:30 PM AT THE 138 MILE MARKER SOUTH OF BECKER ROAD.  A CAR WAS STOPPED WITH MECHANICAL TROUBLE WHEN HIT BY ANOTHER CAR.  THE FIRST CAR SPUN AROUND AND CAUGHT FIRE TRAPPING THE VICTIM 22 YEAR OLD RICARDO MORALES INSIDE

A BRUSH FIRE IS BURNING IN NORTHERN ST LUCIE COUNTY. IT WAS FIRST REPORTED AROUND 11AM.. SEVERAL HOMES WERE REPORTEDLY THREATENED BY THE FLAMES.  INDRIO ROAD WAS CLOSED BETWEEN FT PIERCE BLVD AND EMERSON AVENUE AT 11:19 SUNDAY MORNING.

THE STEPDAUGHTER OF A STUART MAN FOUND MURDERED AND DUMPED IN THE TRASH IN PALM BEACH COUNTY HAS REPORTEDLY CONFESSED.  19 YEAR OLD NICHOL THORNHILL REPORTEDLY TOLD MARTIN COUNTY SHERIFF'S DETECTIVES THAT SHE AND HER BOYFRIEND 24 YEAR OLD CHRISTOPHER TOMLINSON DECIDED TO KILL 48 YEAR OLD GERALD LEE JENSEN BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T LIKE THE WAY HE TREATED HER MOTHER.  THEY TRIED TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE SUICIDE, BUT ALLEGEDLY ENDED UP USING A SWORD TO KILL THE STEP FATHER.  THE BODY WAS FOUND AT THE PALM BEACH COUNTY SOLID WASTE AUTHORITY THURSDAY AFTERNOON

THE MIAMI DOLPHINS TOOK JAKE LONG, AN OFFENSIVE TACKLE FROM MICHIGAN AS THEIR TOP PICK IN THE NFL DRAFT.  THEY TOOK MICHIGAN QUARTERBACK CHAD HENNE WITH ONE OF THEIR TWO PICKS IN THE SECOND ROUND.  THE DOLPHINS WERE HAPPY THAT CLEMSON DEFENSIVE END PHILLIP MERLING WAS THERE FOR THE TAKING WITH THEIR SECOND PICK IN THAT ROUND.

ONE TICKET MATCHED ALL SIX NUMBERS IN SATURDAY NIGHT'S LOTTO DRAWING.  IT WAS A $1 BASE JACKPOT TICKET SOLD IN MIAMI AND IS WORTH $36 MILLION.  LOTTO TICKETS MATCHING 5 OF THE NUMBERS ARE WORTH $5,339; 4 NUMBERS $74 AN 3 RIGHT PAYS $5.  THE NEW LOTTO JACKPOT FOR THE $1 BASE PLAY IS $3 MILLION
 
THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES HAS ADVISED PARENTS TO TAKE THEIR CHILDREN OUT OF THE VICTORY FORGE MILITARY ACADEMY WHILE THEY INVESTIGATE A CLAIM OF CHILD ABUSE.  THE DIRECTOR, ALAN WIERMAN SAYS THE CLAIM STEMS FROM THE STAFF PUTTING SHACKLES ON THE BOYS LEGS BECAUSE HE REPEATEDLY TRIED TO RUN AWAY FROM THE PROGRAM WHICH IS A SORT OF MILITARY BOOT CAMP WHICH TRIES TO STRAIGHTEN OUT DELINQUENTS.  THE PARTICIPANTS ARE TOLD WHEN THEY FIRST ENTER THE PROGRAM THAT THEY COULD BE SHACKLED IF THEY RUN AWAY.  PORT ST LUCIE POLICE HAVE TURNED OVER THE RESULTS OF THEIR INVESTIGATION TO THE TREASURE COAST STATES ATTORNEY OFFICE .

A 16 YEAR OLD FT PIERCE WESTWOOD HIGH STUDENT WAS ARRESTED AFTER BRINGING A LOADED GUN TO SCHOOL FRIDAY.  OFFICIALS FOUND IT WRAPPED IN A BLACK BANDANA IN HIS BACKPACK.  HE TOLD THEM HE BROUGHT THE GUN FOR PROTECTION.  IT'S THE SECOND TIME THIS YEAR A STUDENT HAS BROUGHT A LOADED GUN TO WESTWOOD HIGH


THURSDAY APRIL 24

A BIG GRANT IS COMING TO HELP BUILD THE NEW CHARLES AND RAE KANE SENIOR CENTER IN PORT SALERNO.  THE $748,000 GRAND FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ELDER AFFAIRS WILL BE USED FOR HURRICANE PROOF GLASS WINDOWS, A COMMERCIAL GRADE KITCHEN AND GENERATOR SO THE CENTER CAN BE USED AS A HURRICANE SHELTER WHEN IT OPENS IN 2010

THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A BANK ROBBER IN HOBE SOUND.  A 6 FOOT TALL MAN CAME IN TO THE SEACOAST NATIONAL BRANCH AROUND 3:16 THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND TOLD THE TELLER HE HAD A GUN, THOUGH HE NEVER SHOWED ONE.  HE RAN EAST AFTER LEAVING.  HE WAS WEARING BLUE PANTS, GREEN SHIRT WITH A RED STRIPE AND A BLACK HAT

IT HASN'T RAINED FOR MORE THAN A WEEK, AND THE BRUSH FIRE DANGER LEVEL IS BEGINNING TO RISE.  WEDNESDAY MARTIN COUNTY FIREFIGHTERS BATTLED TWO BRUSH FIRES.  ONE WAS NEAR WILLOUGHBY AND POMEROY AND THE OTHER NEAR THE MANATEE CREEK DEVELOPMENT ON COVE ROAD.  SMOKE FROM THAT ONE FORCED THEM TO CLOSE THE GOLF COURSE AT MARINER SANDS

STUART IS GETTING READY TO SET HIGHER WATER RATES THAT TAKE THE TWO DAY A WEEK LAWN AND LANDSCAPING WATER RESTRICTIONS IN ACCOUNT.  A CONSULTANT'S STUDY SAYS SOME RATES NEED TO BE RAISED 3 PERCENT TO OFFSET THE REVENUE LOST BY LESS WATERING.  STUART WATER CUSTOMERS USING LESS THAN 8 THOUSAND GALLONS WOULD ACTUALLY SEE MONTHLY RATES GO DOWN.  BIG WATER USERS WOULD SEE RATES GO UP

