Fort Pierce News and Information

FORT PIERCE —
The Mets and Yankees were in perfect harmony at the Fort Pierce Alzheimer Community Care Center’s caregiver appreciation luncheon on May 9 at the St. Peter’s Ministry Center on 2900 S. Jenkins Rd. in Fort Pierce.

Dana Matthews, a volunteer music therapist, and Slider, the St. Lucie Mets’ own mascot, led a resounding rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”

“It’s so very important to recognize the tremendous role, caregivers, staff and volunteers play in care for our beloved patients,” said Kay Ardis, site program manager.

Alzheimer’s Community Care Centers promote and provide specialized, quality, compassionate care within a community-based environment to patients and caregivers living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia disorders.

Over the past 11 years, Alzheimer’s Community Care has set the standard for dementia-specific care, helping patients and caregivers maintain quality of life after a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and by providing specialized services and resources to help caregivers continue caring for their loved one at home.

Alzheimer Community Care’s strategic principle is “We place a safety net around patients and caregivers every day.”

The safety net of services and resources includes direct patient care, support for the caregiver and community education, such as dementia-specific Alzheimer’s Day Center programs, which include health monitoring and specially designed activities for cognitive and social stimulation.

The Family Nurse Consultant Program provides caregivers guidance, support, education and a link to critical services.

Additionally, an Alzheimer’s Crisis Line staffed by registered nurses is available to caregivers, police and the community.

Finally, caregiver support groups, case management, professional and community education programs, as well as specialized disaster preparedness, are available.

If you or a loved one needs help, contact the Crisis Hotline at 800-394-1771 or on the web at www.alzcare.org.

Article source: http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2012/may/19/mets-and-yankees-sing-in-perfect-harmony-at-alzhei/

Photo by Hobie Hiler, HOBIE HILER

HOBIE HILER/SPECIAL TO TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

Fort Pierce City Attorney Robert Schwerer talks with Fort Pierce City Manager David Recor after the Fort Pierce City Commission meeting May 7, two days before Recor resigned.

Robert Schwerer CQ
David Recor CQ
PHOTO TAKEN: MONDAY 5/7/12
0508_TCLO_TC SL recor009.jpg

I’ve been reading about the departure of the Fort Pierce city manager and the city’s decision to hire a national search firm to find a new city manager.

I started wondering what the difference was between a “city manager” and any other manager? Some friends suggested that perhaps a “city manager” would (or should) have advanced degrees in petty politics and boot licking to keep their jobs. I said that wasn’t fair; “city managers” clearly are a special breed. There is no way that the hundreds of competent managers who live in or near Fort Pierce could do the job of a “city manager” … or could they?

Then I thought about how “city managers” have “managed” in St. Lucie County. Then I knew why a national search was necessary.

First, you have to go far enough away so that the person applying for the job doesn’t know what kind of people he will be dealing with.

Second, that person might look at the salary, the benefits and some kind of contract that guarantees a pretty good income for a few years while they update their resume for their next “city manager” gig (reference the track record of our most recent job holders in Port St. Lucie and Fort Pierce).

As for “track records,” let’s review those of our most recent “city managers.”

In Fort Pierce, there is no resolution to the port issue; we have a daily (or more) shooting; there are drug issues; still a lot of unemployment; a Fort Pierce Utilities Authority that provides services at a higher cost than any other entity in the area, and general difficulty being able to do anything for the benefit of the people of Fort Pierce.

Instead of actually getting something done, the recently departed “city manager” waited until something happened and then reacted. That is one hell of a way to manage.

Of course there is the mayor and council who (I guess) are pretty happy with the status quo, but one would think that aside from worrying about getting re-elected or aspiring to a higher office, once in awhile that crew might sit down (in public) and actually decide to address some of the problems in Fort Pierce.

Here are some things I would do if I were city manager of Fort Pierce.

