APRIL 6, 2022 Free
VOLUME 30, NO. 24
the Best news on Anna maria island Since 1992
astheworldterns. 6
Q&A 040622.
3
county code enforcement sets sweeps. 4
Meetings. 4 Parking debate stalls in Holmes Beach. 5
Opinions. 6
10-20 YeArs Ago
looking back. 7
2 arrests in HB assault, 1 suspect sought By ryan Paice islander reporter
The search is on. Local police obtained arrest warrants and began searching March 30 for three teenagers allegedly involved in the March 23 beating of an island man outside Anna Maria Elementary, 4700 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. The beating left resident Evan Pur-
BBPd chief pursues new patrol boat. 8 HB committee digs into garden plans. 9
Save the date. 10-11
Happenings community events. 10-11
accessing the lot after hours. islander Photo: ryan Paice
campus work. 13
Holy Week ahead. tales of adventure. 15
Streetlife 16
Cops & Courts 16 think globally. 19 Key royale awards President’s cup. 20
Call for water taxi bids flops By ryan Paice islander reporter
Manatee County’s invite for a water taxi service sank before it sailed. Manatee County wanted a water taxi service connecting mainland destinations and Anna Maria Island as early as this summer but there were no proposals from vendors before the March 30 deadline passed to negotiate for the service. So it’s back to the drawing board. Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau director Elliott Falcione, who county
Anglers seek weather breaks. 21
Isl Biz: 22
chamber honors scholars.
endless seAson february tourist tax dollars tallied. 23
CLASSIFIEDS. 24-25
PropertyWatch. 26
NYT puzzle. 27
find the islander dating to november 1992 online at the uoff digital newspaper collection at ufdc.ufl.edu.
cell, 41, hospitalized with severe injuries. to a Holmes Beach Police As of Islander press time, two suspects Department news release. were in custody for alleged aggravated batPolice said the group tery. became aggressive and Purcell was walking his dog with his attacked Purcell, beating 10-year-old niece when he suggested a group him to the point of unconof young adults and teenagers who were evans sciousness, while his niece observed drinking and breaking glass bottles ran to a nearby home and on school grounds should leave, according asked the resident to call 911. Emergency medical services found Purcell unconscious and transported him to HCA Florida Blake Hospital in Bradenton, where he was in stable condition as of March 25, according to a news release. The release identified Sarasota resident Cameron Evans, 18, and Ellenton resident John Bartholow, 17, as well as a third, unnamed juvenile, as suspects in connection with the incident. “Due to the violent acts committed and nature of the charges, we believe Evans and Bartholow are a danger to the community. Vehicles stream in and out of the … Do not approach,” the release states. Anna maria elementary’s pickup lane A few hours after the HBPD published march 31. the manatee county School the release, it issued an update — Bartholow district installed swing gates the week had been arrested. of march 28 to prevent vehicles from
school parking lot secured
firefighters promote drowning awareness. 8
Gathering. 14
islander.org
A boater docks march 30 at the Anna maria city Pier, 101 n. Bay Blvd., a possible stop for a water taxi linking mainland manatee county to the island. islander Photo: ryan Paice
administrator Dr. Scott Hopes tasked to move the project forward, told The Islander March 31 that the county procurement division was reaching out to prospective vendors to gather feedback about their lack of interest and figure out the next step. For now, though, he said he did not know why the county received no bids and the ITN will not be extended or reopened as it is currently. “We’re hoping to receive some feedback from some of the water taxi companies that
turn to assault, PAge 3
child nearly drowns in Anna Maria vacation rental pool By ryan Paice islander reporter
A 3-year-old nearly drowned March 28 after falling into a swimming pool at a vacation rental in the 100 block of Crescent Drive in Anna Maria, according to a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office report. The child’s uncle told police he realized the child was missing while loading his vehicle to join the rest of his family at the beach. turn to water taxi, PAge 2 On a search of the house, he found the child floating face down in the pool. The uncle rescued the child from the pool, started CPR and called 911 at 4:12 p.m. The child reportedly became responsive and coughed up water before emergency medical services arrived. EMS and police arrived at the address around 4:30 p.m. and took over medical treatment. Bayflite, an air emergency carrier service, was contacted and transported the child via helicopter to from the Holmes Beach city field to the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg. “The child had no negative medical issues as a result of the near drowning and was expected to be discharged (March 29),” according to the MCSO report. For privacy reasons, the child was not
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