Recently added articles from Florida Keys Keynoter (Marathon, FL):

EDITORIAL: Water's everywhere but the money isn't: When it comes to money for water projects in the Keys - whether it's treating sewage or finding better sources for potable water - nothing's ever easy.(Editorial)

Oct 10, 2007 ... Oct. 10--The Keys got some bad news on the former front from the state Legislature this week. Balancing that, somewhat, it looks like our elected and appointed officials really are on one page when it comes to presenting a unified front to get sewer money flowing from D.C. ...

Faulty hatch cover leads to judgment: Marathon man awarded $698,000 from yacht firm.

Oct 10, 2007 ... Byline: Kevin Wadlow Oct. 10--A loose boat-hatch cover shattered the foot of the former owner of Jeff's Bait and Tackle in Marathon, leading to a $698,000 Monroe County Circuit Court judgment against the Tarpon Springs-based Stamas Yacht on Oct. 3. Jeff Mulligan, 43, ...

Keys lobby D.C. for sewer funds.

Oct 10, 2007 ... Byline: Ryan Mccarthy Oct. 10--A 15-member delegation from the Keys returned home from a trip to Washington, D.C., last week with the feeling they made great strides in the effort to secure sewer funding for the Keys. The group, which included representatives from ...

'The respect they deserve': Coming Out Day Thursday marks city's diversity.

Oct 10, 2007 ... Byline: Kyle Teal Oct. 10--Island House co-owner Jon Allen easily sums why he waited until he was 45 to come out the closet. "I was scared." Allen, also a member of the Key West Business Guild, is originally from Climax, Colo., where he says folks were of ...

Two commissions debate stormwater costs.

Oct 10, 2007 ... Byline: Alyson Crean Oct. 10--The Key West and Monroe County commissions will sit side by side next week to see if they can hammer out an agreement over stormwater fees at Key West International Airport. The joint meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Harvey ...

New village fees possible: They'd offset stresses on infrastructure.

Oct 10, 2007 ... Byline: Kevin Wadlow Oct. 10--Firms handling construction debris in Islamorada could face new licensing and fees under a plan being considered by the Islamorada Village Council. A proposal going before the council at its 5:30 p.m. Thursday meeting would require ...

Reef Relief to shine: Keys Energy wants solar to be model for others.

Oct 10, 2007 ... Byline: Sam Nissen Oct. 10--The sun might soon provide the reef with added relief. Reef Relief, an organization dedicated to protecting coral, hopes to power its Key West office through a solar-power array to be installed on the roof. Reef Relief and Keys Energy are ...

Keys Habitat chapter ranked No. 19: Productivity after Wilma is rewarded.

Oct 10, 2007 ... Byline: Karen Quist Oct. 10--Habitat for Humanity of Key West & the Lower Florida Keys has been recognized by the international organization as one of the most productive chapters in the United States for its 2006 work in the wake of Hurricane Wilma. Since Hurricane ...

County coming up $10M short: Kolhage warns of dire consequences, says cut spending.

Oct 10, 2007 ... Byline: Alyson Crean Oct. 10--A budget plan up for discussion at next week's County Commission meeting could be too little too late. Monroe County Clerk Danny Kolhage said the county needs a plan to trim $10 million off the 2007-08 county budget - which took effect ...

Little agreement on lobster: Divers, trappers have different ideas for plan.

Oct 10, 2007 ... Byline: Kevin Wadlow Oct. 10--A plan to revise Florida's lobster laws didn't find smooth sailing at its first workshop Monday in Marathon. Trap fishermen contended proposals in the draft report to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission do not go far ...

Mayoral vote is in a month: Charter change moves the date from March.

Oct 10, 2007 ... Byline: Ryan Mccarthy Oct. 10--Marathon Mayor Chris Bull says he hopes it will be nothing more than a formality, but due to changes in the wording of the city charter, the City Council in November will go through the process of selecting a mayor and vice mayor. The ...

Deal may reduce noncompliance fee: Trailer park didn't hook up to sewer system.

Oct 10, 2007 ... Byline: Alyson Crean Oct. 10--The owners of Roy's Trailer Park on Stock Island have paid close to half a million dollars to hook up to the local sewer system. Now the Monroe County Attorney's Office is asking the County Commission to approve a settlement that would ...

FKAA takes over Navy water: $45.2 million deal expected to save money.

Oct 10, 2007 ... Byline: Kyle Teal Oct. 10--Naval Air Station Key West is all about privatizing these days. After a 90-day transition period that started Sept. 25, NAS Key West will be the first base in the country to privatize a utility, as a $45.2 million contract has been signed ...

Going green doesn't mean expensive: Key West inn is Keys' fourth Green Lodge.

Oct 10, 2007 ... Byline: Karen Quist Oct. 10--Something clicked for Tom and Nancy Coward during a vacation earlier this year. The owners of the Andrews Inn & Garden Cottages in Key West stayed at the Len Foote Hike Inn, nestled deep in Georgia's Amicalola Falls State Park. ...

Deed restrictions in reverse?

Oct 06, 2007 ... Byline: Kyle Teal Oct. 6--Key West Community leaders gathered at the Radisson conference room Thursday afternoon to workshop ideas to convince homeowners to temporarily convert their market-rate units to affordable housing. The upshot for the owners: Temporarily ...

Cay Clubs' infusion goes bust: Investment firm's millions are now out of the picture.

Oct 06, 2007 ... Byline: Sam Nissen Oct. 6--A deal to infuse Cay Clubs with investment money has collapsed. The operator of restaurants, marinas, condos and hotels in the Keys and elsewhere had hoped new investors would bring the company the cash it needs to pay down outstanding ...

Arrest log fills with sex suspects: A spate of recent Florida Keys arrests stemming from sexual crimes runs the gamut from the horrific murder of a child in 1976 to a young woman's nautical romp with a teenaged Boy Scout.

Oct 06, 2007 ... Byline: Kevin Wadlow Oct. 6--None of the six separate incidents are connected, said Becky Herrin, information officer for the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. "We're not suddenly being invaded by child molesters," Herrin said. "It's one of those things ...

Union, district sign contract: It includes 3 percent raises, insurance help.

Oct 06, 2007 ... Byline: Alyson Crean Oct. 6--The Monroe County School District and the United Teachers of Monroe reached agreement Tuesday and signed a contract that will carry teachers and other district employees through the 2007-08 school year. Union members can look forward to a ...

Marina plan gets cool response from council: Some call it too ambitious for city harbor.

Oct 06, 2007 ... Byline: Ryan Mccarthy Oct. 6--Marathon City Councilman Don Vasil's vision for the future of Boot Key Harbor and the City of Marathon Marina met with mixed reviews Tuesday when the council met at the Marathon Garden Club. Vasil's plan to add to the harbor 190 boat ...

Bodies of evidence uncovered: Unidentified 6 will be exhumed for DNA testing.

Oct 06, 2007 ... Byline: Alyson Crean Oct. 6--Monroe County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Patricia Dally knows from experience that DNA can solve a crime. "We've had a couple of successful cases," she told the Keynoter Thursday, "back when DNA testing started to come into effect. Back then, ...