Help the community. If you see a crime being committed, leave anonymous tips on Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers hotline, web site or smart phone app. 2019 GINNY BEAGAN/TCPALM Ginny Beagan, TCPALM

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY A Vero Beach man was charged with trafficking and carrying hydromorphone, a common opioid used to treat severe pain, after deputies found a bag full of pills.

Dethomas Brunson, 32, of the 3000block of 44th Lane in Vero Beach, was arrested early Sunday morning on charges of trafficking and carrying the drugs, according to anIndian River County Sheriff's Office arrest affidavit.

A deputy spotted Brunson around 1:10 a.m. walking away from the Econo Lodge at 950 U.S. 1 in Vero Beach after reports that he was yelling at his girlfriend and preventing her from getting in her car, according to the affidavit.

More: Vero Beach man arrested, accused of trafficking meth; deputies seize guns and over 45 grams of drugs

As a deputy approached Brunson, he was seen reaching in his front pocket and throwing a clear bag to the ground, according to the report.

Dethomas Brunson, 32, of the 3000th block of 44th Lane in Vero Beach, was charged with hydromorphone trafficking and possession of a controlled substance Sunday, November 24, 2019.(Photo: CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE)

Several white pills and a smaller bag of blue pills were found inside the bag that Brunson threw to the ground, the report said. Deputies researched the pills and discovered they were 2 grams of oxycodone, also a painkiller,and 15 grams of hydromorphone.

According to the arrest affidavit, Brunson denied that he owned the pills.

More: FHP: 60-year-old Port St. Lucie man dead after car crashes into canal near Oslo Road

Brunson was takento the Indian River County Jail on a hydromorphone trafficking charge and a possession of a controlled substance charge, according to the affidavit.

He posted a $21,500 bond and was released, according to jail records.

Max Chesnes is a TCPalm breaking news reporter for Indian River County. You can keep up with Max on Twitter @MaxChesnes and give him a call at 772-978-2224.

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IRCSO: Vero Beach man arrested, accused of trafficking and carrying opioids - TCPalm

Port St. Lucie City Council honored 14 Purple Heart recipients during a ceremony Monday, Oct. 22, 2018. GEORGE ANDREASSI/TCPALM Wochit

Drivesouth on U.S.1, and just before the Roosevelt Bridgeyou'll see a sign on the right-hand side that reads, "Welcome to Stuart. A Purple Heart City."

Port St. Lucie and Vero Beach sharethe designation, too.

A Purple Heart City. What does that mean?

ThePurple Heartisthe U.S. military decorationawardedto those wounded or killed during service. Though its name has undergone changes through the years, it is the oldest military award, datingback to the Revolutionary War.

As a tribute to veterans who have received the honor, the Purple Heart Trail was created in 1992. It's asystem of counties, cities, roads, highways, bridgesand other monuments that serve as a visual reminder of fallen soldiers.

Stuart, Port St Lucie and Vero Beach are all Purple Heart cities.(Photo: Catie Wegman)

Its a way for people to honor and recognize the sacrifice of Purple Heat recipients," said Ernie Rivera, national adjutant for the Military Order of the Purple Heart, or MOPH.

"Any organization can become a Purple Heart entity so long as they wish to helpus spread our mission of patriotism and remembering wounded veterans so no one forgets the sacrifice they made for our country," Rivera said.

Unlike the actual medal, theres no strict list of criteria or formal approval process for entities that wish to be included on the Purple Heart Trail, he said. Cities, businesses and other organizations simply must write a proclamation explaining why they want thedesignation.

Thestatements are filed with the MOPH, and then there's typically a small ceremony whereentities participation becomes official.

While Stuart, Port St. Lucie and Vero Beach arethe only designated Purple Heart cities on the Treasure Coast, Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin counties also are recognized on the trail.

The only other local Purple Heart entity is State Road 710, also known as the Bee Line Highway, between theMartin County line andU.S. 1 in Palm Beach County.

Pretty much anything can qualify as a Purple Heart entity. In fact, the16 Hooters restaurantsin South Florida are recognized, as are Florida construction companies, hotels and even a newspaper, the Crestview News Bulletin in Okaloosa County.

The Indian River Wood Carvers Purple Heart Cane Project Cane Presentation Ceremony at the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017 in Fort Pierce.(Photo: HOBIE HILER/SPECIAL TO TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

Florida is working toward designating all of its counties to becomeaPurple Heart State, Rivera said. Former Gov. Rick Scott signed a proclamationdeclaringAug. 7 Florida Purple Heart Day.

The state is the second largest total veteran population, andabout 5,000 Purple Heart recipients.Rivera speculates the numbers could be higher, though, if it were to includewinter residents.

Editor's note:Ask Catieis an occasional feature produced by TCPalm Community Reporter Catie Wegman, whotries to find answers to your burning questionsabout anything and everything the more bizarre the better.Contact her by email at catie.wegman@tcpalm.com, and follow her on Twitter and Instagram @Catie_Wegman and on Facebook @catiewegman1.

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Stuart, Port St. Lucie and Vero Beach are Purple Heart cities, but what does that mean? - TCPalm

Pat D'Angelo, of North Wildwood, poses for a picture by a set of wings made by Chris Pohle, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019. The display is located at 7th Street and JFK Boulevard in North Wildwood. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

There are a few reasons to visit the 7th Street beach in North Wildwood during the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

Some may want to see the erosion caused from the last few storms while others may just want to walk the quiet beach during the offseason. But those in the know have a different reason to pay a visit -- to see a set of wings that resemble those of an angel.

