The Spaceport RCers are hosting an R/C plane fun fly event on Sunday October 18th from 8am to 4pm. It is absolutely free to attend! It will be a fun time and very family friendly! There will even be an aerial combat event at 12pm.
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A Brevard County judge has reinstated a no-contact order barring a Palm Bay man charged with felony child abuse from contact with anyone under 18, after The Space Coast Rocket reported that his claim to the judge of being a licensed contractor needed to work at public schools was false.![]()
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Circuit Judge Laura Moody on Wednesday struck and vacated her Sept. 24, 2025, order that had modified John Eric Vernon's bond conditions, according to court minutes from a status hearing in the case. The minutes state that all prior conditions remain in effect and that the original condition of no contact with anyone under 18 is re-imposed. Vernon was present in court with his attorney.![]()
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Vernon, 39, was arrested by Palm Bay police in June 2025 and is charged with two counts of felony child abuse and one count of resisting an officer without violence.![]()
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In September 2025, his attorney, Kurt A. Russell, filed a motion stating Vernon was a licensed contractor with ongoing contracts with public schools that required him to be on school property. Judge Moody granted the motion in part and eased the restriction on contact with minors.![]()
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The Space Coast Rocket reported last month that state records show Vernon does not hold a Florida contractor license and never has. In fact during that same time, he was investigated by the DBPR for unlicensed contracting work. Vernon himself acknowledged in writing to us that he is not a licensed contractor.![]()
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Matt Reed, spokesperson for the State Attorney's Office, said Vernon is set for a plea deal on Oct. 16.![]()
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Vernon has not been convicted, and the case remains #brevardcountyv#palmbayy#spacecoastrocketoastRocket
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**FAMILY IDENTIFIES 5-YEAR-OLD KILLED AT RIVIERA ELEMENTARY, TELLS WESH 2 "WE NEED ANSWERS"**![]()
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PALM BAY, Fla. - The family of the young student killed Wednesday when a 120-pound video display board fell on him at Riviera Elementary School has identified him as Bellamy Dawkins-Morris![]()
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Brevard Public Schools said the board fell on the boy around 11:36 a.m. Staff called 911 and began lifesaving measures before he was taken to Holmes Regional Medical Center, where he later died.![]()
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Family members told WESH 2 that Bellamy's mother was told he had been moving the display board back and forth while other students were lining up before it fell on him. The family said Bellamy had autism and questioned whether the board was properly secured and whether enough supervision was provided.![]()
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"Obviously, the monitor was not secure, and that's a huge issue. That could have been anybody's child," his great-aunt, Miriam Rodriguez, told the station. "We need answers, and we need them immediately."![]()
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His grandmother, Christy Rodriguez Bruno, said he "was supposed to be in a safe place enjoying his little five-year-old self."![]()
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Another great-aunt, Melissa Rodriguez, said the family believes his death could have been prevented. The family told WESH 2 it is seeking accountability and legal counsel.![]()
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Palm Bay Police Deputy Chief Nicholas Szczepanski said the department's Special Victims Unit and Major Case Unit are investigating.![]()
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Superintendent Dr. Mark Rendell said he met with the family shortly after the child's death. "We lost a life today, a precious young life. There are no words to describe that loss," Rendell said.![]()
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The district said counseling and support services will be available for students and staff. A GoFundMe set up for the family is linked in the comments.![]()
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#PalmBay #BrevardCounty #BrevardPublicSchools
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Mulch truck stuck deep in the median, causing delays on Babcock heading north towards university in Melbourne
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Hurricane Isaias is strengthening in the Gulf and Florida is under a state of emergency as the storm heads for the Panhandle.![]()
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Isaias strengthened from a tropical storm late Wednesday night and is currently a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 80 mph, moving east-northeast at 9 mph. Its winds increased by 40 mph in just six hours between Wednesday afternoon and late Wednesday night.![]()
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Landfall is expected late Friday or early Saturday somewhere between Gulf Shores, Alabama, and Pensacola, as a dangerous Category 2 hurricane. AccuWeather says there is a chance the storm peaks as a Category 3 major hurricane while over the central Gulf.![]()
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A Hurricane Warning is in effect from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to the Bay/Gulf County line in Florida. A Storm Surge Warning runs from the mouth of the Mississippi River to Yankeetown in Florida's Big Bend. Forecasters expect 5 to 7 feet of surge in Mobile Bay and from Ocean Springs to Indian Pass, Florida.![]()
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Gov. Ron DeSantis and Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey have declared states of emergency. Evacuation orders are in place for the west end of Dauphin Island, Alabama, and for Zones A and B in Okaloosa County. Florida's State Emergency Response Team began staging fuel, water and food on Wednesday.![]()
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Rainfall of 6 to 10 inches with locally higher amounts is possible, leading to flash, urban and river flooding. Tornadoes are also possible across southern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle on Saturday.![]()
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Isaias is the latest first hurricane to form in the Atlantic since the satellite era began in 1966, and it is expected to be the first hurricane to make landfall in the Lower 48 since Milton in 2024.![]()
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The Space Coast Rocket will continue to follow Isaias and post updates as they #HurricaneIsaiasc#floridaweatheri#fltropics#FlTropics
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