FEBRUARY 17, 2016
BEACH BEAT Anna Maria
2/4, found property, 100 S. Bay Blvd., city pier. A person found a credit card and gave it to a deputy for safekeeping. 2/10, information, 100 South Bay Blvd, city pier. The deputy responded to a woman falling at the pier. Her shoe got caught on a nail that protruded from the walkway. She fell, cutting her knee and breaking her glasses. She refused EMT treatment. 2/12, burglary, 200 block of Chilson, Avenue. A burglar entered the house at an unknown location of the house and stole items from inside. 2/12, theft, Galati Marina, 900 S. Bay Blvd. Property worth $370 was stolen at the scene.
Bradenton Beach No new reports
Cortez
No new reports
Holmes Beach
1/30, theft, 7100 Gulf Drive, The Nautilus. A bicycle was stolen from a bike rack.
Obituaries Rebecca W. Gresham Rebecca W. Gresham, 88, of Anna Maria, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016. Survived by sons Greg and James Gresham; daughters Catherine Gresham Hillebrand, Susan Gresham, and Aimie Gresham; and sister Betty Schomburg. www.GriffithCline.com.
Gilbert C. Pierola Sr. Gilbert Charles Pierola Sr., 83 of Bradenton, Fla., passed away with family by his side Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. Born in Ybor City on Sept. 21, 1932, he was predeceased by his father Carlos M. Pierola and mother Onelia (Duran) Pierola. In high school he met and is survived by his lifelong wife of over 68 years, Catherine J. (Katie Jo Mendez) Pierola; his three children, Gilbert Jr., Bonnie and Jeannie; grandchildren, Nicole, Lauren, and Zackary, Chris and Brianna Whittaker, as well as his great-grandchildren, Michael August, Keeleigh August, Shea Whittaker, Summer Whittaker, Coen Whittaker, and Steven Swartz Jr. After college at the University of Florida, Gil served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, honorably discharged in 1961 with the rank of
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1/30, trespass warning, 3900 East Bay Drive, Publix. The manager asked police to give a panhandler a trespass warning. She also was warned not to panhandle at CVS and Walgreen’s. 1/31, criminal mischief, 4000 Gulf Drive, Manatee Public Beach. The victim said his convertible was damaged while he was at the beach. A window was broken and the canvas roof torn, but nothing was taken from the inside. 2/1, theft, 5801 Marina Drive. The vehicle tag on the police detective’s car was stolen. 2/2, larceny/theft, 3600 block of Sixth Avenue. Police received a tip that a man was moving out of a rental property after being evicted, and he was taking a dishwasher and bathroom cabinet. Police went to the scene and met with the suspect. The dishwasher and cabinet were still in place. The next day, they found the washer and cabinets missing and spoke with the property owner. She said the items were hers and he did not have permission to take them. She said she would look for the receipts for the items and sign an affidavit to bring charges against the suspect. The suspect did not answer the phone and police are looking for him. 2/2, DUI, criminal mischief, 4700 Gulf Drive. The officer stopped the driver after measuring his speed in the 25 mph
corporal. He began his long career with Redwing Carrier’s, resigning to begin his successful career in hospitality purchasing Anna Maria Isle Duplex Apts., with wife Katie. In 1972, they built the Catalina Beach Resort in Bradenton Beach. In 1989 they opened Tia Lena’s restaurant. Gil’s true passion was serving over 50 years in fraternal activities with Masonic Organizations and the Shriner’s Hospital for Children. He was nationally recognized with awards, and maintained memberships with Hillsboro Lodge #25, Manatee Lodge #31, Tampa Scottish Rite Consistory, Egypt Temple Shrine, Egypt Temple Horse Patrol, Charter Member of Sarasota Sahib Temple, Gulf Shrine Club, Sarasota Court #189 ROJ, Jesters of Florida, and Impressario Emeritus Sarasota Court #189, and Charter Member of West Indies Billiken Club. He had honorary and lifetime memberships in Panama Canal Court #18 ROJ, Lake Charles Court #178 ROJ, Melbourne Court #188 ROJ, Palm Beaches Court # 112 ROJ, New York Court #30 ROJ, and Mexico City Court #112 ROJ. Gil was one of a kind and will be missed by all. Services will be officiated by Toale Brothers Funeral Home, Wednesday Feb. 24, 2016, at 2 p.m. at the Colonial Chapel location, 40 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota, Fl. 34236; 941-955-4171. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his name to Shriner’s Hospital for Children or to the Sarasota Sahib Temple Transportation Fund.
