Top Stories this week: Wednesday, May 2, 2007 The team of Chris Joseph of Holmes Beach and John Jernigan of Venice took home $50,000 in the Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series tournament out of Englewood on Saturday. Record Anna Maria commission meeting By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter In a city that used to thrive on meetings that often dragged on to the wee hours of the morning, the Anna Maria City Commission meeting April 25 may have been one of the shortest-ever commission meetings in the city. Full Story... Roofer dies in Anna Maria A Sarasota man fell to his death April 26 while working on a construction site in Anna Maria City. Full Story... Island man charged with sexual battery The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office arrested an Anna Maria man early April 29 on charges of sexual battery and drug possession. Full Story... Beach gang solutions offered, some to commence By Paul Roat A crime-fighting park design and heightened police presence are being added to the rescue effort to avoid another tragedy at Coquina Beach. Full Story... Cleanup clears waste from Island By Lisa Neff, Islander Reporter Dozens of volunteers helped haul garbage from Anna Maria Island’s beaches, woods and road sides during the Great American Cleanup on April 21. Full Story... AM official seeks Bradenton Beach position By Rick Catlin, Islander Reporter Anna Maria building official Kevin Donohue has applied for the building official's position in Bradenton Beach following the resignation of Ed McAdams. Full Story... 'Tiffiany's initiative' honored with national award By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Palma Sola resident Christine Olson was the guest of honor at a ceremony in Tallahassee with state Rep. Bill Galvano recently when the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles received a national award for its "Tiffiany initiative," allowing Florida motorists to have emergency contact information on their driver's license. Full Story... GSR to Bradenton Beach: 'We're broke' By Rick Catlin, Islander Reporter It's official. GSR Development LLC, headed by the once-heralded "wonder boys" of Island real estate development - Robert Byrne and Steve Noriega - is broke, and the prospects of an immediate cash infusion look grim, according to GSR restructuring officer William Maloney. Full Story... Draft dock ordinance still anchored in review By Lisa Neff, Islander Reporter A draft ordinance on docking regulations remains anchored in Holmes Beach City Commission work sessions. Full Story... Sign ordinance to get another edit By Lisa Neff, Islander Reporter The editing continues on an ordinance amending sign regulations in Holmes Beach. Full Story... Insurance: Islanders to benefit from Citizens expansion By Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter The outlook for June 1 is mixed. It is the first day of hurricane season. But it is also the start date for state-run Citizens Insurance Property Corp. to expand its wind coverage to small businesses and churches. Full Story... Toeing the line Black skimmers gather just inside a protected nesting area on the beach north of the Sandbar Restaurant in Anna Maria. The area, watched by state wildlife officials and Manatee County Audubon Society volunteers, is an annual nesting ground for skimmers and terns. Bird watchers made counts last week, spotting from a safe distance dozens of skimmers and terns. One observer, John DeFazio, counted 150 skimmers, 35-30 least terns, some royal terns and one "lonely" snowy plover. But to date, no nests have been spotted. Islander Photo: Lisa Neff Beach walkers ready for turtle patrols, season starts May 1 By Lisa Neff, Islander Reporter Some new recruits and many veterans enlisted on April 26 in a campaign to patrol the Island's beaches. Full Story... Top Notch: First weekly winner also 2006 grand prize winner The grand prize winner from among six weekly award-winning photos in the 2006 "Top Notch" Islander photo contest is 'Hermit' by Kim Klement of Bradenton. Her shot was the first winner on June 28 and was taken at Andros Island in the Bahamas in May. She can claim her grand prize, including $100 from The Islander, a dining certificate from Ooh La La! Bistro, a bottle of champagne from Anna Maria Island Liquor and Wine, dinner for two at a Chiles Group Restaurant and framing of the winning photo by Decor and More. Congratulations to all the winners - and be watching next week for our featured runnersup.