News Briefs

+ Dates set for 2017 World Rowing Championships
Nathan Benderson Park now has dates for which to look forward.

The 2017 World Rowing Championships will be held Sept. 24 through Oct. 1, with an opening ceremony scheduled for Sept. 23.

It will mark the first time the event has been held in the United States.

Event organizers anticipate the event will attract more than 1,000 Olympic-caliber athletes from more than 70 countries.

The international competition will be broadcast to a worldwide television audience of 130 million people, according to the event’s website.

An estimated 40,000 spectators are expected to attend the event.

+ Grand Challenge food drive extended through summer
Manatee County officials will extend the 2014 Grand Challenge, which benefits the Food Bank of Manatee, through the end of summer.

While the food drive has collected 11,000 pounds of food and $12,000 in donations thus far, more contributions are needed. Recommended donations include items such as canned beans, tuna, peanut butter and baby food.

The Food Bank’s White Out Hunger campaign was slated to end July 31.

For more information on The Food Bank of Manatee and the 2014 Giving Challenge, visit foodbankofmanatee.org.

+ Second case of mosquito-borne illness detected
The Florida Department of Health in Manatee County confirmed a second case of Chikungunya Fever July 18.

The individual is believed to have contracted the disease through a mosquito bite he received while on a recent trip to the Carribean, a press release stated.

Although the patient has been treated and returned home, health officials stress the need for wearing mosquito repellent containing DEET.

Chikungunya Fever is transmitted by the insects through bites. It’s not fatal, and individuals typically recover within a few days. To date, there have been more than 82 cases of the illness detected throughout the state, the release stated.

Symptoms include sudden onset fever of more than 102 degrees, severe arm and leg pain, headache, rash and others.

Chikungunya Fever is not contagious from one person to another but through mosquitoes biting an infected person and then carrying the virus to another individual it bites.

Meetings & agendas
Manatee County Board of County Commissioners Meeting — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 29, at the County Administrative Center, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.

Manatee County Board of County Commissioners Budget Reconciliation Meeting — 1:30 to 5 p.m. July 30, at the County Administrative Center, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.