zone at 57 mph. As he approached, he noticed the river’s eyes were red and watery. The driver said he was just trying to get home, and when he was asked where home was, he said, straight ahead. When the officer told him he was in Holmes Beach, he was surprised. He thought he was in Sarasota. The officer smelled alcohol on the suspect, who said he had been at a strip club in Bradenton, and when the officer asked him how much he had to drink, he said, “Two beers.” The officer gave the suspect a field sobriety test and based on the results, arrested him. On the way to jail, the suspect kicked the door of the patrol car, damaging it. He was pepper sprayed to make him stop his aggressive behavior. He refused to respond to the implied consent and Miranda right reading. Police took an inventory of items in the suspect’s vehicle and found a number of firearms, ammunition and a knife. 2/4, driving with a suspended license, 5000 Gulf Drive. The officer ran a computer check on the suspect’s car and found his license was suspended for failure to pay child support and failure to pay a financial obligation. He was issued a notice to appear. 2/5, leaving the scene of an accident, 3709 Gulf Drive, Skinny’s. A server at Skinny’s called police to report her car
‘Coach’ George Sefcik George Sefcik, 76, former resident of Holmes Beach and Cortez passed away in Bradenton on Jan. 23. He was born on Dec. 27, 1939, in Cleveland, Ohio. He was a National Football League and college football coach. He was the offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs in 1988, and the Atlanta Falcons from 1987 through 2001. He coached in two NFL Super Bowls – XXXIII with the Atlanta Falcons with Coach Dan Reeves and XVI with the Cincinnati Bengals. He has a total of 29 years coaching experience in the National Football League as an offensive coordinator and assistant coach. He also coached for the Baltimore Colts, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, and the New York Giants. He was also a college football coach for nine years with the University of Notre Dame and the offensive coordinator with the University of Kentucky. He played football and baseball (3 year lettermen) for the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana from 1959 through 1962. He played football and baseball (3 year letterman) for Benedictine High School in Cleveland, Ohio, from 1955 through 1958. He was a member of the 1957 Benedictine football team state champions and played/started at four positions – left halfback (offense), safety (defense), kicker and punter (special teams). He retired from the Atlanta Falcons in 2001 to Holmes Beach and then Cortez. After his retirement, he continued with his passion for football
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had been damaged while she worked. There was a note on her car from an unidentified witness that said a white female driving a maroon GMC SUV hit the car around 1:45 p.m. and left. The note had the license number of the suspect vehicle. It belonged to a woman in Michigan. The victim said Skinny’s has a security recorder system and she would have the management check it to see if it recorded what happened. 2/5, DUI, 700 block of Manatee Avenue. The officer was on patrol when he observed a black pickup without its lights on parked with its tires on the sidewalk. As he approached the vehicle, he saw the driver was asleep at the wheel. The officer knocked on the window to wake him up, and he finally responded. When asked for his license, the suspect gave the officer credit cards. The officer observed the driver’s eyes were red and watery and there was an odor of alcohol. When told he was in Holmes Beach, the driver said he thought he was in Sarasota. When asked if he had been drinking he said he had consumed two beers. Based on the suspect’s performance in a field sobriety test, the officer placed him under arrest.
with the IMG Academy in Bradenton working with collegiate players preparing for the NFL combine and draft. Sefcik is survived by his wife, Lori (Loretta); his son, Martin Annis of Holmes Beach; daughter, Tracy, of Strongsville, Ohio; son, Jeffrey, of South Bend, Ind.; his sister, Carol; and numerous nieces and nephews. His family sincerely thanks all of his many friends on Anna Maria Island and in Bradenton for their support, all the football players and coaches he enjoyed working with during his extensive career, IMG Academy, and the good people who watched over him during the last few years. Thanks for the memories, coach.
Gym Ratz exhibition game at The Center The Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave, Anna Maria, will be hosting semi-pro basketball team, the Bradenton Gym Ratz, on Saturday, Feb. 20, at 7 p.m. The game is free for all that attend and will be held in the gymnasium. The Gym Ratz are part of the CBDL located in Orlando. The CBDL consists of 10 teams in Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Missouri. The Bradenton Gym Ratz provides a platform for local young men who would like to get to the next level and have a partnership/ mentorship program with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast.