WWW.KEYSNET.COM SATURDAY,SEPTEMBER 14, 2013 VOLUME 60, NO. 74 ● 25 CENTS MARATHON Funding headed for revote By RYAN McCARTHY decreased Original Marathon TDC confirms reconsideration board’s desire to reconsider ter to the Monroe County [email protected] Seafood Festival funding 40 its decision. Commission, urging it to percent, from $50,000 to of festival money coming Oct. 9 Many have criticized the overturn the DAC’s deci- It appears the Monroe $30,000, while tripling the DAC 3 board in the wake of sion. The commission has County Tourist Development Middle Keys group’s alloca- makes one stop in Marathon Oct. 9 at Hawks Cay Resort its Aug. 14 vote, and final say on DAC funding Council’s Middle Keys adviso- tion to Fantasy Fest in Key at the Island Fish Co. on Duck Key. Marathon City Councilman recommendations. ry committee has had a change West from $10,000 to $30,000. Several sources have told Greater Marathon Chamber Dick Ramsay put a discus- It was clear during of heart about cutting funding On a split vote at last the Keynoter that at least of Commerce Chief Executive sion item on Tuesday’s regu- Tuesday’s discussion that for its marquee events. month’s meeting, the DAC 3 two members of the nine- Officer Daniel Samess told the lar meeting agenda to dis- many believe the Aug. 14 According to the TDC, the committee also committed member DAC board wish to Keynoter that TDC Director cuss it further. vote will be overturned. DAC 3 board has decided to $20,000 to the annual Key take up a new vote at its next Harold Wheeler sent him an e- Ramsay wanted the coun- revisit its decision that West Poker Run, which regular meeting, scheduled mail last week confirming the cil to approve sending a let- See TDC, 3A HOME PESTS SANCTUARY Millipedes invade Keys homes — again Invasives first arrived in Key West about 2001 By KEVIN WADLOW Senior Staff Writer [email protected] They brazenly wander inside and crawl underfoot across tile floors. Passing overhead on ceilings, they seem indifferent to gravity. Yellow-banded millipedes have made themselves at Keynoter photo by KEVIN WADLOW home in the Florida Keys, A yellow-banded millipede and seem unlikely to depart. “They do get in all over the effortlessly scales a Key place,” said Suzanne Koptur, Largo wall. The harmless Phd., a professor of Biological but sometimes annoying Sciences at Florida Inter- invertebrates arrived in the national University. “They’re Keys more than a decade ago. looking for grub.” If memory suggests that fact sheet. “They do not bite.” Keys floors once went Kim Gabel, environmen- untrammeled by the hundreds tal horticulture agent for the Photo courtesy NOAA of little pink feet on just one Monroe County Extension of the inches-long millipedes, Service, was the lead author NOAA’s Office of Marine and Aviation Operations will test a Puma unmanned aerial system (UAS) in the Florida Keys that would be accurate. of the 2006 Institute of Food National Marine Sanctuary starting Saturday to determine its feasibility in monitoring wildlife, locating marine The first recorded United and Agricultural Sciences debris, and helping understand how boaters use the Sanctuary. States sighting of the report on yellow-banded mil- Caribbean species was made lipedes. Gabel has been trav- in 2001, in Key West. No one eling out of state and could knows how they got here, not be reached for this article. More drones coming today possibly hitching a ride on an Koptur agreed, “They’re imported plant. really nothing to worry Test flights are scheduled in ecosystems around the interest in drones comes on They soon spread north, about, and nowhere near as National Marine to begin today in waters off world,” said Sean Morton, the heels of a test flight con- through Monroe County creepy as cockroaches.” Sanctuary eyes the Upper Keys as well as sanctuary superintendent ducted last month at the and onto the South Florida Millipedes are not insects Lower Keys. The drone being tested, behest of the Florida Keys mainland. but myriapods - essentially slow-flying craft Federal scientists hope known as the PUMA UAS, Mosquito Control District, As far as invasive species invertebrates with multiple the drones, which boast real- is a 13-pound, battery-oper- hoping to use drones to spot go, the yellow-banded milli- body segments, each having Keynoter Staff time video and photo capa- ated aircraft with a nine-foot hidden water holes that pede appears relatively benign. two pair of legs. bility - can help monitor wingspan. It can be hand- breed mosquitoes in remote “This harmless creature Each segment has a hard The skies above the wildlife at close range with launched and recovered off-islands. can be an indoor nuisance but Florida Keys may soon have minimal disturbance. from land or at sea. A North Carolina compa- not a plant pest,” says a state See Millipedes, 3A multiple drones aloft with “Testing unmanned air- And the drone can fly for ny, Condor Aerial, did one word that the National craft in the diverse habitats of up to two hours on a single demonstration flight Aug. 26. Oceanic Atmospheric the Keys will help demon- charge, according to the Then on Monday of this week, HIGH HOPES Administration (NOAA) will strate the applicability of this manufacturer. Mosquito District Director begin testing the unmanned technology in supporting sci- The Florida Keys craft for Sanctuary duty. ence and resource protection National Marine Sanctuary’s See Drones, 3A MONROE COUNTY Bridge fix could top $71 million? remotely accurate. Omaha, Neb.-based archi- November. County gets According to Monroe tectural, engineering and Both HDR and state DOT report Tuesday County consultant HDR consulting firm $18,000 to officials are expected to Inc., it will take $71.76 mil- conduct an independent attend Tuesday’s County on historic span lion over the next 30 years to review of two complicated Commission meeting in keep the Old Seven Mile 2012 state Department of Marathon, at which HDR By RYAN McCARTHY Bridge leading to Pigeon Transportation inspection will go over its 32-page [email protected] Key functional. reports that outlined numer- report with the board. That’s more than $53 mil- ous bridge deficiencies. Much is hinging on the The city of Marathon’s lion above an $18 million The 202- and 132-page outcome of Tuesday’s dis- Keynoter photo by KEVIN WADLOW most iconic landmark and county estimate to upgrade DOT reports contain dozens cussion, as the county was in tourist destination could be the decking and railing on of photos cataloging the midst of negotiating with Marathon High School swimmer Audrey Matthis adorns in even more jeopardy than the bridge, though the HDR the†bridge’s disrepair, but DOT on the $18 million teammate Nicole Lera with words of encouragement imagined if figures in a estimate does include repairs are difficult to decipher. The decking fix. The county was before a four-school meet Thursday in Islamorada.See the recently released Monroe to the bridge’s substructure. agency inspects the bridge results, Story 1B. County study are even The county paid the twice each year in May and See Bridge, 3A INDEX Printed on 100% Classifieds . .5B recycled ‘Multiplictus’ newsprint La Concha Living . .3B New show opens the CONTENTS © 2013 La Concha spa plan season at The Studios of KEYNOTER PUBLISHING CO. goes before Key West Business . .7A Key West with works by Commission for final vote artist Gerry Stecca, Opinion . .6A Tuesday. Read what including pieces supporters and opponents Sports/Outdoors . .1B showcased at Art Basil have to say. Story 6A. Miami. Story 4B. Crossword . .3B 7786790 22222 2A Saturday, September 14, 2013 KeysNet.com Keynoter NEWS BRIEFS KEY WEST Deputies earn ‘Master’ status for their work Panel meets Sept. 18 on Navy plan Monroe Sheriff Deputies Reviewing tional capabilities in more rounds going into the water; the Navy and hear a presen- study was completed in Jeanette Joseph and Dahlgren than 2.6 million square miles flare exercises using more tation from consultant Keith 2009. The full document is Marks earned Master Deputy environmental of the Atlantic Ocean and than 4,500 flares; and the and Schnars. available online at stripes in a ceremony held this Gulf of Mexico. annual release of 30,000 Oversight Committee www.AFTTEIS.com. week at the Monroe County impact The Atlantic Fleet canisters of chaff, a radar- member Don Riggs Another Navy study Detention Center. Training and Testing docu- fooling countermeasure. acknowledged that the pub- affecting Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay and By SEAN KINNEY ment was widely vetted by Naval Air Station spokes- lic process is nearly over and residents made official in Major Tommy Taylor offered [email protected] the Monroe County woman Trice Denny noted: the Navy’s intention is August lays out an increase congratulations noting the Commission, an advisory “Just remember, these are all essentially realized, but he in fighter-jet takeoffs and master deputy certification An advisory committee panel and hired consultants potential increases that are said another recommenda- landings at NAS Key West’s isn’t easy to earn. empanelled by the Monroe from the firm Keith and not necessarily going to hap- tion may be forthcoming. Boca Chica Field, along with Requirements include: County Commission to Schnars. pen each year. The EIS “There’s some value of a transition to the newer gen- ● At least five years of study the environmental The training increases would give the Navy the going on the records with eration fighter jet, the F-35 service with the Sheriff’s impacts of U.S.