News Briefs 03.03.11

+ Manatee sheriff’s office responds to suspicious van
The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to patrol the Summerfield section of Lakewood Ranch more frequently following a Feb. 18 incident during which a driver of an unmarked van got out of his vehicle several times to speak to children.

Sheriff’s office Public Information Officer Dave Bristow said the sheriff’s office has not been able to classify the incident as anything other than a suspicious circumstance. The sheriff’s office believes the driver may have been a door-to-door salesman based on interviews with residents and other information.

“We did get some conflicting information as we interviewed people,” Bristow said. “(But) there was no question there was a van there.”

Bristow said the incident was “nowhere near an attempted abduction” because the suspect did not attempt to grab or lure the child into the van.

The sheriff’s office notifies Manatee County Public School officials in instances where children are in danger. The incident in Summerfield Crest, Bristow said, which did not occur at school, was considered only a suspicious circumstance and did not warrant a notification to local schools.

Manatee County School District spokesperson Margi Nanney said principals of East County Schools followed proper procedure in handling the incident.

“We look to (the Sheriff’s Office) for direction,” Nanney said. “If they’d have thought we (needed to) sent out notification (to parents), they would have told us, and we would have done it immediately.”

+ Sanborn on hunt for another site
Film production company Sanborn Studios has announced it will not purchase a nearly 7-acre parcel in Lakewood Ranch as planned but will continue looking in the area for another future studio location.

Founder and CEO Ken Sanborn said after completing due diligence on the prospective Lakewood Ranch site, the company determined it would not be appropriate.

“We decided it wasn’t the best location for what we wanted to build,” he said. “We’re looking for another possible site in Sarasota County. We’re still looking in Lakewood Ranch as well.”

Schroeder-Manatee Ranch President and CEO Rex Jensen confirmed the termination of the proposal to purchase the parcel.

“On Feb. 17, 2011, we received a fax from Sanborn Studio’s legal counsel that terminated our agreement with them,” he said. “At this point, Schroeder-Manatee Ranch no longer has any contractual relationship with Sanborn Studios.”

However, the company still plans to purchase its existing Lakewood Ranch facility sometime during the duration of its lease-option, Sanborn said.

Additionally, Sanborn Studios opened its first office in Los Angeles March 1. The company’s Chief Financial Office Alan Bailey will manage the office and split his time between California and Sarasota, Sanborn said.

“The important this is we want to attract other businesses here,” Sanborn said. “We have paved the way for more (businesses) to come.”

+ Memorial bricks to be placed at Jiggs
East County residents can honor a loved one or recognize a special date by purchasing a special memorial brick for Jiggs Landing Preserve.

The Old Braden River Historical Society is selling the memorial bricks for $50 each, with $25 going toward the cost of interpretive displays at the preserve.

The first 12 bricks recently were installed at the park.

For information or to place an order, visit www.oldbradenriver.org.