Top Stories this week: Wednesday, July 9, 2008 The Anna Maria Island Privateers lead the Independence Day parade on Anna Maria Island. Holiday pops for some, sizzles for others by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter The crowd oohed and ahhed as the fireworks lit the sky on Independence Eve in Bradenton Beach. Full Story... After the celebration comes the cleanup by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter Florence Parker had a paid holiday July 4, but she still worked. Full Story... Oh, say did you see... Star-spangled parade traverses Island by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter Star-spangled banners waved in the Anna Maria Island Privateers’ July 4 parade. Full Story... Privateers' class of 2008 The Anna Maria Island Privateers presented $27,000 in scholarships to local students, pictured, at the Cafe on the Beach July 4. The students joined the Privateers in the holiday parade, then dined on barbecue at the beachfront restaurant before receiving their scholarships. Awards were presented to Austin Eason, Kimberly Kuizon, Elise Mundy, Claire Ingram, Ashley Bishop, Chris Chawi, Nicholas Gotts, Angela Jackson, Dion Shorey, Eric Whitley, Ashley Stinton, Elizabeth Aguilar, Josie Cockerham, Charlie Green, Lupita Perales, Ashley Petersen, Kelsey Taylor, April White and Sean Price. Islander Photo: Lisa Neff Contractor reconsiders Anna Maria stormwater project by Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter After Anna Maria was forced to delay the projected start of Phase 1 of its stormwater drainage project because it never received the required Southwest Florida Water Management District permit, Adkins Contracting Inc. - the successful project bidder - wrote Anna Maria city engineer Tom Wilcox a letter demanding the company be paid $235,000 of the $539,000 contract it had signed with the city for the project. Full Story... City attorney rejects Anna Maria lot-split issues by Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Anna Maria city attorney Jim Dye has rejected claims, that the city’s controversial zero lot-line ordinance is at odds with the city’s already established codes and recently adopted comprehensive plan. Full Story... Bridge repairs continue on schedule The Florida Department of Transportation and Anna Maria Island Bridge contractor Quinn Construction Co. were scheduled to complete a nighttime installation of temporary railing on July 8-9. Full Story... Commission approves application for cafe expansion by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter With a platter of stipulations, the Bradenton Beach City Commission July 2 approved an application for a major expansion of a beachfront restaurant. Full Story... Special master orders compliance with turtle regs by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter A beachfront resort was ordered to comply with sea turtle regulations or face a daily fine during the first special master hearing to take place in Bradenton Beach since the city adopted the code enforcement practice. Full Story... City plans 'dinghy dock' work by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter Bradenton Beach officials agreed last week to undertake minor in-house repairs of a city-owned dock and prepare a grant application for a major overhaul in 2009. Full Story... Bait shop in business by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter The bait shop at Rotten Ralph’s on the Pier is now operating on Rotten Ralph’s time. Full Story... Storm tracker: Bertha reaches hurricane status Bertha became the first hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic season July 7. Full Story... Two candidates campaign for ward seat by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter William Shearon and Robert Bartelt are running for the Ward 4 seat on Bradenton Beach’s city commission, promising low-key but substantive campaigns. Full Story... Political signs go up prematurely; some come down by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter A couple of candidates in the Aug. 26 primary prematurely planted political signs in Holmes Beach and Anna Maria last week. Full Story... Commission: no to leniency on lien by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter Day after day neighbors watched the weeds grow up around 6804 Marina Drive in Holmes Beach. Full Story... New trolley shelters erected by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter Crews went to work erecting four new trolley shelters in Holmes Beach last week. Full Story... Island home foreclosures could mean buyer bargains by Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter With home foreclosures in Manatee County and throughout Florida are at all-time highs, buyers on Anna Maria Island could easily find some great bargains, according to Island real estate agents. Full Story... Attorney seeks dismissal in blown-kiss case by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter An attorney is asking for a dismissal of charges against a teenager arrested in connection with an alleged scuffle in April with a Bradenton Beach police officer on Coquina Beach. Full Story... Remembering the 'old dog' by Paul Roat Jim Hanson stories are myriad. Full Story... Fourth weekly winner: Top Notch 'Taking the plunge' Mary Anne Keenan of Bradenton is this week's winner in the newspaper's six-week-long Top Notch contest, winning front page placement for the photo and an Islander newspaper “more-than-a-mullet wrapper” T-shirt. Her entry - a photograph of ducklings anticipating a plunge into a storm drain at Freedom Village - will go into a pool of weekly winners eligible for the grand prize of $100 from the newspaper and a bevy of gift certificates and other prizes from Islander advertisers.