E A ST COUNTY
Observer Lakewood Ranch’s weekly newspaper since 1998
Banner day on the bridge. SEE PAGE 15
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
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FREE THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2017
VOLUME 19, NO. 40
SUBMERGED
File photo
Contractor QGS Development finishes work on Lorraine Road, near its intersection with Fruitville Road.
Ranch readies new path Lorraine extension set to open Sept. 6. SEE PAGE 3 Pam Eubanks
Greenbrook Adventure Park closed due to heavy flooding. Water levels reached 4 feet deep in some areas when the Braden River overflowed after heavy rains dropped between 8 and 11 inches of rain on Lakewood Ranch in 48 hours.
Rain, floodwaters create headaches across much of Manatee County. JAY HEATER MANAGING EDITOR
As Central Park’s Amanda and Dan Tullidge were leaving a fundraiser Aug. 26 at the IMG Academy Golf Club, they watched a number of cars successfully navigate a portion of El Conquistador Parkway that was submerged in
water by a steady downpour that dumped more than 8 inches of rain in parts of Manatee County. Both lawyers, the Tullidges surmised they would be able to make it through as well. Whoops. “We thought we could do it,” Amanda Tullidge said. “We made it through a first big puddle, but halfway through the second one, our headlights went below the water, and then the engine died.” Dan Tullidge, dressed in a suit, climbed out of the driver’s side window, landing in waist-deep
water. He pushed the car to dry land while his wife steered. Their 2003 Mercedes C320 sat a little lower than most vehicles making it through the puddles. “We’re not Florida natives, so we aren’t used to flash flooding,” Tullidge said. “It was very scary. We couldn’t open the doors, and it was dark.” They weren’t alone. On Aug. 27, a Manatee County Sheriff’s deputy estimated more than 100 cars had been towed in
Thunder bails out after premiere Despite glowing reviews, motorcycle festival pulls away from Lakewood Ranch. SEE PAGE 5
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The 2017 Thunder by the Bay at Premier Sports Campus was plagued by poor weather.
YOUR TOWN
SEE PAGE 8
A+E
Berkley Mason
Soaking up the sun
McCurdy’s teaches stand-up basics. INSIDE
It was, indeed, a mismatch. On Aug. 23, several classes of more than 20 Braden River Elementary students had the chance to compete in a soaker battle against Assistant Principal Krista Francies and Principal Hayley Rio (pictured above). It was the students’ reward for completing all their required work over the summer. “It was like two against 20, so we were a little outnumbered,” Francies said. “It honestly felt good, though, since it was so hot outside.”