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Leslie Lake

Leslie Lake

July 11, 2022
Leslie Lake covers Bradenton Beach, Cortez, the environment and Anna Maria Elementary School.
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September 28, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Cortez cleans up after storm surge flooding

Cortez cleans up after Helene

CORTEZ – Cortez fishing villagers are accustomed to sharks, but not in their backyards. One longtime resident said a shark brushed against her as she was cleaning up the yard before the floodwaters…
September 23, 2024
By Leslie Lake
FWC offers funds for derelict boat removal

FWC offers funds for derelict boat removal

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is rolling out an initiative to assist in the derelict boat removal process for some municipalities. At a September meeting, FWC commissio…
September 23, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Shack tenants receive eviction notices

Shack tenants receive eviction notices

CORTEZ – Business owners on the Seafood Shack property received eviction letters effective Sept. 30, but a Manatee County spokesperson said new agreements with those businesses are possible after the…
September 23, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Former Piney Point owner fined for 2021 dumping

Former Piney Point owner fined for 2021 dumping

ST. PETERSBURG – A federal judge has found HRK Holdings LLC liable for the intentional dumping of wastewater from Piney Point into Tampa Bay in 2021. The discharge from the former phosphate processi…
September 17, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Sea turtle season slowing to a crawl

Sea turtle season slowing to a crawl

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – As the sea turtle nesting season slows down, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers continue excavating hatched nests on local beaches. High surf caus…
September 16, 2024
By Leslie Lake
One parking lot meets city deadline; three closed

One parking lot meets city deadline; three closed

BRADENTON BEACH – One of four paid parking lots owned by Shawn Kaleta was brought into compliance by the city’s Sept. 9 deadline for adherence to several requirements. The applicants opted to close…
September 10, 2024
By Leslie Lake
City reduces sidewalk requirement for parking lots

City reduces sidewalk requirement for parking lots

BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners approved a request last week to remove one of the requirements for two paid parking lots owned by developer Shawn Kaleta. Sam Negrin, manager of Beach to Bay Inv…
September 9, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Bradenton Beach logo

CRA shifts from recommending to governing body

BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners voted unanimously at the Sept. 5 meeting to modify the makeup of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) board from a seven-member to a five-member board. The f…
September 9, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Suspect arrested after high speed chase that began in Holmes Beach

Cortez man to be arraigned on June 6 shooting

BRADENTON – A Cortez man will be arraigned on Friday, Sept. 13 in connection with a June 6 shooting during which a Cortez woman sustained a gunshot wound to the chest. Kevin Armstrong, 48, was origi…
September 9, 2024
By Leslie Lake
County to purchase Seafood Shack for $13 million

County to purchase Seafood Shack for $13 million

CORTEZ – Ending speculation about the identity of the new owner of the Seafood Shack Restaurant and Marina, the Manatee Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved its $13 million purchase at…
September 3, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Homeowners’ property erroneously named in Kaleta lawsuit

Homeowners’ property erroneously named in Kaleta lawsuit

BRADENTON BEACH – Two city homeowners were surprised to see their property erroneously identified in a July lawsuit filed by Easy Parking Group (EPG) against developer Shawn Kaleta. “I’ve never had…
September 2, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Despite tropical storm, Turtle Watch reports successful year

Despite tropical storm, Turtle Watch reports successful year

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Despite the loss of 200 loggerhead sea turtle nests due to flooding caused by Debby, which passed by Anna Maria Island as a tropical storm on Aug. 4-5, it has been a successful ne…
August 31, 2024
By Leslie Lake

Teen shot, killed near causeway Saturday

BRADENTON – The Bradenton Police Department (BPD) and the Manatee County Homicide Task Force are investigating the shooting death of a teenager near the Palma Sola Causeway early Saturday morning…
August 26, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Loggerhead killed by car leaves behind 84 hatchlings

Loggerhead killed by car leaves behind 84 hatchlings

BRADENTON BEACH – The nest laid by a loggerhead sea turtle that was struck and killed by a car on Gulf Drive in June hatched earlier this week, producing 84 hatchlings. “When we conducted the nest e…
August 26, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Cortez bridgetender booth on preservation list

Cortez bridgetender booth on preservation list

CORTEZ – When the new 65-foot-high Cortez Bridge is constructed, it won’t be a drawbridge, so a bridgetender will no longer be needed, and a Cortez group wants to save the bridgetender’s booth at the…