Top Stories this week: Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009 U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia Carol Rodley presents King Sihamoni Jan. 20 with her diplomatic credentials and two books on Cambodia published by Kent Davis of Holmes Beach. Islander Photo: Courtesy U.S. Embassy Cambodia Islander Davis' books fit for a king by Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Holmes Beach resident and southeast Asia expert Kent Davis has been honored by Carol Rodley, U.S. ambassador to Cambodia, with the presentation of two books he published on Cambodia to that country’s king as part of her official diplomatic arrival in the country. Full Story... Judges agree: 'Good cooking' by Bonner Joy Three judges in the Cortez Crab Cookoff Feb. 7 agreed on one thing after just one round of tasting a wide variety of crab dishes: “It’s all good. Very good.” Full Story... Anna Maria commission to finalize ROR ordinance Thursday By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Anyone wishing to attend the Anna Maria city commission’s Feb. 12 public hearing on the city’s retail-office-residential ordinance should plan to arrive at city hall early. Full Story... Swiftmud cites Anna Maria improvements Anna Maria city engineer Tom Wilcox told the city commission at its Jan. 22 meeting that Phase One of the city’s master stormwater drainage plan is about a week away from completion. Full Story... DOT quashes Island cooperation effort by Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter The Florida Department of Transportation has pulled the plug on an interlocal agreement between Anna Maria and Holmes Beach that would have aided Anna Maria’s effort to build a boardwalk at the city pier. Full Story... Town hall features education budget cuts Manatee County School Superintendent Tim Mcgonegal is sending school district members to all schools to discuss Florida’s budget crisis and how it relates to the Manatee School District. Full Story... Brief bridge closures next week A Florida Department of Transportation press release announced that Anna Maria Island Bridge contractor Quinn Construction will close the bridge to vehicular traffic for several brief periods during the week of Feb. 16-20. Full Story... AMI Bridge rehab project could finish March 3 by Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter The $10.2 million Anna Maria Island Bridge rehabilitation project is slated to finish March 3, according to Florida Department of Transportation District One director of operations Ed Gonzalez. Full Story... Play ball: Baseball season begins soon Do you remember the first pro baseball game you attended? The first home run you belted out of the park? The first ball glove you oiled up or the first bat you buffed? The first complete set of baseball cards you collected? Full Story... City enacts temporary mooring regs by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter New regulations for the waters that Bradenton Beach controls are in place by vote of the city commission. Full Story... City to repair dinghy dock by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter Bradenton Beach’s dinghy dock is in need of a fix-up — and will get one, but without hoped for state funding. Full Story... Cumber probation hearing set by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter The investigations into the disappearance of Sabine Musil-Buehler, 49, and the fire at Haley’s Motel continue, now in their fourth month. Full Story... Conference date set in code dispute by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter Attorneys in the code enforcement dispute between the city of Holmes Beach and a Gulf Drive property owner will head to court Feb. 20 for a conference. Full Story... Enter The Islander Oscar contest by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter Fill out the ballot containing the Academy Awards nominees by noon Saturday, Feb. 21, to be eligible for the contest prize. The prize will go to the reader who guesses the most Oscar winners. Full Story... Pine Avenue Restoration explains PAR projects by Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Ed Chiles and Mike Coleman of Pine Avenue Restoration LLC held a neighborhood meeting Feb. 4 at the Studio at Gulf and Pine in an effort to clear up misunderstandings about their Pine Avenue projects. Full Story... Cortez man arrested for Holmes Beach robbery Holmes Beach Police arrested Roger Dale Ross Jr., 29, of Cortez, for a robbery in Holmes Beach. Full Story... Islanders share passion for people, places, moments One legend has it that Valentine’s Day originated to commemorate the anniversary of the death of St. Valentine, a Roman clergyman who was executed on Feb. 14, about 270 A.D., for secretly marrying couples in defiance of the emperor. Full Story...