Sarasota & Manatee Counties news thread

[wondermint2]

Manatee County man featured in H-T project expected to be released from prison in 7 months

For full article:

https://www.newsbreak.com/news/33904...on-in-7-months

Jabe Carney bowed his head, his shoulders hunched over the wooden table in the courtroom as he listened to his best friend’s younger sister speak. He would soon learn if his lifetime prison sentence would be shortened.

From a certain angle, it was difficult to tell if Carney was crying as his shoulders shook and the chains on his wrists jingled until a court deputy handed him a box of tissues.

Danyel Musser smiled as she peered at Carney from the witness stand, explaining to Manatee Judge Stephen Whyte that the man sitting before her was not the same “child” who went into the prison system in 2008 for her brother’s death. Now, he'd become a man who had accepted guilt and received forgiveness from herself and her sister, Kathryn Duffey.

“He built a family that was bigger than what he had before,” Musser said. “He built a solid place to land and has people that aren’t just going to be there for him, but they’ll hold him accountable.”

Musser added that it would be an injustice to keep him in the system any longer.

Carney, a Manatee County man incarcerated since 2008 for the death of his best friend in a drunk driving incident and who was featured in a Herald-Tribune project, gave a quick wave to those in the gallery as he was escorted into the room.

Carney was sentenced to 25 years in prison after he was found guilty by a jury of charges that included DUI manslaughter, which he received 15 years for, and fleeing to elude a law enforcement officer following his arrest for a single-vehicle crash that killed his friend, Jason Gibson.

A judge granted Carney's motion that he filed in May 2023 to correct an illegal sentence after spending more than 16 years in prison.

After close to two hours of individuals speaking on behalf of Carney, and Carney himself addressing Whyte, the judge resentenced Carney for Count 1 - DUI manslaughter, to 13 years of incarceration with credit for all time served followed consecutively by two years of probation.

[wondermint2]

Sarasota County stolen car chase

https://www.mysuncoast.com/2024/04/0...outputType=amp

A man is now sitting behind bars for leading deputies on a chase with a stolen car. During the chase he crashed into three cars including intentionally hitting a sheriff’s vehicle.

Sarasota County Deputies say Taron Sanders rammed into a car in an effort to get away, and then put his car in reverse, slamming into an officer’s car behind him. Sanders then fled on u-s 41 crashing into a third vehicle before hitting a concrete wall near Bayshore road.

After his arrest, investigators found that sanders did not have a valid driver’s license.

[wondermint2]

Local non-profit warns against spike in overdoses amongst 'house-less community'

For full article:

https://www.newsbreak.com/news/33910...less-community

A local non-profit group is taking to social media to warn against a recent spike in overdoses.

Progressive People's Action said within the last two weeks, there were more than 50 overdoses across Pinellas, Pasco, and Manatee counties.

[wondermint2]

Lake Club Giving Circle grants $30,000 to area nonprofits

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...circle-grants/

The Lake Club Giving Circle provided $30,000 in grants to 15 nonprofits in Sarasota and Manatee counties, including one to Teen Court of Sarasota.

McBrayer-Lynch said her experience with Teen Court was the wake-up call she needed to get her life in order. She finished high school, stopped using drugs, moved back in with her parents and now serves as the board president for Teen Court of Sarasota.

“If I had a charge on my record, my whole life would be different,” she said.

Nancy Lepain, the grants chair for the Lake Club Giving Circle, said each member of the group chose the top two nonprofits to provide funding. She said she’s discovered the group’s niche for donating include children, family services and women’s services.

[wondermint2]

Charlotte County mother pushes for stronger gun safety laws after daughter's death in shooting


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8CZ6Xp6i-w

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Venice opens 68 new patient suites to serve South County growth

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/oth...9747eb07&ei=34

Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Venice opened 68 new private rooms in its new Northeast Tower April 3, boosting its inpatient capacity to 178 beds.

The hospital will add another 34 suites this fall to reach a capacity of 212.

The hospital at 2600 Laurel Road, just west of the Interstate 75 exit, has been operating at or near capacity ever since it opened with 110 beds in November 2021.

Expansion plans were fast-tracked after Shore Point Health Venice abruptly closed its 312-bed hospital on the island of Venice in September 2022.

Aftermath Hurricane Ian struck the Southwest Florida coast in the fall of 2022, SMH-Venice was one of the few accessible hospitals serving south Sarasota County and Charlotte County.

