PORT ST. LUCIE — Alfredo Felipe opened his new barber shop in Port St. Lucie because he liked the hometown feel of the community.

Felipe, 33, never thought that a month after his grand opening, an odd theft would occur at his business, Fredo’s Barbershop Hair Trends International, 698 Southwest Port St. Lucie Blvd.

Felipe said his homemade, 7-foot barber pole, made out of Styrofoam, mesh, stucco and some light metal materials, was stolen between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. Friday at his shop.
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VERO BEACH — Caitlin Henderson’s poodle, French bulldog and border collie were playing in her back yard as usual when she came home from work Wednesday.

But their shelled, spiky-legged, wanna-be-pooch pal Reily was nowhere in sight.

Reily, a 30-pound, foot-and-a-half long rare African tortoise who’s been in the Henderson family for six years, was missing.

And since Reily’s not the most deft-of-foot creature — though not nearly as slow as the stereotype indicates — Henderson, 25, fears someone stole her prized pet.

“Reily steals the dogs’ food and hangs out with them like any other dog would,” Henderson said. “He means a lot to us. He’s one of our dogs, basically.”

Henderson last saw her 15-year-old African spur thigh tortoise during a 2 p.m. lunch break from work at a local animal hospital. When she got back from work at 6 p.m., the tortoise was gone, even though everything else about the yard appeared normal and untouched. (more…)

A second Beagle, suffering from Parvo, was found staggering in traffic in Lake Park, very close to the location where a mother Beagle and her puppies were found April 17.

Kay-Lynette Roca, executive director of Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary & Hospital, said Tuesday that the male Beagle brought to Safe Harbor and the female Beagle that was found last week have matching collars and seem to know each other.

“Parker, the male Beagle dog that was found in traffic in Lake Park, looks very similar to the Beagle mom who is now fighting for her life. I’m afraid there may be a backyard breeder in the Lake Park area who is neglecting these dogs and tossing them out.”
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VERO BEACH — Absenteeism has doubled at Vero Beach High School in the last week with bomb threats starting off four school days.

And for many students who did show up for school this week, the decision came after a serious conversation at home.

“My daughter tried not to go Monday because of the Columbine anniversary,” parent Darby Dickerson said. “But I told her you can’t let two dead folks from 10 years ago stop you.”
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Unmarked Port St. Lucie police car damaged by Molotov cocktail.

PORT ST. LUCIE — Authorities are offering a $5,000 reward for information regarding two incidents of someone tossing Molotov cocktails at or near law enforcement vehicles over the weekend.

In each incident, the incendiary device landed at the front of a law enforcement officer’s home.

No one was injured in either case, according to Port. St. Lucie police, who are investigating the crimes.

Both took place on Saturday in the southwestern section of the city between 10:25 p.m. and 10:55 p.m., police spokesman Officer Robert Vega said today.

In the first case, a Molotov cocktail was found burning near a marked Martin County Sheriff’s Office patrol car, police said. In the other, a burning bottle filled with fuel was thrown at an unmarked Port St. Lucie police vehicle, Vega said.

Both vehicles were unoccupied when the devices were thrown, Vega said.

Port St. Lucie police have been looking into several leads.

In the meantime, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of whoever is responsible.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Port St. Lucie Police Department at (772) 871-5001, or Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at (800) 273-TIPS.