This week in history 6.11.2015

June 13, 1985

When was the last time Sarasota had a drought? An unusually dry summer in 1985 forced the Southwest Florida Water Management District to impose stringent watering restrictions for Sarasota and neighboring counties. Due to a rain shortage, the Manatee reservoir was under stress. In response to the shortage, residents were limited to what days and times they could water their lawns.  

June 9, 1988

The city of Sarasota decided to pass on extending a lease with the Chicago White Sox to use the Sarasota stadium for spring training. The decision came after a unanimous vote from city commissioners to not extend the deadline for the White Sox to sign a lease agreement. Rumor has it they were shopping around St. Petersburg for a new spring training home. But all was not lost, as seen in some astute foreshadowing at the end of the article: “There have already been informal contacts between Sarasota and the Baltimore Orioles who are seeking to leave their current spring training facility in Miami.”

June 7, 2001

An editorial cartoon depicts what was predicted for the 2001 hurricane season. For the Atlantic side of the state the summer was an active one with 15 named storms. But the closest that Sarasota got to a storm was Hurricane Gabrielle that hit Venice and Charlotte Harbor.