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SUN contributor

SUN contributor

March 17, 2017
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July 4, 2022
By SUN contributor

Parking garage poses problems for commissioners

HOLMES BEACH – Parking is still creating problems for city commissioners. Commissioners relaunched a conversation concerning banning parking garages in the city during a June 28 work session. Unfo…
June 28, 2022
By SUN contributor
County commissioner accused of theft

County commissioner accused of theft

HOLMES BEACH – Manatee County voters are no strangers to political antics when it comes to local elections, but the case of the disappearing election signs has turned serious, with an accusation of t…
June 28, 2022
By SUN contributor
Hit-and-run suspect sentenced to jail time

Hit-and-run driver sentenced to jail time

MANATEE COUNTY – Cierra Shannon, 28, of Holmes Beach, was sentenced on June 20 to four years in prison after pleading no contest on April 11 to a first-degree felony charge of leaving the scene of a…
June 28, 2022
By SUN contributor

Fire district to reallocate taxpayer funds

MANATEE COUNTY – Property owners who are confused by a six-page letter arriving from West Manatee Fire Rescue District staff are not alone. The letter, legally required to be mailed to every prope…
June 21, 2022
By SUN contributor
Gloves come off in parking garage discussion

Gloves come off in parking garage discussion

HOLMES BEACH – The gloves are off in the fight between city leaders and Manatee County Commission Chair Kevin Van Ostenbridge after the county commissioner made an appearance during a city commission…
June 13, 2022
By SUN contributor
Getting coconutty on AMI

Getting coconutty on AMI

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Very few things bring to mind the feeling of lazing on a white sand beach enjoying the ocean breeze like drinking from a freshly cracked coconut. The couple behind AMI Coconuts is…
June 13, 2022
By SUN contributor
Committee to focus on prevention

Clean water group poses solutions to algae blooms

HOLMES BEACH – As members of the city’s Clean Water Ad-Hoc Committee seek solutions to water quality issues already plaguing the area, Mayor Judy Titsworth wants them to shift focus to their overall…
June 5, 2022
By SUN contributor

Holmes Beach parking changes planned

HOLMES BEACH – More parking changes are being proposed for Anna Maria Island’s largest city, but this one doesn’t affect the number of available parking spaces, just how they’re used. During a May…
May 29, 2022
By SUN contributor
Bird nesting discovered in trees slated for woodchipper

Bird nest discovered in trees slated for woodchipper

HOLMES BEACH – Some Manatee County commissioners may have given up on the fight to save more than 80 trees planned for destruction at Kingfish Boat Ramp, but city officials and residents hope the dis…
May 23, 2022
By SUN contributor
Beachgoers unite, sue for access

Beachgoers unite, sue for access

HOLMES BEACH – With beachgoers filing a lawsuit Friday against the property owners on 78th Street who closed a beach access point, the Real Island Podcast team took to the airwaves Sunday in hopes of…
May 23, 2022
By SUN contributor
Kingfish renovations make room for water taxi

Kingfish renovations make room for water taxi

HOLMES BEACH – City and Manatee County leaders aren’t seeing eye to eye on the county’s renovation plans for the Kingfish Boat Ramp, where one vision includes a water taxi stop. Responding to alle…
May 16, 2022
By SUN contributor

Battery victim’s family grateful to AMI

Referring to the incident that happened on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 with Evan Purcell: As horrific and traumatic as it was for everyone, including Evan and the family, we would like to thank everyon…
May 16, 2022
By SUN contributor
Trees get the ax in Kingfish renovation plans

Trees get the ax in Kingfish renovation plans

MANATEE COUNTY – Plans are underway to make significant changes at the Kingfish Boat Ramp in Holmes Beach, but those improvements are coming at a significant cost, namely the removal of a well-used p…
May 9, 2022
By SUN contributor
Beach parking meeting reaps results

Beach parking meeting reaps results

HOLMES BEACH – Leaders from state, county and city governments are coming together to find solutions to ongoing public parking and beach access issues on Anna Maria Island. Holmes Beach Mayor Judy…
May 9, 2022
By SUN contributor
Battle at Bali Hai continues

Battle at Bali Hai continues

HOLMES BEACH – Special Magistrate Michael Connolly ruled in the city’s favor in two code compliance cases against the owners of the Bali Hai Beach Resort, but attorney Louis Najmy says the fight’s no…