WEDNESDAY APRIL 23

A STUART MAN IS IN JAIL CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER.  MARTIN COUNTY DETECTIVES SAY 34 YEAR OLD JOSE FERNANDO RODRIGUEZ-LARA STABBED 20 YEAR OLD GUSTAVO CRUZ IN THE BACK AND CHEST DURING A FIGHT MONDAY NIGHT.  THE TWO HAD REPORTEDLY ARGUED EARLIER IN THE EVENING AND RODRIGUEZ-LARA WENT BACK TO CRUZ'S HOME WHERE THEY GOT INTO ANOTHER FIGHT

A RIVIERA BEACH MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOR THE MURDER OF HIS OWN GRANDMOTHER IN FT PIERCE.  POLICE FOUND 71 YEAR OLD JEANETTE ANDERSON'S BODY IN HER HOME ON AVENUE F.  INFORMATION LED TO THE ARREST OF 19 YEAR OLD ANTWAN ANDERSON TUESDAY.  POLICE SAY ANDERSON GOT ANGRY AFTER THE WOMAN YELLED AT HIM FOR BEING ON THE PHONE LATE AT NIGHT.  HE REPORTEDLY TOLD THEM HE BASHED HER HEAD IN AFTER SHE FELL ASLEEP AND SHOWED NO REMORSE

FT PIERCE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING A SHOOTING OVERNIGHT.  POLICE SAY WILLIE LEE PONDER III AND HIS GIRLFRIEND WERE SLEEPING IN HIS AVENUE HOME WHEN TWO MEN BROKE IN, DEMANDING TO KNOW WHERE SOMETHING WAS AND SHOT HIM.  HE WAS AIRLIFTED TO A TRAUMA CENTER IN CRITICAL CONDITION AROUND 3AM

TREASURE COAST HOME SALES ARE UP FOR THE SECOND MONTH IN A ROW.  THE REALTORS SAY 387 HOMES SOLD IN OUR AREA IN MARCH.  IN FEBRUARY, 263 HOMES SOLD.  THE MEDIAN PRICE HOWEVER IS $70,000 LESS THAN A YEAR AGO

ST LUCIE COUNTY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT MIKE LANNON TOLD THE SCHOOL BOARD LAST NIGHT THAT WESTWOOD HIGH PRINCIPAL KEVIN BROWN HAS MADE MISTAKES, BUT HAS NOT DISAPPOINTED HIM.  FORMER ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL TERI PINNEY SAYS BROWN HAS CREATED AN OPPRESSIVE ENVIRONMENT THRU FEAR AND THREATS

THIEVES ARE BEGINNING TO STEAL FUEL AND GAS ON THE TREASURE COAST.  A SEMI PARKED AT THE FT PIERCE DAYS INN WAS DRAINED OF 111 GALLONS OF SUNDAY NIGHT AND SEVERAL RENTAL TRUCKS IN STUART HAD 30 GALLONS SIPHONED OFF

THE JUPITER ISLAND TOWN COUNCIL AGREED NOT TO ENFORCE THEIR ORDINANCE CLOSING HOBE SOUND BEACH AT NIGHT THRU THE END OF THE YEAR.

THE STATE PLANS TO TURN THE OLD MARTIN COUNTY SHERIFF'S BOOT CAMP FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS IN TO A REHABILITATION CENTER FOR JUVENILE GIRL OFFENDERS


TUESDAY APRIL 22

MORE HOMES SOLD LAST MONTH ON THE TREASURE COAST.  THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS SAYS 387 EXISTING SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES SOLD IN THE MARTIN-ST LUCIE COUNTY AREA IN MARCH.  THAT IS AN INCREASE OVER THE 263 HOMES SOLD IN FEBRUARY AND UP 14% FROM A YEAR AGO.  PRICES WERE LOWER HOWEVER.  THE MEDIAN PRICE OF A HOME THAT SOLD IN MARCH WAS $169,700.  A DROP OF $70,000 FROM 2007

A SPECIAL CONSOLE FOR THE FLORIDA JUDICIAL QUALIFICATION COMMISSION SAYS ST LUCIE COUNTY JUDGE CLIFF BARNES BROKE THE JUDICIAL ETHICS CODE WHEN HE PUBLICALLY CRITICIZED OTHER JUDGES AND ST LUCIE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR THE WAY FIRST APPEARANCES BY CRIMINAL SUSPECTS ARE HANDLED.  OTHER JUDGES HAD COMPLAINED THAT BARNES WAS TOO LENIENT BY SETTING LOW BOND OR NO BOND FOR SOME SUSPECTS.  BARNES ARGUES HE WAS TRYING TO HELP RELIEVE OVERCROWDING AT THE JAIL.  AN ARTICLE BARNES WROTE IN THE TRIBUNE NEWSPAPER BROKE THE JUDGES NEUTRALITY RULE, THE SPECIAL CONSOLE SAID AT THE START OF AN ETHICS HEARING TODAY

JUPITER ISLAND AGREED TO EXTEND THE SUSPENSION OF A CITY LAW CLOSING THE COUNTY OWNED HOBE SOUND BEACH AT NIGHT FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR TODAY.  THE POLICE CHIEF SAID THAT WOULD GIVE HIM EXTRA TIME TO SEE IF THE INCREASE IN SHERIFF'S PATROLS WOULD CUT DOWN ON CRIME.  IT ALSO DIFFUSES A SHOWDOWN WITH MARTIN COUNTY OVER WHO CONTROLS THE BEACH. 

MARTIN COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR DUNCAN BALLANTYNE SAID TODAY HE MAY RECOMMEND AN INCREASE IN THE SALES TAX TO FUND ALL THE CAPITOL IMPROVEMENTS LIKE NEW PARKS AND ROADS THE COUNTY WANTS TO BUILD.  COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WOULD HAVE TO AGREE TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT AND VOTERS WOULD HAVE THE FINAL SAY..

