A deadly 2012? Tracking Manatee homicides

Manatee County has recorded another homicide this year, putting this area on a deadly track to break previous records. The slaying of Regina Nunez marks the 12th reported this year -- the grand total for all of 2011, as reported in this story by Herald reporter Richard Dymond.

We already had plans to start an online database, but this foreboding volume brought this to the top of the list. Web developer William Winter has launched this homicide interactive on Bradenton.com, starting with the first homicide on Jan. 1, 2012. He will continue to add dimensions, including statistics from past years. It already includes locator maps, the latest updates on each case, images from the crime scene, the victim and any suspects, and links to related stories.

Here's the link for you to bookmark:
http://www.bradenton.com/2012/06/06/4067200/manatee-county-homicides.html

Golden Herald sponsors, please take a bow!

The 2012 Golden Heralds Awards were spectacular last night -- a blessed event, one that always humbles me as we recognize the amazing talents, dedication and determination of our top high school seniors.

Each nominee crossing the Bradenton auditorium stage walked with pride and purpose. All of the top winners in each category had "Wow!" written across their faces as they beamed during the finalé.

The event is 110 percent about the students and their accomplishments. But so much goes on behind the scenes for this moment each year. Leading the way for the Bradenton Herald is Jill McGarry, our marketing director extraordinaire. She pulls together everything: the judges, volunteers, program plans, speeches, name checks of all 148 nominees, instructors and, most importantly, the sponsors.

Along with the Herald, sponsors of the Herald include:

Manatee Memorial Hospital: for years, a Platinum Sponsor of the Golden Heralds. Hospital Vice President Vernon DeSear has been the event's venerable emcee year after year. CEO Kevin DiLallo, along with Bay News 9 reporter Summer Smith, gave rousing testimony for each Golden Herald Award winner.

Bright House Networks: Leah Brown was there to humbly acknowledge Bright House's commitment to the Golden Heralds.

University of South Florida/Sarasota-Manatee and Keiser University. Jane Rose and Violeta Huesman joined me in introducing each student nominee, always a thrill.

Regions Bank: Kimberly Hopper joined Leah in awarding the Honorable Mention winners.

METV: Charles Clapsaddle and his crew recorded the entire event, so if you couldn't attend, you'll be able to tune in. (We'll publish the schedule as soon as it's available.)

For now, please enjoy some of photographer Paul Videla's dozens of photos, as he captured so many moments enjoyed by the students last night.

Two stories collide in time

Both stories involved 21 or 22 students. Both unfolded at the same time yesterday evening. Our night reporter could only cover one. And I had to put away iPhone, laptop and any other means of communication to focus on the other story. Talk about a challenge.

Every year, I have had the honor of joining the judges of the Martin Luther King Jr. essay/speech contest. The passion and determination found in those speeches continue to amaze me. This year's 22 finalists were no exception, as the sixth- through 12th-graders took the stage one after the other in front of more than 100 friends and family (and the five judges!).

But at the same time these 22 students were wowing us with their speeches, another 21 students -- classmates of some of the contestants -- were being rushed to area hospitals after their school bus crashed into a tractor-trailer in East Manatee. Before I had to turn off all ringers, their conditions were still unknown.

Thankfully, all injuries were minor, and the school district appears to be doing everything possible for the families involved. One of our stories today captures on video just how terrified the students were.

So we can praise our MLK winners without fears for their fellow classmates. That truly is a cause for celebration.

Here's a link to all the winners, and we will publish the winning entries on Jan. 15 in the Bradenton Herald.

I can say this: Go CANES!!

"On way to work with game face on. State title game tonight for Manatee High. Excuse my cheering in the press box. #BHCanes"

That was just tweeted by Night Metro Editor Brent Conklin ( @brentconklin ), heading in to cover the Metro Desk -- and back up the Sports Desk on a huge night: the Manatee Hurricanes are in Orlando for the Class 7A state title game, vying for their fifth state championship ever.

Just a few minutes later, I tweeted Go CANES! But as Sports Editor Tim Wolfrum and writer John Lembo reminded me: They're psyched, but not cheering for the team. They're covering the game. And that, dear readers, is not an easy distinction. Lembo, Alan Dell and Vin Mannix will all write columns from Orlando tonight and tomorrow, and those will have plenty of opinion. But the dozens of advance stories and tonight's game story should be void of that -- and of cheerleading.

