Sarasota & Manatee Counties news thread

[wondermint2]

Sarasota County Government wins Best Tasting Water award from Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority

For full article:

https://sarasotanewsleader.com/saras...ply-authority/

This year, the Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority has honored Sarasota County Government for having the Best Tasting Water.

The announcement was made on Nov. 6, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the completion of a rehabilitation project at the county’s T. Mabry Carlton Jr. Water Treatment Facility outside Venice.

Mike Mylett, then director of the county’s Public Utilities Department, presented the award to County Commission Chair Ron Cutsinger.

The county is one of four that are partners in the Peace River Authority, which supplies the largest percentage of Sarasota County’s drinking water. In 2022, the figure was 62%, the county’s Consumer Confidence Report for that year noted.

The other counties associated with the Peace River Authority are Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto.

[wondermint2]

The Biggest Local Environmental Stories of 2023

From our summer heat wave to improvements in our wastewater treatment system, these are seven of the biggest environmental crises, and successes, of the past year.

For full article:

https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/new...rought-malaria

The following are seven of the most consequential environmental stories of 2023, but, to be clear, this is not a doomsday list of disasters. We had environmental victories, as well. It’s just that our victories require constant attention and effort.

After all, we don’t get happily ever afters in this world. We must remember that when something goes wrong (or right!), its tremors ripple out for years.

So as we look back, we must also look forward and stay in the fight. That means getting involved and becoming aware of what’s happening in Sarasota and supporting the people and organizations who work tirelessly to keep our land, water and air clean.

[wondermint2]

Lakewood Ranch High wins Advanced Placement class award

Lakewood Ranch is recognized as one of the nation's top schools for Advanced Placement student participation and success.

For full article:

https://patch.com/florida/bradenton/...nt-class-award

Lakewood Ranch High School (LRHS) has earned a place on the College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) School Honor Roll for the 2022-23 school year.

In their notification to the school, the College Board recognized the “amazing students and teachers” that helped to achieve this award.

This award comes in bronze, silver, gold, and platinum. LRHS was awarded the silver placement by having 56 percent of its graduating class take at least one AP exam, as well as another 18 percent who took five or more AP exams.

This award is used to show the schools that have done an outstanding job to welcome students into AP courses and support them throughout the course.

LRHS was also recognized with the AP Access Award, honoring schools that support minority students to take AP courses.

[wondermint2]

Man arrested for defrauding, police searching for victims

https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/12/0...outputType=amp

Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has arrested Christopher Magnant on charges of Scheme to Defraud.

Magnant was the owner of Title II Manufacturing in Sarasota.

Seven victims have been identified so far. If you think you may have been a victim of this scheme, contact Det. Brendan Keats at 941-861-4948.

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* I googled Title II Manufacturing LLC in Sarasota and this is what I found out:

Title II Manufacturing is located at 4616 Ashton Rd in Sarasota. "Custom rifle manufacturer focusing on precision and accuracy. Other services include gunsmithing, restorations, cerakote and retail."

[wondermint2]

Sarasota-Manatee colleges offer assistance to students facing food insecurity

For full article:

https://www.newsbreak.com/sarasota-f...ood-insecurity

The growing issue of food insecurity in the region over the last few years has prompted local colleges to get involved, opening campus food pantries to ensure students have access to food when they need it.

Four colleges along a seven-mile stretch of North Tamiami Trail – Ringling College of Art and Design, New College of Florida, the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, and State College of Florida – as well as South Florida State College in DeSoto County all operate food pantries for their students, some for the last several years.

According to 2020 data from the Florida Department of Health, the food-insecurity rate in Sarasota County was 10.8% and 11.2% in Manatee County, compared to the state average of 10.6%.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life.

[wondermint2]

I came across some more information.

'The hypocrisy is just off the charts': Zieglers face reckoning after moral crusading

For full article:

https://www.newsbreak.com/news/32500...oral-crusading

The affidavit says both Zieglers made plans to have sex with the alleged victim, who canceled after Bridget Ziegler couldn't make it. Christian Ziegler showed up anyway and was standing outside the alleged victim's apartment when she went to walk her dog.

"Christian entered the apartment, bent the victim over the bar stool," a detective wrote in the affidavit. The alleged victim – who has known Ziegler for 20 years – says he then sexually assaulted her.

The affidavit also detailed subsequent conversations between Ziegler and the alleged victim where she confronts him and he denies sexually assaulting her. The document says Ziegler told detectives the sexual encounter was consensual and that he took video of it, which he deleted but later uploaded to a Google Drive.

Bridget Ziegler spoke to detectives "and she confirmed having a sexual encounter with the victim and Christian over a year ago and that it only happened one time," according to the affidavit.

