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VOL 25 No. 2
September 4, 2024
Sewage discharge continues On Aug. 27, the city of Bradenton reported the active and ongoing discharge of partially treated wastewater into the Manatee River. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
BRADENTON – The Suncoast Waterkeeper organization continues to monitor ongoing sewage discharges and spills that have taken place in Bradenton since Tropical Storm Debby passed through the area in early August. During and after the storm, the city of Bradenton’s water reclamation facility (WRF) discharged an estimated 25 million gallons of raw and partially treated sewage into the Manatee River. During that same period, the city of Sarasota discharged nearly 18 million gallons of raw and partially treated sewage into Sarasota Bay. On Aug. 27, the city of Bradenton reported
13-year treehouse saga ends
KRISTIN SWAN | SUN
FILE PHOTO
The treehouse in Holmes Beach has been demolished under a court order. Photos, Page 21.
Teen shot, killed near causeway Saturday
County halts beach parking garage plans
Bradenton police are investigating the shooting death of a teen and ask the public for information.
The parking garage would have required the demolition of the historic beach concession stand building.
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
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. According to a press release from BPD, shortly after 1 a.m. on Aug. 31, a Bradenton Police Department officer responded to a report of gunshots in the 8600 block of Manatee Avenue West. The officer located the body of 16-yearold Martavious Carter. Detectives believe Carter was picked up at another Manatee County location and driven to a secluded area of the causeway where the crime occurred.
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Bradenton police investigated the Saturday morning shooting death of a teen near the Palma Sola Causeway. During the police investigation, the causeway and Manatee Bridge were closed until 5:30 a.m. Detectives say this was an isolated incident. The investigation is ongoing and police are asking anyone with information to contact Det. Brian Sands at brian. sands@bradentonpd.com or 941-9329300. Callers may remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward by contacting Manatee Crime Stoppers at 866-634-8477 (TIPS) or online at ManateeCrimeStoppers.com.
BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com
MANATEE COUNTY – Commissioner George Kruse received unanimous support from his fellow commissioners on Aug. 27 to cease spending funding on pursuing three parking garages, including one planned for Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach. Previously, the county initiative, led by Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge, sought the approval of state legislators on a bill to allow a threestory parking garage to be constructed on the site despite the city’s regulations against multi-level parking structures
HOLMES BEACH mayoral, commission candidates discuss issues at The Sun's forum. 4
Anna Maria Island, Florida
SEE SEWAGE, PAGE 26
The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper
and the Holmes Beach land development code’s prohibition of multi-story parking garages. County commissioners had dedicated more than $1 million for design services for the Manatee Beach garage earlier in the year. After the Aug. 20 primary election, which saw Van Ostenbridge, the largest supporter of the garage, being defeated by Kruse for an at-large seat on the dais, Kruse said he thought it was time to revisit the issue and placed it on the Aug. 27 commission agenda, saying that his motivation was to save taxpayer money. Van Ostenbridge made the motion to indefinitely table the parking garage conversation with no further money to be spent at this time on garage plans in Holmes Beach, Bradenton and Palmetto. The motion received full support from the board of commissioners.
LIFEGUARDS to expand beach patrols,
warning flag system. 20
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Bowling Tournament. 10
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