• Contact St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara and have him tell us what kind of proposal he could make to take over police duties for the city. The sheriff has more resources than the local police department and when faced with the rash of crime, drugs, shootings, etc., in a given area, he CAN put personnel and resources in that area to deal with the problem. The local department simply doesn’t have the ability to do that.

• I’d call Lloyd Bell, owner of much of the Port of Fort Pierce, and his attorney, ask them to come to a meeting, and see if there wasn’t something that would make sense to him and the city (and the whole county for that matter). I don’t know Mr. Bell personally, but I have a lot of friends who do know the man and they all tell me he is not an unreasonable person. It’s just that the land in the port belongs to him — not the city, county or state. He has a right to do something with that property that is in HIS best interest, but to date it has been all the city’s way or the highway. That is just plain stupid.

• I would contact FPL and ask them for a proposal to take over FPUA to see if there might a way to reduce the high cost of electricity, sewage and water to the residents of Fort Pierce.

There are more issues of course, but my overall point is that the city could save a ton of money by just putting an ad in the paper’s help wanted section: “Help wanted — city manager. Must have track record of management, employee relations and budgetary issues. Apply here.”

Finding someone locally who has a clue about local issues would be a good start toward improving management in the city of Fort Pierce.

Article source: http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2012/may/19/john-pamer-no-need-for-big-national-search-to/

By Laurie K. Blandford

TCPalm.com

Posted: 10:26 a.m. Saturday, May 19, 2012

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FORT PIERCE —
The city could have a new manager in place within three months.

City Attorney Rob Schwerer said based on the pool of applicants and criteria
established by the city commission, finding a replacement for David Recor,
who resigned May 9, could take approximately 90 days.

Schwerer is scheduled to recommend a search firm to commissioners at their
Monday night meeting.

Schwerer said he was directed by the commission to work with the city’s
Director of Procurement to conduct the search for firms and they narrowed
down about half a dozen choices to one: Colin Baenziger Associates.

Schwerer said he will recommend this firm to the commission because when
research was done, a market survey was completed and after other cities in
Florida involved in a search process were contacted, this firm’s name kept
coming up. He said he feels comfortable with his recommendation.

He said the commission will vote on a standard contract, which includes prices
for services.

“The standard contract for those type of services, at least for that firm, is
between $19,500 and $21,500,” Schwerer said.

He said the firm will work directly with the commission during the initial
phase of the search.

Commissioner Reggie Sessions said although the city will conduct a nationwide
search, the commission also will consider local applicants, such as city
employees, who want to apply.

Sessions said city officials are going to screen the applicants carefully and
might even visit the cities where they are working currently.

Commissioner Tom Perona said officials are going to demand certain leadership
qualities and make sure the new city manager is a good fit for the city.

“We know what we don’t want,” Perona said. “We know what to ask. I think we’re
going to be very successful in the process because every one of us has an
idea of exactly who that perfect city manager will be.”

On May 9, commissioners unanimously selected Public Works Director Nick Mimms
as interim city manager while they conduct their search. The Ocean City,
Md., council voted May 15 to hire Recor as that resort town’s city manager.

Sessions said he would be happy having Mimms in the role long-term.

Mimms has the best overall picture of the city as the public works director,
he said, and commissioners can watch Mimms while he is filling in to see if
he has the ability to become Recor’s permanent replacement.

“He’s going to work for us, and we’re going to see him at work,” Sessions
said. “What better individual in terms of screening would we have other than
the interim? As far as I’m concerned, right now, he’s No. 1.”

During his exit interview May 11 with Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers, Recor
said he’s been helping Mimms with the transition and assured Mimms that he’s
only a phone call away.

“I’ve advised (Mimms) on the land mines and how to navigate them and what to
stay away from,” Recor said. “(Mimms) doesn’t have the background and
experience in this office, but he’s a team player.”

