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East County | Trending

    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 15, 2022
Local athletes clean up at FHSAA track and field championships

Gold, silver and bronze medals were all brought home from the championships, which were held May 11-14 in Gainesville.

  • East County
  • Sports
Olivia D'Orazio, a Lakewood Ranch High School senior, has always wanted to serve in the military, so she joined the school's JROTC program. Now she plans to attend Auburn University for its ROTC program. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 13, 2022
Lakewood Ranch students earn big money in scholarships

Lakewood Ranch High's Olivia D'Orazio and Braden River High's Gabriel French are among the top students who strike gold with their academic work.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 12, 2022
East County weather page photo: May 12

Gordon Silver snapped this polka dot wasp moth on lantana in Del Webb at Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
When a driver on the road is driving recklessly, law enforcement often turns to a helicopter so it's mobile units can back off.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 12, 2022
Fatal crash illustrates pursuit's difficulty

This particular accident was quite different in nature.

  • East County
  • Opinion
This Country Club home at 8009 Royal Birkdale Circle sold for $1.42 million. It has six bedrooms, four bathrooms, a pool and 4,367 square feet of living area. (Photo by Ian Swaby)
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • May 12, 2022
Country Club East home tops sales at $1.58 million

A Country Club East home tops this week's sales at $1.58 million.

  • East County
  • Real Estate
Kindergartner Emmet Johnson checks people out after purchasing their food. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 12, 2022
Restaurant event serves lessons to Tara Elementary kindergartners

Josephine Johnson's students run a one-night restaurant to test their math, science and social skills.

  • East County
  • Schools
Although much of the Lakewood Ranch area doesn't have too many concerns from a hurricane's storm surge, high winds cause create a disastrous situation.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • May 12, 2022
Manatee offers preparedness expo as hurricane season approaches

Designed to help residents form a plan, the Hurricane Preparedness Expo will feature 45 displays and more than 20 emergency vehicles.

  • East County
  • News
Lieutenant Shawn Battick helps the team load the firehose onto the truck after a training exercise.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • May 11, 2022
East Manatee Fire Rescue names its major award winners

Firefighter Ryan Berggren and Lt. Shawn Battick go above and beyond for the department.

  • East County
  • News
Andrew Shackleford was hired as Lakewood Ranch High's director of sports performance in 2021. Shackleford and athletic director Kent Ringquist are leading the school's efforts to renovate the weight room after 24 years.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 11, 2022
Lakewood Ranch High begins fundraising to renovate its weight room

Personalized workout-tracking technology would result as part of a $100,000 fundraising effort.

  • East County
  • Sports
The boathouse would be constructed just behind these docks on shore at Nathan Benderson Park.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 10, 2022
County approves $20M for indoor sports complex at Benderson Park

The two-story complex at Sarasota's Nathan Benderson Park is planned to have a boathouse on the bottom and basketball/volleyball courts above.

  • East County
  • News
Mark Bruce says the course will be a par 71 when it is finished. It will be 6,900 yards from the back tees.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 10, 2022
Commission approves hotel, resort villas for Bradenton golf course

The hotel and resort villas will give Heritage Harbour a stay-and-play identity in Bradenton.

  • East County
  • News
In a remarkable adaptation, a fawn's spotted coat blends in with the dappled pattern of sunlight on the forest floor, helping conceal them from predators. (Photo courtesy of Miri Hardy)
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • May 10, 2022
White-tail deer were nearly hunted to extinction

One of Myakka State Park's earliest managers helped relocate and breed the species that now thrives.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Amanda Lee.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 10, 2022
East County Athlete of the Week: Amanda Lee

The Lakewood Ranch High softball player had the game-winning RBI in the Mustangs' 1-0 district championship win over Venice High.

  • East County
  • Sports
Kevin Negandhi, Rod Gilmore, Dick Vitale, Scott Drew, Keyshawn Johnson and V Foundation CEO Shane Jacobson stand together at the Dick Vitale Gala. The 2022 gala raised $11.1 million for the V Foundation, an event record.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 10, 2022
Dick Vitale turns own challenges into record-setting gala

Dick Vitale shares intimate details of his cancer treatments on social media to raise more funds for the V Foundation.

  • East County
  • Sports
Braden River High School's Ricardo Robinson-Shinall is Florida Studio Theatre’s Write a Play educator of the year.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 10, 2022
Braden River High teacher and students earn Florida Studio Theatre's Write a Play awards

Braden River students' story of snack envy leads to Write a Play award.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
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Latest News

1
Staff at the 12th Judicial Circuit Guardian Ad Litem program sort through the delivery of presents for children up to 18 years of age.
  • December 22, 2025
Gift donations break record at Sarasota Sheriff's Office
2
Cindy Ritchell, Ann Quackenbush, Brenda Korthauer, Beverly Sutton and Kit Torchia all lend a helping hand in packing seeds to send internationally to farmers who need them. Quackenbush is a driving force behind Hope Seeds, a charitable ministry through Christ Church of Longboat Key.
  • December 22, 2025
Longboat's Hope Seeds nears 10 years of giving back
3
Andrew Carrillo poses for a photo on Dec. 16 at Out-of-Door Academy. He's been the go-to guy on attack for the Thunder throughout their 2025-26 season.
  • December 22, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Andrew Carrillo
4
Manatee County commissioners approve reducing speed limits throughout the county.
  • December 22, 2025
Speed limits reduced on nine roads in Manatee County
5
The library will be constructed on the light green area depicted on this map within Longboat Key's Town Center Green. The entire library would be around 11,230 square feet with the possible enhancements.
  • December 22, 2025
Buchanan's $1 million donation formally accepted for library

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