🌱 Patch AM: What we know about the Bradenton sexual battery case and court date

Morning Bradenton! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• What we know about the Bradenton sexual battery case and court date
• How Bradenton's Cleetus McFarland is jumping from Freedom Factory to dirt
• Remember that $800M ticket from a Bradenton Wawa? Here's what's next

Also on today's calendar: 🌸💕FREE $1000 PERMANENT MAKEUP Raffle Grand opening CC STYLING STUDIOS 10 year re-grand opening🌸 and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What is the longest word in the dictionary? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Saturday: A t-storm around in the p.m., with a high of 91 and low of 80 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
• Sunday: A shower and t-storm; humid, temps: high: 91, low: 77.
• Monday: A t-storm around in the p.m., with a high of 92 and low of 78 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Bradenton man accused of repeatedly sexually battering woman, deputies say (bradenton.com) — Bradenton readers should know a local man has been arrested and charged with sexual battery after a woman reported being assaulted while drifting in and out of consciousness at a Bradenton home. He remains in Manatee County jail on bond, has pleaded not guilty, and is scheduled for a jury trial, with investigators collecting clothing and other evidence as the case moves through local courts.
   

• Cleetus McFarland Making Dirt Late Model Debut At The Dome (floracing.com) — Bradenton-based YouTube racer Garrett "Cleetus McFarland" Mitchell is taking his local Freedom Factory fame to the national stage with a Dirt Late Model debut at December's Gateway Dirt Nationals in St. Louis. The Bradenton-area track owner, known for high-octane content and growing NASCAR experience, is testing hard to adapt his skills from pavement to dirt before the big event.
   

• Mega Millions drawing tonight for $113 million (usatoday.com) — Bradenton made national lottery news recently when a ticket sold at a local Wawa hit an $800 million Mega Millions jackpot on July 28. Now the jackpot has reset and climbed back to $113 million for Friday night's drawing, with players nationwide lining up again for a chance at a life-changing win.
   

📸 Around Bradenton

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Bradenton

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Friday August 28
• 🌸💕FREE $1000 PERMANENT MAKEUP Raffle Grand opening CC STYLING STUDIOS 10 year re-grand opening🌸 →
  3645 Cortez Rd W, Bradenton
  10:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Saturday August 22
• Northstar →
  Freckled Fin Irish Pub, 5337 Gulf Dr, Holmes Beach
  7:30 pm
• Emo Night Brooklyn →
  Oscura, 816 Manatee Ave E, Bradenton
  8:00 pm
Sunday August 23
• Live Blues Brunch at Mattison's Riverwalk Grille
  Manatee Chamber of Commerce 101 Riverwalk Blvd. Bradenton, FL 34205
  11:00 am
• Bradenton Blues Brunch →
  Manatee Chamber of Commerce Mattison?s City Grille Bradenton Riverwalk, 101 Riverfront Blvd, Bradenton, FL 34205, USA
  11:00 am
Tuesday August 25
• PCHS @ SEHS Volleyball
  School District of Manatee County Southeast HS
  7:00 pm
Wednesday August 26
• Stelliferous Launch to Legacy - Shuttle →
  The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th St W, Bradenton
  7:00 pm
Thursday August 27
• Kaleb Woods →
  Freckled Fin Irish Pub, 5337 Gulf Dr, Holmes Beach
  7:00 am
Sunday August 30
• Open House in Parkridge - 11-2pm →
  3426 Parkridge Cir, Sarasota, FL, 34243 Bldg 34-105
  11:00 am
Tuesday September 1
• "Separating Multiple Generations of Men with the Same Name" by Diana Elder →
  Manatee Genealogical Society Meeting and Program
  10:00 am
• Sean Patrick Walsh →
  Freckled Fin Irish Pub, 5337 Gulf Dr, Holmes Beach
  7:00 pm
Wednesday September 2
• Friends of the Braden River Library Semi-Annual Book Sale →
  Braden River Branch Library, 4915 53rd Ave E, Bradenton
  3:00 pm

📣 Bradenton Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• New hall pass policy promotes school safety —Mustangs Ahead News Read on Patch
• State College of Florida Students Study History Abroad in France and Switzerland —State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota Read on Patch

• My little kitty boy got out and is missing.
  He's a 3 years old, black cat with a spot of white on his right rear paw. His name is Vader. He was last seen in the Tanglewood neighborhood… (Nextdoor Tanglewood)
• Good morning from biggie!
  He's watching the birds from his window sill. (Nextdoor Braden Woods)

• Panda Express posted a job opening for Cook (P1-1480411-1) in Bradenton. Apply here.
• Taco Bell posted a job opening for Team Member : Service Champion in Bradenton. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Bradenton here.

🗞 Nearby News

Palmetto

• Manatee Marine Offering Canopied 38-Foot Valor Cat (powerboatnation.com)
• 2026 Herald-Tribune Preseason Top Football Players fan poll winners (heraldtribune.com)
• Civil Rights and broadcasting icon Xernona Clayton to visit Manatee County (thebradentontimes.com)

Longboat Key

• Longboat Key seeing deaths of disoriented sea turtles (mysuncoast.com)
• Take a look inside a 'ultra luxury' Florida waterfront mansion that sold for $19M (miamiherald.com)
• Choosing the Best Home Repair Contractor: What Sellers Need to Know (homelight.com)

Sarasota

• Forecasters Continue To Lower Hurricane Season Predictions As Peak Season Nears (patch.com)

Ok Bradenton! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Smiles, because it has a mile between "s". (Thank you Sharon M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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