Although Perona expressed concerns about selecting Mimms just for the
temporary job because Mimms already has an “enormous department that he runs
so efficiently,” Perona said he also sees the value of having someone in the
city manager role who can advise officials during the search on the type of
individual best suit to lead the city.

Perona said Mimms’ input can help commission members choose someone that can
take the city in the direction the commission envisions for the future.

Staff writer Christin Erazo contributed to this report.

Article source: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/fort-pierce-officials-set-to-move-forward-monday-2364776.html

By Jay Meisel

meisel@hometownnewsol.com

ST. LUCIE COUNTY – You won’t find Detective Angela Flowers catching criminals by sifting through evidence at a bloody crime scene or in a high-speed pursuit to nab a bank robber.

She’s more likely at her desk looking through complex financial records, seeking evidence of fraud and other criminal activities.

It may not be an aspect of law enforcement featured on crime shows, but the detective with the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office said she finds her job fulfilling in helping other people.

“I enjoy my job,” she said. “I see the impact (of crime) especially on someone who is elderly, who has been defrauded.”

Detective Flowers was recognized as the top Law Enforcement Officer of the Year for the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office during the annual meeting of The Hundred Club of St. Lucie County.

The Hundred Club, formed in 1987, has the purpose of helping “to provide for the spouses and dependents of firefighters and law enforcement officers who have lost their lives or become disabled in the line of duty,” its charter states.

Members pay $100 for an annual membership.

The recognition for Detective Flowers came during the annual banquet of The Hundred Club on May 8.

Detective Flowers has worked with the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office for 12 years, the last six as an economic crimes investigator.

St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara said she works many cases each year that sometimes involve hundreds or thousands of victims.

“She is definitely a master of case prioritization,” Sheriff Mascara said.

One of her most notable cases involved two men running bogus charities for children, he said.

The men collected donations from 3,000 or more people, he said.

“Can you imagine having to find each one of those victims?” he asked.

Another notable investigation involved marijuana grow houses, he said.

Detective Flowers did all the research and collected information so those houses could be seized because of the illegal activities.

In the charity scam, she began her investigation after Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers received a tip.

“I didn’t find any legitimate contributions,” she said, from the money collected by the two men later convicted of fraud.

She said the men collected at least $120,000 in donations – mostly in small amounts from 3,000 contributors.

During the investigation, she contacted all 3,000 of them, she said.

Detective Flowers said she believes the case is particularly important because it shows the public that law enforcement will seek to prosecute those involved in bogus charities.

That may make people feel more at ease about donating to charities, she said.

For the Fort Pierce Police Department, Officer Michael Harding was named law enforcement Officer of the Year.

Fort Pierce Police Chief R. Sean Baldwin said Officer Harding has been with the department for less than five years, but “he’s impressed us.”

He said that last year Officer Hardin issued 76 driving under the influence citations, more than anyone else in the department.

He also responded to more than 2,000 calls for service and wrote more than 200 reports, Chief Baldwin said.

Donald Stefani was named Firefighter of the Year for the St. Lucie County Fire District.

Fire Chief Ron Parrish called Mr. Stefani “one of our shining stars.”

He said that not only is Mr. Stefani a fine firefighter, but also someone who enjoys helping others. He’s been involved in efforts to deliver more than 1,000 meals to needy families during the holidays, raise $38,000 for muscular dystrophy and was instrumental in bringing the Pink Heals Tour to St. Lucie County.

The tour raises money to help women with cancer, particularly breast cancer.

Chief Parrish said the stop in St. Lucie County raised more money than any other stop in the state, and it was unscheduled until Mr. Stefani helped bring it about.

He said Mr. Stefani did that “not because someone close to him has cancer. It comes from his heart.”

Port St. Lucie Police Officer John Fazio was named law enforcement Officer of the Year by the Port St. Lucie Police Department.

Police Chief Brian Reuther said that Officer Fazio was instrumental in saving the lives of three children during the past year.

Two of the children nearly drowned in pools and the third was choking on food.

