The 234 Apartment

A fire that started in a furnace room caused extensive smoke and water damage to an apartment building at the Newport Woods Apartments in Newport before firefighters from five area departments put it out Saturday night. Dean Cousino Monroe News staff reporter CousinoDean A fire that started in a furnace room caused extensive smoke and water damage to an apartment building at the Newport Woods Apartments in Newport before firefighters from five area departments put it out Saturday night. The fire in the three-story building was reported about 7:20 p.m. Saturday and displaced 11 families, said Mike Cousino, assistant chief for Berlin Township Fire Station No. 1. Only one of the dozen units in the complex was vacant. Frenchtown Township Fire Station No. 2 arrived at the scene first before the Berlin No. 1 unit arrived. Eventually, other firefighters arrived from Ash Township, Estral Beach and Berlin Station No. 2 because more manpower was needed. Exeter Township volunt...

Another big development in St. Johns County is getting rolling. The three builders in Bannon Lakes have already been building in individual neighborhoods. But now the amenity center and entrance are complete, and it’s ready for a grand opening. Bannon Lakes is big at 580 acres and has plans for up to 849 single-family homes, 150 townhomes, 15,000 square feet of office and 105,000 square feet of commercial/retail. The three neighborhoods: Southshore at Bannon Lakes, KB Home, $220,000-$260,000. Bridge Bay at Bannon Lakes, Pulte Homes, $240,000-$300,000. It’s a gated, 55+ community. The Grove at Bannon Lakes, AV Homes, $285,000-$350,000. The grand opening is from 1 to 4 p.m. Sept. 16 and will feature food trucks and live music. Bannon Lakes is at the northeast corner of the Interstate 95 and International Golf Parkway interchange . That’s across the street from Markland, a 345-lot community and just west of Twelve Mile Swamp Conservation Area , which has no homesites for sale. Bannon Lak...