These two 4-foot tall wings -- made of approximately 350 cut conch (strombus) shells that are attached to a pole -- provide joy, hope and a spiritual connection to the people that come to visit them at take photos.

"I think it's beautiful," said Pat D'Angelo, of North Wildwood. "It's so spiritual."

Chris Pohle, of Wildwood, stands by a set of wings that he made out of conch shells, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019. The display is located at 7th Street and JFK Boulevard in North Wildwood. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

D'Angelo, with her daughter and granddaughter in tow, came to see the wings and like everyone else, pose for a few pictures in front of them.

Thursday was the second day the wings were on display. "They do not disappoint," said D'Angelo, before leaving to watch her granddaughter, Maelisa, 3, play on a nearby wooden castle.

This unusual piece of art began popping up last Easter, with the first set of wings made of sand dollars. Who the artist was and where it came from was a mystery.

"Originally when I did this, I didn't even want people to know it was me," said Wildwood resident Chris Pohle, who blames his daughter for the social media push that exposed him as the artist.

Pohle, who makes a living in the real estate business, has dabbled in art his whole life but it wasn't until he stumbled upon the art of Kelsey Montague that the idea of beach meets angel wings began to take flight.

"It all clicked with me somehow," he said, after seeing Montague's painted wings in Ireland.

Marissa Pohle poses for a picture by a set of wings that her father Chris made out of sea dollars. (Photo courtesy of Chris Pohle)

It occurred to him that he could make wings out of the sand dollars he and his wife collected over the years.

He did, and his art struck a chord for many that stopped by.

"It had such an overwhelming reception," said Pohle, adding that the humbling part of it all was that some people suffering from cancer really connected with the sand dollar wings.

He even made a mini set of wings for a few people because it meant that much to them.

Since then Pohle has made a set of wings out of starfish, painted red, white and blue, and a set for the Wildwoods Irish Festival made of shamrock molds with embedded sea glass. He already has a set made for Valentines Day.

A set of wings made out of conch shells, created by Wildwood resident, Chris Pohle, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019. The display is located at 7th Street and JFK Boulevard in North Wildwood. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Pohle said he doesn't necessarily plan out the design, but more or less just wings it. The most recent piece took approximately three weeks to complete, with each cut conch shell individually glued.

He finds that working on the wings is a way to relax and get away from the real estate business, but he won't call himself an artist just yet.

"People are calling me an artist," said Pohle. But when asked what he calls himself, he says with a laugh, Chris."

Pohle makes no money off of his art but said he does it because people are drawn to the wing designs.

"They connect to these things, each in their own personal different way."

The wings will be on display until December 2 at 7th Street and JFK Boulevard in North Wildwood, or as some now call it Angel Beach.

Scroll down below to see more images of the Angel Beach wings.

Marissa Pohle poses for a picture by a set of wings that her father Chris made out of starfish. (Photo courtesy of Chris Pohle)

Barbara Mitchell, of North Coventry, Pa., takes a picture of a set of wings made out of conch shells, created by Wildwood resident, Chris Pohle, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019. The display is located at 7th Street and JFK Boulevard in North Wildwood. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

A set of wings made from shamrock molds with embedded sea glass was created by Chris Pohle. (Photo courtesy of Chris Pohle)

A set of wings made from sea dollars was created by Chris Pohle. (Photo courtesy of Chris Pohle)

Chris Pohle, of Wildwood, takes a picture of Monica Bagley, of North Wildwood, in front of a set of wings that he made out of conch shells, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019. The display is located at 7th Street and JFK Boulevard in North Wildwood. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

A set of wings made from shamrock molds with embedded sea glass was created by Chris Pohle. (Photo courtesy of Chris Pohle)

Tim Hawk may be reached at thawk@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Tim on Instagram@photog_hawk and Twitter @photogthawk. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.

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Wings made of conch shells on Jersey Shore beach are a heaven-sent photo op - NJ.com

A 36-year-old man was fatally shot Friday night in Long Beachs third shooting in just over 24 hours, authorities said.

Jamie Ruiz of Long Beach died in the attack, which took place about 10:55 p.m. in the 1500 block of Magnolia Avenue, according to the Long Beach Police Department.

Officers responding to a report of gunfire found Ruiz with gunshot wounds to the upper torso, police said in a written statement. Paramedics took him to a hospital, where he soon succumbed to his wounds.

Investigators determined that the victim had been standing outside a home with two others when the shooting took place.

A male adult suspect approached the group, a verbal exchange occurred and the suspect then opened fire at all three victims, fleeing the scene before officers arrival, the police statement said. The other two victims who were with Ruiz were not hurt.

No further description of the attacker was available, police said. The shooting was believed to be gang related.

The deadly shooting was the third reported in Long Beach since Thursday night, when five people were wounded in a 10 p.m. shooting in the 1100 block of 10th Street, Long Beach police Lt. Byron Blair said at the time. The shooter, who fled the scene in a what police described as a gray minivan, remained at large Saturday. All five victims were expected to survive.

Two men suffered gunshot wounds in another attack what unfolded about 5:45 p.m. Thursday in the 2800 block of Santa Fe Street, police said. The victims injuries were not believed to be life-threatening. A suspect description was not available.

Gang investigators took charge of the investigations into both of Thursdays shootings, police said.

