Hurricane Irma's Hard Lessons
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FLORIDAKEYS SEAFOOD FESTIVAl FISHING THE FLORIDAKEYS Howman fillets Acold frontcame does is taketo through, making stagethis event? 1B the fishing hot, 5B VOLUME 65-NO.3 STAY CONNECTED /KEYSINFONET NEWSAll DAY. YOUR WAY. WWW.FLKEYSNEWS.COM FACEBOOK.COM WEDNESDAY JANUARY10,2018 50 cents THE FLORIDAKEYS 7786790 22222 IN MEMORIUM AFTER THE STORM Dolphin activist Rector dies at age68 Former marine-park trainer devoted lifetocampaigning against keeping dolphins in captivity. BY KEVIN WADLOW [email protected] Russ Rector, adogged defender of Florida Keys dolphins and all ocean creatures, died Sunday in Broward County. Rector, 68,was an indefatigable critic of marine-mammal captivity and founder of the Dolphin Freedom Foun- KEVINWADLOWKeynoter dation. After working for seven years as Monroe County EmergencyManagementDirector MartySenterfitt and county strategic planner Kimberly Matthews respond to adolphin trainer at Fort Lauderdale’s questions and complaints during Monday’sKey Largo feedback session on Hurricane Irma response. Additional sessions takeplace Ocean World marine park until 1975, through Jan. 22. he quit over concerns about marine- mammal captivity and protested against the park until it closed in 1994. In the Keys, Rector supported rescue- and-release efforts for marine mammal strandings but harbored strong opin- Hurricane Irma’s hardlessons ions against several local dolphin facil- ities. He was aconstant thorn in the side of Florida Keys residents voice knowledge did not exist,” thews, county director of stra- Senterfitt said officials re- the Miami Seaquarium, identifying concern about debris,re-entry county Emergency Manage- tegic planning. “That’s one of ceiving requests for re-entry undersized animal tanks and code andlack of information at ment Director Marty Senterfitt the things at the top of our exceptions “struggled with this violations that required expensive fixes. opening responseworkshop. said. “It was anasty, nasty agenda.” every day. So much goes into In August, 1990, Rector and fellow storm.... There were alot of Some returning residents did re-entry, there is no exact dolphin activist Ric O’Barry tried to positives and things we can do not hear about apost-storm answer on this.” halt U.S. Navy explosives testing about BY KEVIN WADLOW better.” curfew until they arrived at the “We’ve got to be confident 18 miles from the Dry Tortugas by [email protected] In the first of six feedback Florida City entry point and there will be at least areason- swimming into the test waters. Con- workshops asking for com- were denied access, speakers able level of safety,” he said, tractors working with the Navy forcibly Hurricane Irma proved to be ments on the county’s efforts said. noting downed power lines removed the two men. The protesters aharsh instructor but lessons before and after Irma’s Sept. Others urged the county to and toppled trees blocking. accused the contractors of intentionally learned in the major hurricane 10 landfall in the Lower Keys, allow workers from the main- “There’s no power, no water.... ramming them with their boats. Rector will shape changes in Florida acrowd of about 75 people at land to join returning residents You might expect to wait long- said he never fully recovered from neck Keys storm preparation and Key Largo’s Murray E. Nelson to assist with cleanup or pre- er after aCategory 4storm.” and shoulder injuries from that encoun- response, Monroe County Government and Cultural pare overnight facilities need- Aworking group with in- emergency managers said Center focused on issues with ed by displaced residents and terested residents will form to SEE RUSS RECTOR, 2A Monday. debris removal, faulty commu- out-of-county response crews. focus on re-entry, he said. Most island residents and nications and aproblematic “We need workers to set Other panels will review issues officials “did not have first- re-entry process. everything up and get it work- in more depth. hand experience of what a “We recognize that re-entry ing so people have aplace to Upper Keys residents cited Category 4hurricane feels did not go the way we wanted stay immediately the storm,” like.... Alot of institutional it to go,” said Kimberly Mat- said aresort manager. SEE IRMA, 3A IN MEMORIUM Jan. 20 service set forRussell Knudsen She wasamember of an Knudsen was the great-great- Islamorada founding family granddaughter of Richard H. and activecommunity and Mary Ann Russell, who member. came to the Florida Keys in Rector 1854 as Islamorada’s founding family. BY KEVIN WADLOW Knudsen was active in nu- [email protected] merous Upper Keys communi- ty organizations, including Juanita Russell Knudsen, serving as chairwoman of Boy Classifieds 7,8B 65,alifelong resident of Is- Scout Troop 914for 14 years Living 1B lamorada, died peacefully at and as leader of Girl Scout Obituaries 2A her home Jan. 3following an Troop 104 for nine years. Opinion 5A illness. She served 21 years on the Puzzles 2B PrintedoN The daughter of the late board of directors for Oper- KEYNOTER FILE Puzzle 100% recycled Richard G.W. Russell and Juanita Russell Knudsen at the 2002dedication of aFounders answers 2B newsprint Virginia Duncan Russell, SEE KNUDSEN, 2A Park monumenthonoring Islamorada’s earliest families. 