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The Key West Citizen
Public voices opinions at Lower Keys hospital board meeting
Roughly 100 people attended the recent Lower Florida Keys Hospital District board meeting, and some voiced their opinions about the existing lease between the hospital district and Community Health Systems Inc. (CHS) and the future of the hospital as the lease is set to expire in five years. The Lower Florida Keys Hospital District is an independent special district, created in 1967 by act of the Florida Legislature, and was established to construct, lease, operate and maintain a hospital or hospitals, medical facilities and other...
Budget, purchases on Marathon City Council agenda
The City of Marathon City Council is set to approve its 2024-2025 budget calendar meeting dates, which results in a millage or tax rate and determines funding for goals and projects for the coming year. The council meets Tuesday, May 14, at 5:30 p.m., at City Hall and the meeting can be viewed online. Ten public hearings on land and zoning-related requests take up much of the agenda to amend future land use maps and zoning. Modifying and adding towing zones and individuals with towing...
Conchs rally to take lead in seventh; Chiefs strike back for walk-off victory
The resiliency of the Key West High baseball team was on full display during the Florida High School Athletic Association Region 4-4A semifinals as, for the second consecutive postseason contest, the Conchs’ offense battled back from a multiple-run deficit, this time scoring five in the top of the seven to take the lead at Cardinal Gibbons, only to have it slip away in the bottom of the frame during an 8-7 loss on Saturday, April 14, in Fort Lauderdale. The Chiefs and Conchs traded runs...
Dry Tortugas National Park reopens campground and beach
Dry Tortugas National Park has reopened its campground as scheduled after dredging the Fort Jefferson moat and redistributing sand that had built up from several hurricanes, according to the National Park Service. For the safety of park visitors, the campground was closed for 45 days during the use of heavy construction equipment. The next phase of the project involves dredging the finger piers to restore recreational and park access to the Garden Key waterfront. After the finger piers, the dredging will move to the moat...
RECORDS FALL, ATHLETES ADVANCE: Seven Conchs, five Dolphins garner berths into FHSAA State Championships
Key West High senior Jean Louis did not even realize the gravity of his accomplishment following a heave of 14.50 meters in shot put during the Florida High School Athletic Association Region 4-2A Championship on Wednesday, May 8, at Calvary Christian in Fort Lauderdale. Not only did his third-place finish seal a qualifying berth for the FHSAA State Championships but his best throw of the day, which measured 47 feet, 7 inches broke the Conchs’ school record by nearly a foot. ...
Lady Conchs challenge Sabres, who walk-off with suicide squeeze
Six days after the Key West High softball team’s district title streak was snapped by St. Brendan in the 16-4A championship game, the Lady Conchs had an opportunity to avenge the defeat during the Region 4-4A quarterfinals at the Sabres’ home diamond on Wednesday, May 8, in Miami. The Lady Conchs seemed up for the challenge, keeping the game even through the first two frames and then striking back in the fourth to bring the score back even, which is where the score would remain...
Sawfish die-off tapers off
The number of smalltooth sawfish dying from a mysterious ailment or water quality issue has dropped in recent weeks in the Florida Keys, as Keys waters have begun to warm up and the sawfish begin migrating north off of both the west and east coasts of Florida. There have been 47 reported sawfish deaths in Keys waters in recent months, with the one rescued and taken into captivity dying earlier this month. NOAA Fisheries, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and private research institutions...
Health Department urges swim lessons
The Florida Department of Health in Monroe County (DOH-Monroe) promotes May as National Water Safety Month to educate the community on how to safely enjoy Florida’s many bodies of water and prevent drowning. Florida offers countless opportunities to enjoy water recreation in pools, lakes, and other surrounding bodies of water. That is why water safety is critical. Children ages 1- to 4-years-old are more likely to drown in a home swimming pool than children ages 5- to 19-years-old, who are more likely to drown in natural bodies of water. Whether a person is a parent or a community group member, everyone plays a role in drowning prevention. The goal is to keep water activities fun and safe for all in the summer months.
Key West City Commission postpones cruise ship vote and Casa Marina plan
The Key West City Commissioners, on Thursday, May 9, unanimously agreed to postpone a vote on approving a 10-year agreement between the City of Key West and the smaller boutique American Cruise Lines for the use of the Mallory Pier. Commissioners heard a long period of public comment, much of which was against allowing docking rights to the domestic cruise line for the long-period contract. Some commissioners said 10 years might be too long, and they would be more comfortable with two to three years. ...