Officials said Saturday that the police department would be stepping up patrols in response to the violence.

In response to recent shootings, the Long Beach Police Department will be increasing saturated patrols in various areas of the city for the next couple of weeks, according to the police statement.

Investigative resources will also be augmented and we will continue to work with our community partners to strengthen communication and cooperation, the statement said. The department is committed to combating violent crime and with your help, we can have a safe city for all people.

Anyone with information on the shootings was asked to contact Long Beach police. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

33.786392-118.197811

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Long Beach Man Killed in Citys 3rd Shooting in Just Over 24 Hours - KTLA Los Angeles

Tulane basketball coach Ron Hunters entertaining revival show plays well on the road, too.

Continuing to resuscitate a program that appeared dead on his arrival, Hunter guided the Green Wave (5-1) to two wins in three games at the Myrtle Beach Invitational over the weekend.

He playfully asked athletic director Troy Dannen for an immediate raise in his postgame interview on ESPNU. He already has raised expectations exponentially in his first season, surpassing last years victory total in just six games.

After losing to 2019 NCAA tournament No. 5 seed Mississippi State in its Myrtle Beach opener, Tulane rebounded by beating Middle Tennessee 86-74 and Utah 65-61 for fifth place on Sunday morning.

A lot of guys did a lot of good things and I learned a lot about my team, Hunter said. Its a Power-5 (conference opponent) win and thats very important for us. To come back and win two games like we just did shows Tulane basketball is back.

The way the Wave beat the Utes meant as much as the result. Trailing 55-47 with 6:30 left, Tulane outscored Utah 18-6 down the stretch, overcoming a missed wide-open dunk by standout freshman Nobal Days in the process.

Reserve guard Ray Ona Embo started the finishing kick with a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 55-50, and the Wave ended on an 10-0 run. Jordan Walker hit a pair of short, pull-up jumpers in the lane around a Days layup to tie it at 61. Leading scorer Teshaun Hightower made another short jumper to give the Wave the lead after Christion Thompson ripped an offensive rebound away from a defender.

Thompson sealed the deal by hitting two free throws with two seconds left.

Utah missed its last four shots and committed two turnovers.

Were really proud of our guys, Hunter said. I had talked the last seven months since I took this job, how were we going to handle adversity? In the past its been a struggle at Tulane. We got down eight, missed a dunk and our kids could have folded then. They just kept on and defensively we were unbelievable.

Multiple players stepped up at different times in the tournament for Tulane.

Thompson exploded for 25 second-half points on 8-of-10 shooting against Middle Tennessee, when Tulane led by as much as 24. Hightower added 20 points, shooting 16 free throws because of his aggressiveness and hitting 13 of them.

Walker handed out 12 assists with six steals in the final two games. White hot from 3-point range at the beginning of the year, he stepped inside the line when he cooled off and hit the two huge mid-range shots against Utah.

Swingman K.J. Lawson scored in double figures in all three games, averaging 14.7 points while hitting 7 of 13 3-pointers.

Days supplanted Kevin Zhang as the starting center in the past two games, grabbing six rebounds in the first and scoring 10 points in the second.

Adapting to Hunters matchup-zone defense quickly, the Wave forced 25 turnovers against Mississippi State, 17 against Middle Tennessee and 20 against Utah.

With the November portion of the schedule over, Tulane hosts Southern on Sunday but will stay on the road for most of December. The Wave plays at Southern Miss on Dec. 4, faces St. Louis in Arizona on Dec. 8, has a home game with Alcorn State on Dec. 16 and plays Akron on Dec. 20 in the first of two games at the DC Holiday Hoops Fest Tournament in the nations capital.

The bonding already has begun, with Hunter continuing to crack one-liners as he enjoys the ride.

This is the first time we spent some time together out of New Orleans as a group, he said after Sunday's win. Were kind of learning each other that way, theyve got to learn their crazy coach, the things he likes, the things he doesnt like. So many great things, man. I almost gave them two days off, then I had to gather myself for a minute."

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Hoops revival continues: Tulane men win 2 of 3 in Myrtle Beach, improve to 5-1 - NOLA.com

Fashion has given us a lot of strange trends over the years, but even we have a hard time thinking turtles as hats will ever become a thing.

Despite that, a seriously strange video posted to YouTube by the channel RM Videos which appears to license user-generated content from a company called Jukin Media shows a Komodo dragon sauntering onto a tropical beach in Indonesia wearing a turtle's shell on its head.

After glancing around, and apparently feeling self-conscious, the rather large lizard decides to remove the head-snapping headwear and pose dramatically no doubt hoping it'll be discovered and become Asia's next fashion icon.

It's unknown who originally shot the video or when it was taken, making it rather difficult for potential casting agents to get in touch with the Komodo dragon undoubtedly dreaming of a life of glitz and glamor.

At up to 10 feet long and typically weighing about 150 pounds, Komodo dragons are the world's largest lizards.

Found in Indonesia, their bites can be deadly because of the amount of venom and harmful bacteria in their saliva. According to The Jakarta Post, only about 3,000 of the animals are thought to be left in the wild.

It should also be noted it's not a very good idea to get close to a Komodo dragon they have been known to attack humans, sometimes fatally.

While the rarity of the cold-blooded creatures means seeing one is a pretty special experience, it's clear this image-conscious Komodo dragon wanted to be a little more extra.

