ST. LUCIE COUNTY — A man and a woman on a sailboat that came ashore Friday afternoon near the 9800 block of South Ocean Drive are slated to appear in front of an immigration judge, a spokeswoman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Monday.

The sailboat owner, a man from England, and the woman, who is from Germany, told customs officials they were headed to Cuba from the Bahamas before coming ashore, said Elee Erice, spokeswoman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

“It does sound a little crazy,” Erice said.
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Rich DiMuccio, of Vero Beach, looks over an abandoned boat. (Photo by ERIC HASERT)

Simon Jenkins had never seen a boat on the beach behind his home on State Road A1A before Wednesday.

But the abandoned 23-foot-long boat, which washed ashore overnight about half a mile north of Round Island Park, also brought some activity and mystery with it.

“Usually I only see about three people a day on the beach,” said Jenkins, 42, who lives in the 1800 block of S.R. A1A, just south of where the boat landed. “Today, it was a huge crowd of seven people and a dog.” (more…)

By Elliott Jones

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — U.S. Coast Guard officials are searching the ocean off southern Indian River County for people who may have been in a 23-foot boat that was found washed ashore about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.

It isn’t know whether anyone was aboard the boat, named Shorty Perdue, which was found about 10 miles north of the Fort Pierce Inlet, Petty Officer Michael Cote said at 5:30 a.m. (more…)

STUART — Dennis Olson said he usually describes his boating excursions as tranquil.

But one week ago, Olson was on a 27-foot Chapparal boat that exploded at its stern while he was standing in the middle. Olson, 71, was thrown forward and suffered a deep cut on his right forearm, which is requiring daily treatment for an infection caused by bacteria he picked up when he jumped off the burning vessel into the water.

“I’m not a religious person, but I say ‘thank you,’ everyday,” Olson said, gesturing skyward. “It could have been worse. It was very traumatic.” (more…)

STUART — Have you ever wondered why some of those markers on the water are red and some are green?

And why are they different shapes, anyway? Why shouldn’t I just wait until I need my life jacket to put it on?

What is the minimum length of boat that requires a second fire extinguisher — or a third?

Answers to these and many other questions will be yours just for taking the time to attend the Coast Guard Auxiliary’s program, About Boating Safely.
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PORT CANAVERAL — Martha Jackson was watching a wedding video with her nephew when she heard the splash.

Soon after, the Nashville, Tenn., woman heard a man yelling.

“You could hear him hollering for help,” said Jackson, who was on the last night of a four-night cruise to the Bahamas.

Authorities have not released the name of the 34-year-old Philadelphia man who jumped from his sixth-deck suite aboard the Carnival Sensation late Wednesday. The man, who was on the cruise celebrating his wedding anniversary, was rescued 1 1/2 hours later by the Disney cruise ship Wonder off the coast of southern St. Lucie County. (more…)

MARTIN COUNTY — If the Martin County Commission approves changes to the shoreline protection law next week, 28 properties with seawalls and hardened shorelines could develop marinas and restaurants within 20 feet of the water.

The change would allow the properties in Community Redevelopment Areas to expand within the current 20-foot wide protection buffer on hardened shorelines. The amendment includes a 10-foot construction setback for principal structures.

Commissioner Doug Smith, who proposed the change, said the amendment will allow waterfront properties to complete shoreline projects that could stimulate business. The waterfront was fruitful for development before the current shoreline protection law passed in the 1990s.
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Two men who never returned from a weekend fishing trip out of Fort Pierce continued to go missing on Tuesday morning.

Vincent Faulkner and his brother-in-law Eric Ross left the Black Pearl boat ramp in downtown Fort Pierce about noon Sunday, Coast Guard officials there report. The search for them and the 14-foot boat they were on began after family contacted officials about 9:30 p.m. Sunday.

The search continues today, when the Coast Guard deployed a helicopter crew, a jet crew, a long-range aircraft crew and three boats to scour the seas.

As of last night the search area included 1,200 square miles. It is too early to tell how wide the area will be today, a spokesman said this morning.

FORT PIERCE — A Georgia man accused of walking naked along a beach about 100 yards from two children and their parents faces an exposure charge, according to a recently released arrest affidavit.

Kevin Francis Gallagher, 61, reportedly was spotted Tuesday afternoon by a St. Lucie County Sheriff’s deputy in a patrol boat. He also had a gun in a bag.

The deputy sighted Gallagher, of Snellville, Ga., about 100 yards north of where two children and their parents were swimming. The incident occurred in the 5500 block of South Ocean Drive.

“There was also a couple that told me they were walking down the beach towards the suspect and had to turn around and walk the opposite direction because the suspect was standing at the water edge,” the affidavit states.

Arrested on a misdemeanor charge of exposure of sexual organs, Gallagher was handcuffed and a gun was found in his carry bag.

The affidavit does not specify why Gallagher, listed as unemployed, was walking naked.

By Will Greenlee, TCPalm.com

FORT PIERCE — It’s common to do it to pets and boats.

But cars?

If your 1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda is nothing short of divine, you may want to submit it to the Blessing of the Cars as part of their 10:30 Sunday morning worship service. You could bring your Smart Car, too.

Saints Cyril and Methodius Byzantine Catholic Church at 1002 Bahama Avenue is inviting residents to the event.

The car blessing will commemorate the Feast of the Prophet Elijah.

“Tradition relates that Elijah was carried up to Heaven in a fiery chariot (2 Kings 1:12),’’ the pastor, Fr. Michael J. Sopoliga, wrote.

Byzantine Catholics are among the 23 “Churches” within the Catholic Church, officials said.

The Byzantine Catholic Church in Fort Pierce celebrates the 4th Century Eucharistic Liturgy of the early Christians. The church’s Slavic kitchen also is known for great pierogies and stuffed cabbage.

So anoint your engine with 10-W-40 if it needs it and visit www.byzcath.org/fortpierce, or call (772) 595-1021, for more information.

By Matt Prichard, TCPalm.com