News Briefs 12.09.10

+ Lakewood SGA hosts annual toy drive
Members of the Lakewood Ranch High School’s Student Government Association again organized a school-wide drive to benefit Manatee County children in need.

Students have been collecting presents for more than 150 children for Christmas through its annual Angel Tree Project.

The drive ran from Nov. 17 to Dec. 3.

+ Bennett files immigration bill
Sen. Mike Bennett recently filed an Arizona-style immigration bill intended to help law enforcement crack down on illegal immigration.

Senate Bill 136, if approved, would give law enforcement officers the ability to ask suspected illegal immigrants about their immigration status. Under the legislation, law enforcement would be required to contact federal immigration officials of people who cannot prove they are legally in the country and could fine up to $100 or jail anyone found without proof of his or her immigration status. Individuals not carrying proof of status could be sentenced up to 20 days in jail.

+ Middle school students take honors
Several students from Nolan and Haile middle schools have earned a chance to compete in the State History Fair in Tallahassee this spring.

Winners from Nolan include: Rheya Jackson, Anette Heffernan, Kerina Adamson, Griffin Trautweiller, Morgan LaMarc, Sofia Viton, Madelyn Kumar, Anay Patel, Ethan Howell and Oliver Varah.

Students advancing from Haile are: Sean Martin, Matthew Roberts, William Gregan, Kevin Rosenstein and William Craig.

Nolan history teacher Kristen Cunningham also was named the Manatee County History Fair’s Teacher of the Year.

+ Buchanan calls for budget amendment
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (FL-13) again is pushing for an amendment to force a balanced federal budget.
In response to a report issued Dec. 1 by President Barack Obama’s National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, Buchanan noted the national debt has nearly reached $14 trillion, and a failure to change the way business is conducted in Washington or to work in a bipartisan manner to reduce spending will result in higher interest rates, inflation and a less competitive economy.

“I look forward to reviewing the commission’s report, but I believe the first step to control spending is to pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution,” he said. “(It’s) a common-sense measure that would force Congress to make the tough choices necessary to spend wisely, save taxpayer dollars and help ensure the financial security of our children and our grandchildren.”

+ Palm Aire cell tower heads to hearing
The public hearing that will determine whether a telecommunications tower will be allowed in the Palm Aire community will be held at 9 a.m., Dec. 15, in the Manatee County County Commission chambers, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.

Vertex submitted a special permit application for the project in August, and a group of residents has been fighting it since. The application is the first to be reviewed under the county’s new telecommunications ordinance.