We're glad we're on the sidelines as fans tonight! These students, captured by photographer Grant Jefferies as the team left Manatee High today, say it all:

Becky Canesse: Girls' leader extraordinaire

"You can't be what you can't see."

That quote by Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children’s Defense Fund, was the message that Becky Canesse quietly pounded home Monday.

As long-standing executive director of Just for Girls, Becky Canesse knows the prophetic truth in those words. So she has spent years making sure that the girls who go through her alternative school in Manatee County get to meet strong role models. And Becky keeps those community leaders in clear sight for those girls.

During Just for Girls' annual luncheon meeting Monday, Becky spent almost two hours singling out volunteers, board members, community leaders and her award-winning staff. She proudly brought Marimar Urieta-Morales, an eighth-grader at Just for Girls, to the podium. As Marimar spoke of the confidence the all-girls’ school has given her, the knowing nods could be seen throughout the room.

Becky reminded us that the power of woman starts in the power of "Mom." Marimer's mom, Maria Lina Urieta, was there, and Becky thanked her in Spanish for entrusting her daughter to Just for Girls. (Marimer proudly poses with her mother, at right.)

Becky also recognized her own mother, honoring her with a donation to the new West Bradenton Center and asking others to do the same for their moms, loved ones and future generations of troubled girls.

But Becky Canesse forgot to pay tribute to the key reason this school is working: Becky Canesse. Others made sure they did:

"I just love this lady!" board member Murrie Bumpers declared as she thanked Becky for all she does.

And Just for Girls President summed it up: "You get good leaders, you hang onto them."

Here's hoping Becky Canesse leads the way for a long, long time.

Life's a beach -- let's celebrate

On Day 89 of the oil disaster in our Gulf, reports show that the well's new cap continues to hold. Not to jinx ourselves, but that brings increasingly strong indications that Tampa Bay's shoreline will be spared.

So while we decry the untold damages to the Gulf's ecosystem, we celebrate our good fortune while it lasts. And we hope that's for years to come.

We may have gone a little over the top today in the Herald and on Bradenton.com, but the focus on sunshine, white beaches and clear water feels wonderful. In my column today, we point you to Bradenton.com/ourbeach, where each day we will bring you snapshots, videos and factoids about our beaches.

That news is worth bookmarking.
-- Joan

P.S. Here's a view from our favorite bench at sunset

Census widget tracks your neighborhood

Stand up, sit down, lay down -- but be counted.

Politicos across the nation reminded us yesterday that it was "Census Day" -- and it sent me scrambling to find my form. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that 54 percent of the nation's estimated 134 million households so far have mailed back their census forms for the 2010 count. That sounds encouraging, considering a good turnout for a local election is far less than that -- we're lucky if we get in the high teens for too many Manatee ballots.

The U.S. Census is tracking progress, and so can you. On Bradenton.com, we've added a widget so you can track your neighborhood and the rest of our communities. Just click here on the Local page, then scroll down below the blogs and find the link to the "2010 Census Participation Rate" form. Click in and you'll be able see how we're doing in Manatee County -- even how your ZIP and neighborhood are tracking.

The stakes are high: The more residents who declare Manatee County as their home, the better we will fare in getting what we need to ensure that our residents get their fair share of the future. Our population's base and its needs are key in getting funds we need to grow and flourish.

You owe it to yourself to report yourself.

-- Joan

Stay tuned -- it's National Signing Day

10:30 a.m. update: As the sports world turns... Brion Carnes had a change of heart. Ace Sanders did not. But what both Manatee seniors did do this morning was sign national letters. Check it out in John Lembo's breaking news story.

Here's a signing video by Herald videographer Paul Videla:



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7:30 a.m.:

It's National Signing Day, and our preps writers are ready. As John Lembo writes in his story today, seven local athletes are expected to sign Division I scholarships, including Manatee wide receiver Ace Sanders and quarterback Brion Carnes.

Lembo's stories in the past week on Carnes have attracted tons of traffic to Bradenton.com, as the high school athlete got caught up in the saga of USF's head coach Jim Leavitt. Carnes had originally committed verbally to USF, but opened his options when the school fired Leavitt. Then the Bulls’ new coach, Skip Holtz, reportedly withdrew the offer -- and the fury has all the makings of a soap opera. And when Lembo reported that Carnes chose Western Kentucky over the weekend, well, the web traffic went wild.

Will that hold up? We'll keep you posted throughout the day as the players make their choices official.

-- Joan