VENICE • Venice
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Beat it 3A What’s up? 4A Fast company 8A Drum circle bumped on beach There’s no news like Businews Tops on the drag strip — at 15 Best of VENICE • Venice Inside stm today LOCAL NEWS COVER TO COVER AWARD-WINNING WEEKLY NEWSPAPER 50 CENTS VOLUME 64 NUMBER 26 WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY EDITION, JULY 22-24, 2009 AN EDITION OF THE SUN Acquitted, teacher fights for job BY GREG GILES O’Neill back violating the school board which many of the same wit- between the ages of 5 and 24 NEWS EDITOR in the class- code of ethics and other school nesses were called to testify — who had no ability to fight room. She’s policies and rules. only in a smaller setting, with back and no ability to speak. An administrative hearing been on ad- The negotiated contract be- O’Neill at one point sitting O’Neill’s attorneys ques- concludes today (Wednesday) ministrative tween teachers and the Sara- only 3 feet from her primary tioned incidents that left phys- on whether Venice Elementary duty since sota County School Board re- accusers as they testified. ical marks, arguing in one teacher Diana O’Neill will keep January 2008 quires arbitration in such Teacher aides Tami Cooke instance that strap marks left her job. at her esti- cases. The arbitrator must find and Cindi Anderson recounted across a boy’s back could have O’Neill was found not guilty mated salary “just cause” to dismiss O’Neill. what they witnessed — O’Neill been caused by a bus seat belt, of four counts of felony child of $80,000 O’Neill The administrative hearing regularly hitting (sometimes and not the misuse of a gait abuse in a Sarasota County per year. began Tuesday before arbitra- lightly, sometimes with belt used to control his move- court in February. The verdict Following the trial, Super- tor Mark Lurie. enough force to hurt), slap- ment. paved the way for a school dis- intendent Lori White recom- It was a condensed replay of ping, pinching, pushing and trict ruling on whether to allow mended O’Neill be fired for the four-day court case in kicking handicapped children Please see JOB, 5A Thieves took truck, livelihood Mogensen: ‘I’ve never A couple’s business received a penny’ vehicle has been recov- ered, but not their trail- The attor- er or equipment. ney that sued the BY BROOKY BROWN ;? r L' j PROJECTS EDITOR s city for r Sunshine It’s been a rough few years for Wes and Crickett Wilker- Law viola- son. tions says Mogensen SUNSHINE LAW They lost their home in Tex- as to foreclosure, and Crickett she cashed A: Matt Leish and Amy has had several major surg- out her life insurance Carstensen of Carlton Fields. eries and is now recovering They deserve a lot of credit. from cancer surgery. Despite policies, maxed out her And most of all (legal consul- all that, the Wilkersons were credit cards and drained tant) Michael Barfield. counting their blessings. Without his creative, tireless, They came to Venice, rented her savings to survive experienced assistance we a house and a little more than the 14-month long case. could not have accomplished a year ago purchased their what we did. lawn business, Sharky’s Lawn BY GREG GILES Q: What was the biggest “ah-ha” SUN PHOTO BY BROOKY BROWN Service, and felt they were on NEWS EDITOR moment in this case? the road to financial recovery. Wes and Crickett Wilkerson stand next to their only remaining A: E-mails obtained from But life threw another curve Suburban after the blue and silver one they use in their lawn business Andrea Mogensen, the (Venice Neighborhoods into their journey to success. was stolen from their carport Friday.The missing Suburban was found Sarasota attorney who won the Coalition board member) Tom Friday morning they awoke Tuesday in a Tampa parking lot. Sunshine lawsuit against the Brener during his deposition, to find their 1988 Suburban city of Venice, received the which we’d never seen before was no longer parked in the the second Suburban for $400 drove to Tampa. “They told us first-ever James C. Adkins Sun- and which filled in several carport in the 700 block of Al- and buy another trailer for they found it with all of the shine Litigation Award from important gaps that showed a bee Road, Nokomis. Also $1,600. He hoped to be mow- windows down and the steer- the First Amendment Foun- concerted effort by (Mayor stolen were an attached trailer, ing again by Thursday. ing column popped and no dation. The Gondolier Sun Ed) Martin and (Vice Mayor a riding lawn mower, a $300 sign of the trailer or equip- asked her to comment on the Sue) Lang to skirt the power washer and thousands Thankful ment.” award and address some out- Sunshine Law. of dollars worth of additional Due for some good news, Fixing the steering column standing issues. Q: What was the biggest sur- tools and equipment. the Wilkersons received it from will cost them a lot less money Q:What was your first reaction to prise? “They didn’t just steal the Tampa Police Department than replacing the vehicle. the news? A: Settlement on the eve of things, they stole our liveli- around noon Tuesday. “We just couldn’t have A: It was an honor to receive trial. Along with the fact that it hood,” Crickett said. “It has The Suburban had been afforded to do that,” she said. an award named after Justice was so difficult and acrimo- been devastating.” located in a parking lot at 2713 Crickett said a neighbor told Adkins, whose early interpre- nious a battle at all. It has According to the police re- Bayshore Blvd., Tampa. A pub- her he saw a black car backed tations of the Sunshine Law in always been very clear from port, Wes reported the vehicle lic service officer notified them up to the ice cream store the 1960s played a key role in the black-and-white facts that and trailer were locked; how- that the crime scene had been across the street from their this case. And I am very both the Public Records laws ever, there was a spare key for processed and they needed to house a week ago Friday look- pleased that the importance and the Sunshine Law were the vehicle inside it. pick up their vehicle or it ing directly at the Wilkersons’ of Sunshine Law litigation is violated. I was very surprised Wes had planned to spend would be impounded. house. being recognized. that these elected officials Tuesday trying to replace some “We are so thankful to get Q:Who else contributed substan- of his tools, get a hitch put on this back,” Crickett said as they Please see TRUCK, 5A tially to your efforts? Please see PENNY, 5A City attorney to hire ’Tis the season for shopping BY ROGER BUTTON backup to catch up BUSINEWS COLUMNIST F 1 BY GREG GILES Visit downtown Venice this NEWS EDITOR weekend for Christmas in July and you will rediscover the City Attorney Bob Anderson variety of stores on West Ven- is feeling the pressure of an ice, West Miami and Nokomis unprecedented caseload. avenues. Saying he’s “burnt out” and Forty-five stores are partici- “running on fumes,” Anderson pating in this fun event, with told city council recently he’ll most festively decorating their need to subcontract out some Anderson Simmonds shop windows for the two-day work if the city wants him to extravaganza on Friday and 'ice L ? ?l ` r yy make a dent in his caseload. hour — “as a favor.” Saturday. r y Anderson, of Hall & An- “Attorneys in town will not For the whole family, a derson, told council at its last do this for less than my rate,” roaming Santa on vacation in meeting he’s been working Anderson said. Venice will be dressed in sum- r .- w - weekends since the first of the “If you will authorize me to mer attire to entertain. Listen SUN PHOTO BY ROGER BUTTON year and his partner, Wayne bring in outside counsel … it to seasonal music, meet em- Hall, is assisting as he can. will afford us an opportunity to ployees wearing Christmas at- Santa’s helpers preparing for the Christmas in July weekend in down- “The two of us can’t do all work down a considerable tire and, in some stores, enjoy town Venice this Friday and Saturday are: Kathy Crisman, front left, of you are sending over right backlog that has developed.” refreshments. Dick’s Shoes, and Rosanne Brown, right, of Venice Stationers, holding now,” Anderson said. “I am concerned about the Incredible values on mer- the Pamper Yourself prize basket, along with Sharon Roy, back left, of He already contacted local attorney workload,” said Coun- chandise make this the oppor- Yesterday’s Memories Consignment Shop, event organizer Sandy attorneys who agreed to McGowan of Sandy’s Designer Clothing and Keri Marshall of Keri’s charge his rate — $175 per Please see HIRE, 5A Please see ’TIS, 3A Jewels & Gems. 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