Top Stories this week: Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2007 Francine Slack and Harry Kamberis count ballots in the Anna Maria Island Democratic Club's poll of members at its Nov. 19 meeting. Hillary Clinton won the balloting. Florida's Democratic primary ballot will include presidential candidates Joseph R. Biden Jr., Hillary Clinton, Christopher J. Dodd, John Edwards, Mike Gravel, Dennis J. Kucinich, Barack Obama, William "Bill" Richardson III. The primary will be Jan. 29. Islander Photo: Lisa Neff Vote your choice... The Islander newspaper offers readers a chance to designate their presidential preference. Full Story... Partisanship in paradise: Island Dems vote for Clinton By Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter Just days after Iowa’s latest straw poll in the 2008 presidential election, Island Democrats conducted a straw poll of their own. Full Story... 4 defendants await Acute Care trial By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter A third woman associated with the Medicaid fraud case against Anna Maria’s Acute Care medical therapy and supply company has agreed to a plea-bargain agreement in which she will testify against the remaining four defendants in a trial that has now been moved from Dec. 3 to June 2, 2008. Full Story... Anna Maria pier improvements contemplated By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Members of Anna Maria’s transportation enhancement grant committee spent several hours Nov. 19 inspecting the city pier and its parking lot to consider potential improvement projects. Full Story... County eyes slower water-born speed at Bean Point By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter With the channel off Bean Point in Anna Maria shifting closer to shore, and following several near-miss incidents between boaters and bathers, Manatee County commissioners are prepared to implement a speed limit in the channel. Full Story... Sarasota man dies in Gulf boating accident By Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter A Sarasota man died Nov. 25 in a boating accident in the Gulf of Mexico near Longboat Pass. Full Story... SAM questions DOT over bridge rehab By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Save Anna Maria, the organization that led the fight during the 1990s against a 65-foot-high, fixed-span bridge to replace the bridge on Manatee Avenue, said in a Nov. 16 letter to the Florida Department of Transportation that it is not opposed to a new bridge, nor the DOT’s present plan to rehabilitate the Anna Maria Island Bridge. Full Story... HB officials oppose comp plan referendum By Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter Holmes Beach’s mayor and city commissioners are expressing their opposition to a proposed constitutional amendment requiring citizens to vote on changes to their municipal comprehensive land-use plans. Full Story... North end property owners save on flood insurance By Molly McCartney. Islander Reporter It’s official. The federal government has sent a letter to Anna Maria City confirming it has advanced to Class 5 in the community rating program for the National Flood Insurance Program. Full Story... Lesters issue community challenge Holmes Beach residents Chuck and Joey Lester have issued a challenge to the Island community to raise money for the Anna Maria Island Community Center, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. Full Story... Sarasota deputies arrest man for Island theft By Mike Quinn. NewsManatee.com Publisher. Special to The Islander Sarasota County Sheriff's Office deputies have arrested a man accused of stealing metal construction materials from the Anna Maria Island area. Full Story...