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PALM CITY/TESORO
YourVoiceWeekly.com VOL. 3/ISSUE 42
YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
Sheriff’s new Crime Suppression Team formed
FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015
Airport flies above competition
Patrick McCallister STAFF WRITER
pmccallister@YourVoiceWeekly.com
MARTIN COUNTY — Crime is down, but assaults are up. Sheriff Snyder responded by creating a six-member Crime Suppression Team. “They will be tasked with proactive law-enforcement activities wherever we see an uptick in assault,” Snyder said. The state released its Uniform Crime Report in June. The Sheriff’s Office reported an almost 15 percent drop in overall crime. But, from 2013 to 2014 aggravated assaults climbed from 198 to 244, a 23 percent increase. Additionally, there’s been an increase in the number of shootings in Stuart. Brian Bossier, corporal of community relations at the Stuart Police Department, said while there’s been a visible increase in reported shootings with evidence — such as spent shell casings at scenes — most had no injuries. “We had two people hit at a flag football game,” he said. That was a May shooting at Guy Davis Ballfield, Southeast 10th Street. Two women were injured. The next day a woman was shot near the intersection of Southeast East Street and Southeast Lake Street. All three survived. In all, the Stuart Police Department has handled eight confirmed shootings since January. The new Sheriff’s Office team has a member from the Stuart
See CRIME page 7
Mitch Kloorfain/chief photographer An Air National Guard stunt plane takes off from Witham Field in Stuart prior to the start of the annual Stuart Air Show last year. The Florida Department of Transportation recently named it the General Aviation Airport of the Year.
Patrick McCallister STAFF WRITER
pmccallister@YourVoiceWeekly.com
MARTIN COUNTY — The Martin County Airport-Witham Field, is flying high. The Florida Department of Transportation recently named it the General Aviation Airport of the Year. “Isn’t that cool?” Palm City’s
Alex Beringer, chairman of the airport’s Noise Advisory Committee, said. Beringer is co-owner of Fair Wind Air Charter, which is headquartered at the airport. “We have 11 of our 30 aircrafts here in Martin County,” he said. “If I could base all my airplanes here, I would.” Beringer said many things likely went into the transportation
department’s decision to put Martin’s airport on its top shelf. He said airport users are likely a big one. “I think there’s a 99 percent night curfew compliance,” Beringer said. About 12 years ago the county opted to go with voluntary noise abatement procedures, which
See AIRPORT page 9
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