A PORT ST LUCIE MAN WAS ARRESTED AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY FIRED SEVERAL SHOTS FROM AN AK-47 INTO THE GROUND IN FRONT OF A FRIENDS HOUSE ON NORTH LOVOY CIRCLE.  MICHAEL CONRAN TOLD POLICE HIS FRIEND WANTED TO FIRE SOME SHOTS FROM THE RIFLE, SO THEY DID.  POLICE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR THE FRIEND

ONE OF THE FOUR BIG FANTASY 5 JACKPOT WINNING TICKETS FOR LAST NIGHT'S DRAWING WAS SOLD IN MARTIN COUNTY.  IT WAS SOLD AT THE HOBE SOUND WINN-DIXIE STORE AND IS WORTH MORE THAN $56,000

IN EARLIER TREASURE COAST NEWS....

HUNDREDS WILL LINE THE NEW ROOSEVELT BRIDGE DURING TODAY'S MORNING RUSH HOUR.  EACH WILL HAVE A TEDDY BEAR CALLING ATTENTION TO CHILD ABUSE.  THE EVENT IS ORGANIZED BY HIBISCUS CHILDREN'S CENTER

THE JUPITER ISLAND TOWN COUNCIL WILL BE ASKED TODAY BY THE POLICE CHIEF TO CONTINUE THE SUSPENSION OF A CONTROVERSIAL DECISION TO CLOSE THE COUNTY-OWNED HOBE SOUND BEACH AT NIGHT.

TERRI PINEY, AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT FT PIERCE WESTWOOD HAS RESIGNED. SHE TELLS THE POST SHE INTENDS TO TELL THE ST LUCIE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD THAT CONDITIONS ARE "INTOLERABLE" UNDER PRINCIPAL KEVIN BROWN.  BROWN RECENTLY REPLACED THE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL HEAD BASKETBALL AND FOOTBALL COACHES, SENDING OUT A PRESS RELEASE BEFORE TELLING THEM FACE TO FACE

A 40 MILE POLICE CHASE STARTED IN WEST PALM AND ENDED IN MARTIN COUNTY MONDAY AFTERNOON. IT WAS A CAR JACKING AND THE SUSPECTS SHOWED A GUN. MARTIN COUNTY DEPUTIES USED STOP STICKS TO END IT ON I-95 NEAR KANNER HIGHWAY AROUND 3 PM. 3 SUSPECTS WERE CAUGHT

A FT PIERCE WOMAN DRIVING AROUND TOWN LAST SUNDAY LOOKED IN THE CAR'S BACK SEAT TO SEE HER 3 YEAR OLD GRANDSON PLAYING WITH A LOADED HANDGUN

THE PINES SCHOOL IN HOBE SOUND WILL BE SHOWING OFF THEIR DIRTY SOCKS TODAY. TO MARK EARTH DAY, STUDENTS WILL BE PUTTING WHITE SOCKS OVER THE TAILPIPE OF THEIR PARENTS CARS AND SUV’S TO SHOW WHAT COMES OUT OF THE ENGINE

MONDAY APRIL 21

A STUART MAN HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF HIRING A HIT MAN TO KILL A MARTIN COUNTY DEPUTY.  TAVARIS JAVON CARTER WAS CONVICTED THIS AFTERNOON AND NOW FACES LIFE IN PRISON.  PROSECUTORS SAID HE PAID AN UNDERCOVER DEPUTY $1,500 HE THOUGHT WAS A HIT MAN TO KILL THE DEPUTY WHO HAD BUSTED HIM FOR DRUGS.  THE DEFENSE ARGUED HE ONLY WANTED EVIDENCE DESTROYED.

FT PIERCE POLICE ARRESTED SEVEN TEENAGERS WHO ARE REPUTED GANG MEMBERS ON CHARGES OF INCITING A RIOT SUNDAY NIGHT AFTER A CONFRONTATION NEAR NORTH 14th AND CANAL TERRACE.  THEY SAID THEY WERE MEMBERS OF THE ZOE POUND GANG AND POLICE SAY THEY WERE OBSTRUCTING TRAFFIC AND CUSSING AT POLICE.  BACK UP OFFICERS WERE CALLED IN AND THEY TOLD POLICE THEY WOULD GO GET GUNS AND WERE NOT AFRAID OF BEING ARRESTED.  TWO SQUAD CARS WERE DAMAGED DURING THE INCIDENT

A CROWD BEAT A MAN IN FT PIERCE EARLY SUNDAY MORNING AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY SHOT AT MAN OUTSIDE A NIGHTCLUB.  POLICE SAY 38 YEAR OLD RAMIRO MELCHOR POINTED A GUN AT A SECURITY GUARD AT THE CLUB DIAMOND BALLROOM.  A CROWD BEAT HIM WRESTLING THE GUN AWAY.  AFTERWORD THEY FOUND THE GUARD HAD BEEN SHOT IN THE LEG

THE PORT ST LUCIE CITY COUNCIL VOTED 3-2 TO GIVE UP ON BUYING 30 LOTS ALONG BECKER ROAD THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN USED TO BUILD A GATEWAY TYPE BECKER ROAD FROM I-95 TO THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE.  THE COUNCIL REAFFIRMED ITS INTENT TO BUILD A SCALED BACK VERSION OF A WIDENED BECKER ROAD, TRANSFERRING $25 MILLION TO WIDEN FLORESTA DRIVE INSTEAD.  THE 30 LOTS ARE NOT NEEDED FOR THE SCALED BACK BECKER ROAD PLANS

GAYLE HARRELL WILL BE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE OF THE BALLOT IN HER CAMPAIGN TO WIN THE TREASURE COAST CONGRESSIONAL SEAT NOW HELD BY DEMOCRAT TIM MAHONEY.  HARRELL GATHERED THE REQUIRED 4,794 VOTER SIGNATURES IN THE 16th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.  TWO OTHER REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES, TOM ROONEY AND HAL VALECHE MAY HAVE TO PAY THE $9,912 FILING FEE IF THEY DO NOT END UP WITH ENOUGH SIGNATURES.

