News Briefs 04.22.10

+ Rowlett begins zoning realignment
The redistricting process for Rowlett Elementary School officially is under way as the magnet school for communication attempts to eliminate all attendance zones and become completely a school choice school.
Principal Brian Flynn said elimination of the attendance boundaries would be a benefit to students because Rowlett currently is overcrowded at 920 children.

“If I could become a total choice school, I could regulate my numbers,” said Flynn, noting the school is built to accommodate just more than 800 students.

The adoption of the proposed boundaries is tentatively scheduled for the Manatee County School Board’s May 10 meeting.

+ Court postpones Josh Hunter trial
The trial of former Braden River High School football coach Josh Hunter for DUI manslaughter has been postponed until May.

Circuit Judge Donna Berlin granted the request of Hunter’s defense attorney, Brett McIntosh, to continue the case until he could review transcripts from an accident reconstruction experts’ testimony, which was said to be unavailable until after the trial would have started. Prosecutors had planned to call that witness, but McIntosh was unable to interview him until April 14 — just four days before jury selection was scheduled to occur — and asked for time to see how the transcript in question would affect his defense.

Hunter is accused of causing the death of his friend and fellow coach Doug Garrity during a one-vehicle crash near Nokomis in March 2009.

Blood tests indicated Hunter’s blood alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit at the time of the accident.

+ Car burglars hit Mote Ranch
Burglars targeted vehicles in Mote Ranch last week during a rash of vehicular break-ins.

A Manatee County Sheriff’s Office report states vehicles at four Mote Ranch homes were burglarized sometime overnight April 13-14. Unknown suspect(s) entered the victim’s unlocked cars and ransacked the interiors.

Although nothing was stolen out of two vehicles, jewelry was taken from one vehicle and a loaded Glock pistol from another.

Homes affected were in the 5800 block of Carriage Drive, the 6800 Block of Corral Circle and the 5800 block of Lantern Court, the report states.