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James Turman

Military Tribute Banner Program Returns to Palm Bay

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PALM BAY, FLORIDA – The City of Palm Bay is proud to announce the return of their Military Tribute Banner Program honoring the world’s greatest defenders of freedom, the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. Beginning this Veterans Day, active-duty military, and veterans with ties to Palm Bay, will be honored with patriotic banners displayed at one of three locations throughout the city.
 
The inaugural program saw 37 different banners displayed at Palm Bay City Hall and Veterans Memorial Park from Veterans Day through Memorial Day. This year there are expected to be even more banners commissioned.
 
Palm Bay residents and business owners are invited to honor their beloved veterans, active-duty, reserve, and National Guard members by sponsoring a beautiful 24” x 48” full color banner featuring a photo of the honoree, their name, service details, as well as the name of the sponsoring family or business. The tribute banners will be displayed at Palm Bay City Hall, Veterans Memorial Park, or Fred Poppe Regional Park from Veterans Day 2021 through Memorial Day 2022.
 
The cost to sponsor a banner is $110 and reservations will be first come, first served. Participants will receive the banner after it is taken down next year as a keepsake and a “thank you” from the City of Palm Bay. Banners which are ordered and paid for before September 1, 2021, will sell for the early-bird price of $100. Gold Star families will receive their banner at no cost.
 
To sponsor a banner and for program details, visit www.militarytributebanners.org and select Palm Bay from the “Current Programs” dropdown menu or contact Andy Dimmig at andy.dimmig@pbfl.org. 
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City of Palm Bay Executes Purchase Contract for Pelican Harbor Marina

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PALM BAY, FLORIDA – On Friday, August 6th, City staff joined Mike Timmons from Space Coast Marinas, LLC to execute the purchase contract of the three parcels known as Pelican Harbor Marina located on Dixie Highway in the Bayfront area in Palm Bay.
 
Space Coast Marinas submitted a counteroffer of $1.7 million to purchase the Marina for the development of a dry dock boat storage and service facility, boat launch and wash service, boat club, ship store, tiki bar with an outdoor entertainment venue, restaurant, and retail amenities to include a valet service. Space Coast Marinas intends to renovate the existing marina slips and construct and maintain a public boardwalk along the waterfront. Space Coast Marinas anticipates the overall capital investment for this development project to be at least $10-12 million and create approximately 302 new jobs. The developer has also purchased two privately owned parcels, a vacant 0.37-acre site located at 4200 Dixie Highway NE, and has under contract the Bait & Tackle located at the southwest corner of Dixie Highway and Pospisil Avenue NE.
 
Under current plans, the buyer will retain Paddling Paradise, which is currently in a month-to-month lease with the City to operate out of the existing 1600 SF facility at 4220 Dixie Highway NE. Paddling Paradise has offered kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals and tours at this site for nearly two years, generating ecotourism to Turkey Creek and the Indian River along Palm Bay’s bayfront. “This is an exciting development project for the City,” said Joan Junkala-Brown, Deputy City Manager. “The proposed development will add value to what currently exists and further create an environment for residents and visitors to gather, eat, shop, and listen to live music whether arriving by boat or vehicle. This project will encourage further redevelopment of the area and hopefully serve as a catalyst to implement the City’s vision for a Bayfront Village, a quaint waterfront downtown district for the community to enjoy.”
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City of Palm Bay Receives Distinguished Budget Presentation Award

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PALM BAY, FLORIDA – For the 32nd consecutive year, the City of Palm Bay has earned the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for the City’s fiscal year 2020-2021 budget. The award represents a significant achievement by the City of Palm Bay’s Budget Office, reflecting the City’s commitment to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. To earn this recognition, the City budget must satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for an effective budget presentation and excel as a policy document, financial plan, operations guide, and communications tool. “This award demonstrates the commitment and dedication given by the staff of the Budget Office in creating a quality annual budget submission for an unbelievable 32 years,” said City of Palm Bay Finance Director Larry Wojciechowski.
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Business of the Month: Palm Bay’s JamRock Grill Offers Authentic Jamaican and Caribbean Fare

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Hungry for a taste of the Caribbean right here in Palm Bay, or maybe you’ve always wanted to try traditional favorites like Jerk Chicken or Pork, Curried Goat of Chicken, Oxtail, and then wash it down with one of Jamaica’s traditional sodas or juices? Then you should definitely try Palm Bay’s JamRock Grill, a casual restaurant with a laid back and friendly Caribbean vibe, where you can find all of your favorites and maybe discover some new ones. We spoke with JamRock’s owners Garth and Michelle Williams via telephone to learn more about them and their restaurant. 

What brought you to Palm Bay?

“We were in Washington D.C. and we wanted a better place for our kids to grow up. My wife’s family was here, and when I visited, I fell in love with Palm Bay! And I knew this was a good place to do business,” Garth said.

Where did the idea for JamRock come from?

“We opened a music venue called Sugar Kane Lounge, and I grew tired of the party scene, and I had always wanted to open a place where people could come and enjoy good, authentic jamaican food. So I went back to the drawing board and we opened JamRock.” Garth explained.