SOUTHEAST PRINTING DEDICATED ITS NEW 20,000 SQUARE FOOT PLANT IN PALM CITY TODAY.  THE NEW FACILITY WILL HOUSE THE COMPANY'S FLEXOGRAPHY DIVISION.  SOUTHEAST PRINTING HAS BEEN OPERATING IN MARTIN COUNTY SINCE 1924

CLOSING ARGUMENTS ARE EXPECTED TODAY IN THE TAVARES CARTER MURDER-FOR-HIRE TRIAL IN STUART.  BOTH SIDES FINISHED THEIR CASE FRIDAY WITH THE DEFENSE ARGUING CARTER ONLY WANTED EVIDENCE DESTROYED, AND DID NOT WANT A MARTIN COUNTY DEPUTY WHO'D BUSTED HIM DEAD

THE CONFUSION CORNER RAILROAD CROSSING IN DOWNTOWN STUART IS CLOSED UNTIL WEDNESDAY MORNING AT 6AM.  THE FEC RAILROAD IS DOING MAINTENANCE AT THE CROSSING

A MAN WAS SHOT IN FT PIERCE EARLY SUNDAY MORNING AND A SECOND MAN WAS BADLY BEATEN.  IT HAPPENED IN THE 3700 BLOCK OF SOUTH US ONE



WEEKEND EDITION APRIL 19 & 20

HUNDREDS ARE WALKING TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE ST LUCIE COUNTY MARCH OF DIMES SUNDAY.  THE MARCH FOR BABES USED TO BE KNOWN AS WALKAMERICA.  IT'S BEING HELD AT THE IRCC-FAU CAMPUS IN ST LUCIE WEST.

NOBODY HIT LOTTO SATURDAY NIGHT.  THE ROLLOVER JACKPOT FOR THE $1 BASE PLAY IS $32 MILLION FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT.  LOTTO TICKETS MATCHING FIVE OF THE NUMBERS ARE WORTH $4,781  FOUND NUMBERS $66.50  WHILE THREE NUMBERS PAYS $5

A JURY FOUND A COCOA BEACH MAN GUILTY OF MURDERING A PORT ST LUCIE WOMAN.  IT TOOK A FT PIERCE JURY JUST TWO HOURS TO REACH ITS VERDICT, CONVICTING 18 YEAR OLD ALDEN BENJAMIN WHITE OF SHOOTING IN TO A CAR HE'D BLOCKED AT 29th AND AVENUE B KILLING EDWINA JACKSON AND WOUNDING HER BOY FRIEND.   INVESTIGATORS LATER FOUND A CAR WITH A HALF-EATEN BURGER INSIDE WITH HIS DNA.  THEY LATER FOUND THE GUN USED IN THE SHOOTING IN HIS BEDROOM.  THERE WAS A SECOND GUNMAN.

SECURITY HAS BEEN INCREASED AT ST LUCIE WEST CENTENNIAL HIGH AFTER OFFICIALS PICKED UP RUMORS OF A THREAT.  THEY WON'T TALK ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE THREAT ONLY TO SAY THEY TAKE IT SERIOUSLY

BOTH SIDES HAVE RESTED THEIR CASE IN A MURDER FOR HIRE TRIAL IN MARTIN COUNTY.  TAVERES JAVON CARTER ALLEGEDLY HIRED WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS A HIT MAN TO KILLED THE MARTIN COUNTY DEPUTY WHO BUSTED HIM ON DRUG CHARGES.  THE HIT MAN WAS AN UNDERCOVER DEPUTY.  CARTER'S LAWYER ARGUED HE'D ONLY PAID TO HAVE EVIDENCE DESTROYED.  CLOSING STATEMENTS WILL BE HEARD MONDAY

A CRASH INVOLVING A SEMI TRUCK CLOSED BOTH NORTHBOUND LANES OF THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE IN MARTIN COUNTY OVERNIGHT FRIDAY.  THE TRUCK JACKKNIFED AND MARTIN COUNTY FIRE RESCUE'S HAZMAT TEAM HAD TO CLEAN UP A FUEL SPILL

FRIDAY APRIL 18

UNEMPLOYMENT ROSE ON THE TREASURE COAST LAST MONTH.  IT'S ALSO UP FROM A YEAR AGO.  THE STATE SAYS THE MARTIN COUNTY JOBLESS RATE WENT FROM 5.0% IN FEBRUARY TO 5.3% IN MARCH.  IT WAS JUST 3.6% A YEAR AGO.  IN ST LUCIE COUNTY THE RATE JUMPED FROM 6.3% IN FEBRUARY TO 6.6% IN MARCH.  THAT'S UP FROM JUST 4.4% IN MARCH OF 2007.  IT'S ALSO ONE OF THE HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATES IN FLORIDA

SOMEBODY MADE OFF WITH MORE THAN $6,000 WORTH OF POLO AND DESIGNER SHIRTS FROM DILLARD'S IN TREASURE COAST SQUARE MALL.  MALL SECURITY SAYS THEY GOT AWAY WITH 84 SHIRTS.  A SECURITY GUARD SAW THEM, BUT THE MAN AND WOMAN RAN TO THE PARKING LOT GETTING AWAY IN A SILVER CHRYSLER.  THE GUARD SAYS THEY WERE THE SAME THIEVES THAT HIT DILLARD'S TWICE BEFORE

THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT NAMED MARK CHITTUM THE NEW HEAD OF THE MARTIN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.  HE'S BEEN THE INTERIM DIRECTOR SINCE RAY COLLINS WAS ASKED TO RESIGN LAST SUMMER.  HE'S BEEN IN PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTRATION FOR 26 YEARS IN FLORIDA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE.

A MAN WAS ARRESTED IN PORT ST LUCIE THURSDAY NIGHT AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY THREW A BIRDBATH THRU THE FRONT WINDOW OF HIS GIRLFRIEND'S HOUSE.  POLICE SAY JIM ROBINSON DROVE TO THE HOME ON SE SHIPPING ROAD AND BANGED ON THE DOORS AND OTHER WINDOWS.  THE GIRLFRIEND REFUSED TO LET HIM IN.  THAT'S WHEN THEY SAY HE THREW THE BOWL OF A BIRDBATH THRU THE WINDOW

STARTING TODAY YOU CAN WATER YOUR LAWN AND LANDSCAPING TWICE A WEEK INSTEAD OF JUST ONCE A WEEK UNDER NEW, LESS RESTRICTIVE WATER USE RULES. 

