Top Stories this week: Wednesday, June. 15, 2005 Talented dancers Miss Sara's ballerinas, Sara Wolfe, Kyla Nipper, Julie Ware, Madison Driscoll and Emma Terry, will perform their dance recital at the Anna Maria Island Community Center at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 25, followed by refreshments and a teen talent show. Islander Photo: Courtesy AMICC/Sandee Pruett Click image to enlarge Blood drive: 278 donors, $23,500 for Island charities By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter A total of 278 donors volunteered their blood at three locations in the Islandwide blood drive over the weekend, bringing just shy of $23,500 to four Island organizations from an anonymous benefactor. Full Story... Bringing home the bacon By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Islander reporter Rick Catlin looks over the Florida Press Association 2004 Better Weekly Newspaper Awards tabloid and The Islander's three awards. Catlin earned a first-place award for his humorous column, "The night before an Island Christmas," and an honorable mention in the category for in-depth news reporting. The newspaper also captured a third-place award for its 2004 hurricane section. Islander Photo: Bonner Joy Full Story... Oops A tractor trailer discovered that a set of telephone lines in the 2500 block of Gulf Drive wasn't quite high enough for his rig last week. According to Bradenton Beach Police Det. Sgt. Lenard Diaz, truck-driver Walker Tillert had permits to navigate through 14-foot-high utility lines, but Verizon wires were only 13 feet above the road. Utilities were shortly restored, Diaz added. Islander Photo: J.L. Robertson Fund for Anna Maria fire victims A fund for Islanders and the mainland public to assist Anna Maria fire victims Jennifer and Warren Ratcliff has been opened at Wachovia Bank, Jennifer Ratcliff said. Full Story... Don't put drainage swale in my backyard, residents say By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter There's an old political axiom that nobody ever opposes a project until it affects them directly. It's called the "not-in-my-backyard" syndrome. Full Story... No surprise, Anna Maria parking issue turns contentious Cramer: 'I shouldn't be here' By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter To the surprise of absolutely no one in Anna Maria who has listened to the innumerable parking plans proposed for the city the past 45 years - none of which have ever come to fruition - parking Plan C that the city commission is considering has hit a "road block." Full Story... Goodloe Marine ready to renourish Island - project should start by mid-July By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Ben Goodloe of Goodloe Marine in Apollo Beach said his company has already begun preparing its dredge and equipment for movement to Anna Maria Island for the emergency beach renourishment project. Full Story... Internet vacation rental, bank scam comes to AMI By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter The Manatee County Sheriff's Office in Anna Maria has reported an apparent Internet rental scam that could cost Island property owners and rental agents thousands of dollars if they fall for the deal. Full Story... Hootman overturns ruling on the field - his own By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Just like the National Football League, rulings on the political playing field of Holmes Beach can be overturned by reviewing the plan. Full Story...