STUART — A man accused of using a shotgun to blast his way into a Palm City home about 9 a.m. last Thursday, only to be shot three times himself, is expected to be charged with attempted murder and armed burglary.

Rhonda Irons, Martin County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman, said Monday that investigators are still probing the circumstances under which Christopher Reber, 23, of Stuart, is suspected of shooting his way into the home where Joe Russo and Linda Schultz live.

Schultz, 40, was home alone when Reber blew out the glass doors on the rear of her Lake Village home, reports said. She was slightly injured but grabbed a .40-caliber handgun and fired back at him, hitting him three times.
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FORT PIERCE — Plans for a $90 million project to build a hotel, restaurants, shops and homes on the old H.D. King Power Plant site may be in jeopardy because of a glitch in the contract.

Jonathan Snyder, president and chief executive officer of Nevada-based Snyder Development LLC, wants the city to donate 6.87 acres of waterfront property on Indian River Drive to build his project, but language tied to the deed says the city has to use the land for a public purpose or the property reverts back to the state.

The glitch might kill the project, Snyder said.

The City Commission, seated as the Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency board, will discuss the city’s options during a 12:30 p.m. Wednesday meeting at City Hall. (more…)

Tristan Allegra

PORT ST. LUCIE — Students and staff at Mariposa Elementary School remember Tristan Allegra, 8, “very kind and helpful, cool and funny,” according to a counselor who helped them cope with the third-grader’s Christmas Day death.

“Tristan was a popular kid, very well-liked,” said Robert O’Neill, a St. Lucie County School District psychologist, one of three counselors who went to the school Monday and Tuesday as classes resumed after the holiday break.

Sign Tristan’s guest book.

According to a Port St. Lucie Police Department arrest affidavit, Tristan died after his mother, Eryn Allegra, of the 2200 block of Southeast Bowie Street, smothered him in his sleep early Christmas morning in a hotel room. She is held without bond on a charge of first-degree murder.

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A showdown is brewing near Port Mayaca in Martin County as a group of environmental protesters are camping out for a second night tonight demanding access to a natural swamp on land owned by Florida Power and Light Co.

“If they don’t open the swamp, we will cross the tracks and risk arrest,” said Peter Shultz of Hobe Sound, a member of Everglades Earth First. (more…)

ORLANDO — Walt Disney Co. announced its first major hotel discounts in years to counter a “sobering” economic outlook for 2009, after reporting lower profit in its most recent quarter because of a decline in movie and theme-park earnings and losses from the bankruptcy of one of Wall Street’s giant investment firms.

Disney President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger said early hotel bookings for 2009 are down “considerably,” though he also said “it’s just too early to tell” whether that’s more the result of people delaying their vacation plans or canceling them altogether.

“Our brand and the experiences we offer have never been stronger. But consumer confidence is the lowest we’ve seen in over three decades,” Iger said, noting that retail spending is also down. “That could impact us possibly during the holiday season but almost certainly during 2009.”

Disney is bringing back a deal it last offered in 2003: For most of the first six months of next year, vacationers can get seven nights in Disney World hotels for the price of four. Those who book vacations for January, February or March will also get a voucher for $200 worth of food and souvenirs. For either deal, reservations must be made by Dec. 20. (more…)