Blue-green algae update
Spotted between Palm City and Stuart
3
Excellent adventure
Pals plan Hollywood road trip
27
50% OFF
BOGO ON EVERYTHING See page 7
PALM CITY/TESORO
YourVoiceWeekly.com VOL. 4/ISSUE 30
YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
New chief in town
FRIDAY, MAY 27, 2016
Fire down below
Adam Laten Willson
FOR YOUR VOICE NEWS & VIEWS
PALM CITY — When Interim Fire Chief Bill Schobel was a kid, his family regularly visited Stuart and he always loved the area. Never in his wildest dreams did he think he would relocate here from Pinellas County, let alone step into the head role of Martin County Fire Rescue (MCFR). In 2010, when the position of MCFR Bureau Chief of Training and Safety became available, Schobel, a firefighter of 26 years from the St. Petersburg area, applied. He was pleasantly surprised to get a call for an interview, and doubly so when he was offered the position. Now, after five years with the department, he is very humbled and honored to have the opportunity to lead his colleagues, he says. “I think this is the best fire department in the state of Florida,” Schobel remarks. “I believe that because of the people who are here, and their willingness to do whatever it takes to provide the level of service the citizens of Martin County deserve. I’ve never seen people work so hard.” Though Schobel was officially instated on May 16, he has been working with the staff and county for more than a month, going to meetings and debriefings, and developing a plan for the future of
See FIRE CHIEF page 20
Mitch Kloorfain/chief photographer Hydroplane pilot Andrew Tate evacuated his high performance race vehicle mid-race due to an engine fire during a final heat of the Stuart Sailfish Regatta Sunday, May 22 on the Indian River Lagoon.
Palm City and Indiantown chambers of commerce talk about getting hitched Patrick McCallister STAFF WRITER
pmccallister@YourVoiceWeekly.com
PALM CITY — Flirting has gotten serious between the Palm City and Indiantown chambers
of commerce. Since December the two have had a joint committee looking at getting engagement rings. Well, not engagement rings really. The committee is looking into a possible merger. Nick
Blount, former president of Palm City’s, is chairing it. “By merging the two, it gives you a larger membership base,” he said. “You’ll have a stronger
See MERGE page 23
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