☀️Good Morning,

I want to take a moment to welcome all the new subscribers to SUNLAND NEWS! SUNLAND NEWS is your daily dose of everything happening in Saint Lucie County. My goal is to serve our readers by providing engaging, fun, and artful writing and experiences for years to come.

Always recommend improvements to the newsletter and suggest topics you think we should cover. Just reply to this email, and you can expect a prompt response from me. With that being said, let’s get into the news of the day!

— Ja’Min

Today’s Read Time: 5 Minutes

☁️ Weather Forecast

TL;DR: The same as always, expect rain… 💧

🌤️Day: High 88°F
🌅Sunrise: 6:43 AM

🌙Night: Low 75°F
🌇Sunset: 8:11 PM

🌧️Rain: 50% chance of scattered thunderstorms

NEWS

Ethics Commission Hits Former St. Lucie County Sheriff with $5,000 Fine for Ghost-Candidate Scheme

In a recent development, the Florida Commission on Ethics unanimously agreed to penalize former St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara for his involvement in a "ghost candidate" scheme during the 2020 election. This decision imposes a $5,000 fine along with a public censure and reprimand for Mascara (though what exactly that entails isn't entirely clear).

Mascara admitted to recruiting a preferred Republican candidate to run against his opponent, Rich Williams, in the 2020 election. This admission was part of a joint stipulation agreement between Mascara and the ethics commission, following a detailed report from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). Basically, He agreed to this with the ethics commission to avoid bigger trouble, after the police investigated.

Although criminal charges were not pursued due to insufficient evidence, the FDLE's findings led to the ethics commission filing a complaint. The commission determined there was enough cause to investigate further, ultimately resulting in the penalties for Mascara.

The origins of this scheme trace back to Mascara's 2016 and 2020 elections. In 2020, after facing Rich Williams, who had switched to the Republican primary, Mascara and his allies worked to recruit former deputy Kevin Carter to run against Williams. Carter won the Republican primary but lost to Mascara in the general election.

Interestingly, a separate complaint against current Sheriff Keith Pearson, who was also implicated, was dismissed earlier this year. Pearson maintained that his support for Kevin Carter was based on his belief that Carter was the best candidate.

Ultimately, Ken Mascara resigned, and Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Keith Pearson to step in his place.

🔔 Sunland Bulletin

🎒 Back-to-School 16th Annual Expo: This is the ultimate school event. If you’re a parent and haven’t done any back-to-school shopping yet, you can show up empty-handed and leave (almost) fully prepared for the year. [Info]

💈 Slate’s Barber Shop 12th Annual Back-to-School Supply Giveaway: Honoring the legendary Darin Slater, this event will feature a back-to-school giveaway at the Sunland Garden’s Clubhouse on August 10th at 11 AM. [Flyer]

Just when you thought you were on time, BOOM: Be sure to check the traffic situation before heading out.

NEWS

Public Hearing Notice for New Residential Development on Angle Road

Attention, residents! The St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners has scheduled a public hearing to discuss a proposed zoning change and preliminary site plan for a new residential development on Angle Road in Fort Pierce, Florida. This important meeting will take place on Tuesday, August 6, 2024.

NVR Rvan Homes is seeking to change the zoning of a 113.85-acre property from AG-1 (Agricultural) to PUD (Planned Unit Development). This proposed development aims to create a vibrant residential community that includes 219 detached single-family home lots, 339 attached townhome lots, recreational amenities, a habitat preserve area, stormwater ponds, and landscape buffers.

If you own property within 500 feet of the proposed project site, this notice is especially relevant to you (even if you don’t, this is still really important). The Board of County Commissioners values community input and strongly encourages you to participate in the public hearing. Your feedback will play a crucial role in shaping the outcome of this development plan.

You can attend the public hearing in person or submit written comments in advance to the St. Lucie County Planning and Development Services Department.

Your voice matters in shaping the future of the city.

🪮 Sunland Picks

📰 Other News

🍊 FLORIDA AT LARGE

Boar's Head Issues Recall for More Than 200,000 Pounds of Liverwurst and Other Sliced Meats: This is slightly scary… Just in time for the school year, the lunch box sandwich meat of choice has recalled nearly 200,000 pounds of the meat produced (get it? produce… never mind bad timing) between July 11th and July 17th. [More Info]

🌍 WORLD AT LARGE

🛰️ Two Astronauts Stranded in Space: This week in, “How did this happen, and why haven't we heard more about it?”, two Boeing astronauts have been stranded in space for 50 days. What was supposed to be a week-long trip to the International Space Station has now lasted nearly two months. [More Info]

📸 This Is Saint Lucie

🗓️ Things To Do

💼 Hiring Event - Fort Pierce, FL: Attention Job Seekers! Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 7151 Okeechobee Road, Fort Pierce, FL, on July 30th from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with potential employers and explore new career opportunities.

🎉 Fort Pierce Friday Fest: It’s (basically) already August. This means Friday Fest is back. August 2nd @ 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm, Downtown Fort Pierce. You know the drill.

🃏 The Port Saint Lucie Sports Cards & Collectibles Show: Head to the Polish American Club Convention Center, 343 NW Prima Vista Blvd, Port Saint Lucie, FL 34983, on Saturday, Aug 3rd, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. This event, hosted by the Port Saint Lucie Trading Card Show, is perfect for collectors and enthusiasts. Explore a wide variety of sports cards and collectibles.

🍽️ Sunday Dinner for People Homeless or Food Insecure: This event, hosted by Reach Outreach, takes place at 515 N US-1, Fort Pierce, FL 34950. Sunday, Aug 4th, from 11:30 AM to 12:15 PM. The event provides meals and support for neighbors who are homeless or food insecure in downtown Fort Pierce.

🕹️ Sunland Games

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