THE COURTS HAVE ORDERED PROSECUTORS TO TURN OVER AN FHP 911 TAPE TO DEFENSE ATTORNEYS WHO SAY IT HAS THE SOUNDS OF THE GUNSHOTS FROM THE ESCOBEDO FAMILY TURNPIKE MURDERS IN ST LUCIE COUNTY

MARTIN COUNTY'S PARKS & REC ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS RECOMMENDING THEY TRY TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY SWIMMING POOL AT MCHS OPEN PAST NEXT YEAR'S SCHEDULED CLOSING.

FPL GOT AN ENTHUSIASTIC RECOMMENDATION FROM THE MARTIN COUNTY LOCAL PLANNING AGENCY ON THEIR REQUEST TO REZONE PART OF THEIR INDIANTOWN PLANT SITE TO DEVELOP SOLAR POWER AND BIO-MASS POWER GENERATING CAPACITY

THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE HAS NIXED PLANS FOR A SALES TAX FREE DAYS TO BUY HURRICANE SUPPLIES THIS YEAR DUE TO BUDGET CUTS.  THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TAX FREE DAYS FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES

FLORIDA'S BIG 7 HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES MADE A COMBINES $550 MILLION IN PROFITS LAST YEAR. 



THURSDAY APRIL 17

THE MURDER-FOR-HIRE TRIAL BEGAN TODAY IN STUART.  TAVARES CARTER,28, IS CHARGED WITH HIRING WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS A HIT MAN TO KILL A MARTIN COUNTY DEPUTY WHO BUSTED HIM ON DRUG CHARGES IN 2006.  THE HIT MAN WAS ACTUALLY ANOTHER DEPUTY.  TODAY JURORS HEARD A TAPE WHERE TAVARES DISCUSSED THE HIT HE ALLEGEDLY WANTED WITH THE UNDERCOVER DEPUTY.

A MOTORCYCLIST WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED THIS AFTERNOON WHEN HIS BIKE COLLIDED WITH A PICK UP TRUCK IN ST LUCIE COUNTY.  THE CRASH HAPPENED AT SEAGRAPE AND BARTOW IN THE INDIAN RIVER ESTATES AREA.  THE MOTORCYCLIST HAD TO BE AIRLIFTED TO A TRAUMA CENTER FOR TREATMENT

A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER HAD TO PEPPER SPRAY A STUDENT WHO ALLEGEDLY CAUSED PROBLEMS ON HIS SCHOOL BUS TUESDAY AT PORT ST LUCIE HIGH.  18 YEAR OLD PIERRE MCEWEN REPORTEDLY HAD TO BE DRAGGED OFF THE BUS, THEN FOUGHT WITH THE OFFICER OUTSIDE.  HE'S BEING HELD IN THE ST LUCIE COUNTY JAIL IN LIEU OF $10,000 BOND

A MISSING ALZHEIMER'S SUFFERER HAS BEEN FOUND.  91 YEAR OLD GEORGE SHELL WAS FOUND AROUND NOON TODAY.  HE HAD WANDERED AWAY FROM HIS ROCKY POINT HOME EARLIER TRIGGERING A SEARCH BY NEIGHBORS AND MARTIN COUNTY DEPUTIES

MARTIN COUNTY COMMISSIONER LEE WEBERMAN IS ASKING TREASURE COAST CONGRESSMAN TIM MAHONEY TO KILL THE BON AIR BEACH DEAL ON JUPITER ISLAND.  HE WANTS THE COAST GUARD TO GIVE THE BEACH TO THE COUNTY INSTEAD OF JUPITER ISLAND.  MARTIN COUNTY AGREED LAST YEAR TO THE OFFER IN EXCHANGE FOR ADDING PARKING AT HOBE SOUND BEACH.  JUPITER ISLAND IS CONSIDERING CLOSING THAT COUNTY-OWNED BEACH AT NIGHT

GOVERNOR CHARLIE CRIST WANTS THE LEGISLATURE TO APPROVE A GAS TAX HOLIDAY THIS SUMMER TO LOWER THE PRICE OF GAS BY 15 CENTS A GALLON.  HOUSE LEADER MARCO RUBIO, WHO USUALLY LOVES TAX CUTS, ISN'T SO SURE HE LIKES THIS ONE.  HE FEARS SOME OIL COMPANIES WOULD JACK UP THE PRICE AT THE PUMP IF THE GAS TAX IS SUSPENDED.

FEDERAL PROSECUTORS IN THE ESCOBEDO FAMILY TURNPIKE MURDERS CASE SAYS AN FHP 911 TAPE THE DEFENSE SAYS PROVES THEIR CLIENTS COULDN'T HAVE DONE THE MURDERS IS NOT RELEVANT.  THEY SAY THE TAPE COULD HAVE COME FROM A CALL MADE ANYWHERE ON THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE, AND NOT NECESSARILY THE MURDER SCENE IN ST LUCIE COUNTY

THE JESUS HOUSE OF HOPE IS DROPPING JESUS FROM THE NAME AFTER MORE THAN 20 YEARS.  THEY SAY SOME ORGANIZATIONS WON'T DONATE FOOD AND CASH TO THEIR FOOD BANK OPS BECAUSE OF THE RELIGIOUS CONNOTATION

PORT ST LUCIE TRASH RATES WILL BE GOING UP 75 CENTS A MONTH STARTING OCTOBER 1st

AUDUBON SOCIETY OFFICIALS SAY NOW THAT THE BABY EAGLES AT TESORO ARE HUNTING FOR THEMSELVES, THEY WILL LIKELY EAT MOSTLY FISH.  THEY ALSO ENJOY EATING OTHER BIRDS ALONG WITH ROAD KILL

NOBODY HIT LOTTO LAST NIGHT.  THE NEW JACKPOT IS $25 MILLION FOR A $1 PLAY.  LOTTO TICKETS WITH 5 OF THE 6 NUMBERS ARE WORTH $8,603;  4 NUMBERS $92.50 WHILE 3 RIGHT PAYS $6



