PALM BAY, FL – The mysterious disappearance of 15-year-old Jeremiah Miranda early Monday morning has left his mother desperate for answers and seeking the community’s assistance.
Ring doorbell camera footage from the family’s home captured Jeremiah Miranda as he departed around 9:38 AM on Monday, presumably for Bayside High School. His mother says that he never made it to school that day. Security footage shows Jeremiah wearing a red sweatshirt, black sweatpants, black socks, and white Crocs. According to his mother, he does not own a phone, so he most likely walked around with a tablet.
Initially thinking her son might have been out breaking curfew when he failed to return home, his mother’s concern escalated by Tuesday morning, prompting her to notify the Palm Bay Police Department. As of now, it is unclear whether the police have initiated an official search effort. Jeremiah’s mother says the police assured her on Tuesday that they would put out an alert once the case was documented. However, an official alert regarding Jeremiah’s disappearance has not been located on the Palm Bay Police Department’s website. An alert did go out, according to Jeremiah’s mother, but it was for another 15-year-old in the area. That child has since been found.
At 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing about 175 pounds, Jeremiah has brown eyes and is Hispanic. He was last seen on Ocala Street, around Fitchburg and Degroodt. Notably, footage showed him briefly returning home to lock the door before leaving again, suggesting he was not in a hurry or planning to run away.
Jeremiah’s mother has been actively searching throughout the week but says nobody has seen or heard from him. Even the teen’s girlfriend, contacted by his brother, confirmed he hasn’t been active online or on Instagram, further deepening concerns for his well-being.
Jeremiah’s mother is urging anyone with information to come forward as the search for her son continues.
Brevard County, FL – The Brevard County Commission meeting held earlier this week was a forum for robust discussions encompassing various issues, from electoral reform to community development projects. While the meeting agenda was packed with diverse topics, recent events surrounding transparency set the stage for heightened public engagement.
In early February, the Brevard County Commission discontinued the televised broadcast of public comments during their meetings. County Communications Director Don Walker says he implemented this change to ensure the efficiency of the meetings. Although audio of the speakers remained available, the video component was temporarily suspended.
This move drew criticism from some residents and local candidates, who argued that turning the cameras off would limit public participation in the meetings. John Dittmore, a candidate for the Brevard County Commission District 3 seat, and John Tobia, a two-term Brevard County Commissioner running for Brevard County Supervisor of Elections, opposed this change.
The decision not to televise public comments was met with public outrage, prompting the commission to reconsider. The commission decided to reinstate the televised broadcast of public comments, and the cameras were turned back on during the meeting on February 20th.
Amidst this backdrop of renewed transparency, the February 20th meeting delved into substantive discussions on electoral reform and administrative matters. District 1 County Commissioner Rita Pritchett made waves when she filed on February 19th to run for Brevard County Tax Collector against incumbent Lisa Cullen. This decision comes as Pritchett finds herself in her final year on the Board of Brevard County Commissioners.
Rita Pritchett District 1 County Commissioner
Pritchett recently introduced a new proposal to implement term limits for Constitutional officers. The proposal sought to impose a limit of three four-year terms for positions including Sheriff, Property Appraiser, Tax Collector, Clerk of the Circuit Court, and Supervisor of Elections. Terms that began before 2024 would not have been counted under this proposal.
Pritchett’s proposal sparked considerable debate among commissioners and residents alike. Some voiced support for term limits, citing the need for fresh perspectives and increased accountability in these crucial positions. Others, however, expressed reservations, arguing that term limits could disrupt administrative continuity and potentially undermine the effectiveness of experienced officials.
One Brevard County resident weighed in, stating, “Term limits apply when you’re talking about policy-making positions. Term limits on administrative positions would be a great disservice to our county.” Another highlighted the differences between Constitutional officers, who implement policies, and Commission officers, who make policies. She suggested that this proposal would remove people who have been doing a great job from their seats.
During the meeting, Commissioner Rita Pritchett addressed the proposal, stating, “I said last year that I was going to bring this proposal forward this year. There was a lot of information about people wanting term limits. I’m a proponent of three-term limits. When I brought this forward, my thought was not to affect anybody that’s currently in office. Once you get somebody in an office as an incumbent, it’s really hard to beat them.”
