Pinwheels for Prevention to focus on child abuse prevention

SRHS teen dies after being pulled in by rip current at the beach

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — An 18-year-old Sebastian River High School senior died after a rip current pulled him underwater for several minutes at Treasure Shores Park on Friday, officials said. The student, whose name was not publicly released, was a well-respected member of the school's band and set to graduate next Thursday. "The School District of Indian River County is heartbroken to confirm the tragic passing of a Sebastian River High School senior who drowned at the beach after school hours earlier today. Although this incident did not occur during a school-sponsored activity, the loss of one of our students is felt deeply across the entire school community," Cristen Maddux, spokesperson for the School District, said in a statement. "Throughout ...

County announces beach closures ahead of beach restoration project

At least two beaches will be closed starting this weekend ahead of the beach restoration project, which will start back up next week, county officials said. The project aims to restore sand - which had been washed away by storms and hurricanes over the years - at the beaches. Beach park access at Seagrape Trail Beach Access and Treasure Shores Park Beach will both close starting Friday, county officials said. Seagrape Trail Beach is located south of Wabasso Beach, off Highway A1A. Treasure Shores Park Beach is located north of Wabasso Beach. Construction at Treasure Shores Park Beach - which will start Nov. 1 - was expected to last for 45 days. Crews will finish dumping 30,000 cubic yards of ...

Couple charged with manslaughter in death of 76-year-old woman

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A husband and wife were charged with manslaughter after refusing to get treatment for a 76-year-old woman with a broken right arm and infections throughout her body, deputies said. Deputies said Yannie Adelia Lund, 58, and Brandon Chad Blanchard, 39, both of Woodland Drive, Vero Beach, were the woman's caregivers. The unidentified woman, who died Feb. 6, was Blanchard's mother, reports show. Medical examiners noted a number of factors that led to the woman's death, including the injury to her right arm with complications, a blood infection, infected bed sores and hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, reports show. Medical examiners listed the woman's manner of death as a homicide, deputies said. Deputies charged Lund and Blanchard each ...