WEDNESDAY APRIL 16

THE APPEALS COURT HAS UPHELD A FORT PIERCE MAN'S MURDER CONVICTION.  19 YEAR OLD EDWARD HARRIS HAD CLAIMED THE TRIAL JUDGE SHOULD HAVE THROWN OUT HIS CONFESSION AND ALLOWED HIM TO CHANGE LAWYERS.  THE APPEALS COURT DIDN'T AGREE.  HARRIS WAS JUST 16 WHEN HE AND OTHERS PULLED JULIO PAXTORE OFF HIS BICYCLE AND BEAT HIM TO DEATH DURING A ROBBERY IN 2005.  HE'S SERVING A LIFE TERM IN PRISON

FIRE HIT A PORT ST LUCIE HOME LATE LAST NIGHT.  THE BLAZE IN THE 2800 BLOCK OF SE MELALEUCA CAME IN AROUND 11:13 PM, JUST MINUTES AFTER THE FAMILY WENT TO BED.  THE FIRE STARTED IN A BACK BEDROOM OF THE RECENTLY RENOVATED HOME AND WAS ELECTRICAL.

THREE PORT ST LUCIE CITY BUILDING INSPECTORS HAVE BEEN LAID OFF.  THE THREE WERE HIRED DURING THE CITY BUILDING BOOM IN 2005 AND EARNED AN AVERAGE OF $21 AN HOUR.  CITY OFFICIALS SAY A DOZEN MORE CITY EMPLOYEES COULD BE LAID OFF IN THE FUTURE DUE TO BUDGET CUTS.  THE THREE LAID OFF WERE OFFERED THE CHANCE TO TRANSFER TO OTHER CITY JOBS THAT DO NOT PAY AS MUCH

A LOT OF MARTIN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS WILL BE GOING TO COLLEGE IN THE FALL THANKS TO SCHOLARSHIPS.  PRINCIPAL JOANNE HUNT SAYS THEY HANDED OUT MORE THAN $750,000 DURING SCHOLARSHIP NIGHT THIS WEEK.  SOUTH FORK AND JENSEN BEACH HIGH'S SCHOLARSHIP NIGHTS ARE COMING UP SOON.

DOZENS OF PEOPLE ASKED THE MARTIN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD LAST NIGHT TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY SWIMMING POOL AT MARTIN COUNTY HIGH OPEN AND NOT CLOSE IT NEXT SUMMER.  THE SCHOOL BOARD WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT OPEN BUT SAY THEY'LL NEED THE COUNTY AND THE CITY OF STUART'S FINANCIAL HELP

ST LUCIE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICIALS FOUND THE RELATIVES OF A LITTLE 2 YEAR OLD BOY WHO WAS DROPPED OFF IN THE CAR OF A MAN AT A HOME IN FT PIERCE TUESDAY.  THE WOMAN TOLD THE MAN A WOMAN WHO LIVED THERE HAD AGREED TO WATCH THE CHILD.  THE WOMEN WHO DO LIVE AT THE HOME DID NOT KNOW THE CHILD AND FOR HOURS NOBODY KNEW WHO HE WAS. THE BOY IS BACK HOME THIS MORNING AND IT'S POSSIBLE THE GRANDMOTHER HAD THE WRONG ADDRESS THINKING ANOTHER RELATIVE LIVED THERE AND WOULD WATCH THE CHILD. 

OFFICIALS WITH THE NEW IMAGINE CHARTER SCHOOL SAY THEY CAN MEET THE AUGUST DEADLINE TO BUILD THE NEW SCHOOL AND HAVE IT OPEN IN PORT ST LUCIE IN TIME FOR THE START OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.  THEY TOLD THE PORT ST LUCIE CITY COUNCIL THIS WEEK THEY HAVE EXPERIENCE BUILDING SCHOOLS IN JUST A FEW MONTHS

REMEMBER THE STATE AGENCY THAT CITIES AND COUNTIES RUSHED TO WITHDRAW MONEY FROM LATE LAST YEAR BECAUSE IT HAD INVESTMENTS IN SUB PRIME MORTGAGES THAT MADE EVERYBODY NERVOUS? THAT AGENCY, THE STATE BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION, HAS HANDED OUT $28,000 IN BONUSES TO EMPLOYEES FOR A JOB WELL DONE. THE TOP 4 EXECUTIVES DID NOT GET THEIR BONUS THOUGH. TREASURE COAST STATE REPRESENTATIVE GAYLE HARRELL WANTS AN INVESTIGATION.

THE PARKING LOT BEHIND DUFFY’S IN DOWNTOWN STUART IS CLOSED OFF. THE OWNERS ARE REPORTEDLY WORRIED ABOUT LIABILITY IF SOMEBODY FALLS OR HAS AN ACCIDENT THERE. THEY ARE ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF SELLING IT. THE OWNER TELLS THE STUART NEWS WHY TAKE ON THE LIABILITY WITH NO INCOME COMING IN FROM THE LOT

A NEW POLL FINDS JOHN MCCAIN WOULD BEAT BARAK OBAMA AND BASICALLY TIED WITH HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON IN FLORIDA.  THE RASMUSSEN POLL OF 500 LIKELY VOTERS SHOWS MCCAIN LOSING TO CLINTON 45-44, BUT BEATING OBAMA 53-38..  THE MARGIN OF ERROR IS 4.5 PERCENT.

PORT ST LUCIE CITY OFFICIALS WANT TO RAISE BUILDING PERMIT FEES. THEY SAY THE CITY LOSES MONEY EACH TIME THEY REVIEW PLANS AND ISSUE A BUILDING PERMIT FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES. THEY WANT TO RAISE THEM 79 PERCENT FOR HOMES LARGER THAN 2 THOUSAND SQUARE FEET. . PORT ST LUCIE CHARGES $678 FOR A 2,100 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE NOW. THEY WANT TO RAISE THAT TO $1,214 STARTING JUNE 1^ST.

