Arrest Made in 2019 Palmetto Shooting Death of 18-Year-Old

A murder suspect who evaded capture for nearly seven years has been arrested in Mexico and returned to Manatee County to face charges in the 2019 shooting death of an 18-year-old. Irving Zuniga was booked into the Manatee County Jail on Saturday, Jan. 10, following a joint operation by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and […]

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18-Year-Old Ruskin Man Dies in Stolen Vehicle Crash in Palmetto

An 18-year-old Ruskin man driving a stolen vehicle died Monday night after fleeing from deputies and crashing into another car in Palmetto, authorities said. The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office identified the driver as Michael Jerome Austin. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital at 9:12 p.m. following the collision. The incident began shortly after […]

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Palmetto Woman Shot Dead by Boyfriend, 9-Day-Old Baby Unharmed

A devastating tragedy has struck the Palmetto community with the shooting death of Blanca Guzman-Bartolon, a 30-year-old mother, daughter, and beloved friend. According to officials, the incident occurred late Sunday evening, September 21, 2025, when Palmetto police responded to reports of gunfire at the 1400 block of 12th Avenue West. Upon arriving at the scene, […]

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Vintage Aircraft Crashes at Airport Manatee on March 18, Two Airlifted to Hospitals

A small aircraft crashed near Airport Manatee on March 18, resulting in two occupants being airlifted to nearby hospitals. The incident occurred shortly before 10 a.m. when the vintage single-engine Aeronca Champ plane experienced difficulty shortly after takeoff. According to the officials, the aircraft veered to the left, struck a powerline, and then crashed into […]

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The 8th Annual Touch-A-Truck Event at Rocky Bluff Library Was a Hit

The 8th Annual Touch-A-Truck event at Rocky Bluff Library brought excitement and hands-on fun to the community on Saturday, March 15, 2025. Families from across Ellenton and surrounding areas gathered to get up close with an impressive array of vehicles from various public safety departments and local services. Highlighting the event was the towering North […]

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