Latest Bradenton, Florida Stories

By Joe Saunders, The Bradenton Herald, Fla. Jun. 15--MANATEE -- The union representing Manatee County School District's support staff voted Saturday to ratify a contract that includes a 1 percent pay cut to help the district avoid the prospect of layoffs, school district spokeswoman Margi Nanney said. Representatives of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees could not be reached Saturday, but Nanney said the vote was in favor of jobs over salaries. "They voted...

By Joe Saunders, The Bradenton Herald, Fla. Jun. 14--MANATEE -- A combination of financial savvy, educational understanding and organizational management are the key factors Manatee County school board members are looking for in a new superintendent. And being "Superman or Superwoman" wouldn't hurt, either. "It's a tough job and you've got to have special powers," said Walter Miller, a school board member for 10 years. "You're going to have a tough time because these are tough times." The...

By Jessica Klipa, The Bradenton Herald, Fla. Jun. 14--MANATEE -- Manatee tomato growers are telling people what mothers have been saying for years: Eat your tomatoes. The plea for consumers to begin buying tomatoes again has been muffled by escalating reports of illness caused by a salmonella outbreak in 23 states. "People are hesitant to eat tomatoes," said Bob Spencer of West Coast Tomato. "The only thing we can hope is that they somehow get the word out that they're safe to eat." Area...

By Sylvia Lim, The Bradenton Herald, Fla. Feb. 27--MANATEE -- A former Manatee County teacher is suing the school district claiming discrimination and unjust termination of her employment. The suit, filed Monday by former Mills Elementary teacher Mary Cropsey, names the school district, Superintendent Roger Dearing and Mills Principal Mike Rio as defendants. In the lawsuit, Cropsey is seeking $15,000 or more in damages and her attorney's fees. "I will have my day in court," Cropsey...

By Sylvia Lim, The Bradenton Herald, Fla. Jul. 12--BRADENTON -- At least 60 parents and community members and 45 faculty and staff showed up at Manatee High on Wednesday night to grill the three candidates vying for the principal's seat. Three assistant principals from Manatee's three traditional high schools -- Linda Nesselhauf, Carl Auckerman and Robert Gagnon -- worked the room with the fervor of candidates before an election. Among the chief concerns they were asked about was how...

By Duane Marsteller, The Bradenton Herald, Fla. May 11--MANATEE -- A proposed landfill in northern Manatee County survived its first challenge Thursday, but still faces an uphill battle toward gaining approval. A split Manatee County Planning Commission recommended changing the county's Comprehensive Plan to allow the landfill Waste Management Inc. wants to build at the Airport Manatee site west of U.S. 41 along the Manatee-Hillsborough county line. The advisory board's 4-2 vote came...

By The Bradenton Herald, Fla. Apr. 5--The Florida Highway Patrol is reporting accidents in Manatee and Sarasota counties: A vehicle crash with roadblock at 7:30 a.m. in Sarasota on U.S. 301 and Northgate Boulevard. A vehicle crash with injuries in Bradenton on 30th Avenue West on 7th Street West. ----- Copyright (c) 2007, The Bradenton Herald, Fla. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550,...

TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Parents who want information on how to enroll their child in the Florida Autism Center of Excellence (FACE) can call (866) 951-FACE (3223), FACE announced today. The charter for the Florida Autism Center of Excellence was approved by the Hillsborough County School Board on Feb. 13. FACE will serve students in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Manatee and Polk counties. Last December, the program was awarded a $700,000 grant from the...

By Donna Wright, The Bradenton Herald, Fla. Nov. 1--MANATEE -- The county jail has been closed to visitors due to 13 confirmed cases of chicken pox, Manatee County Sheriff's Office reported this morning. Twelve staff members and one inmate were diagnosed with chicken pox a week ago, said David Bristow, MSO spokesman. Vendors can still make delivers to the jail, Bristow said, but visitors will not be allowed inside. Chickenpox is caused by Varicella virus, a member of the Herpes family of...

By The Bradenton Herald, Fla. Oct. 23--BRADENTON -- Two men sharing a motel room Sunday night became involved in an argument over the "continuous intoxication" of the 72-year-old, according to a Manatee County Sheriff's Office report. The 42-year-old roommate punched the older man three to five times on the top of his head. He also choked the older man and held an open pocket knife in front of his face saying, "I should just kill you old man," according to the report. The victim walked...