Fair weather good for grass, ducks

When the Manatee County Fair nears, historically it brings rainy weather, too.
Charles Panacek is well aware of the quirky phenomenon.
It happens here and at other fairs when his Belle City Amusements, Inc., rolls into another town, especially during those midwest summers.
“Farmers love to see us when they haven’t had rain for awhile,” he quipped

Big ups to Amy Whittington, Danielle Williams, Emily Egan,Christopher Lawless, Jason Besse and Stephen Desch, Ultra Mixed team winners in the 2012 Ragnar Relay Race from Miami to Key West.
Starting at 1 p.m. last Friday, they helped run 198.5 miles in 26:11.12 --- and then crashed.
“They were too pooped to party,” said Beth Egan, Emily’s mom.

Just as Juan Roldan, Iraq veteran and Wounded Warrior, was settling into his new Parrish home, he went into the Bay Pines VA hospital for aanother surgery on Jan. 3.
A double amputee, Roldan faces 12 weeks of recuperation and rehab.

Remember the 13th annual Manatee Hurricanes Baseball Steakout & Reunion, 5-9 p.m. Feb. 3 at McKechnie Field. Call head coach Dwayne Strong at 725-2293 or Bruce Braithwaite at 720-9224.

Read more Friday in Vin's People on Bradenton.com.