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VOL 15 No. 35
July 1, 2015
Birds killed, turtle nests damaged
Authorities are seeking information about a couple seen on a vehicle that ran down five turtle nests and three black skimmer chicks on the beach Saturday night. BY CINDY LANE SUN STAFF WRITER | clane@amisun.com
Two black skimmer chicks were killed, one was injured and five loggerhead sea turtle nests were run over by what witnesses described as a laughing couple in a two- or three-wheeled vehicle with a single headlight and knobby tires around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday night near the Holmes Beach/ Bradenton Beach city line. Loggerheads, a federally threatened species, and black skimmers, a state species of special concern, Anna maria island turtle watch and shorebird monitoring | SUBMITTED
This black skimmer chick was the sole survivor of three chicks run over by two people on an ATV on the beach Saturday night. The pair also ran over five sea turtle nests. Inset, a black skimmer parent protects its two chicks.
see birds, page 39
AMICC drops plans for fitness center City commission releases Community Center funding. BY PAT COPELAND SUN STAFF WRITER | pcopeland@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH – The simple statement came during a presentation by Community Center officials when Commissioner Jean Peelen asked about the status of the fitness center, ending months of controversy. “There is no major fitness center concept,” declared Jim Froeschle, treasurer
INSIDE NEWS OPINION Sun survey OUTDOORS RESTAURANTS REAL ESTATE SPORTS POLICE REPORTS
4 6 7 26-27 32-33 34-39 40 42
of the Community Center’s board of directors, at last week’s city commission meeting. “We are not becoming a fitness center; we are a Community Center.” He and Executive Director Kristin Lessig appeared before the commission to present an update on the status of the Community Center. Commissioners made the request after they voted in May not to release the city’s $22,500 contribution for the Center until they got further information.
FIREWORKS: Get ready for a rousing July 4 with fireworks and a parade. 5
Anna Maria Island, Florida
At issue was the plan by the Center’s board of directors to build a fitness facility on the second floor of the Center. Residents, some city officials and two Island fitness center owners opposed the plan. Froeschle said the fitness center idea came in “an early concept drawing that was released that was very premature. It was way in the early stages and actually since then has gone through multiple alterations. “The intent is to have an open area that we
We are not becoming a fitness center; we are a community center.” Jim Froeschle Center board treasurer
see CENTER, page 41
Commercial FISHERMEN WARY OF PROPOSED MULLET REGULATIONS. 23
Community Center Director Cindy Thompson steps down. 12
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