Sophiaโs Law passes Florida House subcommittee vote, moving closer to becoming law
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ Legislation proposed after a 12-year-old Satellite Beach girl was killed as she used a crosswalk passed another vote Tuesday in Tallahassee, taking one step closer to becoming law. Sophia Nelson was crossing at State Road A1A and Ellwood Avenue on Dec. 22, 2019 when she was struck by a vehicle, according to a Satellite Beach police report. Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay, and Sen. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, filed House Bill 1371, known as the Sophia Nelson Pedestrian Safety Act. Named after a Satellite Beach girl killed crossing A1A, โThe Sofia Nelson Pedestrian Safety Actโ passes a legislature meeting. @VoteRandyFine wants midblock crosswalks to have flashing lights changed from yellow to red or to remove the yellow lights.
โI was pretty amazed:โ Massive manta ray photobombs surfer at Florida beach
SATELLITE BEACH, Fla. โ By pure luck, a Satellite Beach man captured the incredible moment when a giant manta ray did a back flip behind a surfer who was riding a wave. โWow, Iโve seen whales, sharks and small fish jumping but first time Iโve heard about Manta Rays jumping...great photo,โ another woman commented. Several others also shared their experiences seeing manta rays doing acrobatics in that same area. He didnโt wander very far,โ another man from Satellite Beach wrote. โTheyโre pretty cool, calm and collected but theyโre pretty excited.
Satellite Beach residents find anti-Semitic tracts about Antifa, BLM near synagogue
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. โ Some Satellite Beach residents living near a synagogue reported finding anti-Semitic flyers tucked into plastic bags that were tossed onto the driveways of several homes, News 6 partner Florida Today reports. Similar right-wing propaganda tracts with anti-Semitic overtones have been distributed in Brevard County over the years. Satellite Beach police did not respond to several inquiries about the case. Florida State Rep. Randy Fine, who attends one of the four Jewish congregations in Brevard, talked with Satellite Beach police about the incident. Rabbi Zvi Konikov, who oversees the Chabad of the Space Coast centers in Satellite Beach and Viera, said the hate paraphernalia appears to be part of a campaign.
Tattoo artist forced woman to touch him while she got a tattoo, police say
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. โ A man is behind bars after authorities in Brevard County said he forced a womanโs hand onto his groin while she was getting a tattoo. According to the Satellite Beach Police Department, Michael Sean Bush, 36, is the owner and operator of The Looming Locust, a tattoo shop in Satellite Beach. Officials said that Bush locked himself and a client inside a room and as the woman was lying on a table getting her tattoo, Bush repeatedly grabbed the womanโs hand and placed it on his groin. During their investigation, authorities also learned that Bush was operating his business without a license. Investigators ask anyone who feel that they may have been a victim to similar behavior by Bush to contact the Satellite Beach Police Department or the Brevard County Sheriffโs Office.
Satellite Beach to require face masks for all employees, patrons at essential businesses
SATELLITE BEACH, Fla. โ The City of Satellite Beach will now mandate that all essential businesses require masks for all patrons and employees. The mandate was approved at the cityโs council meeting Monday and considers grocery stores, drug stores, convenience stores and gas stations under its essential business provision. โThe Emergency Ordinance also requires all other businesses to post their mask/face coverings policy on the front entry doorway of the business to advise customers entering the businesses,โ city officials said in a news release. โWe do not want to experience another shutdown within our community.โSatellite Beach City Manager Courtney Barker said she is grateful the mask mandate was put into place. โI am grateful for the leadership of our City Council who determined it was in the best interest of the health, safety and welfare of our City residents to formally adopt the Emergency Ordinances,โ Barker said in a news release.
Employees at 4 more Brevard Publix locations test positive for COVID-19
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. New coronavirus cases have been reported among employees at several Brevard County Publix locations in the past week, according to a corporate spokesperson for the company, News 6 partner Florida Today reported. Four additional stores in Satellite Beach, Suntree, Cocoa and Melbourne have reported having employees test positive for the novel coronavirus since June 22. This brings the total to nine separate locations with reported cases among employees. Employees who test positive are given paid leave for 14 days and required to quarantine until they test negative for the coronavirus. Publix also requires quarantine and paid leave for up to 14 days for associates who have been in close contact with an associate who tests positive.
Some beach restrictions relaxed in parts of Brevard, Flagler counties
Some beach restrictions relaxed in parts of Brevard, Flagler countiesPublished: April 22, 2020, 10:38 amSatellite Beach and Cocoa Beach officials have reopened beaches for sunbathing, sitting in chairs and all other activities within city limits during the coronavirus pandemic โ but groups must be five people or fewer.
