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VOL 13 No. 43
August 21, 2013
Hopes, dreams alive at AME Dutch Anderson gets a hug from his mom, Lee Ann, before leaving for kindergarten at Anna Maria Elementary School. For many, it is their first time away from the safety of home. More on Page 18.
City to keep deputies
Anna Maria Island: Filled to the gills?
The city will keep the Sheriff’s Office coverage, despite the fact that Holmes Beach offered to patrol the city for $130,000 less next fiscal year.
BY CINDY LANE SUN STAFF WRITER |
[email protected]
HOLMES BEACH – Anna Maria Island has exceeded its capacity for absorbing tourists, Island leaders told the Manatee County Tourist Development Council on Monday. The county’s success in marketing the Island worldwide as a tourist resort has started a vicious cycle fed by greed, Anna Maria Mayor SueLynn told the council – more visitors, who generate more resort tax, which the county spends on more marketing, attracting more visitors, who
BY TOM VAUGHT SUN STAFF WRITER |
[email protected]
ANNA MARIA – Faced with being phased out by a cheaper bid from Holmes Beach, the head of the city’s Manatee County Sheriff’s Office substation, Sgt. Paul Davis, figuratively “landed the plane in the Hudson River” Wednesday eve-
SEE traffic PAGE 35
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one-stop shop: The Anna Maria General Store & Deli has it all. 14
Anna Maria Island, Florida
The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper
ning as he saved the day for the deputies. The city commission agreed to keep the Sheriff’s Office coverage and reject the Holmes Beach offer. Commissioner Gene Aubry, who brought up the idea to ask for a bid from Holmes Beach during budget talks, said it was all about the money – a bid from Holmes Beach that was $130,000 cheaper than the price the Sheriff’s Office presented to the commission for the next fiscal year. That’s when Davis came to the dais to answer questions. When asked about the shifts the deputies work, he said one shift runs from 6 a.m. to 6 SEE SHERIFF, PAGE 38
Find out who is running in
upcoming city elections. 12 The O’Connor Bowling Challenge
is this Saturday. 16 www.amisun.com