“I am so proud of the Venice team for the outstanding care they have provided to our patients, despite a volley of challenges our community and hospital faced since we opened,” Sharon Roush, president of the SMH-Venice Campus, said in a prepared statement. “The new tower will ease our capacity constraints, decrease the need to transfer and admit patients to our larger hospital campus in Sarasota, and allow the Venice team to provide top tier care to even more members of our community.”

As part of the process Sarasota Memorial has been recruiting new staff with more than 200 hires in recent months.

The 34 second-floor private suits will be available for general medical/surgical patients.

Mechanical systems are all on the third floor, while the ground floor includes space for additional patient care and support services.

Venice Campus of Sarasota Memorial Hospital to add more inpatient rooms


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFHtiTseKf4

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Tram-endous new way to explore the Robinson Preserve trails

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/new...6084bc19&ei=42

Manatee County unveiled a new way locals and tourists can explore the Robinson Preserve, on wheels!

Located in northwest Bradenton, the 682-acre preserve is a mix of 100-year-old mangroves, tidal marsh, and former agricultural lands. On the guided tram tour, visitors can get a firsthand look at osprey nests, blueways, trails, and more.

Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge says the tram us for residents of all ages, and especially for those who want to experience the preserve but can’t do it on their own.

“The Robinson Preserve has built up a tremendous following, and those folks are starting to age and get to a point where they can’t walk one or two miles throughout the preserve,” said Commissioner Ostenbridge. “We also have a disabled population that we want to enjoy our preserves as well. We wanted to make sure this was accessible to everyone in the community,” he added.

The commissioner also says they plan on adding the transportation to other locations in the community.

For more information on the preserve, click here: Home

Robinson Preserve is having tram rides


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiRcGOHzV3c

[wondermint2]

Suncoast charity raising money to fly veterans to see D.C. memorial walls


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEV3Q3SoU_E

Getting veterans up to Washington, D.C. to see memorials for the wars they fought in is the least one can do for those who gave life and limb for the country.

With that being said, Local 7433 will host an event benefiting Southwest Florida Honor Flight. The event will take place at “The O Bar” from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 18

There will be live music by G- Force, food, raffles and much more!

Local 7433 officials implore you to “come out and help show love to those who served and fly them to D.C. to visit the war memorials!”

https://www.snntv.com/sarasota/sunco...honor-flights/

[wondermint2]

53-foot boat breaks loose, slams into Gilchrist bridge in Punta Gorda


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqVFReJEkDw

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

I agree the headlines try to generate clicks.

However a lot lot of these predictions are based on the fact that there is a very high probability that we will transition from El Nino to La Nina this season. It is a proven fact that there are more hurricanes during La Nina seasons in the Atlantic basin.

It does not mean that our area will see an explosive hurricane. Some will make land and miss us and some will stay out to sea. The odds are we won't get one locally - but anything is possible

Another reason (in addition to La Niña) of why we are likely to have an active hurricane season this year is because the steering current from high pressure in the Atlantic is predicted to make more hurricanes make landfall this year. Last year the steering current pushed most of the storms out into the Atlantic (these are nick-named 'fish storms'.) Just to be clear: I'm not predicting that we will have a hurricane here locally - the odds are against it but IMO the odds are greater than last year.

Scientists give their 2024 hurricane season predictions at USF

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/to...da2582dd&ei=38

Scientists and experts from the Sarasota-based Climate Adaptation Center hosted “Hurricane Day” at USF Sarasota-Manatee to give their 2024 hurricane season predictions.

Over 130 Suncoast residents sat in on the four-hour informational session. They were able to engage with the experts and ask questions about preparing for the upcoming season.

These experts predict this season will start earlier than usual and last longer than usual,

The scientists believe this season will bring 24 storms, 12 hurricanes, and 6 major hurricanes.

CEO and Chief Scientist of the Climate Adaptation Center, Bob Bunting, explained to us the reasons behind these predictions.

“Having La Niña develop right now at a time where we have world record sea surface temperatures, we’re going to have a low sheer hurricane season coming up,” said the CEO and Chief Scientist. “Whether we’re going to get hit and how many times here on the west coast of Florida, we really don’t know, but what we do know is that we have chances for big hurricanes in the gulf this year,” said Bunting.

For more information on the center, or to check out this next climate conference coming up, click here:

https://www.theclimateadaptationcent...hurricane-day/