News Briefs

+ Study group to release details about straw poll
The Lakewood Ranch Incorporation Study Group will host its final public meeting before an upcoming straw poll this week.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m., July 28, at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, 8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.
The meeting will include details regarding the upcoming straw poll. Group members also will take questions from the audience.

+ Deputies Baker Act man outside restaurant
Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies took a man into custody after he threatened to kill himself and physically resisted being taken into custody.

A sheriff’s office report states two deputies met a subject near the entrance of Urban Flats around 11 p.m. Thursday, July 21, because the subject, who is not identified in the report, said he wanted to kill himself. Based his statements, the subject was secured and placed into a deputy’s vehicle.

Just after the deputy closed the rear door, the subject kicked out the rear window, causing damage to the rear door frame. When the deputy was securing the subject, he was kicked in the head twice, the report states.

Damages are estimated at about $1,500. The subject was taken to the Manatee County Jail.

+ Vacationer from Chicago drowns in Braden River
A Chicago man drowned Sunday while swimming in the East County.

A Manatee County Sheriff’s Office report states Michael Lester, 38, was visiting the area with his girlfriend and the couple was staying with the girlfriend’s parents in University Park County Club. Part of the Braden River runs behind the home, and at about 11 a.m. Sunday, July 24, Lester jumped off the boat dock and swam across the river — about 60 feet.

On his way back, however, Lester went under water and never resurfaced, the report states. The sheriff’s office found Lester in about 20 feet of water near the area he went under.

+ SMR names new Polo Club manager
Schroeder-Manatee Ranch named Rebecca Gutierrez the new manager for the Sarasota Polo Club.
Gutierrez most recently managed the Mashomack Polo & Preserve Club in upstate New York, and at the Brigadoon Polo Club in South Carolina. She also has managed clubs in Florida, New Mexico, and Canada.

“We could not be more pleased about Rebecca joining our team,” said Rex Jensen, president and CEO of SMR. “We have tasked her with elevating the Sarasota Polo Club to be one of the best in the country by attracting new players and using her extensive polo marketing expertise to make it even better than it is now.”

The Polo Club will now be more integrated with the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club and overseen by General Manager Wayne Piazza.

Gutierrez, originally from northern England, began her polo career as a groom in Australia. She started managing clubs after moving in 2001 to the United States. Her husband is a 3-goal polo professional and has played in Sarasota before, which made her familiar with the club.

“There is no better place in the country to play polo,” Gutierrez said. “Sarasota is one of the few clubs that really has everything — you have beautiful beaches, an amazing area to raise a family and fantastic weather year round. I am extremely excited to get started and plan on bringing in new players and making the upcoming season a memorable one.”

Gutierrez replaced longtime manager Maggie Mitchell.