305-743 - 5680 www.DiscountDemolitions.com Lic#CGC1523252 DEMOLITION SITE WORK HAULING DUMPSTERS 2A KEYNOTER WEDNESDAY JANUARY102018 Keys News FLKEYSNEWS.COM KN CRIME FRONT During the course of the investigation into who was Deputies pursue Big CoppittKey car thief driving, Davis received photographs and videos showing Diaz with the Police saythe suspect Lower Keys silver Lexus, was stolen very dangerously at high driver would flee in such a stolen Lexus. Diaz was stole the Lexus from for police to overnight from aresidence rates of speed so she dangerous manner they identified from numerous Cudjoe Key, eluded them safely stop on Cudjoe Key. The owner stopped pursuing for fear of could not pull the vehicle previous law enforcement Sundaybydriving him. called to report the theft at endangering other people over, nor could they stop it contacts and from mug dangerously. Adrian 8a.m. Also, the owner’s on the roadway,” Herrin safely, Herrin said. shots from previous arrests. Jesus Diaz, roommate reported achain said. Finally, Deputy Ken One of the videos showed a 20,ofBig saw was stolen from his Between 8:22and 9:45 Fricke was able to spike the man with Diaz who was BY GWEN FILOSA Diaz Coppitt Key truck, which was parked at a.m., the stolen vehicle was vehicle’s tires at mile mark- identified from previous [email protected] was identi- the same place. spotted numerous times by er 13.But the Lexus contin- law enforcement contacts fied as the driver of the car Ashort time after the deputies, Florida Fish and ued to travel onto Big Cop- as 29-year-old Frank Rami- Monroe County Sheriff’s and will face numerous report, Deputy Alexandra Wildlife Conservation pitt Key on three flat tires. rez. Detectives interviewed Office deputies Sunday charges in connection with Davis spotted the vehicle Commission officers and The abandoned car was Ramirez and he gave them morning chased an alleged the case, said Deputy northbound on Cudjoe Key West police officers. found on Ed Swift Road, information about the case. car thief who was driving Becky Herrin, Sheriff’s Key. Davis tried to stop it, Various officers attempt- with apair of black gloves too dangerously at several Office spokeswoman. “but the [driver] refused to ed to stop the vehicle re- on the passenger seat and Gwen Filosa: different locations in the The vehicle, a2006 stop and began to drive peatedly. Each time, the cocaine inside the car. @KeyWestGwen CRIME FRONT Police: Couple had sexinchurch parking lot Obituaries & Memorials lot thatcon- DRUG POSSESSION crack cocaine BY GWEN FILOSA nects the AwomanfromChester, smokingpipe Upper Keys: (305) 852-3216 ● Marathon —Key West: (305) 743-5551 [email protected] Basilica of St. Md.,who police describedas with residue; MaryStarof homelessinKey West, was asilver cook- A31-year-oldman was the Sea and arrestedJan.3after being ingspoon; arrested Tuesdayafter police the Basilica’s caughtsleeping in the 0.8grams of saidhehad sex with awom- school. He bleachers at BayviewPark abrown an while parked in the lot Douglas saidhespot- with acollection of illegal MaNN powder iden- belonging to Key West’s ted the Esca- drugs in her purse and back- tifiedas Catholic church in Novem- lade parked in the lot at 9 pack, accordingtoanin- cocaine; four plasticbags JOEL HOLSTEIN ber. a.m. anditwas still there at cident report. with residue of cocaine;a2.5 RyanBenjaminDouglas, a 3:30p.m. Mallori Mann,32, ad- Cialis pill; and 0.7grams of Joel was born on January 13, 1943 in Miami. He diedat local bartender, washaving He heard awoman moan- mitted the narcotics were marijuana. his home in Florida City on sexwith awoman inside a inginside andlooked into hers,policesaid, afterbeing MaNN wasarrested fortwo December 17,2017 with his parked Cadillac Escalade at the SUV. The couple began spotted coveredinblankets felony countsofcocaine beloved wifeXinia by his side. 1010Windsor Laneabout screaming profanities at him on thebleachers with the possession,one felony count Although Joellived all his life 3:30p.m. Nov. 17,police and leftthe scene,police odor of marijuana surround- of drugpossession withouta in Miami, his work wasinthe Florida Keys that he loved. WILBUR said. Theworkertook a prescription andmisde- said. Douglas was arrested ingher. After spending time in the Jane Anderson Wilbur photo of theCadillac and meanordrug equipment for misdemeanor disorderly “Mallorieven describedto National Guard, he startedout Jane A. Wilbur passed away conduct. saidhewanted to pursue me what the narcoticswere,” possession and marijuana driving the National Linentruck peacefully in Marathon, Florida Aconstruction worker charges since children could wrote Officer ThomasClark. possession. making deliveries throughout on December 23, 2017. Her have seenthe act.