Police patrol Florida beaches to enforce new coronavirus rules
SATELLITE BEACH, Fla. โ Spring break means massive crowds at Central Florida beaches, but amid concerns about the spread of coronavirus, the state is cracking down on beachgoers. Tuesday evening the Cocoa Beach City Commission granted City Manager Jim McKnight emergency powers. Cocoa Beach Mayor Ben Malik said the city will begin managing crowd control on the beaches during the coronavirus pandemic to comply with the CDC guidelines. โDecisions will be made in the next few days to limit beach access to control the crowd size. โAt this time, the Satellite Beach Police Department will be patrolling beaches in Satellite Beach to enforce the party size and distance measures being taken statewide to reduce the spread of COVID-19,โ Police Chief Jeff M. Pearson said in a statement on Facebook.
Driver who fatally struck 12-year-old girl at Satellite Beach crosswalk wonโt face charges
SATELLITE BEACH, Fla. โ The driver who hit a 12-year-old girl crossing State Road AIA in Satellite Beach was issued moving traffic violation and will not be criminally charged following an investigation into the deadly crash. In a news release Tuesday, officials with the Satellite Beach Police Department said the investigation into the fatal pedestrian crash is complete and determined the driver will not face criminal charges. โThe investigation into this tragic case has concluded but we will continue to deeply mourn the loss of Sophia Nelson,โ Satellite Beach police Chief Jeff Pearson said. (Images courtesy of Nelson family)The 82-year-old driver was 395 feet from the crosswalk stop bar when Sophia activated the yellow flashing lights, according to the investigation. โThrough this tragic time the Nelson family has leaned on their faith in God and the overwhelming support from family and the community.
Satellite Beach organizer supports A1A crosswalks legislation following girlโs death
SATELLITE BEACH, Fla. โ As far back as December 2018, people in Satellite Beach said they feared something tragic could happen at several new crosswalks on State Road A1A. [RELATED: Brevard officials criticize A1A flashing-yellow crosswalks after 12-year-oldโs death | 12-year-old girl struck, killed on A1A crosswalk in Satellite Beach]"They put them across a highway and they didn't use the proper signaling," supporter Dan Willemin said. After Nelson was killed by the Dec. 22, 2019 crash, Willemin was an organizer of a rally in opposition to how the crosswalks look now. Willemin also raised his voice to the Brevard County Commission and Satellite Beach City Council. Two months later, the question remains if the unidentified driver who Nelson's parents said hit her will face penalties.
Sophiaโs Law moves forward after Florida House State Affairs Committee approval
Fine has dubbed House Bill 1371 as the Sophia Nelson Pedestrian Safety Act. Sophiaโs parents discussing the crosswalk safety bill that passed the House State Affairs Committee this morning. He said they were walking home from the beach and Sophia pressed the button to activate the yellow flashing lights at the crosswalk. The cost to add a traffic signal or pedestrian hybrid beacon at a midblock crosswalk is approximately $300,000. The cost to remove a midblock crosswalk is approximately $7,000.
Satellite Beach hires more police officers after crosswalk death
SATELLITE BEACH, Fla. โ When firefighter John Pope moved to Satellite Beach almost a decade ago, he was told about the police department's reputation: You don't drink and drive, and you don't speed โ "because the guys in black don't play." Twenty miles an hour over (the speed limit) on A1A," Pope told the Satellite Beach City Council that night. We all know the reputation that Satellite Beach has," Pearson said. Since 2014, City Manager Courtney Barker said 15 bicycle-pedestrian crashes have occurred in Satellite Beach โ three of which were fatal. Two weeks ago, Mayor Frank Catino sent a letter to the Florida Department of Transportation asking state officials to:โข Reduce the SR A1A speed limit in Satellite Beach.
Mayor calls for change after 12-year-old girl was fatally struck in crosswalk
In his letter, Catino asked FDOT to:โข Reduce the SR A1A speed limit in Satellite Beach. The Satellite Beach City Council will discuss a crosswalk enforcement plan during its Jan. 15 meeting. On Dec. 28, nearly 100 people attended a sign-waving demonstration at the Ellwood Avenue crosswalk, protesting the yellow-flashing beacons as unsafe and confusing. I just think personally that those flashing yellow lights need to go away. Barker said Satellite Beach officials have asked FDOT to lower SR A1A speed limits since 1991, to no avail.
Brevard commissioner seeks changes to crosswalks following girlโs death
SATELLITE BEACH, Fla. โ After a 12-year-old girl was killed walking across A1A with her family, a Brevard County commissioner said he's moving forward with an idea to change the flashing lights at the crosswalk. A week later, Commissioner Curt Smith said heโs going to push for the flashing yellow lights to be replaced by red lights. The commissioner said he plans to present the idea to the county commission at their meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 7. โThese flashing yellow lights -- most people, if you ask them, they donโt have any clue what they are,โ Smith said. Smith said county-wide, five people have died in crosswalks like the ones Nelson died in.