Sheriff's Office warns of scams
The Sheriff’s Office continues to warn residents of fake jury duty scams wherein thieves are posing as law enforcement telling victims they need to pay money to resolve a fake arrest warrant. Most recently, the Sheriff’s Office has been made aware of certified mail from thieves falsely posing as real law enforcement agencies. They are using official-looking forged documents to scam residents, according to Sheriff’s Office spokesman Adam Linhardt. Residents should be wary of any mail/email/text/phone call they receive from anyone claiming to be a law enforcement official, especially those seeking money/gift card information — a sure sign a person is being scammed. Typically, the scammers will claim a target has missed jury duty, have an outstanding warrant, or made some other false legal violation. People should hang up/delete the text or email and contact the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office directly via www.keysso.net/locations, Linhardt said.
Conchs four wins away from 12th state crown, top-ranked Chiefs await
Marching onto the Region 4-4A semifinals, the path to a Florida High School Athletic Association- record 12th state championship for the Key West High baseball team now goes through top-ranked Cardinal Gibbons in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, May 11, with the first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m. Not only are the Chiefs the No. 1 seed in the region bracket, they are also ranked No. 2 in Class 2A, according to MaxPreps.com, as Cardinal Gibbons (21-4-2 overall) is currently on a 10-game win streak, including...
CFK hosts apprenticeship workshop
The College of the Florida Keys invites prospective students to learn about its Apprenticeships in Construction Technologies programs at a virtual information event at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15. CFK is offering Electrical and Carpentry programs in Key West and the Upper Keys this upcoming fall semester, which begins Aug. 19. The deadline to apply is July 1. The virtual information session will help prospective students learn about the trade professions, career outlooks, and CFK’s tuition-free “earn while you learn” programs. Attendees will receive a code to waive the $30 application fee. Registration for the event is required. Visit CFK.edu/apprenticeships for information and to register. To schedule a personal information session, contact Marissa Owens, CFK Director of Recruitment, at recruiter@cfk.edu or call 305-809-3207.
Victors end season for Lady 'Fins in region quarters
Never at any point during the regular season did the Marathon High softball team lose back-to-back contests, claiming victories in 11 of 15 games, but once entering the District 16-2A tournament, the Lady ’Fins were going against three of the Top 25 teams in the all of Class 2A, two of which were ranked in the Top 10. After taking a victory in the quarterfinals, Marathon’s next matchup came against the No. 3-ranked team in Class 2A, Miami Christian, who bounced the Dolphins with a...
FKAA prepares for 'forever chemicals' mitigation
As the Florida Keys Aqueduct begins planning for removing “forever chemicals” from its drinking water supply, a recently release study stated the chain of islands has the highest contamination rate of those chemicals in the state. For the first time, the Environmental Protection Agency recently set national limits for six types of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known by the initialism PFAS, in drinking water. The substances are nicknamed “forever chemicals” because they do not degrade and are nearly impossible to eliminate and can remain in...
Pascal’s Way scholarship available to graduating seniors
Pascal Weisberger’s short but impactful life was defined by kindness and a passion to help protect the environment and animals. A college scholarship called Pascal’s Way was created to honor his legacy by providing support to youth with a similar philosophy of community service, compassion for others and a commitment to improving the world, as Pascal sought to do. A 5K run/walk on Saturday, May 11, will raise funds for the scholarship program. ...
Deputies make gun, drug and battery arrests
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested three people on Thursday, May 9, following a traffic stop on U.S. 1 in which a gun and drugs were reportedly found. Deputies arrested Claireese Lanee Billie, 24, Rodolfo Molina Martinez, 21, and Danile Pascual Maritnez, 25, were arrested on various drug charges, according to Sheriff’s Office spokesman Adam Linhardt. Deputies found a .45-caliber Glock handgun, two rounds of 5.56 ammunition, Oxycodone pills and...
Applications for alligator harvest permits now open
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission offers two alligator harvest opportunities: the Statewide Alligator Harvest Program and the new Alligator Super Hunt. Applications for both opportunities are now open and may be submitted at any county tax collector’s office, license agent or online at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com. Random drawings are held to distribute all available alligator harvest permits. Those awarded a permit will be automatically charged for an alligator trapping license...
CARDIAC CONCHS
The outlook did not look great for the Key West High baseball team during the Region 4-4A quarterfinals despite a solid start from pitcher Anthony Lariz, along with reliever Jacob Burhnham, as Jensen Beach was three outs away from advancing to the semifinals on Wednesday, May 8, at Rex Weech Field. Powered by the home fans, Key West opened the bottom of the seventh with a walk to Nelson Ong, who was forced out at second on a shot to center field by Steel Mienkiewicz,...
Tractor attacker faces more charges
A Key West man is facing three counts of attempted murder after his rampage with a tractor during the weekend on Stock Island. Ethan Robert Layne, 22, is charged with attempted murder of a law enforcement officer and an additional two counts of premediated attempted murder, according to a news release from police spokeswoman Alyson Crean. He also faces four other felony charges, and eight more felony charges are pending, Crean said. ...
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