Lt. Harry Coker was named Trooper of the Year for this area of Florida by the Florida Highway Patrol.

Capt. John Cataldo said that Lt. Coker continues to be effective in his job, despite taking on considerable more responsibility because of budget cutbacks.

He said one case Lt. Coker solved was a string of thefts from road construction sites.

Eric Jester was named Investigator of the Year in this area for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Special Agent Rich Piccininni said Mr. Jester has been effective in investigating organized crime cases, he said.

Article source: http://www.myhometownnews.net/index.php?id=92864

FORT PIERCE — The city could have a new manager in place within three months.

City Attorney Rob Schwerer said based on the pool of applicants and criteria established by the city commission, finding a replacement for David Recor, who resigned May 9, could take approximately 90 days.

Schwerer is scheduled to recommend a search firm to commissioners at their Monday night meeting.

Schwerer said he was directed by the commission to work with the city’s Director of Procurement to conduct the search for firms and they narrowed down about half a dozen choices to one: Colin Baenziger Associates.

Schwerer said he will recommend this firm to the commission because when research was done, a market survey was completed and after other cities in Florida involved in a search process were contacted, this firm’s name kept coming up. He said he feels comfortable with his recommendation.

He said the commission will vote on a standard contract, which includes prices for services.

“The standard contract for those type of services, at least for that firm, is between $19,500 and $21,500,” Schwerer said.

He said the firm will work directly with the commission during the initial phase of the search.

Commissioner Reggie Sessions said although the city will conduct a nationwide search, the commission also will consider local applicants, such as city employees, who want to apply.

Sessions said city officials are going to screen the applicants carefully and might even visit the cities where they are working currently.

Commissioner Tom Perona said officials are going to demand certain leadership qualities and make sure the new city manager is a good fit for the city.

“We know what we don’t want,” Perona said. “We know what to ask. I think we’re going to be very successful in the process because every one of us has an idea of exactly who that perfect city manager will be.”

On May 9, commissioners unanimously selected Public Works Director Nick Mimms as interim city manager while they conduct their search. The Ocean City, Md., council voted May 15 to hire Recor as that resort town’s city manager.

Sessions said he would be happy having Mimms in the role long-term.

Mimms has the best overall picture of the city as the public works director, he said, and commissioners can watch Mimms while he is filling in to see if he has the ability to become Recor’s permanent replacement.

“He’s going to work for us, and we’re going to see him at work,” Sessions said. “What better individual in terms of screening would we have other than the interim? As far as I’m concerned, right now, he’s No. 1.”

During his exit interview May 11 with Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers, Recor said he’s been helping Mimms with the transition and assured Mimms that he’s only a phone call away.

“I’ve advised (Mimms) on the land mines and how to navigate them and what to stay away from,” Recor said. “(Mimms) doesn’t have the background and experience in this office, but he’s a team player.”

Although Perona expressed concerns about selecting Mimms just for the temporary job because Mimms already has an “enormous department that he runs so efficiently,” Perona said he also sees the value of having someone in the city manager role who can advise officials during the search on the type of individual best suit to lead the city.

Perona said Mimms’ input can help commission members choose someone that can take the city in the direction the commission envisions for the future.

Staff writer Christin Erazo contributed to this report.

Article source: http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2012/may/18/fort-pierce-officials-set-to-move-forward-monday/

By Tyler Treadway

TCPalm.com

Updated: 3:03 p.m. Friday, May 18, 2012

Posted: 2:52 p.m. Thursday, May 17, 2012

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FORT PIERCE —
A jury found Thursday afternoon that a Fort Pierce man was justified in
stabbing and killing a man under Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law.

After hearing a day and a half of testimony, jurors deliberated about three
hours Thursday afternoon before finding Gilberto Galvez not guilty of
first-degree murder in the death of Carlos Pereza in the early morning hours
of March 19, 2011.

