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News

SCAT bus fares will increase Monday, Oct. 3.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • September 15, 2011
County approves SCAT increases

Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) approved increases in fares that will take effect Oct. 3.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners tonight will hold a public hearing to adopt its 2012 Fiscal Year budget.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 15, 2011
County to adopt budget

Manatee County commissioners will vote tonight to adopt their 2012 Fiscal Year budget.

  • East County
  • News
The Sarasota County Commission Tuesday unanimously approved a staff recommendation that the new Gulf Gate Library be built on the site of the current facility, 7112 Curtiss Avenue.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • September 15, 2011
New Gulf Gate Library to be built on current site

The Sarasota County Commission Tuesday unanimously approved a staff recommendation that the new Gulf Gate Library be built on the site of the current facility, 7112 Curtiss Avenue.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The suspect is Bradford Wilson, 51.
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • September 15, 2011
Police catch Sweetbay armed robbery suspect

At 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, a man entered the liquor store of Sweetbay Supermarket with a handgun and demanded money from the store clerk.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Lakewood Ranch senior soccer players Marissa Milko, Audrey Reinisch, Haley Martin, Kaitlin Deglman and Taylor Halligan made sure to get spaces next to each other.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • September 15, 2011
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Pavement Painting Party

Seniors at Lakewood Ranch High hit the pavement Sept. 13 to paint their designated parking spaces. The painting party is an annual tradition at Lakewood.

  • East County
  • News
Milt Flinn took his post at LWR Communities in February 2008.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 15, 2011
Flinn leaves LWR Communities

Milt Flinn, president of Schroeder-Manatee Ranch subsidiary LWR Communities, has left the company.

  • East County
  • News
Drainage improvements at Siesta Key Public Beach have been planned to prevent runoff carrying high levels of bacteria to the Gulf of Mexico. Photos by Rebecca Baxter.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • September 15, 2011
County wants more options for beach improvements

The Sarasota County Commission Tuesday asked staff to create options that could lead to the completion of the Siesta Key Public Beach improvements as fast as 18 months after their start.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
The Siesta Key Condominium Association has succeeded in the first part of the process to get a reduction in the speed limit from 35 mph to 30 mph, along with crosswalk improvements on Beach Road. Photo by Rachel Brown Hackney.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • September 15, 2011
Council recommends lower Beach Road speed

The Sarasota County Traffic Advisory Council this week approved a Siesta Key Condominium Association request to lower the speed limit from 35 to 30 mph on the section of Beach Road that includes the public beach.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • September 15, 2011
County staff concentrates on Phase 2 plans for Access 12

Now that the parking lot and drainage improvements have been completed at Access 12 on the Key, county staff is hoping it can move forward before the end of the year with plans that would allow emergency use of the access to collect beach seaweed.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
County roads with posted speeds greater than 45 mph soon may be getting new signs as large as 3 feet by 4 feet, so they are more visible to drivers. Photo by Rachel Hackney Brown.
    By
  • Rachel Brown Hackney
  • September 15, 2011
County may begin installing bigger signs

Because drivers need more time to respond to speed limit changes, Sarasota County may install bigger signs on roads with speed limits of 45 mph or higher.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 15, 2011
News Briefs

Attempted kidnapping investigation still active; Registration open for communities workshop; County seeking volunteers for Public Lands Day event

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Read this week's Cops Corner
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 15, 2011
Cops Corner: Pelican Press

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Sarasota Police Department union has rejected a special magistrate’s recommendation on the ongoing contract dispute with the city.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • September 15, 2011
Contract ruling rejected

The Sarasota Police Department union is upset that the city won't give its officers the same option it afforded the local Teamsters union last month: the option to keep their pensions.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota-based J MAR Cleaning Services began cleaning Downtown Improvement DIstrict sidewalks this week. The crew is starting in Newtown and will begin pressure cleaning Main Street sidewalks this weekend.
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • September 15, 2011
Districts demand increased levels of service

Both the Downtown Improvement District and St. Armands Circle Business Improvement District have plans to spend more for cleaning and landscaping services than the city can provide.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Kurt Schultheis
  • September 15, 2011
Wayfinding system issues begin to arise

A Delray Beach-based mobile media company proposing a free downtown Wi-Fi system may have some competition from other companies.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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