Senate Approves Some Rate Relief
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KEY LARGO 305.451.5700 make. MARATHON 305.743.4397 home. KEY WEST beautiful. 305.295.6400 keysfurniture.com WWW.KEYSINFONET.COM SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014 VOLUME 61, NO. 22 G 25 CENTS LAYTON’S BIG RACE CRIME FRONT Sentencing for Zecca is delayed ed the delay It’s now April or why. for man who set Zecca, a former com- up murder plot manding officer of Keynoter Staff Coast Guard Station A former U.S. Coast Islamorada, Guard commanding officer ZECCA admitted in who admitted to trying to hire federal court in November a hitman to kill a Middle that he tried to hire a hitman Keys Realtor has had his sen- to kill Marathon Realtor tencing pushed back a month. Bruce Schmitt (he was not Dennis Zecca, facing 10 injured). The hired gun turned years in federal prison, is out to be a federal informant. now scheduled for sentenc- In return for his guilty ing before U.S. District Court plea to murder for hire, the Judge Jose Martinez at 9:30 U.S. Attorney’s Office a.m. April 14 in District dropped charges of conspira- Court’s Courtroom 1 at 301 cy to possess with intent to Simonton St., Key West. distribute cocaine, attempt to He had been scheduled for possess with intent to distrib- March 25. A Wednesday court filing doesn’t say who request- See Zecca, 2A Racers in the 2014 World Famous CRIME FRONT Layton Canoe Race, organized by Mayor Norman Anderson Sex suspect and his friends, celebrate at the finish line. About a further charged dozen competitors race from the end of Cops: Hammer 1 in North South Layton Drive Carolina on Monroe near the marine lab, wanted testimony County war- and round the canals to be silenced rants charg- and return to the ing him with start/finish line. Keynoter Staff “repeatedly Centennial Bank raping a Key A Key Largo man jailed Largo teen provided the HAMMER hot dogs. pending trial on sexual- and for assault charges tried to inter- threatening her with a knife fere with the victim’s testi- and a gun” eight times over a Photos by DONNA DIETRICH mony, Monroe County two-year period, according to Sheriff’s Office deputies say. the Sheriff’s Office. Marcus E. Hammer, 41, He also was charged with FLOOD INSURANCE was booked Wednesday on an possessing material depict- additional felony count of ing sex acts involving a attempting to intimidate a wit- child and being a felon in ness in a “life capital felony” possession of a gun. case. That charge adds to the The victim described the criminal counts Hammer attacks to a deputy assigned Senate approves faces that, if convicted, could to her school. lead to life in prison. Hammer was arrested Feb. See Hammer, 2A some rate relief CRIME FRONT BY ALEX LEARY cies under 1 percent of a Hedvall’s murder trial Tampa Bay Tmes Bill to limit increases in premiums property’s total coverage and goes to president, expected to OK it report when it is unable to do to open on Monday Relief is coming to tens of so under the new law. thousands of Floridians — The bill, which passed average with a hard cap of 18 The bill does not result in block from including thousands in the the House on March 4, percent per year until reach- lost revenue, sponsors said, Suspect accused Don’s Keys — who experienced would eliminate a provision ing actuarial risk. because it has mandated annu- of beating man Million sudden, severe flood insur- of the law that said govern- Owners of grandfathered al increases plus an annual Dollar Bar. ance rate increases or were ment-subsidized rates disap- second homes and commer- surcharge of $25 for primary with a rock The stuck with homes they could pear when a person sells a cial property would also be residences under the National cause of not sell because new owners primary home; provide a spared, but older properties Flood Insurance Program, and By SEAN KINNEY death was would get hit with increases. refund for those who already of the same type built before $250 for secondary residences [email protected] blunt-force got hit under that provision; the flood rate maps are not and businesses. trauma President Obama will sign HEDVALL into law a bill the Senate and maintain protections for covered by the legislation Florida has more subsi- Jury selection is sched- caused by a passed Thursday — in the grandfathered properties and could face significant dized flood insurance poli- uled to begin at 9 a.m. rock found lying next to the same overwhelming fashion built to code after a commu- increases — an inequity that cies facing sharp rate hikes Monday in the first-degree truck, according to the as in the House earlier this nity adopted