However, not everyone was convinced by Pritchett’s arguments. Some residents raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, particularly in light of Pritchett’s candidacy for Tax Collector. Commissioner John Tobia recused himself from Tuesday’s vote, while Pritchett did not.
During the public comments portion of the meeting, one resident stepped forward to commend Commissioner Tobia for filing Form 8B, a document designed to address potential conflicts of interest among public officers. In doing so, the resident expressed a desire for Commissioner Pritchett to have taken similar action in disclosing any potential conflicts related to her candidacy for Tax Collector.
Despite the spirited debate surrounding the proposal, the term limits for constitutional officers in Brevard County will not come to a vote this year. The proposal failed to advance as no other commissioners seconded the motion, resulting in its failure to progress further.
Tensions also flared over the future of Wickham Park at the latest Brevard County Commission meeting. The park, known for hosting events like the Renaissance Fair, has recently become a focal point of disagreement between event organizers, local residents, and county officials.
Shortly after the meeting concluded, Melbourne Mayor Paul Alfrey took to Facebook to publish a letter received from the Board of County Commissioners regarding the future of Wickham Park. The Mayor expressed surprise at the timing of the correspondence, noting that it arrived before the scheduled discussion at the City Council meeting or Commissioner Tobia’s planned agenda item for the March Commission meeting. He emphasized the importance of public involvement in decisions concerning Wickham Park, citing the history of Brevard County transferring parks to municipalities, including several in Melbourne.
The letter highlighted the county’s commitment to maintaining Wickham Park as a crucial component of its Park and Recreation System, describing it as “our country’s central park” with offerings for everyone to enjoy. During the meeting, District 4 Commissioner Rob Feltner presented the county’s position on Wickham Park, indicating their reluctance to transfer control of the park to Melbourne.
Wickham Park, spanning nearly 400 acres and operated by Brevard County, has recently faced changes in its usage policies, sparking Mayor Alfrey’s push for the city to assume control. Commissioner Tobia, advocating for the transfer, described it as beneficial for all parties involved, while Commissioner Goodson clarified the county’s financial responsibility for maintaining the park.
Residents took to social media to voice their opinions in response to the growing debate over Wickham Park’s future. One resident expressed frustration over the removal of popular events like the Strawberry Festival, Light Festival, and Renaissance Fair, questioning why the county continues to deter events that bring economic benefits and enjoyment to the area.
Brevard Renaissance Fair
Another resident raised concerns about homeless individuals occupying the park and causing discomfort for other visitors, questioning the county’s management of the park in light of its supposed high regard. On the other side, another local questioned the necessity for the city of Melbourne to take on additional responsibilities, suggesting a focus on improving existing parks instead. In response to the latter comment, Mayor Alfrey acknowledged the city’s existing involvement in patrolling the park and operating its community center.
As the discussion surrounding Wickham Park’s future continues, it remains to be seen what decisions will be made regarding its management. The topic is scheduled to be revisited at the upcoming Board of County Commissioners meeting in March.
About the writer: Iulia Lupse is an experienced researcher, writer, and entrepreneur with a strong track record in news media and politics.
PALM BAY, FLORIDA – The City of Palm Bay is pleased to announce the selection of Lisa Frazier as the new Director of Growth Management. Lisa Frazier’s official start date was September 18, 2023.
City Manager Suzanne Sherman was excited to welcome her into this role, stating, “We are fortunate to have someone with her expertise and passion join our team. As the City continues to experience significant growth and development, we look forward to Lisa’s leadership and approach to strategic, forward-thinking development in Palm Bay. “
Director Frazier brings extensive experience and comprehensive knowledge to the position and expressed, “I am excited about collaborating with leadership to continue to develop a more efficient and optimized city for all Palm Bay residents.”
Frazier’s extensive knowledge of municipal government administration, including budgets, personnel management, service operations, program development, statutory requirements, and strategic planning, will greatly benefit the City of Palm Bay.
About Director Frazier
Palm Bay Growth Management Director Lisa Frazier comes to the City with over thirty years of experience, specializing in land use, environmental planning, infrastructure, and grant administration. She brings extensive knowledge of municipal government administration responsibilities, program development, and strategic planning.