After the verdict, Deputy Public Defender Dorothy Naumann said Galvez’ case
“fit squarely into the way the ‘Stand Your Ground’ law allows you to protect
yourself, your loved ones and your home.”

Florida Statutes 776.012(1) states: “A person is justified in the use of
deadly force and does not have a duty to retreat if he or she reasonably
believes that such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great
bodily harm to himself or herself or another, or to prevent the imminent
commission of a forcible felony.”

According to Fort Pierce Police Department reports, Galvez and the 25-year-old
Pereza were among a group of men who had been out drinking the night of
March 18, 2011. Galvez invited Pereza, who was drunk and high on cocaine, to
sleep on the couch in the house in the 1600 block of Citrus Avenue that
Galvez shared with his girlfriend, Maria Diaz, and three others.

While Galvez, 43, was driving one of the other men home, Pereza allegedly went
into the room Galvez shares with Diaz, who was asleep, and touched her.

Diaz called Galvez on his cellphone, and he returned to the house.

Galvez testified Wednesday he grabbed a knife as he was leading Pereza out of
the house, but that Pereza stopped and confronted him.

In the struggle that ensued, Galvez said, he stabbed and killed Pereza.

Facing a man who was “drunk and high on cocaine,” who had “attacked” Diaz, who
wouldn’t leave the premises and “now had turned on Mr. Galvez,” Naumann
asked jurors, “How was (Galvez) not supposed to use deadly force? The fact
is, under Florida law, he was allowed to stab him until he was dead. That’s
all you need to know as jurors to decide this case.”

Assistant State Attorney Daryl Isenhower countered that Galvez’ testimony
didn’t jibe with evidence in the case, particularly with the photos of
Pereza’s body, which had at least seven stab wounds on the neck and upper
torso and bruising on the chin.

“The defendant wants you to believe there was a struggle,” Isenhower said.
“There was no struggle. The defendant had the upper hand on the victim. He
was literally on top of him, stabbing him and holding him down with his
other arm.”

A bite Galvez received on his hand during the altercation, Isenghowe said “was
simply the victim’s desperate attempt to save his life.”

After the verdict, Naumann said jurors “felt Mr. Galvez was sufficiently
threatened to have every right to defend himself.”

Naumann said jurors were aware of the “Stand Your Ground” law before they
entered the courtroom because of the publicity surrounding the shooting
death of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed teen who was killed Feb. 26 by George
Zimmerman, an armed crime watch volunteer in a gated community in Sanford.

“This case is a lot different than the Zimmerman case,” Naumann said. “For one
thing, my client never stalked (Pereza); he was never the aggressor.”

Asked if “Stand Your Ground,” which went into effect in 2006, was a factor in
the jurors’ decision, Isenhower said, “There’s no way to know what they
based their verdict on. We would just be guessing what they were focusing
on.”

Naumann said Galvez “came across as very credible” when he took the witness
stand.

“He admitted to all the bad things,” she said. “If he wanted to make up a
story, there were a lot of ways he could have come up with a better one than
what he admitted to.”

Isenhower argued to jurors that Galvez’ attempts to hide evidence — putting
Pereza in his car and pushing it across the street, cleaning blood off the
driveway, hiding the knife and bloody clothes on top of the house and lying
to police about knowing the victim — showed “consciousness of guilt.”

“Why would he make self-defense look like murder?” Isenhower asked. “Why
didn’t he leave the crime scene alone so that self-defense looked like
self-defense? Why? Because it was murder.”

Naumann said Galvez’s attempt to hide evidence “doesn’t prove his intent. It
proves that he didn’t know he had a strong defense” and was protected by
Florida’s “no retreat” law.

Despite the not-guilty verdict, Galvez is not a free man; he is being held at
the St. Lucie County Jail to be turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement officials for being an illegal immigrant.