its first could drive its own outcry. than anywhere else in the murder trial of Peter Erik Monroe County Medical month — that reverses major National Flood Insurance Almost every Keys home- country and some home- Hedvall, accused of killing a Examiner’s Office. provisions of a 2012 law that Program rate map. owner with a mortgage has owners had seen annual man during Fantasy Fest Police reports say wit- forced the rate spikes. The legislation still allows depended on subsidized NFIP increases from $2,000 to 2011 in Key West. nesses at Don’s the night of The Senate vote was 72 the Federal Emergency insurance for affordable flood $10,000 or more. Hedvall, 28, is accused of the slaying saw Alvarado to 22. U.S. Senators Bill Management Agency, under coverage and they cap out at People trying to sell murdering Jonathon wearing angel wings — Nelson and Marco Rubio of which the flood insurance $250,000 in coverage. That homes complained they Alvarado, a former server at which were used to strangle Florida both supported the program runs, to impose pre- means the highest annual pre- were stuck because their La Trattoria Beachside who him, according to reports — overhaul, which came mium increases on homes mium for Keys property own- subsidies could not be was 32 when he died, on Oct. and Hedvall was seen in a months after rising anger built before those maps. But ers could be $2,500. passed on; the new bill 28 that year. Alvarado was light-colored suit. Both were from Floridians and others the increases will range FEMA must strive to found dead under a truck at across the country. between 5 and 15 percent on keep flood insurance poli- See Insurance, 2A 1019 Grinnell St., down the See Hedvall, 3A INDEX Printed on 100% Classifieds . .6B recycled Unwind newsprint Diamond Living . .2B CONTENTS © 2014 yourself stories Business . .7A KEYNOTER PUBLISHING CO. Our latest edition of the The Hurricanes and the Obituaries . .2A unwind lifestyle magazine Conchs both win on the lets you soak in all that Opinion . .6A baseball field, but LOCAL ESSENTIALS makes up the Keys. Marathon falls in Miami. Sports/Outdoors . .1B Inside your Keynoter and SOLAR SAVINGS page 17 Stories, 1B Crossword . .8A ECO-FRIENDLY CO-EXISTING available Keyswide. 7786790 22222 Interior Design WITH NATURE 2A Saturday, March 15, 2014 KeysInfoNet.com Keynoter NEWS BRIEFS Sentencing is MIDDLE KEYS On St. Pat’s Day, buses run for free delayed to April City codifies money The city of Key West is From Zecca, 1A take place while Schmitt encouraging St. Patrick’s left a Christmas party. Day partiers to go green and ute cocaine, and transfer of a Zecca was arrested for Old Seven Mile take advantage of free bus firearm to a convicted felon. after the informant, who of Transportation. Seven, urged the council to service on Monday. If he didn’t plead out, was wearing a wire for the Final step: DOT would pay $57.2 OK the money. Rides on the citywide Zecca faced life. feds, showed Zecca a doc- County approval, million toward the cost over “We have a suspended bus system and the Lower After 26 years with the tored photo of Schmitt 30 years and retain owner- 2.2-mile walkway across the Keys Shuttle, terminating in Coast Guard culminating lying in a pool of blood set Wednesday ship of the bridge. Monroe ocean. Where else can one go Marathon, will be free all with his Islamorada post, and as Zecca was going to County would pitch in for the same feeling?” Sherri day. “It’s an easy way to get Zecca became part-owner get $5,000 of the $20,000 By RYAN McCARTHY $14.24 million and Marathon Hodies asked. around, takes cars off the of the Marathon Marina payment for the hit. [email protected] the $5.34 million. Neugent took time to rec- roads and promotes a and Boatyard. Zecca had given the Still, Tuesday’s action ognize other people and healthier environment,” He was arrested Dec. informant a 9mm Beretta Quietly toward the end of was important enough for organizations for their work police spokeswoman Alyson 21, 2012, for attempting to to kill Schmitt. its meeting Tuesday, the County Commissioner in “accomplishing something Crean said. pay an employee — a fed- A search of Zecca’s Marathon City Council codi- George Neugent to sit that was a 1,000-to-1 shot.” And although St. eral informant who is a Indigo Reef condo in fied what it had already through the four-hour meet- That included the Pigeon Patrick’s Day is Monday, the convicted felon — $20,000 Marathon following his agreed to: Helping finance ing waiting to address the Key Foundation, Friends of local tradition is a Saturday or a kilo of cocaine to mur- arrest turned up a safe con- the rehabilitation of the Old council.