ANOTHER MILESTONE FOR THE EAGLETS AT TESORO. THEY’VE BEGUN TO HUNT ON THEIR OWN. ONE EAGLECAM WATCHER REPORTED EMAILED THAT BIRDIE AND BOGEY HAVE BROUGHT BACK A SNAKE TO THE NEST. WILDLIFE EXPERTS SAY THEY WILL TAKE LONGER FLIGHTS EACH DAY FROM THE NEST

TUESDAY APRIL 15

FORECLOSURES CONTINUE IN OUR AREA.  REALTYTRAC SAYS 549 ST LUCIE COUNTY HOMES ENTERED SOME STAGE IN THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS IN MARCH.  THAT'S UP FROM 370 IN MARCH OF 2007.  IN MARTIN COUNTY THERE WERE 160 HOMES IN FORECLOSURE LAST MONTH, UP FROM 38 THE YEAR BEFORE.  NEVADA, CALIFORNIA AND FLORIDA ARE THE TOP THREE STATES FOR THE NUMBER OF FORECLOSURES

A NEW POLL FINDS JOHN MCCAIN WOULD BEAT BARAK OBAMA AND BASICALLY TIED WITH HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON IN FLORIDA.  THE RASMUSSEN POLL OF 500 LIKELY VOTERS SHOWS MCCAIN LOSING TO CLINTON 45-44, BUT BEATING OBAMA 53-38..  THE MARGIN OF ERROR IS 4.5 PERCENT.

FORMER ST LUCIE COUNTY BUILDING DEPARTMENT CHIEF DENNIS GRIM GOT 16 MONTHS IN PRISON TODAY FOR TAKING BRIBES FROM BUILDERS.  HE WAS ALSO FINED $20,000 AND MUST PAY MORE THAN $28,000 FOR THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION COSTS.  HE'LL ALSO BE ON PROBATION FOR TEN YEARS.  GRIM WAS CONVICTED IN MARCH OF ACCEPTING A BRIBE OF FREE STORM SHUTTERS FOR HIS PORT ST LUCIE HOME IN EXCHANGE FOR RUBBER STAMPING APPROVAL OF BUILDING PERMITS. 

A MACHETE ATTACK LAST NIGHT IN FT PIERCE.  POLICE SAY 50 YEAR OLD TERRY L BRYANT TOLD THEM HE HAD ARGUED WITH A MAN KNOWN AS "DREAD" EARLIER MONDAY.  HE TOLD POLICE "DREAD" CAME BACK LATER AND ATTACKED HIM IN THE 400 BLOCK OF NORTH 9th STREET

FIRE DESTROYED A GARAGE EARLY THIS MORNING IN JENSEN BEACH.  THE FIRE WAS REPORTED AROUND 5:40 AM ON NE 16th STREET IN THE NORTHWOOD DEVELOPMENT.  THE HOUSE ITSELF WAS NOT DAMAGED BY FLAMES.  NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED

THE MIAMI DOLPHINS REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE IS OUT.  THEY WILL OPEN AT HOME SEPTEMBER 7tH AGAINST THE NEW YORK JETS.  THE DOLPHINS WILL PLAY BUFFALO ON DECEMBER 7th IN TORONTO CANADA. FOUR OF THEIR LAST FIVE GAMES WILL BE AWAY GAMES INCLUDING THE SEASON ENDING GAME AGAINST THE JETS.  THE 13 TEAMS THE DOLPHINS WILL PLAY THIS YEAR HAD A COMBINED 92-116 RECORD THIS PAST SEASON

A BLACK AND WHITE BOSTON TERRIER SAVED A 10 MONTH OLD BABY FROM DROWNING IN A POOL NEAR STUART LAST NIGHT.  THE BABY FELL IN, AND NOBODY EXCEPT THE TERRIER NAMED TYSON NOTICED.  THE DOG STARTED BARKING AND SLAPPING AT THE WATER ALERTING THE FAMILY WHO PULLED THE BABY OUT AND DID CPR UNTIL FIRE RESCUE GOT THERE

TREASURE COAST CPA'S, ACCOUNTANTS AND TAX PREPARERS SAY THIS INCOME TAX SEASON HAS BEEN A LOT MORE HECTIC THAN NORMAL BECAUSE OF QUESTIONS PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT HOW TO GET AN ECONOMIC STIMULUS CHECK

STUART CITY COMMISSIONERS APPROVED PLANS BY A WAYNE HUIZENGA COMPANY HAS FOR A NEW MARINA, RESTAURANT, AND DOCKMASTERS BUILDING AT THE SOUTHPOINT ANCHORAGE NEXT TO THE OLD ROOSEVELT BRIDGE.  CRITICS SAY IT'S TOO MASSIVE AND TOO INTENSE A DEVELOPMENT

THE PALM CITY LIBRARY CLOSES AT 5:30 PM TODAY AND WILL BE CLOSED FOR ALMOST A YEAR AS A TWO STORY EXPANSION IS BUILT

PORT ST LUCIE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS REZONED A 71 ACRE SITE ALONG SOUTH BEND BLVD LAST NIGHT WHERE ST LUCIE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT WANTS TO BUILD A K-8 SCHOOL SOME DAY

A TEAM OF 7 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM MARTIN COUNTY'S THREE HIGH SCHOOLS WON THE FLORIDA EDUCATION COMMISSIONER'S ACADEMIC CHALLENGE OVER THE WEEKEND IN ORLANDO.  THE TEAM ANSWERED QUESTIONS ON EVERYTHING FROM SCIENCE, HISTORY, LITERATURE, GEOGRAPHY, MATH AND OTHER SUBJECTS.

