The Islander Newspaper E-Edition: Wednesday, June 07, 2017

Page 1

Rainy season arrives. 3

On lookout. 15

Safety in the surf. 23

Happy Father’s Day

VOLUME 25, NO. 33

JUNE 14, 2017 FREE

The Best News on Anna Maria Island Since 1992 AsTheWorldTerns nd Dad a perfect gift. 6 USPS promises to deliver new Holmes Beach post office. 2 Sudden resignation from Holmes Beach planning chair. 4 $12M Anna Maria lawsuit heads to court. 5

Op-Ed

The Islander editorial, reader letters. 6

10-20 YEARS AGO

From the archives. 7

Meetings

On the government calendar. 8 County to host charter workshop. 8

Happenings

Make plans. 10-11

SUNTrail on fast track for funding. 12 Improvements proposed for BB park. 13 All Island worship. 18

Obituaries. 19

Streetlife. 21

Turtle nesting surges. Ready, set, tag. 22

Paddling for gold. 24 Angling in stormy weather. 25 New charter boat docks in Cortez. 26 Classifieds. 28

www.islander.org

Lightning strikes feet from B&B maintenance worker

By Bianca Benedí Islander Reporter Mother Nature delivered a jolt for a wake-up call June 7. Around 10:30 a.m., lightning struck an awning on a guest house operated by the Harrington House Bed & Breakfast Beachfront Inn, the Huth House at 101 67th St., Holmes Beach. Tommy Kilpatrick, head of maintenance at Harrington House, said he was attending a faulty air conditioner when he realized the storm was getting dangerous. “I was in the parking lot walking to my truck, trying to beat the rain, and it hit probably 15 to 20 feet behind me,” he said of the lightning strike. Kilpatrick said he’s seen lightning strike before, but never that close. “It’s an

Lakeland man dies after Gulf rescue in Anna Maria

A Lakeland man died a day after he was found unconscious in the Gulf of Mexico in Anna Maria. Joseph S. Teston, 25, of Lakeland, died at Blake Medical Center in Bradenton following a rescue by bystanders and medical personnel. Manatee County Marine Rescue and others assisted at the scene at about 3:15 p.m. June 8. Anton Shilman of Orlando was on the beach June 8 during the incident. He told The Islander that people on the beach saw Teston floating before the rescue effort began. Teston was observed floating about 25-30 feet from shore and pulled to the beach near Spring Avenue by bystanders, according to Manatee County Sheriff’s Office reports. “The surf was rough and the victim was swimming by himself,” a law enforcement report stated. MCSO public information director Dave Bristow said Teston was at the beach alone, and that he was staying with a relative in Anna Maria. “Everything points to this being an accident,” Bristow said. Three bystanders helped Teston to the beach, where they began CPR. Emergency responders arrived, continued lifesaving measures and transported him to Blake. District 12 Medical Examiner Dr. Russell Vega confirmed Teston died at 5:11 a.m. June 9.

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almost indescribable sound. Horrific, such an aggressive crack,” he said. “My back was to it and I could see the flash in broad daylight.” Kilpatrick said the lightning was so close, the cracking sound reverberated in his chest. It wasn’t until later, when family members expressed relief, that Kilpatrick realized he had been feet away from a 53,000 degree blast. Since it was morning, most guests at the house had gone to breakfast, but vacationers Ethan and Julie Rogers were still in their quarters. Right after the lightning struck the building, Kilpatrick said, the alarm sounded and both guests came running out. No one was harmed and there was no apparent damage to the building. “I think it was too wet for any fire damage,” Kilpatrick said. West Manatee Fire Rescue Marshal Jim Davis responded to the alarm and inspected the roof with Kilpatrick, but they found no scorch marks or other evidence of the strike. Although Kilpatrick saw some smoke after the strike, it dissipated quickly. Davis confirmed there was no external damage. There were some electrical outages, Kilpatrick said, and Harrington House brought

Tommy Kilpatrick, head of maintenance for Harrington House Beachfront Bed & Breakfast, pauses June 8 under the awning he was passing June 7 when lightning struck. Islander Photo: Bianca Benedí in an electrician to address the issues on the advice of the marshal. Lightning also struck WMFR’s Station 3, 6001 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, earlier that morning, as well as the Resort at Longboat Key Club, 220 Sands Point Road, Longboat Key, just after the strike at Harrington House.

In the pink, headed to rehab Gail Straight of Wildlife Inc. holds a roseate

spoonbill as Mike Ebersole, Florida Department of Transporation superviser, looks on. DRMP Inc. surveyors spotted the injured bird June 7 near a retention pond in a gated DOT area behind the Cortez Cultural Center. Ebersole opened the gate and Straight took the bird to her rehab center in Bradenton Beach. She said the spoonbill likely injured its leg. Islander Photo: Kathy Prucnell

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