Frazier served as Community Development Director for the City of Sebastian for six years before coming to the City of Palm Bay. She holds a Master of Science in Environmental Planning from the Florida Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Science in Ecosystem Management from Central Michigan University.
PALM BAY, FLORIDA – The Palm Bay Recreation Department will host their annual Fall Fest Event on Saturday, October 28 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Fred Poppe Regional Park, 1951 Malabar Rd NW. Patrons will enjoy vendors, food vendors, inflatables, a costume contest, trunk-or-treating, hayrides, music, crafts, and games. Fall Fest is free to attend.
The Palm Bay Recreation Department is looking for trunk-or-treat vendors and sponsors for the event. Vendors will be allowed to set up a tent station or decorate a trunk to hand out candy and information to children and their parents. Trunk-or-treat vendors must be not-for-profit organizations, community partners, educational institutions, or businesses. Being a trunk-or-treat vendor at the event allows organizations to reach out to the expected 1,500 attendees. There is no cost to be a vendor, but vendors are required to provide candy or giveaways for the trunk-or-treaters.
Trunk-or-treat vendors and businesses interested in sponsoring the event should contact Daniel Waite at (321) 726-2760 or via email at Daniel.waite@palmbayflorida.org.
PALM BAY, FLORIDA – Mayor Rob Medina is pleased to announce Serene Harbor, Inc. as the designated beneficiary for the 2024 Palm Bay Mayor’s Ball. Serene Harbor, a state-certified domestic violence shelter and resource center, has diligently served the community for 31 years, providing critical support to individuals and families impacted by domestic violence.
Established in 1992, Serene Harbor’s mission is to break the cycle of domestic violence in Brevard County through a multifaceted approach encompassing education, empowerment, intervention, prevention, social change, advocacy, and community engagement.
At the heart of their operations is the provision of emergency shelter, offering a safe haven to women, children, and even pets fleeing abusive environments. Last fiscal year, Serene Harbor provided an astounding 7,470 nights of emergency shelter, assisting 1,680 individuals in their courageous efforts to escape domestic violence.
The spectrum of services offered by Serene Harbor is vast, including a 24/7 crisis hotline, counseling, support groups, case management, career, and financial resource programs, education and mentoring empowerment programs, relocation assistance, housing assistance, legal support, civil injunction legal representation, and legal advocacy. These services are provided at no cost, aiding survivors in their journey toward personal and professional goals and offering newfound hope for a life free from violence.
“We are honored to be selected as the beneficiary of the 2024 Mayor’s Ball,” said Beverly DeMeyer, President & CEO at Serene Harbor. “This incredible opportunity will significantly enhance our ability to continue serving those in need and work towards a violence-free community.”
Beyond emergency shelter and crisis intervention, Serene Harbor extends its support to address survivors’ needs, ranging from transportation, employment, and housing assistance to medical care, childcare, and safety planning consultations. Such comprehensive assistance ensures survivors can rebuild their lives with the necessary resources and guidance.
As a supporter of the Mayor’s Ball, you will play an important role in supporting Serene Harbor’s mission to end the cycle of domestic violence in Brevard County. Tickets and Sponsorships will be available soon! So mark our calendars for Saturday, March 23, 2024, and help support this worthwhile cause!
PALM BAY, FLORIDA – The City of Palm Bay will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for two nutrient separating baffle boxes on Friday, October 13, 2023, at 9:00am at Goode Park located at 1300 Bianca Drive NE Palm Bay, FL 32905. The event is open to the public and members of the media.
During the FY2021 State Legislative Session, with the support of Senator Debbie Mayfield and Representative Randy Fine, the City of Palm Bay was awarded $300,000 for the installation of two nutrient separating baffle boxes to reduce pollutant discharge into Turkey Creek and improve water quality for the impaired Indian River Lagoon. The baffle boxes were installed at the outfall discharge at Goode Park and within an existing ditch that discharges Basin 11 adjacent to Lipscomb Street.
The nutrient baffle boxes will help to reduce the amount of Total Nitrogen (TN) and Total Phosphorus (TP), which will help to improve the City’s stormwater infrastructure and serve as a responsible steward of our local natural resources.
Updates will follow based on the identification of the victim.
