Hometown News

MARTIN COUNY - A Tennessee man who was driving along Interstate-95 with a car that needed gas decided to get money to pay for the fuel by robbing a bank, he told authorities last week. Alfred Estille Gray, 25, 326 Monticello Ave., Madison, Tenn., and Jamie Pinkerton, aka Jaime Stewart, 37, 1164 Sioux Terrace, Madison, Tenn., were a...

Book festival returns for 18th year

By Samantha Joseph Staff writer MARTIN COUNTY - The Treasure Coast's largest book festival is coming to Jensen Beach, this time with 14 authors for a daylong event. Bookmania, now in its 18th year, is the popular festival that gives readers a chance to meet nationally recognized authors, and see them participate in panel discussions and readings....

County declares state of emergency to start bidding on inlet dredging

By Samantha Joseph Staff writer MARTIN COUNTY - A decision by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to cancel bidding for contractors to dredge the St. Lucie Inlet has left it to Martin County officials to prevent further delay in the federal project. After the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers procurement specialists said county officials violated procedu...

Library hosts lecture series on Everglades

By Samantha Joseph Staff writer MARTIN COUNTY - An eight-part lecture series by Mark Perry, Florida Oceanographic Society's executive director, will lay out the history of the Everglades and plans for the upkeep of one of the world's largest wetlands. Mr. Perry will present "The Everglades: Past, Present and Future" on Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. in the Joh...

Area company invents alternative to metal coating

By Samantha Joseph Staff writer MARTIN COUNTY - A Palm City-based company has created a product it says will change the way manufacturers of metal parts do business. B4C Technologies' CEO Thomas Dyer said his tiny local company has created a formula that is a superior alternative to metal coating. "Unlike a coating that is put on top of a part, o...

Community highs, lows in 2011

By Samantha Joseph Staff writer MARTIN COUNTY - This year the headlines were a mix of celebrations, heartbreaks and changes that could affect the way of life in Martin County and the broader region. A shocking disappearance of a Florida toddler led to proposed legislation to punish parents who lie to investigators trying to find missing children,...

Marathon baseball fundraiser to help Vero Beach family

TREASURE COAST - Swinging a bat and catching a ball will be more than just fun and games next month during a marathon baseball fundraiser in Vero Beach. Beneficiaries of the fundraiser are the family of the late Brian Simpson - a Vero Beach re...