Tell us about your menu, which items are most popular, and if there are any secret or family recipes?

Mr Williams explained that he’s always loved cooking and that all of the recipes are his own that he has put together over the years. Michelle added, “The most popular item we’re doing right now is the Jerk Chicken. Garth loves to grill, and we put the chicken on the grill outside so it gets that smokiness and tastes just like the chicken you would get in Jamaica. And people love our signature rum punch.” “I do the chicken on authentic Jamaican Jerk drum like it’s supposed to be, and the oxtail and the Curry Chicken are popular, too. The restaurant is a few blocks from Winn-Dixie, and people walking to Winn-Dixie smell the chicken and come into the restaurant!” Garth said.

How would you describe the vibe/atmosphere of JamRock Grill?

“The vibe is a love vibe, the colors are the colors of the Jamaican flag, and I love the look of wood, and it’s pretty much my design. The atmosphere is really good, and when you walk into JamRock you just feel love, and we get a lot of compliments on our customer service,” Mr. Williams said. Said Mrs. Williams, “Our daughter is our head cashier and she is really good at customer service, which we really strive for. We want people to leave smiling.”

What’s running a business in Palm Bay like, have you been well received by the community?

Garth answered, “I love my community and Palm Bay is a great place to run the kind of business that I am running. The people that I meet, all kinds of people from different cultures, and I get to talk to them, that’s really special for me. So yes, Palm Bay is definitely a great place for the kind of business we have. The majority of our clients are not from the Caribbean, we have a very diverse clientele.”

You opened your current location in July of 2020, during the heart of COVID. What was that like?

“It actaully gave me a lot of time to think and reflect on my plan. We were going so fast before the pandemic and then the pandemic hit really slowed us down. The slow time really helped to clear my mind and focus on the plan and the things that I could control,” Mr. Williams explained.

What’s in the future for JamRock Grill?

Garth explained. “We definitely want to expand and put in a full bar in, maybe bring in Caribbean  comedians and bands for live entertainment, and we really want to turn this into a Caribbean sports bar where folks can come in and watch their soccer or football or cricket or whatever, and drink some beer and shoot some pool. We want to expand what we offer so people will want to come for a happy hour and just enjoy themselves, maybe have some rum punch and good food. When I get this one just the way we want it, we definitely want to open the next location and we are thinking about franchising.”

JamRock Grill

160 Malabar Rd SW

Palm Bay, FL 32907

321 327-3036

http://jamrockgrillorder.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Jamrockgrill.321/

jamrockgrillinc@gmail.com

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Palm Bay Set to Consider Changes to Ordinance for City Council Vacancies

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7.14.2021- New update- Our city clerk has just confirm that the cost for the special election will be $253,628.04

Palm Bay- A change to the method by which Palm Bay fills vacant Council seats will be considered at the City of Palm Bay Regular Council meeting on Thursday, July 15, taking place in Council Chambers beginning at 7:00 P.M. The proposed change calls for vacant council seats to be filled by a majority vote of Council members rather than a special election, as the ordinance currently calls for.

This amendment to Chapter 50, Elections, of the City Code, was proposed by and the result of a collaboration of the Palm Bay Charter Officers, according to Terese Jones, Palm Bay City Clerk. According to Ms. Jones, the cost of the election to replace outgoing Councilman Jeff Bailey is unknown at this time.

 

For additional information about Thursday’s Regular Council meeting and to download the meeting agenda, click https://www.palmbayflorida.org/government/agendas-minutes/-folder-6003#docan1526_8367_2078

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West Melbourne-Violent Double Robbery Suspect in Custody

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West Melbourne-Randall Keith Kearse was arrested this afternoon after a crime spree through West Melbourne and Melbourne today. Just after 10AM, Kearse entered the Walmart on Palm Bay Rd and filled up two carts of merchandise totaling over $1,500.00. He then exited the store without paying and was confronted by an employee. After a brief struggle over the merchandise, Kearse punched the employee and leaves prior to police arriving.

Unable to leave with the merchandise, Kearse made his way to the Home Depot on US 192. Once at the store, Kearse again selected multiple items and attempts to leave the without paying. A Home Depot associate identified Kearse due to his priors and attempted to stop him from leaving with the merchandise. Kearse once again became violent. He punched a 74 year old female cashier, knocking her to the ground and stabbed another associate with a screw driver. He then is seen getting into a white 4 door vehicle and leaving the area. Officers from West Melbourne, Melbourne and Brevard Sheriff’s Office conducted an extensive search for Kearse and the vehicle. Kearse then went to the Best Buy in Melbourne where he was able to steal several high dollar pieces of electronics and fled the area. Just before 12:30PM, the vehicle and Kearse were located by Melbourne Police department on Reddick St. where Kearse was taken into custody.

West Melbourne Police have charged Kearse with armed robbery, robbery, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, two counts of felony battery, grand theft, resisting a merchant and violation of probation. He will be held at the Brevard County Jail on no bond.

