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Tom Vaught

Tom Vaught

February 23, 2016
Sun contributor Tom Vaught covers obituaries. Email
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August 25, 2018
By Tom Vaught
Minnie's cafe staff

Minnie’s crew sings about red tide blues

HOLMES BEACH ­– The outbreak of red tide has cut into the profits of almost every business on Anna Maria Island and some business owners are fighting back, offering discounts for their services. Some…
August 21, 2018
By Tom Vaught
putt putt waterline

Privateers putt for money

When it came to fundraising, the Anna Maria Island Privateers shot a hole in one when they scheduled a Putt-Putt Pub Crawl last Saturday that went from Bradenton Beach to the city of Anna Maria and b…
August 21, 2018
By Tom Vaught
Red Tide Bradenton Beach Anchorage

TDC votes to recommend more money for red tide cleanup

ANNA MARIA – Manatee County has been busy cleaning up the dead fish left by the current outbreak of red tide and the committee that is charged with bringing in tourism wants to make sure the county d…
August 14, 2018
By Tom Vaught
hands along the water

Hundreds send positive message about the environment

The Gulf of Mexico was churning up more dead sea life and caustic smell Sunday morning, the result of the latest red tide outbreak. But that didn’t stop about 500 people who turned out at Coquina Bea…
August 14, 2018
By Tom Vaught
Anna Maria Elementary Lauren Sato

Another school season starts at AME

HOLMES BEACH – Motorists got a bright reminder that another school year had begun Monday morning from emergency lights on a patrol car and Police Chief Bill Tokajer’s vehicle in front of Anna Maria E…
July 10, 2018
By Tom Vaught
Haitian mission

Family reunited with son after Haiti mission

HOLMES BEACH – After finding out that their son, Ben, was able to get out of Haiti amid political unrest, his parents, Beth and Scott Walker of Birmingham, Ala., decided to meet him in Florida and sp…
July 3, 2018
By Tom Vaught
U.S. flag

Fourth of July holiday fun

The Fourth of July is one of the busiest holidays on Anna Maria Island with a parade, a park party and fireworks at the beach. The Anna Maria Privateers Fourth of July Parade starts at 10 a.m. at…
July 3, 2018
By Tom Vaught
Brady family and friends Center

Island rallies for celebrated family

ANNA MARIA – Old-timers and new residents turned out Saturday to raise money for Jim and Ronee Brady, owners of the fire-damaged West Coast Surf Shop. The couple is now waiting on insurance money to…
June 29, 2018
By Tom Vaught

Slaying the messenger

For as many years as we have had a free press, journalists have been protected by an unwritten code that essentially says, “Don’t slay the messenger.” That code was broken yesterday when a gunman…
June 5, 2018
By Tom Vaught
snooks group shot

Snooks would have been proud

ANNA MARIA – It was a great beach day last Saturday with blue skies and gentle breezes, but a group of kids and their parents decided to spend some time with a band of pirates at a park across the st…
June 5, 2018
By Tom Vaught
beach storm damage

County assesses beach storm damage

The beaches of Anna Maria Island are in good shape, despite the recent pounding from Subtropical Storm Alberto and last year’s Hurricane Irma. That’s the opinion of Manatee County Parks and Natural R…
June 5, 2018
By Tom Vaught
Andrew Helderman

Attacker gets life in prison

A 28-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of attempted second-degree murder at a home in Holmes Beach on March 15, 2014, according to a news release from the office…
May 30, 2018
By Tom Vaught
Storm palms

Time to stock up for hurricane season

As subtropical storm Alberto was forming in the Yucatan Channel, on its way up the Gulf, a crowd of 20 people gathered at The Center of Anna Maria Island Friday, May 25 to get some tips for the storm…
May 29, 2018
By Tom Vaught
Jean Peelen

Jean Peelen moves on

HOLMES BEACH – Jean Peelen arrived on Anna Maria Island from the Washington D.C. area 10 years ago. Her sister had died from cancer and friends told her to visit Anna Maria Island. “They told me I…
May 29, 2018
By Tom Vaught
AMI Chamber

Kinder ready to guide Chamber

HOLMES BEACH – When Deb Wing resigned as Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce last year, Vice President Terri Kinder and assistant Cathy Pizzo were promoted to acting president and vice president by…