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VOL 21 No. 26
April 7, 2021
Officials urgently working to avert Piney Point catastrophe RUSTY CHINNIS | SUN
This is a ground level panorama of the leaking Piney Point gyp stack.
Water from the failing retention area is being pumped into Tampa Bay at Port Manatee. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
PALMETTO – County, state and federal officials are trying to prevent a potentially disastrous breach of a phosphogypsum stack at Piney Point that has already sprung a leak. Two more trouble spots were identified Monday by an infrared drone as engineers continue to drain wastewater into Tampa Bay from a retention pond dug into the leaking stack.
Early Monday morning, an infrared drone identified what could be a second breach, Manatee County Public Safety Director Jake Saur announced at a press conference Monday afternoon. The first breach emerged last month when water began leaking through a pond liner and the gypsum material behind it began to crumble. Acting Manatee County Administrator Scott Hopes elaborated. “Thermal imaging last night (Sunday, April 4) from the DEP drones identified a number of sites with one concentrated site in the northern portion of the eastern wall
PHOTOSFROMTHEAIR.COM | SUBMITTED
This is the view from above the Piney Point property. SEE PINEY POINT, PAGE 26
Worshippers brave cold Easter sunrise service BY TOM VAUGHT SUN CONTRIBUTOR
HOLMES BEACH – More than a thousand people braved chilly weather at Manatee Beach to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ at the 56th Annual Easter Sunrise Service. The annual event was organized by the Kiwanis Club of Anna Maria Island and performed by members of Roser Memorial Church, the Episcopal Church of the Annunciation, Harvey Memorial Church and CrossPointe Fellowship. Last year, the Kiwanis Club can-
INSIDE NEWS CALENDAR OUTDOORS RESTAURANTS REAL ESTATE CROSSWORD CLASSIFIEDS
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celed the service due to the COVID-19 pandemic and attendees this year were urged to observe social distancing as they found a place to sit. There was an advisory in the program telling them they assumed liability for their actions and held the organizers harmless. After the service, Kiwanis member Dave Miner was enthusiastic, saying the turnout was larger than expected and may have been a record. Record or not, some saw it as a return toward normalcy that was shattered by the coronavirus more than a year ago.
TOM VAUGHT | SUN
The traditional Easter Sunrise Service returned to the beach this year.
OUR NATURAL
MAJOR improvements could be
resources pay the price of our inaction. In Reel Time. 18
coming to the LBK bridge. 8
Anna Maria Island, Florida
DREDGE pipes break free in storm,
force temporary beach closure. 4
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