Top Stories this week: Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007 Taking a turtle tally Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch coordinator and board member Ed Sterba excavates a loggerhead sea turtle nest on the beach near 52nd Street in Holmes Beach July 29. "I'm just fishing here," Sterba said as a crowd gathered to see the routine work. The nest hatched on its due date, July 27. As of July 29, six nests had hatched on the Island, according to AMITW executive director Suzi Fox, and walkers have identified a total of 124 nests and 138 false crawls for the season. About 95 hatchlings emerged from the nest. AMITW's primary mission on the beaches is to collect data for the state about nesting sea turtles and their hatchlings. Islander Photos: Lisa Neff CITY BUDGETS Barford proposes $2.7 million Anna Maria budget Anna Maria Mayor Fran Barford assured city commissioners at their July 24 budget workshop that her proposed $2.789 million budget will maintain the quality of life in the city for residents and visitors. Full Story... Next year's city budget sails through Bradenton Beach Bradenton Beach city commissioners have tentatively approved a $2,628,996 spending plan for next year in one of the most seamless budgeting processes for the city in recent years. Full Story... Holmes Beach rolls back millage rate The Holmes Beach City Commission last week set a maximum millage rate of 1.5989 for fiscal year 2007-08. Full Story... Islander v. Chappie hearing Thursday When a complaint was made to the city of Bradenton Beach by building department employee Gail Garneau that she had been the victim of sexual harassment, she named her department head, Ed McAdam, and shortly thereafter he resigned his $82,000-per-year position. Full Story... Chambers win state awards By Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter Representatives with the Manatee and Anna Maria Island chambers of commerce recently returned from a statewide convention with some souvenirs - chamber-of-the-year awards Full Story... Qualifying for city races begins Sept. 4 By Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter The race for the White House began nearly 24 months before election day. The races for city offices on the Island won’t officially begin until just two months before municipal elections. Full Story... Shearon throws his hat into mayor ring in Bradenton Beach By Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter The race for the White House began nearly 24 months before election day. The races for city offices on the Island won’t officially begin until just two months before municipal elections. Full Story... GSR deadline Thursday By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Hear ye, hear ye. The federal bankruptcy court in Tampa has announced that Thursday, Aug. 2, is the absolute and final deadline for anyone with a claim against bankrupt GSR Development LLC to file a notice against the estate or forever hold their peace. Full Story... HB officials concerned for trolley's fate By Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter Holmes Beach city commissioners last week shared concern that a possible fare for the Island’s trolley service might take riders off the trolley and put more drivers on the road. Full Story... Survey: many want nature's way for Passage Key By Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter Six-year-old Angelo Ribeiro dances from foot to foot on the wooden deck of the Rod & Reel Pier. Full Story... Winner Top Notch: Dog greets crab Tom Thomas of Holmes Beach won the grand prize in The Islander's annual Top Notch contest for this photo of a 2 1/2-year-old Labrador retriever named Taylor greeting a blue crab on a sandbar near Longboat Pass Bridge. Thomas won $100 from the newspaper, plus a bevy of gifts from Islander advertisers, including Cafe on the Beach, Creations by L, The Sea Hagg, Subway and Walgreens. Five other photographers were weekly winners in the Top Notch contest - Robert L. Brown, Kim Klement, John Barker, Lori Kee and Mary Anne Keenan. The weekly winners received Islander "more-than-a-mullet wrapper" T-shirts and page 1 placement of their photos.