5 Things You Need to Know Today: August 25

1. The Manatee High School football team defeated American Heritage from Delray 20-14 in its kick-off classic Wednesday night. The game was moved to Wednesday after Hurricane Irene threatened the possibility of travel on Friday from the east coast.

2. The Bradenton police department will participate in the Second Annual Florida Statewide Drug Take-Back Event (Project Drug Drop) on Saturday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Residents are encouraged to bring unused, unwanted and expired prescription medication for disposal to the lobby of the Bradenton police station located at 100 10th Street West. Project Drug Drop is a safe and secure way to dispose of unwanted medications, prevent accidental poisonings and drug abuse. The police department will accept prescription and over-the-counter pills, vitamins, creams and ointments. It cannot accept liquids, chemicals or aerosols.The police will not collect personal information from those dropping off medications. For more information contact Sgt. L J Millard at (941) 741-3041 or email lj.millard@cityofbradenton.com.  

3. First Bank offices in Manatee County continues to serve as donation sites for new and used books for the Manatee County Literacy Council’s Fall Annual Book Sale. The book drive, which kicked off this summer, will culminate with the annual book sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, November 19 at First Bank’s Village Green branch located at 7051 Manatee Ave. W. New and used books can be dropped off at the following First Bank locations: 2412 Cortez Road W.; 9819 Cortez Road W.; 4601 Manatee Avenue W.; 7051 Manatee Avenue W.; 415 53rd Avenue W.; 1301 6th Ave. W; 3005 53rd Avenue E. and 1301 6th Avenue W. Lobby hours for the First Bank locations are Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Fridays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information contact the Literacy Council of Manatee County at 941-746-8197 or the Manatee literacy council.

4. Manatee County is looking for board members for its two Community Redevelopment Area advisory boards. The boards consist of between five and 15 volunteer members appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. Members serve three-year terms. Community redevelopment areas are designed to attract commercial and building investments in an effort to improve the area, increase the tax base and to encourage public and private improvements. The South County CRA board meets on the third Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. at the Harllee Full Service Family Center, 6423 9^th Street East. The 14th Street West CRA meets on the fourth Thursday of the month at Peace Lutheran Church, 1611 30th Ave. W.,  at 5:30 p.m. Applications are due Sept. 2. Find them online at www.mymanatee.org /advisory boards. For more information, visit the Community Redevelopment Area section of mymanatee.org or call Ivan Groom, Community Redevelopment Area Coordinator, at (941) 749-3029 ext. 6232 or e-mail him at ivan.groom@mymanatee.org.

5. The school district's early release Wednesdays prompted the to add Wednesday as an extra day for Road Skills Trsting appointments. Road Test appointments can be made for Wednesday afternoons starting September 1 and running through April 30. The tests previously had been available for appointments on Tuesday and Thursday. Tax Collector Ken Burton, Jr.  said by opening the appointments during the school year, he hopes to help students who get out of school early on Wednesdays. But the appointment, which are offered on a ‘first come-first serve’ basis, are available to more than just students. To make an appointment phone 941-741-4800.  All road skills testing is conducted at the DeSoto Office, 819 301 Blvd. West