Top Stories this week on Anna Maria Island: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 Wet ride Rain kept a lot of people off the beaches last week, but not surfers who ventured out to catch some waves at Cortez Beach. Surfers were out May 21 and May 22 to take advantage of some better than average waves. Islander Photos: Lisa Neff Surfers near Cortez Beach in Bradenton Beach May 22. Hot car West Manatee Fire Rescue firefighters extinguish an engine fire in a Mercedes in the 5700 block of Marina Drive May 19. There were no injuries reported and no damage other than to the vehicle. Most vehicle fires are the result of maintenance issues. At least six flammable fluids under a vehicle's hood can leak onto hot surfaces and start a fire, so Florida auto experts suggest regular inspection and maintenance of fluid lines, hoses, caps and filters. Islander Photo: Rebecca Barnett FAR out in Anna Maria by Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Anna Maria’s planning and zoning board was in general agreement at its May 19 workshop to discuss city planner Alan Garrett’s proposed floor-area ratio as a means to halt the proliferation of box houses in the city. Full Story... Resort tax collections down, extra penny might help by Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Resort tax collections by the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau are down for this year when compared with the first three months of 2008, although the agency reports occupancy of Island tourist accommodations is virtually unchanged through April. Full Story... Retail thefts abate on AMI by Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Neither the Holmes Beach Police Department nor the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office substation in Anna Maria received any complaint of theft from a retail establishment last week. Full Story... Revised pier ordinance before commission by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter Bradenton Beach city commissioners approved a first reading of an ordinance intended to streamline rules for the Historic Bridge Street Pier. Full Story... BB commission selects planning consultant by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter Bradenton Beach commissioners voted May 21 to hire Wilson Miller as a planning consultant to update the city’s land-development code during the next year. Full Story... Two arrested in AMI burglaries by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter “We got our guys,” enthused Sgt. John Kenney of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office the morning officers arrested two 18-year-olds for a series of area burglaries. Full Story... Cortez area loses two sex offenders, Coral Park gains one by Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Two convicted sex offenders have moved from the Cortez area in the past three months, leaving two known convicted offenders living in that area. Full Story... HBPD chief re-elected justice commission chair by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter Holmes Beach Police Chief Jay Romine recently was re-elected to chair the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission. Full Story... Koenigs documents filed in appeal The Florida Second District Court of Appeals received five volumes of documents related to the prosecution and conviction of Mark Koenigs. Full Story... WMFR deputy chief assisting with wildfires Over Mother’s Day weekend, 63 wildfires broke out in Florida burning more than 2,500 acres. Full Story...