The Islander Newspaper E-Edition: Wednesday, August 02, 2017

Page 1

Canopies surveyed. 5

Youthful attraction. 18

Old school, new school. 20 AUG. 2, 2017 FREE

VOLUME 25, NO. 40

The Best News on Anna Maria Island Since 1992 AsTheWorldTerns may need a bigger boat. 6 TS Emily pops up. 2 Turtle troubles in Holmes Beach. 3 Anna Maria reviews community center finances. 4

Op-Ed Opinions. 6

10-20 YEARS AGO

Looking back. 7

Aqua By The Bay hearings upcoming. 8

Meetings The government calendar. 8 Bradenton Beach VRO inches forward. 9

Happenings Make plans, save a date. 10-11 HB scrambles on Bert Harris replies. 13

budget talks

14

www.islander.org

Outrage, investigation continue in ‘shark drag’ abuse case By Kathy Prucnell Islander Reporter “It’s cruelty to animals. These guys are bad guys.” Capt. Warren Girle, a professional fishing guide and operator of Bradenton Beach Fishing Charters, summed up the outrage in the recreational fishing world about the shark dragging video that went viral the week of July 24. Girle also condemned their abuse to the ecosystem — saying responsible fishers practice catch and release and only take the fish they will eat. “They’re abusing our natural resources,” he added. “I hope FWC will do something. They need to send a message.” A video first sent to authorities by “Mark the Shark” Quartiano of Miami, apparently provided by one of the men in the video bragging about his shark exploits, unleashed a flood of videos and Instagram photos showing similar abuse. The video went viral, quickly appearing on news websites around the world — from the Guardian to the New York Post. The sons of prominent Manatee County citizens, including a county commissioner and a personal injury attorney, the video shows three men being recorded by a fourth person in a speeding boat, dragging a thrashing shark in the wake. They are alleged to be Manatee residents

A clip from the viral video of a shark-dragging that occurred in waters offshore of Manatee County in the Gulf of Mexico. Bo Benac, Burns Easterling, Spencer Heinz and Michael Wenzel. The men were named along with a photo of two men pouring a beer in the mouth of a goliath grouper that also was widely shared on social media. They are shown and heard laughing, as one of the men points to the shark and says, “Look, it’s already almost dead.”

Property values rise. 15

Top Notch

AM adopts historic ordinance. 16

Week 3 winner: Eagle’s landing

Streetlife. 19

Penny Frick of Bradenton wins the third week of The Islander’s Top Notch photo contest with this image of an eagle bringing a fish to eaglets in the nest. Frick, a repeat winner in year’s past, took the photograph in April. “We are so fortunate to be able to see these magnificent birds nesting in our area during the winter months,” she wrote to The Islander. For the winning photo, Frick receives an Islander “More than a mullet wrapper” T-shirt. She’s also a finalist in the contest, which offers a grand prize of $100 from The Islander and an assortment of gift certificates from participating advertisers. For more on the contest, see page 4.

Wildlife in spotlight. 21 Caution: hatchlings emerge. 22 23 Adult football kicks off. 24 Know tides, bait for productive fishing. 25 Pricy real estate ZIP codes. 26 Classifieds. 28

ZAGAT “Top Restaurants in America”

941-778-6444 www.BeachBistro.com

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Wildlife Inc., the local state attorney’s office and others are similarly outraged. Gov. Rick Scott condemned the incident in a July 28 letter to FWC Chairman Brian Yablonski, saying the “brutality and disrespect shown to this animal” was “sickening” and “I am sure you share my outrage over these individuals’ heinous actions.” Yablonski responded: “I, my fellow commissioners, the men and women of the FWC, who are dedicated to conserving Florida’s precious natural resources for future generations, could not agree more with Gov. Scott’s powerful words.” Rob Klepper, FWC public information coordinator said July 28 the investigation was continuing, and called it “disheartening and disturbing, not representing conservation-minded anglers around the world.” And it’s not just one video. Thousands of people have posted videos and commented on social media about the men who are accused of abusive acts. The videos show some of the men shooting fish with handguns and flare guns, pouring beer into the gills of a goliath grouper and the mouth of a hammerhead shark, harassing a manatee by putting a water hose into its mouth, pulling the wings of a white pelican, holding a dead dog while claiming PLEASE SEE SHARK PAGE 2

Crafted Cocktails

941-213-9926

www.DoctorsOfficeAMI.com

Florida Trend “Best New” Restaurant

941-778-0411 www.eathereflorida.com


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