🌱 St. Croix Woman Shot + Killed After Gunmen Chase Car + More

Here's everything you need to know going on in town today.

• A St. Croix woman died on Monday night after another vehicle opened fire on her while she was driving on Container Port Road. The victim, 58-year-old Maria Marte of Little Princess, died from the gunshot wounds and injuries sustained when her car crashed. Another woman in the car, the passenger, also sustained gunshot wounds and injuries from the crash. She is in stable condition at the Juan F. Luis Hospital. The passenger told police that they had dropped friends off at the Container Port when they noticed a dark-colored vehicle driving in the opposite direction and trying to flag them down. The women did not know the occupants so they did not stop. The other vehicle started chasing them and seconds later opened fire on the two women. The driver lost control of the car and struck the outer wall of Limetree Bay, causing extensive damage to the car and to the victims. Read the full story in the VI Consortium.
• Jack Jarvis was rowing across the Atlantic Ocean from Portugal to Miami aboard his 23-foot vessel Budgie when he accidentally set off his Emergency alert. Except no one knew it was an accident. At the time, Jarvis, a 28-year-old adventurer from the UK, was about 360 nautical miles east northeast of Puerto Rico. Upon receiving the Emergency Positioning Indicating Radio Beacon alert, multiple rescue teams jumped into action, including the Coast Guard, Virgin Islands Search Rescue and the UK Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre. Eventually, a cargo ship and a Coast Guard HC-130 aircraft joined the search. The Coast Guard located Jarvis' vessel within hours but they were unable to make contact with Jarvis. Fortunately, they were alerted by the rower's support team that he was fine and the signal had been set off by accident. Jack Jarvis rows on. Full story in The Source.
• You've heard of Frankenstein's monster, but have you seen his garden? Read more about how St. Thomas gardener Will Grogan is growing hybrid plants and trees in what he calls his Frankenstein garden, via The Daily News.
• For more information about the redevelopment of Caneel Bay, join Senator Steven Payne Sr. tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at Franklin Powell Sr. Park in Cruz Bay, St. John. Via The Daily News.

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Today's weather: Partly sunny with a shower. High: 81 Low: 72.

Today's Events:

• Join online: Antilles School Virtual Admission Information Session (5:00 p.m.)
• Mom Fitness with Katrin at Yacht Haven Grande (5:00 p.m.)
• Kickboxing with Trey on the lawn at Yacht Haven Grande (9:00 p.m.)

Social Buzz:

• On Friday, February 18th, Ms. Ann Monaira Smith celebrated her 108th Birthday. Ms. Smith is believed to be the oldest living person in the Territory... (Facebook)
• Second Round of Funding Totaling $734,580 Available for Emergency Food and Shelter Programs in the Territory! APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday, March 4, 2022 (CFVI Twitter)
• Vote today for your favorite artist at www.comingthroughcovidusvi.art (Facebook)
• Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas: On Friday, February 18, 2022, 56-year-old Michael David Kowitz was taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation Bureau after investigation revealed that Kowitz was wanted out of the State of California for weapons charges. (VIPD)
• Volleyball Club is back! (Facebook)

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— Ashleigh Baldwin

About me: I'm the Patch Community News Editor for the U.S. Virgin Islands. I'm here to provide news you can use. Do you have a news tip, question or feedback? Please contact me at ashleigh.baldwin@patch.com.