Read more:

A monkey with a face like a human has been single for 19 years, but zookeepers say it's because he's a bit of a jerk

An awkwardly timed photo of an adorable lion cub is the funniest animal photo of 2019

Wild turkeys are terrorizing the town of Tom's River, New Jersey, by pecking at roofs, breaking windows, and attacking residents

A poppy-pilfering pigeon made a red nest at a war memorial, and the photos are pretty patriotic

Firefighters saved a great horned owl from the California wildfires but he didn't look very happy about it

Go here to read the rest:

A Komodo dragon hit the beach wearing a turtle as a hat, and there's video evidence - INSIDER

Three teens have confessed to vandalizing a dozen benches in Groton last April, according to the City of Groton Police Department.

Twelve benches total - 10 at Eastern Point Beach and two at Griswold Point - were found vandalized on April 28.

Some were smashed beyond repair on the rocks while others were thrown into the water.

Six of the benches were memorial benches. While the plaques were recovered, the cost to replace the benches was between $500 to $600 each.

During an investigation into an unrelated case, three teens confessed to the vandalism. The suspects, two 16-year-olds and one 17-year-old were referred to juvenile court.

Police officials credited Office Paul Ruddy with solving the case.

Simply put, his efforts are in the highest traditions of this agency and the profession overall in conducting quality follow up investigation, read a post on the departments Facebook page.

Originally posted here:

Teens Confess to Vandalizing Benches at Groton Beaches: Police - NBC Connecticut

By: Brittney Donovan , Action News Jax

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Jax Beach Pier closed: Work begins on 2-year project

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. - The Jacksonville Beach Pier holds special memories for some Jacksonville families.

My son always fished here growing up," Stacie Carter said. "It was a big part of his life."

Its now closed and will stay that way for two years during an almost $10-million project.

Bigger equipment is starting to get here at the pier. Well give you a live look at the work already underway and share what were learning from the city on what the upgrades will entail on CBS47 at Noon @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/ejxuf2PiDl

Repairs are needed after Hurricane Matthew wiped out the end of the pier and caused other damage.

The city tells Action News Jax the debris left at the end of the pier will be cleared and the middle section demolished.

The new pier will gradually increase in height an additional 8 feet as you walk toward the ocean with it ending in a T-shape.

The project also means closures in the adjacent parking lot.

The City of Jacksonville Beach said about 1/3 of the south end of the lot will be used to store equipment. The spaces in the north part will stay open.

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The closure of the pier came as a surprise to some families.Action News Jax watched as a handful of them walked up to the gateMonday morning.

We asked the City of Jacksonville iffamilies were warned it was closing Monday.

A spokespersonsaid the city didn't make an announcement but to check with the pier management company and City of Jacksonville Beach.

We did, and they said they didnt either because they were leaving any notices to the city.

Carter says she's just glad the work is getting done.

However long it takes, it will be nice for people to come back here, she said.

STAY UPDATED:Download the Action News Jax app for live updates on breaking stories

2019 Cox Media Group.

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Jax Beach Pier closed: Work begins on 2-year project - ActionNewsJax.com

Coachella Valley-opoly is a board game featuring landmarks in the desert. It was released in 2019 and available in local Walmart stores. Wochit

Fun, fun, fun:Before The Beatles invadedAmerica, The Beach Boys captured the teenage audience in the early '60s with their songs about surfing, hot rods and the California lifestyle. The music on their 1966 album "Pet Sounds"was ahead of its time and has inspired musicians in genres fromclassical music to hip-hop.

The Beach Boys are scheduled to perform on Dec. 1, 2019 at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert, Calif.(Photo: Photo courtesy of Scott Ash/Now News Group)

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Frontman Brian Wilson stopped touring with the band in the late '60s and was absent from the group due to mental illness. His brothers Carl and Dennis, their cousin Mike Love and guitarist Al Jardine kept the band active and touring. After the deaths of Carl and Dennis Wilson and Jardine's departure in 2012, Love is now the only original member of the band along with longtime collaborator Bruce Johnston.

In 1964 while they were topping the charts,they recorded "The Beach Boys' Christmas Album."They're currently on their "Holiday, Harmonies and Hits" tour playing holiday classics and other well-known songs.

The Beach Boys,Sunday, 3 and 7 p.m., McCallum Theatre,73-000 Fred Waring Dr., Palm Desert. $68-$118.(760) 340-2787

Thanksgiving Eve show:Local dreamsurf band The Flusters will play a special Thanksgiving Eve show this weekend. In 2015, they were selected as one of the local bands to play at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. They released their first EP in the fall of 2016 before their "Dreamsurf" album came out in January.

The Flusters perform at the Desert Stars Festival in Joshua Tree on March 30, 2019(Photo: Brian Blueskye)

The Flusters, Wednesday, 8 p.m., Birba,622 N. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs. Free. (760) 327-5678

Black Friday show:Cakes is a popular local visual artist and musician. In 2016, she was a finalist at the Tachevah music showcase, hosted by The Desert Sun. Recently, she started working with her band, Cakes and the A's, withmusicians Aaron Ramson ofMighty Jack and Perishment, Nick Hales of Sleazy Cortez and Josh Fimbres of Thr3 Strykes. She'll headline this show with local bands Waxy and all-female punk band The After Lashes.