Kearse has an extensive criminal history in Brevard County:

Attempted Robbery Burglary Felony Battery
Grand Theft (Multiple)
Dealing in Stolen Property
Giving False Verification of Ownership to Pawnbroker
Violation of State Probation (Multiple) Violation of State Community Control
Criminal Mischief Retail Theft (Multiple) Trespass Fail Leave Property Upon Warning By Owner
Driving while License Suspended (Multiple)
Resisting Arrest without Violence (Multiple)

Andre Hutchinas

West Melbourne-Murder on Columbia Lane

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West Melbourne– During the late evening hours of Friday, June 26th a large party of 50 to 100 people gathered near the end of Columbia Lane. While at the party, Gregory Stefan Alan Barr II (07/08/1994) and another individual engaged in a verbal argument which escalated to Barr pulling a knife and placing it to the individual’s throat.

Andre Deloria Hutchinas (11/27/2001) went over in an attempt to break up the altercation. That is when Barr turned the knife towards Hutchinas. Hutchinas punched Barr striking him in the face. Barr then retrieved a Glock 19 9MM handgun from his waistband and shot Hutchinas one time, striking him in the neck.

West Melbourne Officers, with the assistance of Brevard County Sheriff’s Office responded the area. Upon arrival Barr surrendered to Officers and was taken into custody. Hutchinas was taken to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. Barr was arrested and charged with Second Degree Murder and Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. He is currently being held at the Brevard County Jail on no bond status. 

Watch the video of the arrest here:

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Brevard County Association of Chiefs of Police Annual Award Winners

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PALM BAY, FLORIDA – On behalf of the Brevard County Association of Chiefs of Police, Chief Nelson Moya, current president of the association, announced the winners of the 2020 Officer of the Year and 2020 Communications Officer of the Year. The awards ceremony was held yesterday, June 23rd, 2021.

 
The 2020 Officer of the Year was presented to Melbourne Police Department’s Detective Jennifer Frost.
 
The 2020 Communications Officer of the Year was presented to Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Communications Officer Monica Mahl.
 

For more information on those award recipients, please contact their respective agency directly.

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City of West Melbourne Police Department Seeks your help

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West Melbourne, Florida

The West Melbourne Police Department is requesting the public’s help as we continue investigating the June 11, 2021 suspicious death of little 3 year old Jameson Nance.

Joshua Andrew Manns, 25, is a person of interest in the death of the young child. He left the West Melbourne residence where the child was found deceased, prior to law enforcement’s arrival and has eluded law enforcement since.

Manns has been spotted most recently at the intersection of Apopka-Vineland Rd and Colonial Dr in Orange County, FL. He has also been spotted in the Silverstar Rd and N. Hiawassee Rd area, as well as the South John Young Parkway corridor. Manns currently has an active warrant for his arrest for Child Neglect with Great Bodily Harm.

If you spot Mr. Manns, call 911 immediately. If you have information on his whereabouts, you are encouraged to contact West Melbourne Police at (321)723-9673. Callers wishing to remain anonymous can also call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477).

Subject information: Joshua Andrew Manns, 06/10/1996, 6’6”, approximately 200 lbs, brown hair possibly pulled back into a “bun”, and usually wears glasses.

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City of Melbourne 4th of July Fireworks Celebration

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Melbourne, Florida, –

The annual City of Melbourne Fireworks Celebration will be held on July 4, 2021, at Front Street Park (2210 Front Street).

 

Schedule

  • Approximately 8:10 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.: Skydiving show
  • 9 p.m.: Fireworks start (weather permitting)

 

Skydiving Show

The Air Sports Parachute Team will be joining the celebration again this year! Skydivers carrying U.S. Flags will exit from the WWII “Tico Belle” C-47 provided by Valiant Air Command and land on the Melbourne Causeway and in the Indian River Lagoon by Front Street Civic Center for spectators to enjoy prior to the fireworks display.

 

Parking

Attendees are encouraged to park at Melbourne Auditorium (at 625 Hibiscus Boulevard) and use a free shuttle service to Front Street Park. Three buses will run continuously from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. Bus service will resume after the fireworks show and will run until 11 p.m. An ADA accessible bus will be available at the Melbourne Auditorium.

 

Parking at Front Street Park will be reserved for those with Disabled Parking Permits only and will be extremely limited.

 

No parking is allowed on the portion of the causeway that is in the City of Melbourne. Please note that some businesses do not allow public parking. Those businesses may have your vehicle towed from their private properties at your expense even if they are not open for business on July 4.

 

Road Closures

The following roads will close at 8 p.m. and will remain closed until approximately 10 p.m., depending on the time it takes for pedestrians to safely exit the park:

  • Strawbridge Avenue (US 192) from US 1 to Riverside Drive (Indialantic)
  • New Haven Avenue from the east side of the Mansion’s driveway to Strawbridge Avenue
  • Riverview Drive at Palmetto Avenue
  • Front Street at Melbourne Avenue

 

Boat Ramp Closure

The boat ramp at Front Street Park will be closed at 5 p.m. on July 3 and will reopen at 9 a.m. on July 5.

 

Canopies/Tents Not Allowed

Canopies and tents will not be allowed at Front Street Park because they block the view for other spectators.

 

Rain Date

In the event of rain, the fireworks display will be rescheduled to July 5. There will be no bus service or skydiver performance on the rain date.

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