[wondermint2]

US Senate panel launches inquiry into Citizens Property Insurance

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/us...e20a2b08&ei=48

A United States Senate panel has launched an investigation into Citizens, Florida’s state-owned and operated insurer of last resort.

The committee wants to know if taxpayers across the country would be on the hook to bail out the Florida insurer if a big hurricane hits.

On Thursday, the Committee Chairman Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse sent a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis, Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworksky and Citizens CEO Tim Cerio.

Sen. Whitehouse writes the situation “appears to have grown particularly dire…” in Florida.

Citizens has taken on too many policies. That’s risky because if they can’t pay out claims, Citizens is allowed to levy an assessment—or a special tax—on all Floridians.

The senator took things one step further, writing “it is entirely possible that state leaders might ask the federal government for a bailout.”

Now, Florida has three weeks to hand over documents about the company’s assets, plans, and policies.

A company spokesman told 8 On Your Side that Citizens can pay out claims and in fact, for the first time in years, Citizens is actually seeing its policy count decline.

“More policies have been removed through depopulation this year… than in 2016 to 2022 combined…” the representative said.

Meanwhile, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ team is calling the inquiry a “political hit.”

Citizens said they first learned about the letter from the news, not from the Senate committee.

It was a months-old draft, but it was released on debate day, when Gov. Ron DeSantis faced off against California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

[wondermint2]

4x All-Star Mark Melancon's colorful waterfront mansion on Anna Maria Island listed for $10,950,000

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb...6f78feb1&ei=44

Former Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star pitcher Mark Melancon has put his Anna Maria Island house on the market for $10,950,000. The MLB star and his wife Mary Catherine bought the place for just $1,450,000 back in 2018 and built their dream house from scratch.

The 38-year-old's house is situated in Manatee County, Florida. It stretches out in a 5,921 square feet area and is a two-storied waterfront beauty comprising six bedrooms, five full bathrooms, and two half bathrooms.

[wondermint2]

*Note: This post gets a bit graphic so if you are sensitive to this kind of thing I suggest you skip over this post. (I'm including it because I'm all in for getting to the bottom of news with local ties - and this post contains new details not mentioned in my previous posts.)

Court records detail woman's rape allegations against Florida GOP Chair Christian Ziegler

For full post:

https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/r...istian-ziegler

The woman, who has been friends with Ziegler for an extended period of time — reported the sexual assault to Sarasota Police on Oct. 4.

Ziegler and his wife — Sarasota School Board Member Bridget Ziegler, who helped found Moms of Liberty — had made plans to have sex with the woman two days before, according to the affidavit. But when Ziegler's wife could not make it at last minute, the other woman canceled responding in text message, "Sorry I was mostly in for her."

But just five minutes later, when the woman opened her front door to go take her dog, she found Ziegler in the hallway outside her apartment.

"Christian entered the apartment, bent the victim over the bar stool" and raped her, Det. Angela Cox wrote in the affidavit.

The victim told detectives that Ziegler didn't wear a condom and told her, "I'm leaving the same way I came in."

A copy of the search warrant affidavits that were filed was obtained by ABC Action News. The warrants were for his iPhone and files associated with his Gmail account.

No charges have been filed in this case, and Ziegler has insisted he is innocent through a statement written by his attorney on Thursday. But Gov. Ron Desantis is calling on him to resign because of the investigation.

However, in an email sent to Florida GOP members Saturday, Ziegler said that he's not stepping aside in his role as Florida GOP chairman. Ziegler also said in the email that "my wife is behind me 150%."

You can read the full email below:

[wondermint2]

Van Wezel committee finalizes details for study of building's condition

The committee also approved a request for proposals seeking an engineering firm to provide input on the interim and possible permanent use as the city's primary performance venue.

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...details-study/

Prior to approving the scope of work for a request for proposals to provide a comprehensive study of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, the seven-member Purple Ribbon Committee at its Nov. 29 meeting spent an hour fine-tuning details.

As a collection of architects, historic preservationists, an engineer and a climate scientist are prone to do, they pored over fine details, such as whether the study should consider hurricane-force winds (75 mph sustained) or Category 5 winds (155 mph or faster), current versus possible future FEMA 100-year and 500-year flood standards and whether there is enough plumbing in the 57-year-old building to handle expansion of restroom facilities.

Founded on the basis of determining if and how the Van Wezel could continue to be used when replaced by the proposed Sarasota Performing Arts Center, the committee’s mission has morphed to include what should be done to the building should it remain the city’s primary performance venue if the proposed center is not built.

On its agenda for the third time, the committee approved the language of a request for proposals for an engineering scope of services, but not before further discussion on when it should be issued.