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VOL 15 No. 30
May 27, 2015
Memorial Day amigos
MAGGIE FIELD | SUN
Lakeland residents Cody Elms, Cody Cox and Tyler Kane enjoy the Memorial Day weekend at Manatee Beach Park on Anna Maria Island. The three friends said they were having a great time here on the Island despite the beach-towel-to-beach-towel crowds and what turned out to be three nasty sunburns.
A new mayor in town Mayor Bill Shearon was removed from office by an eight vote margin. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – After last week’s recall election, Jack Clarke is now the city’s highest ranking elected official. As sitting vice mayor, Clarke assumed former Mayor Bill Shearon’s mayoral duties Wednesday morning. He will be formally sworn in as mayor on Monday, June 1, during a ceremony that will take place at city hall at 1 p.m. Clarke chaired a commission workshop on Wednes-
INSIDE NEWS OPINION Sun survey outdoors town crier sports Real estate beach beat
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day and a 38-minute commission meeting on Thursday that was aided by a light agenda and produced not a single dissenting vote. On Friday, he said, “It’s been somewhat hectic. I will be carefully evaluating all the input I’ve received since the recall. I will prioritize it and Clarke soon let everyone know what I hope to accomplish.” As for the reaction he received from city staff, Clarke
Anna Maria Island, Florida
BY TOM VAUGHT SUN STAFF WRITER | tvaught@amisun.com
BRADENTON – Because of the congestion the expansion in tourism has produced, Manatee County officials are looking to expand a program used for controlling traffic on the mainland. That’s the word from L. K. Nandem, Florida Department of Transportation Traffic Operations Engineer, who addressed the Manatee County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, May 19. Nandem said he had met with then-Bradenton Beach Mayor Bill Shearon and Police Chief Sam Speciale, who were concerned about the gridlock in their city and the other Island cities during the height
see mayor, page 41
Please your palate at enRich A Bistro. 20 enrich:
County traffic plan could include Island
see traffic, page 9
Hurricane 2015: KNOW BEFORE
IT BLOWS. 23-28 New prez: Deb Wing is selected as the new AMI Chamber president. 21
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