Top Stories - This Week: Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2003 click to enlarge Ho! Ho! Ho! Santa's all mine Islander Photos: Kelly Hillman Santa Claus arrived via fire truck to the cheers and questions and, especially, the requests of children at the 10th Annual Lawton Chiles Christmas Party at the Sandbar Restaurant, owned by the late governor's son Ed Chiles. This little boy, name unknown, was awed by the giant elf. Some 135 kids came from A Growing Place and Healthy Families Manatee for an afternoon of fun, games, food and sharing with Chiles and his staff. It was "the only Christmas some of these kids get," said sponsor Chiles. Commission approves drainage projects By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter With the Island spotlight on outrageous behavior shifting like beach sand from Anna Maria to Bradenton Beach, city commissioners in Anna Maria accomplished something at their Dec. 18 meeting. Full Story... Much discussion, little action in Bradenton Beach By Paul Roat. Islander Reporter "Merry Christmas." That was the wish from the Bradenton Beach City Commission last week to a packed house at its last regular meeting before the holidays. Full Story... Holmes Beach counsel may have conflicts, ethics problem By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Dye, Deitrich, Prather, Petruff & St. Paul P.A., the law firm that acts as city attorney for Holmes Beach, may have an ethics problem because it failed to disclose a prior interest when the city commission voted March 11 to sell a city-owned traffic island to adjacent property owner Patrick McConnell. Full Story... Lawyers divorce court in Davis case By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Taking a page from Judge Judy's television show, lawyers reportedly on the same side in defending a lawsuit against Holmes Beach and property owner Frank Davis now appear headed for divorce court. Full Story... Crab crop improving, mullet still scarce By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Commercial fishermen working out of Cortez are having a bad year with mullet, or lack of them, but stone crabs are a bit more plentiful now. Full Story... Bank forecloses on Tidemark, deal collapses By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Regions Bank of Florida has been granted a foreclosure motion for $1.7 million against Tidemark Properties LLC, and the Tidemark property on Marina Drive in Holmes Beach will be put up for public auction on Feb. 12, 2004, a bank attorney said. Full Story... Roser celebrates Christ's birth The annual Bethlehem Walk at Roser Memorial Community Church included nearly 75 costumed worshipers and assorted animals in a modern recreation of the night Joseph and Mary went from inn to inn in Bethlehem seeking a room for the night, only to be turned away. Full Story...

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