Cakes performing at The Hood Bar and Pizza in Palm Desert, Calif. on Sep. 28, 2019.(Photo: Brian Blueskye)

Cakes, Waxy and The After Lashes, Friday, 9 p.m., The Hood Bar and Pizza, 74-360 Highway 111, Palm Desert. Free. (760) 636-5220

Sir Paul:Singer and recording artistTony Kishman is the leader ofLive And Let Die, afull multimedia experience celebrating the music of Paul McCartney. Kishman also starred in the Broadway musical "Beatlemania" and is currently a member of the International Symphonic Beatles production, Classical Mystery Tour.'

Tony Kishman will perform as Paul McCartney at "Live and Let Die" on Nov. 30, 2019 at Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa in Rancho Mirage, Calif.(Photo: COURTESY PHOTO/SAL GOMEZ PHOTOGRAPHY)

Live and Let Die: The Music of Paul McCartney in Symphony featuring Tony Kishman,Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa,32-250 Bob Hope Dr., Rancho Mirage. $15-$35. (888) 999-1995

Powwow:The Cabazon 38th Indio Powwow brings thousands of tribal and non-tribal people together for a celebration of customs and culture, such as bird songs and dance. There will also be anart fair with traditional teddy bears, cedar seed necklaces, beads, shawls and jewelry.

About 500 dancers representing a hundred Native American tribes from the United States and Canada take part in the Grand entry at the 37th Indio Powwow hosted by the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians and held at the Fantasy Springs Resort and Casino in Indio on Saturday November 24, 2018.(Photo: Richard Lui/The Desert Sun)

The Cabazon 38th Indio Powwow,Fantasy Springs Resort Casino,84-245 Indio Springs Pkwy., Indio. Free. (760) 342-5000

Desert Sun reporter Brian Blueskye covers artsand entertainment. Hecan be reached at brian.blueskye@desertsun.com or (760) 778-4617.

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The Beach Boys top this weekend's nightlife in the Coachella Valley - Desert Sun

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VERO BEACH A woman died over the weekend from her injuries in a two-vehiclecrash on Indian River Boulevard Friday morning, according to police.

Dottie Durham, 72, of the 3400 block of 1st Street Southwest,was flown from the scene of the crash at Indian River Boulevard and 18th Streetto Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute in Fort Pierce around 9:30 a.m. Friday.

Durham underwent emergency surgery that afternoon and died around 12 p.m. Saturday,a Vero Beach police official said Monday.

Nearly a half mile of Indian River Boulevard will be closed for three hours Tuesdaymorning to reconstruct the crash,saidMaster Police Officer Darrell Rivers, police spokesman.

Police will closesouthbound lanes of Indian River Boulevard from 20th to 17th streets between7 a.m. and10 a.m.

"We have to map the whole scene," Rivers said.

An initial investigation showed Durham was in a gray 2017 Scion traveling northonIndian River Boulevard when she attempteda westbound turn onto 18th Streetand entered the path of a southbound silver 2012Dodge Ram, Rivers said at the scene.

The pickup driver, Michael Zabitosky, 50, of Vero Beach, was uninjured but his passenger, Hector Gonzalez, 19, of Vero Beach, was taken to a hospital with head injuries.

Rivers said Gonzales was treated and released from the hospital later that day.

A crash between two vehicles closed southbound Indian River Boulevard in Vero Beach Nov. 22, 2019. Corey Arwood, Treasure Coast Newspapers

More: POLICE: Woman undergoes emergency surgery after Indian River Boulevard crash

Corey Arwood is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Corey on Twitter @coreyarwood, or reach him by phone at 772-978-2246.

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Vero Beach woman dies after crash; Indian River Boulevard to close for investigation - TCPalm

Over one lakh devotees arrived at the three beaches along Machilipatnams coast in Krishna district on Tuesday morning to take a holy dip on the occasion of Kartika Pournami.

The devotees started arriving at the Manginapudi, Pedapatnam and Hamsaladeevi beaches from across the State on Monday night itself.

A large number of swimmers and a battalion of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were deployed along the beaches to prevent untoward incidents.

Nearly 500 policemen and 60 women police personnel were also posted along the beaches to keep an eye on devotees and dissuade them from wading into deep waters while taking the holy dip.

District authorities deployed 120 swimmers at the Manginapudi beach alone while some swimmers were deployed on the 17 boats that patrolled the area.

At least 50 special bus services are being run between Machilipatnam and the Manginapudi and Pedapatnam beaches while special autorickshaws were provided for physically-challenged devotees and senior citizens.

Krishna Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) M. Sattibabu said that there were no reports of untoward incidents from any of the three beaches that were thrown open to the devotees. Milk has been arranged for children while changing rooms have been provided for the convenience of devotees, Mr. Sattibabu said.

By evening, at least 1.50 lakh devotees are expected to take the holy dip on the Machilipatnam coast.

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It takes a lot to shock on a French beach, where topless sunbathing is the norm.

But giant bricks of cocaine littering the beaches have managed to raise a few eyebrows.

Packages of very pure cocaine and other drugs have been washing up on Frances southwestern shores over the past several weeks, the Guardian reports. The drug parcels wrapped in clear or black plastic and labeled diamante or brillante have been plaguing a 310-mile or so strip of the countrys Atlantic coast, stretching from the regions Loire-Atlantique (which includes Nantes) to Landes (near the Spanish border).

New bundles are appearing daily. So far, about 1,675 pounds of the dangerous substances valued in excess of $66 million have surfaced on French shores. On Sunday alone, 30 pounds of drug packages were found in Pornic, a beach town about an hours drive from Nantes.

