TALLAHASSEE — A new study shows Port St. Lucie only follows Miami as the most vulnerable city to hurricane winds of Florida’s 12 major population centers.

Tallahassee comes in as the least. (more…)

VERO BEACH — Emilio Bahena thought he was a goner.

Just hours after arriving in Indian River County from Illinois to visit friends, the 21-year-old decided to take a morning dip in the Atlantic Ocean. (more…)

Saturday morning, Chauncelor Howell and Mike Iania went to River Park on Prima Vista Boulevard with the hopes of catching a couple of fish. What they never expected was to find one of the largest specimens ever seen of a fish native to South America’s Amazon River. (more…)

A 45-year-old Fort Pierce woman is accused of using scissors to cut a man who let her stay at his residence for about four days because of cold temperatures, according to the St. Lucie County arrest affidavit.

Kara L. Lewis, who was staying in the 1000 block of Sunrise Boulevard, was arrested Thursday night and charged with felony aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

The man and Lewis were drinking Tuesday night when Lewis became intoxicated, according to the affidavit. Lewis became upset when the man told her she didn’t need any more.
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INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Two dead manatees were retrieved Tuesday morning near Round Island Park - bringing to three the number of apparently cold-related manatee deaths in Indian River County following the recent freeze.

The first was an infant found near Sebastian.

And, “This may just be the tip of the iceberg” of manatees either dying or being injured by the cold, said state marine mammal biologist Kristy Rush.
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What a difference a week makes.

After facing eight days of freezing or below freezing temperatures, the Treasure Coast has returned to warm weather with Sunday’s temperature expected near 78.

But last week, residents could only dream of warm weather as they donned sweaters, coats and gloves to beat the freeze. At local hardware stores, space heaters flew off the shelves like plywood during hurricane season.

Not only was the weather a threat to people but animals and plants.

Water temperatures in the Indian River Lagoon dropped in to the 60s, about 10 degrees colder than the usual winter-time low and posed a danger to sea turtles, which can be stunned and unable to search for food, reported wildlife officials. Saving the citrus crop also was a concern for growers, as multiple days of freezing temps could damage citrus trees.

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One of Martin County’s most beloved beaches may be closed indefinitely.

Bathtub Reef Beach, known for its worm-rock reef and calm waters, has been closed off and on since storms left it battered and severely eroded more than two years ago.

The parking lot is full of sand. Bathrooms are closed. Litter is common, and the reef has been damaged by graffiti and illicit beachgoers trampling on its delicate structure.

County officials, who closed the beach until further notice in October, are short on cash and solutions to shore up one of their most recognizable natural landmarks. They say it may never look like it once did. (more…)

SEBASTIAN INLET — A commercial fisherman pulled three people out of a sinking charter boat and aided its captain in preventing the ship for sinking on New Year’s Day.

“It was my good deed for the year,” said Al Tyrrell, 86, of Fort Pierce. “I was just thankful I could be there to help.”

Tyrrell said he was 10 miles east of the Sebastian Inlet State Park about 3:30 p.m. Friday when he was alerted by the captain of the party boat Rogue Wave, which docks at Capt. Hiram’s Resort in Sebastian. Tyrrell said the Rogue Wave was sinking and the captain wanted him to take his three passengers aboard.
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OKEECHOBEE COUNTY — A 4-acre brush fire damaged a hunting trailer in Fort Drum before firefighters doused the blaze, state officials said.

The fire was reported at 12:45 a.m. Monday, the Division of Forestry said. Forestry firefighters were able to quickly put out the fire.
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The Fort Pierce City Marina, the crown jewel of downtown Fort Pierce before being ravaged by hurricanes five years ago, may finally be rebuilt.

City officials say the $20 million project will be an environmental and economic boon to the city, adding to revitalization efforts downtown.

Already, Marina Square and the river walk have been restored. A new library and county courthouse have gone in. Community events often are held downtown.

The only thing missing, city officials say, is to restore the city-owned marina. (more…)