MARTIN COUNTY SHERIFF'S SGT GEORGE PRIMM WAS ONE OF MORE THAN 100 LAW OFFICERS HONORED LAST WEEK IN TALLAHASSEE BY MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING.  HE HAS MADE 2,896 DUI ARRESTS THE PAST 14 YEARS


MONDAY APRIL 14

THE MANAGER OF ATLANTIC RECYCLING IN FT PIERCE WAS ARRESTED THIS MORNING FOR ALLEGEDLY DEALING IN STOLEN PROPERTY.  NICHOLAS VanVLIET,32, WAS CHARGED AFTER ST LUCIE COUNTY SHERIFF'S INVESTIGATORS LEARNED A 354 POUND TAILGATE REPORTED STOLEN LAST WEEK FROM MARTIN COUNTY WAS IN HIS BUSINESS, ATLANTIC COAST RECYCLING.  THE MARTIN COUNTY BUSINESSMAN THAT HAD THE TAILGATE STOLEN HAD CALLED ALL THE RECYCLING AND SCRAP METAL BUSINESSES IN THE AREA TO SEE IF THEY HAD IT AND WAS TOLD BY VanVLIET HE DID NOT.  THE RIGHTFUL OWNER LATER LEARNED HE DID AND CONTACTED AUTHORITIES

IT TURNS OUT AN 17 YEAR OLD WAS NOT SHOT IN A DRIVE-BY SHOOTING AFTER ALL.  FT PIERCE POLICE SAY HE WAS ACCIDENTALLY SHOT BY A FRIEND WHO WASN'T SUPPOSED TO HAVE A GUN.  POLICE SAY 18 YEAR OLD TRAVIS SMITH'S REVOLVER WENT OFF HITTING HIS FRIEND IN THE FRONT SEAT.  SINCE TRAVIS IS A CONVICTED FELON AND NOT PERMITTED TO HAVE A GUN, THEY MADE UP THE STORY THAT THE 17 YEAR OLD WAS THE VICTIM OF A DRIVE-BY LAST MONTH 

PEOPLE LIVING NEAR A PROPOSED NEW ST LUCIE COUNTY SCHOOL SITE PLAN TO OBJECT TO IT AT TONIGHT'S PORT ST LUCIE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.  THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BOUGHT THE 71 ACRES ALONG SOUTH BEND BLVD FROM A DEVELOPER WHO HAD PLANNED TO BUILD HOMES.  THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS ASKING THE CITY FOR A ZONING CHANGE TO BUILD A K-8 SCHOOL.  PEOPLE NEARBY OBJECT SAYING IT WILL MEAN TRAFFIC AND NOISE.  THEY PLAN TO PRESENT A PETITION AGAINST THE CHANGE TO THE PORT ST LUCIE CITY COUNCIL TONIGHT

STUART CITY COMMISSIONERS ARE SCHEDULED TO DISCUSS THE SOUTHPOINTE ANCHORAGE TONIGHT.  A WAYNE HUIZENGA COMPANY HAS BEEN WORKING ON PLANS FOR A 175 SLIP MARINA WITH 69 BOAT MOORINGS AND A RESTAURANT AT THE SITE JUST SOUTH OF THE OLD ROOSEVELT BRIDGE.  THERE IS OPPOSITION TO THE PLAN WHICH CRITICS CALL TOO MASSIVE AND INTENSE.  THE REVIEW STARTS AT 5:30 AT STUART CITY HALL

THE MAN FOUND DEAD ON A PADDLE WHEEL BOAT LAST FRIDAY IN STUART HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS 69 YEAR OLD CHARLES MASON.  HE WAS A DECK HAND ON THE BOAT AND A COWORKER SAYS HE HAD BEEN DRINKING THE NIGHT BEFORE.  AN AUTOPSY WILL BE PERFORMED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF DEATH.  THE BOAT WAS ANCHORED AT THE STUART ANCHORAGE.

THE 2006 NATIONAL COLLEGE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA FELL OFF A TABLE AND SHATTERED.  THE WATERFORD CRYSTAL TROPHY WAS SITTING ON A TABLE IN ONE OF THE SKYBOXES AT THE STADIUM DURING A MOVE LAST FRIDAY, AND IT FELL WHEN THE TABLE WAS BUMPED.  THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA HAS A SECOND BCS TROPHY AND THE ONE THAT BROKE WAS INSURED.  THE BROKEN ONE WILL BE REPLACED

IN EARLIER TREASURE COAST NEWS....

THE DANGER OF BRUSH FIRES WILL BE HIGH THIS AFTERNOON.  THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WILDFIRE WARNING BECAUSE THE COOL WEATHER TODAY AND TUESDAY COMBINED WITH LOW HUMIDITY AND GUSTY WINDS WILL INCREASE THE CHANCES OF BRUSH FIRES AND CHANCES THEY WILL QUICKLY SPREAD.

THE TREASURE COAST HASN'T SEEN AS MANY BRUSH FIRES SO FAR THIS YEAR AS WE NORMALLY DO.  OFFICIALS SAY IT'S BEEN WETTER THAN NORMAL SO FAR DURING THE DRY SEASON

IT WILL BE COOL TONIGHT WITH LOWS IN THE UPPER 40s TO LOW 50s IN MARTIN & ST LUCIE COUNTY.

MARTIN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WANT TO SEE THE JOB PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS OF 15 TEACHERS WHOSE CONTRACTS ARE NOT BEING RENEWED BY THE PRINCIPAL. AT DOC ANDERSON MIDDLE SCHOOL.

PALM BEACH POST REPORTS TREASURE COAST STATE SENATOR KEN PRUITT GOT THE 5 AGENCIES INVOLVED TO AGREE THAT THE CROSSTOWN PARKWAY BRIDGE PROJECT IS AT LEAST A POSSIBILITY.  ALL HAVE REPORTEDLY AGREED AT A MEETING IN TALLAHASSEE NOT TO RED FLAG THE PROJECT WHICH WOULD HAVE KILLED IT COMPLETELY

A FT PIERCE POLICE OFFICER'S WIDOW IS FIGHTING THE BUREAUCRACY TO GET HIS DEATH BENEFITS.  THE CITY SAYS THEY DON'T HAVE OFFICER ERIC PIERRE-JEROME'S PRE-EMPLOYMENT MEDICAL EXAM TO PROVE HE DID NOT HAVE A PRE-EXISTING HEART CONDITION.  HE DIED IN 2006 OF STRESS-INDUCED HEART ATTACK.  THE CITY ADMITS IT MAY HAVE LOST THE MEDICAL EXAM, BUT SAY THEY CAN'T PAY HIS WIDOW $40,000 IN ANNUAL BENEFITS WITHOUT IT UNDER STATE LAW