Article source: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/crime/jury-finds-fort-pierce-man-justified-in-killing-2361600.html

By Tyler Treadway

TCPalm.com

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FORT PIERCE —
After hearing a day and a half of testimony, jurors began deliberating early
Thursday afternoon over whether Gilberto Galvez murdered Carlos Pereza in
the early morning hours of March 19, 2011, or the killing was a justifiable
homicide.

In closing arguments Thursday morning, Assistant State Attorney Daryl
Isenhower told jurors Galvez was guilty of first-degree murder because “this
was a cold killing.”

Deputy Public Defender Dorothy Naumann argued Galvez was within his rights
under Florida law “to meet force with force.”

According to Fort Pierce Police Department reports, Galvez and the 25-year-old
Pereza were among a group of men who had been out drinking the night of
March 18, 2011. Galvez invited the very drunk Pereza to sleep on the couch
in the house in the 1600 block of Citrus Avenue that Galvez shared with his
girlfriend, Maria Diaz, and three others.

While Galvez, 43, was driving one of the other men home, Pereza allegedly went
into the room Galvez shares with Diaz, who was asleep, and touched her.

Diaz called Galvez on his cellphone, and he returned to the house.

Galvez testified Wednesday he grabbed a knife as he was leading Pereza out of
the house, but that once outside, Pereza stopped and confronted him.

In the struggle that ensued, Galvez said, he stabbed and killed Pereza.

Facing a man who was “drunk and high on cocaine,” who had “attacked” Diaz, who
wouldn’t leave the premises and “now had turned on Mr. Galvez,” Naumann
asked jurors,” How was (Galvez) not supposed to use deadly force? The fact
is, under Florida law, he was allowed to stab him until he was dead. That’s
all you need to know as jurors to decide this case.”

Isenhower countered that Galvez’ testimony didn’t jibe with evidence in the
case, particularly with the photos of Pereza’s body, which had at least
seven stab wounds on the neck and upper torso and bruising on the chin.

“The defendant wants you to believe there was a struggle,” Isenhower said.
“There was no struggle. The defendant had the upper hand on the victim. He
was literally on top of him, stabbing him and holding him down with his
other arm.”

A bite Galvez received on his hand during the altercation, Isenghowe said “was
simply the victim’s desperate attempt to save his life.”

Isenhower also argued Galvez’ attempts to hide evidence — putting Pereza in
his car and pushing it across the street, cleaning blood off the driveway,
hiding the knife and bloody clothes on top of the house and lying to police
about knowing the victim — showed “consciousness of guilt.”

“Why would he make self-defense look like murder?” Isenhower asked. “Why
didn’t he leave the crime scene alone so that self-defense looked like
self-defense? Why? Because it was murder.”

Naumann said Galvez’s attempt to hide evidence “doesn’t prove his intent. It
proves that he didn’t know he had a strong defense” and was protected by
Florida’s “no retreat” law.

Article source: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/crime/jury-begins-deliberating-in-fort-pierce-homicide-case-2361600.html

FORT PIERCE — A jury found Thursday afternoon that a Fort Pierce man was justified in stabbing and killing a man under Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law.

After hearing a day and a half of testimony, jurors deliberated about three hours Thursday afternoon before finding Gilberto Galvez not guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Carlos Pereza in the early morning hours of March 19, 2011.

After the verdict, Deputy Public Defender Dorothy Naumann said Galvez’ case “fit squarely into the way the ‘Stand Your Ground’ law allows you to protect yourself, your loved ones and your home.”

Florida Statutes 776.012(1) states: “A person is justified in the use of deadly force and does not have a duty to retreat if he or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another, or to prevent the imminent commission of a forcible felony.”

According to Fort Pierce Police Department reports, Galvez and the 25-year-old Pereza were among a group of men who had been out drinking the night of March 18, 2011. Galvez invited Pereza, who was drunk and high on cocaine, to sleep on the couch in the house in the 1600 block of Citrus Avenue that Galvez shared with his girlfriend, Maria Diaz, and three others.