French authorities believe the drugs very probably originated in South America, and are investigating the possibility that a drug traffickers boat sank in the ocean.

In the meantime, French police are urging beachgoers not to touch any of the packages, and to report them immediately to the authorities.

Its a very pure product that must not be consumed in this form because there is a very high risk of overdose, Philippe Astruc, a public prosecutor from the French town of Rennes, told France 2. There is absolutely an immediate health risk.

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Bricks of 'very pure' cocaine keep washing up on French beaches - New York Post

WASHINGTON The Trump administration changed a 25-year-old policy to make it easier for coastal communities to take sand from protected ecosystems to improve their beaches.

The shift makes it cheaper for some of the wealthiest communities in the country to replenish their beachfronts, which are increasingly under threat from more frequent and intense storms, rising seas and other effects of climate change. Critics say that comes at the expense of vulnerable coastal ecosystems.

Undeveloped coastal islands and beaches will now be opened up to sand mining that will imperil birds and other wildlife, destroy important habitat and reduce the protections these places provide against impacts of storms and erosion, said Karen Hyun, vice president for coastal conservation at the National Audubon Society, in a statement.

In 1982, Congress established the Coastal Barrier Resources System, which protects 1.4 million acres of land around the country from development. The Interior Department has long said that the law prohibited using federal money to remove sand from those zones to replenish beaches elsewhere.

In a letter this week to Jeff Van Drew, a New Jersey congressman, Interior Secretary David Bernhardt said he had reversed that position. Last month, Representative Van Drew met with the secretary to request the change.

This flawed interpretation of the law has prevented a number of coastal storm damage reduction projects, Secretary Bernhardt wrote this week to Representative Van Drew, who represents communities in Southern New Jersey that stand to benefit from the new policy.

The Trump Administration is committed to protecting our coastlines and utilizing our available resources to restore, enhance or stabilize our beaches consistent with the law Congress wrote, Secretary Bernhardt said in a statement released by Representative Van Drews office this week.

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Late last month, Representative Van Drew was one of two Democrats to vote against opening an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump.

A spokeswoman for the Interior Department, Melissa Brown, said in a statement that There is absolutely no connection whatsoever between the vote and the letter from Mr. Bernhardt.

The communications director for Representative Van Drew, Mackenzie Lucas, wrote in an email, These things have nothing to do with one another. Noting that Representative Van Drew has long opposed impeachment, the spokesperson wrote, it is absurd to think that the Congressman would trade his vote for some sand.

In his news release this week, Representative Van Drew said Mr. Bernhardts decision proves that we can still come together in a bipartisan fashion and seek common-sense solutions to improve the lives of Americans.

Beyond the threat posed to protected coastal zones, critics said the policy shift would also encourage more property development in beach towns at risk of flooding, or even becoming uninhabitable in the long term, because of climate change.

They say the cost of that development will fall on taxpayers, who fund not just the beach renourishment projects but also the programs required to support those communities, such as federal flood insurance and disaster recovery programs. In many cases, beach nourishment is subsidizing the most vulnerable and exposed property in the United States, said Robert S. Young, director of the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines at Western Carolina University.

For more news on climate and the environment, follow @NYTClimate on Twitter.

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Trump Administration Makes It Easier to Dredge Protected Areas to Restore Beaches - The New York Times

East Coast of Australia: The Most Beautiful Beaches & Islands to Visit - Thrillist

Theres a pretty well-worn backpacker route that runs from Southeast Asia all the way down to New Zealand. Its spine is the east coast of Australia, from maybe as far north as Darwin to as far south as Adelaide, but definitely from Cairns down to at least Sydney. Theres a reason visitors favor this part of the continent. Perth is gorgeous but geographically isolated; Uluru is finally closed as a tourist attraction, a thing it never should have become in the first place. But that eastern coast is stuffed with back-to-back wonders; many of them famous, others less so. And one in particular that might be the most famous -- whether you know its name or not:

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Whitehaven is famous for a specific and undeniable reason: It has the whitest sand of any beach in the world, composed of 98% pure silica. Ive been there once and, four years later, can still see the afterimage burned into my retinas. Whitehaven is only accessible by boat or seaplane, so this is something youll have to join a tour group for rather than visiting independently. The water is shallow and warm and bright, and you wade through it alongside little lemon shark pups, squinting against a blinding stretch of white in every direction.

Whitehaven is just one part (albeit the most iconic one) of the larger Whitsundays, a collection of 74 remote islands nestled between the coastline and the Great Barrier Reef. If youve ever dreamed of seeing the reef in person, or have a newly burning desire to see it before it becomes a pile of Styrofoam, this is where you should go.

God this was fun. Fraser is another one for which youll need to join a tour, unless you happen to have your own car with serious 4WD. But Fraser Island group tours will place you in such a car and let you all take turns driving, which on my particular trip involved two minor accidents (NOT while I was driving), a medium amount of road rage, and a lot of stress, but the greatest possible amount of fun. Youll drive through shallow water along the beach, camp overnight, cook, drink, float down a river, and negotiate outhouses guarded by plate-sized spiders. Also, dingoes! Dingos live on Fraser Island. I should have led with that. You can see dingos here.

Sunshine Coast is just south of Fraser Island and contains a succession of dreamy beaches and national parks. You can splash into swimming holes hidden in the rainforest of Kondalilla National park; walk barefoot along Sunshine beach; and wander to the edge of the mesmerizing Mooloolaba Spit.