Anyone who may have information is being asked to call the Palm Bay Police Department at (321-952-3463) or the 24 hr non-emergency line at (321-952-3456), or if you wish to remain anonymous, Crimeline at (800) 423-8477
Brevard County ranks in the top 25 counties in Florida for traffic crashes resulting in serious and fatal injuries to pedestrians and bicyclists. To help reverse this trend, the West Melbourne Police Department is participating in the Florida Department of Transportation High Visibility Enforcement (HVE) Program aimed at educating motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians on Florida’s traffic laws to improve safety on the City of West Melbourne roads.
Starting this month through May 2024, West Melbourne Police Department will have additional officers on patrol at specific corridors with a high occurrence of pedestrians and bicyclists’ crashes. Special attention will be directed towards increasing awareness of the dangerous behaviors that are contributing to serious and fatal injuries at these locations. Officers will look for drivers speeding, failing to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, conducting improper turns or signal violations, and using hand-held devices while driving.
Officers also will watch for pedestrians who cross the street illegally or fail to yield to motorists who have right-of-way. Bicyclists will be stopped for riding against traffic, riding at night without lights or not abiding by the same laws as motor vehicles. Officers will issue warnings and citations only when appropriate.
“Road safety not only applies to motorists, it also applies to pedestrians and bicyclists as well”, said Commander Michelle Page who is overseeing this year’s HVE Program. “Ensuring everyone arrives at their intended destination safely, starts with understanding the rules of the road.”
Funding for this program is provided through a contract with University of North Florida’s Institute of Police Technology and Management (IPTM) funded by the Florida Department of Transportation. West Melbourne Police Department will receive funds for overtime hours for officers to conduct operations and for special training on Florida’s bicycle and pedestrian laws, procedures and best practices.
The national test will consist of two portions, testing WEA and EAS capabilities. Both tests are scheduled to begin at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 4.
The WEA portion of the test will be directed to consumer cell phones. This will be the third nationwide test, but the second test to all WEA-compatible cellular devices. The test message will display in either English or in Spanish, depending on the language settings of the wireless handset.
The EAS portion of the test will be sent to radios and televisions. This will be the seventh nationwide EAS test.
FEMA and the FCC are coordinating with EAS participants, wireless providers, emergency managers and other stakeholders in preparation for this national test to minimize confusion and maximize the public safety value of the test.
The purpose of the test is to ensure that the systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level. In case the Oct. 4 test is postponed, due to widespread severe weather or other significant events, the back-up testing date is Oct. 11.
The WEA portion of the test will be initiated using FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), a centralized internet-based system administered by FEMA that enables authorities to send authenticated emergency messages to the public through multiple communications networks. The WEA test will be administered via a code sent to cell phones.
This year the EAS message will be disseminated as a Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) message via the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System-Open Platform for Emergency Networks (IPAWS-OPEN).
All wireless phones should receive the message only once. The following can be expected from the nationwide WEA test:
Beginning at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET, cell towers will broadcast the test for approximately 30 minutes. During this time, WEA-compatible wireless phones that are switched on, within range of an active cell tower, and in a geographic area where the wireless provider participates in WEA, should be capable of receiving the test message.
For consumers, the message that appears on their phones will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
Phones with the main menu set to Spanish will display: “ESTA ES UNA PRUEBA del Sistema Nacional de Alerta de Emergencia. No se necesita acción.”
Similar to when your phone receives an Amber Alert, the WEA alert tone is generally only played when the alert is initially received by the phone and on some devices stops as soon as the user clicks a button.
If a phone is off before the test alert is sent and not turned back on until after the WEA Test expires (approximately 30 minutes), the phone should not get the test message.
WEA alerts are created and sent by authorized federal, state, local, tribal and territorial government agencies through IPAWS to participating wireless providers, which deliver the alerts to compatible handsets in geo-targeted areas. To help ensure that these alerts are accessible to the entire public, including people with disabilities, the alerts are accompanied by a unique tone and vibration.
Important information about the EAS test:
The EAS portion of the test is scheduled to last approximately one minute and will be conducted with the participation of radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers and wireline video providers.
The test message will be similar to the regular monthly EAS test messages with which the public is familiar. It will state: “This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 14:20 to 14:50 hours ET. This is only a test. No action is required by the public.”