While Galvez, 43, was driving one of the other men home, Pereza allegedly went into the room Galvez shares with Diaz, who was asleep, and touched her.

Diaz called Galvez on his cellphone, and he returned to the house.

Galvez testified Wednesday he grabbed a knife as he was leading Pereza out of the house, but that Pereza stopped and confronted him.

In the struggle that ensued, Galvez said, he stabbed and killed Pereza.

Facing a man who was “drunk and high on cocaine,” who had “attacked” Diaz, who wouldn’t leave the premises and “now had turned on Mr. Galvez,” Naumann asked jurors, “How was (Galvez) not supposed to use deadly force? The fact is, under Florida law, he was allowed to stab him until he was dead. That’s all you need to know as jurors to decide this case.”

Assistant State Attorney Daryl Isenhower countered that Galvez’ testimony didn’t jibe with evidence in the case, particularly with the photos of Pereza’s body, which had at least seven stab wounds on the neck and upper torso and bruising on the chin.

“The defendant wants you to believe there was a struggle,” Isenhower said. “There was no struggle. The defendant had the upper hand on the victim. He was literally on top of him, stabbing him and holding him down with his other arm.”

A bite Galvez received on his hand during the altercation, Isenghowe said “was simply the victim’s desperate attempt to save his life.”

After the verdict, Naumann said jurors “felt Mr. Galvez was sufficiently threatened to have every right to defend himself.”

Naumann said jurors were aware of the “Stand Your Ground” law before they entered the courtroom because of the publicity surrounding the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed teen who was killed Feb. 26 by George Zimmerman, an armed crime watch volunteer in a gated community in Sanford.

“This case is a lot different than the Zimmerman case,” Naumann said. “For one thing, my client never stalked (Pereza); he was never the aggressor.”

Asked if “Stand Your Ground,” which went into effect in 2006, was a factor in the jurors’ decision, Isenhower said, “There’s no way to know what they based their verdict on. We would just be guessing what they were focusing on.”

Naumann said Galvez “came across as very credible” when he took the witness stand.

“He admitted to all the bad things,” she said. “If he wanted to make up a story, there were a lot of ways he could have come up with a better one than what he admitted to.”

Isenhower argued to jurors that Galvez’ attempts to hide evidence — putting Pereza in his car and pushing it across the street, cleaning blood off the driveway, hiding the knife and bloody clothes on top of the house and lying to police about knowing the victim — showed “consciousness of guilt.”

“Why would he make self-defense look like murder?” Isenhower asked. “Why didn’t he leave the crime scene alone so that self-defense looked like self-defense? Why? Because it was murder.”

Naumann said Galvez’s attempt to hide evidence “doesn’t prove his intent. It proves that he didn’t know he had a strong defense” and was protected by Florida’s “no retreat” law.

Despite the not-guilty verdict, Galvez is not a free man; he is being held at the St. Lucie County Jail to be turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials for being an illegal immigrant.

Article source: http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2012/may/17/jury-begins-deliberating-in-fort-pierce-murder/

Photo by Eric Hasert

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS
Jenna Simmons (left) 6, of Port St. Lucie talks with Nurse Practitioner Laura Kramer, of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, while getting a dose of oxygen for her teddy bear in the new Pediatric ICU unit during the Teddy Bear Clinic for the Pediatric Open House at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and Heart Institute on Saturday.

Photo by Eric Hasert

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS
Braelon Scheib (bottom center) shares a high-five with Dicey Jones (right), emergency room director for Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and Heart Institute, while showing children how they take blood pressure, check temperature and give oxygen to patients on teddy bears.

FORT PIERCE —
Stephen, 10, and Peyton Gray, 5, recently toured Lawnwood Regional Medical Center Heart Institute’s new Pediatric Intensive Care Unit with hospital-issued teddy bears in tow. The siblings, who were both born at the medical center, attended the public tour with their mother, Heather Gray of Fort Pierce.