Noosa is one of the towns youll find along the Sunshine Coast. The main beach is a long-time favorite among surfers and a must-see for anyone passing through the region. Noosa National Park is enchanting in its own right, but has the added bonus of being a great place to see some koalas, if youre into that sort of thing.

Continuing our journey down the coast, we next come to Queensland's capitol city, which sits on the Brisbane River. Brisbane is often overlooked by tourists in favor of the more fashionable Sydney and Melbourne, but at the very least you should take a day and stop at Streets Beach -- the only inner-city beach in the country. Also, Brisbane is an excellent location to befriend some more koalas.

Below Brisbane lies the Gold Coast, where youll find long, long stretches of pristine beaches and all the good surfing sports you could ever ask for. Theres an abundance of hikable rainforest here too, but dont leave right away once youve finished getting into nature -- the city is known for its nightlife, too.

Below the Gold Coast we next come to Byron Bay. Lots of stops along this route get deservedly hyped up as surfing spots, but Byron Bay is the full experience -- a town that lives and breathes surf culture. It has all the charm of a (comparatively) smaller town, and yet you still get all the backpacking standbys: cafes, beachside bars, snorkeling, and even scuba diving and whale watching if thats what youre after.MORE: The best scuba diving destinations around the world

One of the most iconic beaches anywhere -- not just Australia, but anywhere in the world. A few miles from downtown Sydney, Bondi is massive. You can surf, you can swim, you can stay on land admiring the suspiciously endless parade of hot people walking past. Make sure to visit during the weekend to browse the beach markets, where you can get your lunch (and souvenirs) from scores of local vendors.

Just inland from Sydney lies Blue Mountains National Park, and first off its important to know that this is a choice destination for spotting kangaroos. But Blue Mountains National Park is worth visiting largely because it looks like something out of Avatar. Its also home to an adventure theme park where you can ride the worlds steepest passenger railway, or walk along a skyway suspended in the rainforest canopy.MORE: Heres an Australian golf course with 300 resident kangaroos

Sign up here for our daily Thrillist email, get Next Flight Out for more travel coverage, and subscribe here for our YouTube channel to get your fix of the best in food/drink/fun.

Kastalia Medranois Thrillist's Travel Writer. You can send her travel tips atkmedrano@thrillist.com, and Venmo tips at@kastaliamedrano.

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Technically, This Is the Most Perfect Stretch of Beach In the World - Thrillist

Beaches on the Hawaiian island of Maui were closed for the second straight day Tuesday after several tiger sharks were spotted in the water.

Maui County officials closed about two miles of shoreline, which includes the Kamaole Beach Parks.

They saidin a Facebook postTuesday one of the tiger sharks was 10-15 feet in length and was 300 yards off the beach, while another one, about 10 feet in length, was about 100 yards off the beach.

Authorities posted signs directing people to stay out of the water because of the sightings, the county said, and the Maui Fire Department was assessing the safety of the waters throughout the day Tuesday.

The beaches were closed Monday after three to five tiger sharks were spotted. A helicopter crew communicated with people still in the water to tell them to return to shore.

Tiger sharks are among the top three species of shark frequently involved in shark attacks, and they should be treated with extreme caution when encountered, according to theFlorida Museum of Natural History.

There are no reports of shark-related injuries on this stretch of coastline from the past two days, Maui County said.

In April, a65-year-oldwoman was attacked by a shark off Hawaiis Big Island.

A month later, a 65-year-old man, optometrist Dr. Thomas Smiley, was killed while swimming off Mauis Kaanapali Beach, about 30 miles up the coast from Kamaole, where this weeks sharks were seen.

A 16-year-old boy, Max Keliikipi,survived an encounteroff Oahu in August after a shark took a bite out of his surfboard.

At the time, Keliikipi told CNN he didnt have any plans to quit venturing into the waves, and he said knowing surfers whove been attacked by sharks was not common, but its not uncommon, either.

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For the 2nd day in a row, some Hawaii beaches are closed because of shark sightings - Q13 News Seattle

Smooth balls of ice rolled ashore on a beach in Finland and piled up like a gigantic clutch of turtles' eggs.

But where did these "ice eggs" come from? Turns out, the frigid orbs were sculpted by a peculiar combination of weather and waves, according to news reports.

Amateur photographer Risto Mattila stumbled upon the strange sight while walking with his wife on Hailuoto Island, a land mass between Finland and Sweden, according to BBC News. The temperature hovered around 32 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 1 degree Celsius) that day, he said, and the wind whipped across the beach. "There, we found this amazing phenomenon. There was snow and ice eggs along the beach near the water line," he told the BBC.

Related: The World's 7 Most Interesting Eggs

The "ice eggs" littered an area the length of about one-quarter of a football field and ranged in size from that of an average chicken egg to that of a hefty soccer ball, Mattila said. He snapped a photo, noting that he had "never seen anything like this during 25 years living in the vicinity."

Others came upon the ice eggs, too. "This was [an] amazing phenomenon, [I've] never seen before. The whole beach was full of these ice balls," Tarja Terentjeff, who lives in the nearby town of Oulu, told CNN. Another local, Sirpa Tero, told CNN she'd seen icy orbs line the shoreline before, "but not over such a large area."

