Top Stories this week: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 Holmes Beach resident and Anna Maria Elementary third-grader Brandon Mills sticks his landing during skimboard contest action in a National Kidney Foundation-sponsored surfing festival held oceanfront June 26-29 in St. Augustine, Fla. Islander Photo: Courtesy Phil Salick Quiet 4th but police busy with confiscation, peace-keeping by Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter The plan put forth by the Island Fireworks Task Force to confiscate illegal fireworks during the July 4 weekend was apparently successful, as law enforcement in all three Island cities report the weekend was a lot quieter than in years past. Full Story... Anna Maria building official to cost $130,000 annually by Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Just a little more than a year after Anna Maria Mayor Fran Barford dismissed building official Kevin Donohue and his $90,000-plus annual salary as a cost-cutting move, Barford told city commissioners at their July 10 meeting that she now prefers to pay $130,000 per year for a full-time, out-sourced building official. Full Story... AMI Bridge lane closures Thursday nights One lane of the bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. every Thursday through August, the Florida Department of Transportation and Anna Maria Island Bridge rehabilitation project contractor Quinn Construction Inc. of Palmetto have announced. Full Story... Gulf Drive busy with repairs, more coming in August Anna Maria Island's Gulf Drive, which extends the length of the Island from the Longboat Pass Bridge to Pine Avenue in Anna Maria, underwent repairs and traffic disruptions in two locations last week. Full Story... Man arrested for alleged auto burglary Bradenton Beach police recently arrested a man suspected of a third offense in as many months. Full Story... Chief, commission to discuss low-speed vehicles by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter The use of low-speed vehicles in Bradenton Beach’s historic district is one of the issues scheduled for discussion at the city commission meeting at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 17. Full Story... Anna Maria, Holmes Beach see drop in population by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2007 population estimates show slight drops in Anna Maria and Holmes Beach - ever so slight drops. Full Story... Commissioner holds state-of-county chat by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter Manatee County Commissioner Jane von Hahmann met with about three dozen people July 9 in Anna Maria to offer her assessment of the “state of the county.” Full Story... Cramer home invasion suspect denied self-representation One of the two suspects in the April 17 home invasion in Anna Maria involving former City Commissioner Linda Cramer was denied a request to act as co-counsel in his trial. Full Story... Sheriff investigating death The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a Tampa man whose body was found near Seagrape Lane in Anna Maria July 11. Full Story... No contest for Holmes Beach offices by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter Come November, it will be business as usual at Holmes Beach City Hall - and for the city commission. Full Story... Man suffers head injury in fight An Island man suffered serious trauma late July 11 during an assault in the Island Shopping Center parking lot in Holmes Beach. Full Story... Holmes Beach to serve up dining ordinance by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter The Holmes Beach City Commission is nearly finished cooking up revisions to its outdoor dining ordinance. Full Story... Fifth weekly winner: Top Notch 'Close encounter' Don Lee of Springfield, Mo., 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. Lee’s entry - a photograph of divers encountering a marine turtle in Belize - 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. The photograph was submitted by diver Irene Pearman, left, an Anna Maria resident.