Alex Barton

Melissa Barton removed her son, Alex, from Port St. Lucie’s Morningside Elementary after the May 21 incident, which prompted national and international outrage. Alex, now 6, has not returned to public school and has been receiving instruction at home from a teacher. (more…)

Port St. Lucie has tapped the police chief of a small town in Volusia County to lead the city’s police department.
The city council will be asked on Monday to approve the appointment of Donald Shinnamon Sr., who is currently chief of the police and fire departments in the town of Holly Hills.
Shinnamon’s appointment comes nearly four months after longtime chief John Skinner announced he would be stepping down to work as director of security for Major League Baseball’s minor league teams.
Shinnamon has been public safety director in Holly Hills, a town of 12,500 near Daytona Beach, since 2001. He has also served as police chief in Gainesville and as chief of operations in the Baltimore County, Md., Police Department.  If his contract is approved he would take office on Jan. 12, according to a city news release.
Andrew Marra, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Kids are walking farther to bus stops, there are less sporting events and schools have hiring freezes.

These are some of the ways Treasure Coast school officials have dealt with more than $44 million in state budget cuts. But more cuts are imminent and officials say locally there is no budget fat left to cut.

“As we look at budget cuts coming up and we know that’s the future of our school district and the state of Florida,” Martin County Schools Superintendent Nancy Kline said, “they’ll be a little more pain this year and then next year we’ll also be dealing with it.” (more…)

STUART — A man accused of pepper-spraying Publix employees after they tried to stop him from shoplifting was arrested Saturday, according to a report released by the Martin County Sheriff ’s Office.

The report says Adrian Santiago Rivera, 18, of the 900 block of Northeast Flamingo Avenue, left the Publix in the 3300 block of Southeast U.S.1. with two bottles of cold medicine and did not pay for them. (more…)

STUART — Famed Stuart Attorney Willie Gary this afternoon teamed up with the Big Heart Brigade to provide Thanksgiving dinner to local needy families.

Gary and his sons delivered the turkeys, stuffing, canned goods and other holiday food items to families in the Rio, East Stuart and Port Salerno areas.

“You’d be amazed at how something so little makes such a big difference to these families,” Gary said. “We can’t forget that especially now, in this country, in this economy, we’re all in this together. Those of us who can help should.” (more…)

Police car involved in crash

Officer Keith Carrier was driving south at about 2 a.m. today on Port St. Lucie Boulevard when another vehicle, a gray 2007 Nissan Altima, attempted to turn left from northbound Port St. Lucie Boulevard onto Southwest Firestone Avenue and crashed into him, according to police. (more…)

STUART — A motorist reported being robbed at gunpoint while stopped for a traffic light at Dixie Highway and Florida Street about 8:45 p.m. Friday, said Sgt. Martin Jacobson of the Stuart Police Department on Monday.

The victim stated that he was stopped for the traffic signal when a black male tapped on his driver’s side window. The man pointed a .38 caliber black revolver at the victim and demanded his valuables. The victim surrendered his wedding band and a wallet that contained the victim’s driver’s license and Social Security card but no cash.

The suspect was further described as wearing a black skull cap, black jacket, black pants and white tennis shoes. He was 5 feet 9 inches tall, 160 pounds and had a tattoo on his left hand. The suspect fled in a dark colored Cadillac with a gold stripe on the sides. The vehicle did not have a license plate.

Anyone with information about this robbery is asked to contact Detective Derek Ortado at 220-3906 or Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at (800) 273-TIPS

TCPalm.com staff report

PORT ST. LUCIE — A 46-year-old man who objected to how a Waste Pro worker handled his neighbor’s recycling bins was arrested after reportedly spitting on the worker and threatening him with a shovel, according to a police report released Monday.

Donald G. Smith, of the 6800 block of Northwest Abadan Street, faces battery and assault charges in connection with the Saturday morning incidents that could be described as recycling bin rage.

The Waste Pro worker told investigators he emptied the bins of Smith’s neighbor and threw them back in the swale. He said Smith took issue with his bin handling, quoting Smith as saying, “You don’t throw people’s (expletive) like that in the street.” (more…)

It’s more than playing dress up.

Using a law enforcement badge or flashing blue lights for personal gain is a felony and dangerous to the public because the imposter is abusing the trust reserved for law enforcement officers, St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara said.

“The citizens hold in high regard people in law enforcement,” Mascara said. “More than 90 percent of the public when they receive a command from a law enforcement officer will abide by the commands and wishes. That’s a tremendous amount of trust.”

A review of records from Treasure Coast law enforcement agencies shows each year agencies get a handful of cases involving impersonating law enforcement officers. But local law enforcement officials said they are concerned with recent cases, where a person not in uniform claimed to be a federal agent, because they could cause the public to question the commands given by legitimate officers. (more…)

STUART — Homeless and low-income families on the Treasure Coast are invited to join Mothers and Infants Striving for Success Tuesday for their annual Thanksgiving Feast.

Dinner will begin at 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Martin County Fairgrounds, 2616 SE Dixie Highway. The dinner will last until 9 p.m.

Aside from the dinner and a few Thanksgiving activities, diners will hear a mix of live oldies, R&B, rock and blues music from local band Sonny & the Sunliners.

Among the sponsors for the M.I.S.S. feast are: the Wal-Mart Heart Team, Mr. Bread Bakery, Treasure Coast C.R.A. Round Table, Martin County Parks & Recreation, and Premier Party Rental.

The M.I.S.S. organization, founded in 1999, has provided the first transitional housing center in Martin County for homeless women and children.

For more information on the M.I.S.S. feast, please call (772) 781-4063.