Although fairly rare, these ice eggs form similarly to sea glass or rounded stones that wash up on the beach, said BBC Weather expert George Goodfellow. Chunks of ice break off from larger ice sheets in the sea and either taxi to shore on the incoming tide or get pushed in by gusts of wind at the water's surface, he explained. Waves buffet the ice chunks as they travel, slowly eroding their jagged edges into smooth curves. Seawater sticks and freezes to the forming eggs, causing them to grow like snowballs do as they roll across the ground.

Once the ice chunks reach shore, pounding waves tend to buff out any lingering kinks on their surfaces, leaving behind nothing but sleek and shiny "eggs" for curious tourists to happen upon.

Originally published on Live Science.

Want more science? Get a subscription of our sister publication "How It Works" magazine, for the latest amazing science news.

(Image credit: Future plc)

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Thousands of Glorious 'Ice Eggs' Wash Up on Finnish Beach - Livescience.com

Southwest Florida

A solution is coming for the effects of the red tide that is sticking around at high concentrations in Collier and Lee Counties.

There have been dead fish washing up for weeks, and on Wednesday, Naples is buying a critical tool to help keep your favorite beaches clean.

The city cant come through and remove all the fish by hand, so to clean up the beaches, they rely on large beach rakes. Right now, one of the beach rakes is too worn out to be able to do its job.

The one they want to replace is more than 15 years old and is no longer useful when it comes to clearing dead fish and debris.

Since it is not working properly, the city plans to spend $55,000 for a new one.

Beach clean up is important now more than ever with high and medium levels of red tide detected up and down the coast.

Lee County uses the same type of rake to clean the beaches as well. The machines are designed to scoop the dead marine life without creating a bigger mess.

If council signs off, Naples will trade in their old one and get a new rake within 2 months.

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Lee and Collier County upgrading tools to keep SWFL beaches clean - Wink News

SUBURBAN LAKE WORTH BEACH, Fla. -- Deputies with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office responded to a shooting in the 4300 block of Cambridge St. in unincorporated Lake Worth Beach on Sunday at 11 a.m.

When deputies arrived at the scene, they found a man suffering from at least one gunshot wound. A short distance away, law enforcement found another man suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg.

Both men were transported to the hospital.

One of the men died and was identified Monday as 38-year-old Alberto Hernandez.

According to PBSO, an altercation led to the gunfire.

The sheriff's office says as a result of its investigation deputies have arrested 19-year-old James Bryant and charged him with the killing as well as using a firearm during a felony.

PBSO said he will not make a first appearance in court Monday because he's being treated for injuries at a hospital.

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Suspect and victim in deadly shooting ID'd - WPTV.com

The Incline Village General Improvement District will address agenda items this week that were mostly pushed off at the last months meeting.

Issues for the Board of Trustees include deciding on the leasing of gas golf carts, an issue many community members have expressed concern about in prior meetings. Several people have said theyd rather the board focus on repairing the cart paths rather than getting new golf carts.

The board will also address the tennis center renovation and finding a location for bocce ball courts.

While the search for a new finance director is ongoing, the board is moving forward, deciding on spending for these projects.

Some new items have been included on the agenda.

Interim District General Manager Indra Winquest will present a beach wrap up and Director of Golf/Community Services Darren Howard will give a wrap up report from the Mountain and Championship golf courses for the 2019 season.

The board will also discuss the possibility of a cost share funding agreement with the State of Nevada, Division of Environmental Protection.

The goal of this funding would be to study and reduce microplastic pollution in Lake Tahoe. It would require a $46,366 commitment from Tahoe Water Suppliers Association which is managed by IVGID, as well as, funding commitments from Nevada Division of Environmental Protection and UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center.

The board will also reconsider the Incline Beach House project, a new beachfront hospitality center that was considered and tabled in March 2017.

The project has been identified as a priority in the Incline Village Community Service Master Plan. The new building would replace an existing building. In the 2017 proposal, the project was estimated to cost about $2 million. The same proposal is being presented at the meeting but that estimation does not account for inflation.

The meeting is at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13, at the Chateau, 955 Fairway Boulevard, Incline Village, Nev.

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IVGID to discuss golf carts, tennis center, bocce ball, beach house and summer wrap up - Tahoe Daily Tribune

Seven weird weather phenomenons

A beach in Finland appeared to be covered in thousands of eggs this week, but an up-close look shows those white spheres are not shells, they are actually made out of ice. An amateur photographer came across the "ice eggs" on Hailuoto Island, located between Finland and Sweden.

The photographer, Risto Mattila, told BBC he has never seen anything like it before and experts say the "ice eggs" are actually rare. The phenomenon is caused when small pieces of ice are rolled over by wind and water, according to BBC News.

"That was an amazing view. I have never seen anything like this during 25 years living in the vicinity," he said.

While the smallest of the ice balls were the size of eggs, the biggest ones were the size of footballs and they can get even bigger, up to 3 feet, BBC News reports. According to Mattila, the eggs covered about 100 feet of beach near the waterline.

Mattila said he went to the island on a cold, windy day, which is prime conditions for this phenomenon, according to BBC Weather expert George Goodfellow. "The general picture is that they form from pieces of larger ice sheet which then get jostled around by waves, making them rounder," he said.

"They can grow when sea water freezes on to their surfaces and this also helps to make them smoother," Goodfellow added. "So the result is a ball of smooth ice which can then get deposited on to a beach, either blown there or getting left there when the tide goes out."

Similar "ice eggs" have been spotted in Russia and even on Lake Michigan in Chicago.

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Ice eggs: Thousands of rare balls of ice cover beach in Finland - CBS News