News Briefs

+ Seventeen arrests made in prostitution stings
A series of undercover prostitution stings Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 resulted in the arrests of eight prostitutes and nine johns.

The stings were conducted in the Indian Beach/Sapphire Shores portion of North Tamaimi Trail, in Gillespie Park and on U.S. 301.

Arrested were:
• Shantel Andzaldua, 26
• Kristy Campbell, 39
• Darlene Debord, 28
• Blair Holcomb, 25
• Marie Kamischke, 40
• Rebecca Sue Miller, 27
• Deborah Powell, 52
• Elaine Wilkinson, 44
• Salvador Chaves-Toribio, 35
• Gregory Cole, 39
• Thomas Foots III, 54
• Rogelio Galeana-Salgado, 24
• Savino Latuga, 47
• Victor Martinez-Villegas, 24
• Isaias Mateo-Vasquez, 25
• Ricky Stults, 54
• Robert Wyant, 44

+ Economist predicts recovery this year
The County Commission held a budget workshop Feb. 1 that featured University of Central Florida economics professor Dr. Sean Snaith, who is a nationally known economic forecaster.

Snaith told commissioners he’s seeing some signs of a recovery in Sarasota and Florida as a whole.
“I think this year we will see an acceleration of job growth,” he said. “But it will be 2012 or 2013 before we’ll really see signs of (an overall economic) recovery. This is a cyclical downturn. It’s a heck of one, but it is a cycle.”

He cautioned the commission to be conservative in its budget process in the next few years, because property values — the main source of government revenue — will lag a couple of years behind the overall economy.

+ Orioles and the county to promote reading
The Baltimore Orioles is teaming up with Sarasota County to promote youth literacy through the Orioles Big League Reader program.

Children who check out three books at any county library will receive a Home Run Reading Card.
Each child who reads and returns his books will get his card initialed, which will entitle him to a free ticket to the March 9 Orioles game at Ed Smith Stadium.

Meetings & agendas
Development Review Committee — 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 3, Conference Room 2, 1001 Sarasota Center Blvd., Sarasota
Planning Commission — 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 3, County Administration Center, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota
Sustainable Sarasota Meeting — 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 7, County Administration Center, 1660 Ringling Blvd.
City Commission — 2:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 7, City Hall, 1565 First St., Sarasota
County Commission — 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8, Robert L. Anderson Administration Center, 4000 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice
 

Contact Robin Roy at [email protected]