Talking to hospital staff and seeing the medical equipment up close, did a lot to alleviate their fears about the PICU that’s inside the hospital at 1700 S. 23rd St.

“We’re not scared anymore to be here,” Peyton said. “We knew that nothing was going to happen to us today, only to our teddy bear.”

More than 1,600 parents and children attended the public open house this past weekend. Children received teddy bears and watched hospital physicians diagnose and treat the bears at different educational stations located in PICU, learning about such areas as radiology and the emergency room.

The six-room, $2.2 million wing is the first of its kind on the Treasure Coast, hospital representatives said. The unit, which began treating patients in early March, is vital to St. Lucie residents because children and families do not have to endure separation or travel 60 to 70 miles for pediatric care in Orlando or Palm Beach, where the closest Pediatric ICU’s are located, they added.

The new unit replaced extra postpartum rooms, staff said.

Lawnwood CEO Rodney Smith said the unit’s opening is a win-win for the community and hospitals in Indian River and Martin Counties, which don’t have specialized ICU’s for children.

“Indian River is excited about it,” Smith said. “They don’t see it as competition. We’re all here to get the patient the best care.”

Nicole Baxter-Miller, a representative from Hospital Corporations of America’s East Florida Division said the new PICU treated several children from the March 26 St. Lucie County school bus crash that killed one and left more than a dozen injured.

She said the revolutionary new unit is stocked with the latest technology and equipment geared specifically for children.

The unit also is staffed with one full-time specialist. Pediatric Critical Care Specialist Dr. Ivanelsie Delgado, M.D. also receives assistance from three doctors when needed.

Some of the most common conditions Delgado anticipates treating in the PICU include severe asthma attacks, diabetic crisis, seizure disorders, pneumonia and pediatric surgical procedures.

Delgado said the unit is an asset both medically and emotionally.

“It’s not just the stress of the illness or condition, but the stress of moving,” said Delgado of the devastation families endured before the unit opened when their children were transferred out of the area for treatment.

Delgado said the PICU also is aesthetically different than an adult ICU, boasting cool, calming colors and an island theme.

“Children respond to treatment in a different way than adults do,” said Delgado who sees an average of two to three pediatric patients in the PICU a week. “And with children, you often have to work with the whole family.”

Article source: http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2012/may/18/fort-pierces-new-pediatric-intensive-care-unit-a/

Three offshore fishing tournaments will take to the seas this weekend and there should be good fishing weather for the fleets.

In Fort Pierce, the Blue Water Open will fish for the 36th consecutive year. Guaranteed prizes totaling $10,000, including $5,000 for the heaviest catch, will be awarded for dolphin. All proceeds will go to benefit the Exchange Club of Indian River, a nonprofit group that works to prevent child abuse in Indian River County.

Fort Pierce City Marina will be headquarters for the event and will play host to the captain’s meeting at 6 p.m. Friday, and the weigh-in from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday. There is no charge to attend the weigh-in.

At the Frances Langford Memorial Tournament in Jensen Beach, kingfish will be the catch of the day. Anglers also will be in search for the heaviest dolphin and blackfin tuna as well.

The event is presented by the Jensen Beach Chamber of Commerce and is sanctioned by the Southern Kingfish Association so kingfish tournament anglers can earn points toward qualification for the year-end national championships.

Four Fish Marina in Jensen Beach is the tournament headquarters and will be the site of the captain’s meeting on Friday at 6 p.m. and the weigh-in and fish fry from 2 until 6 p.m. Saturday. The weigh-in is free, but there is charge to enjoy the fish fry.

On Sunday, the Ladies Anglers Tournament presented by the Stuart Sailfish Club will fish its ladies-only event after rescheduling from last week due to rough sea conditions. The weigh-in will be at Finest Kind Marina in Stuart from 1 to 3 p.m.

Article source: http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2012/may/17/tournament-fleets-should-find-good-weather-this/