Top Stories this week: Wednesday, May 10, 2006 Windy Florida The map used by the state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corp. to determine wind insurance coverage includes only four major cities - Pensacola, Daytona Beach, Panama City and Sarasota - as high wind velocity areas during a hurricane. Other high velocity areas are noted along most of Florida's barrier islands, but do not include all of those islands in many cases, and not all of Anna Maria Island. Click here to download a better version Galvano vows to continue battle for Island wind coverage By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter While efforts by state Rep. Bill Galvano during the just-ended legislative session in Tallahassee to have all of Anna Maria Island included in a designated high-wind zone failed, Galvano is not giving in to all the hot air in Tallahassee. Full Story... AME dedication draws 600 guests By Diana Bogan. Islander Reporter Approximately 600 people attended the official opening celebration of the new Anna Maria Elementary School campus the evening of May 1. Full Story... AME third-graders make FCAT history By Diana Bogan. Islander Reporter Anna Maria Elementary School third-graders have something to be proud of besides high scores on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. AME is the first school in Manatee County history to report an entire grade-level passed an FCAT test. In this case, 100 percent of AME third-graders passed the reading portion of the FCAT. Full Story... Sex offender made obscene calls from jail A Cortez man already in jail, convicted of lewd and lascivious exhibition on a child under 16 years of age in 2004, and arrested for violating the terms of his probation on that conviction, has again been arrested, this time for making obscene phone calls. Full Story... Marina road traffic draws Bradenton Beach official's ire Bradenton Beach Marina owner Allan Bazzy has received a scolding by city officials after a boating debacle April 24. Full Story... Boundary expansion OK'd by legislature; Gov. Bush next By Paul Roat. Islander Reporter The Florida Legislature held it off to the near last-minute, but both houses have approved expansion of city of Bradenton Beach boundaries in the Gulf of Mexico and Anna Maria Sound. Full Story... Bridge improvements conducted, more in works? By Paul Roat. Islander Reporter Could lights have helped deter a fatal accident on the Anna Maria Island Bridge last month? Full Story... Roses wilt under weight of lawsuits By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Embattled Island developer GSR LLC and its principals, Robert Byrne and Steve Noriega, have been slapped with two more lawsuits, this time over the failure of the company to build its planned Rosa del Mar condominium project in Bradenton Beach. Full Story... Lucky 7 for Arvida/St. Joe on Perico By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Islanders wondering when the St. Joe Co. would begin selling units in its planned 686-unit Perico Island condominium project can stop guessing. The urbanization of Perico Island has begun and it now has a name. Full Story... SAM plans, reorganizes Save Anna Maria Inc. held a planning and organization meeting Saturday, with new president Sheila Hurst listing needed committees and pressing for volunteers from the sparse post-winter-season membership in attendance. Full Story... Island business/accommodation owners may get long-awaited tax relief By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Island business and accommodation property owners suffering under the weight of spiraling property tax increases the past few years may at last be getting some relief - or at least the opportunity for some. Full Story... Remember these watering limitations Yes, even though we're in the midst of our annual drought, it's important to remember that we are under year-round watering limits from regional officials. Full Story...