Shark Tales Conservation Donald Trump to the Land in Swap Senate to Start the with County Historic
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January 18-19 Bayview Park Delicious, fresh seafood, nautical vendors, hands-on kidsand activities, much more! great live music Special section — Download online 75¢ 2020 FLORIDA KEYS SEAFOOD FESTIVAL Wednesdaydnesday 1 January 15, 2020 ◆ Vol. 144 ◆ No. 13 ◆ 16 pages CAYO CONCH Veteran lawmakers remain busy Last legislative session for Flores, Raschein kicks off BY TIMOTHY O’HARA Flores and it will be a busy one for the sion for both Raschein and Flores, from Key West Citizen two veteran state legislators. securing millions of dollars in fund- “Sharks? Yeah, umm, Raschein, R-Key Largo, referred to it ing for Keys projects to protecting Keys sure, I love sharks.” The state legislative session, which on Tuesday as “last one, best one.” local governments’ ability to enforce started Tuesday, will be the last one for “It’s going to be exciting,” Raschein their own vacation rental laws. In non- NATION outgoing Florida Keys state House Rep. said. Flores Holly Raschein and state Sen. Anitere There is a lot on the table this ses- See LAWMAKERS, Page 5A Raschein House will vote on submitting articles The House is prepar- Marathon ing to vote Wednesday to send the articles of acquires impeachment against President Shark Tales conservation Donald Trump to the land in swap Senate to start the with county historic Pelosi trial, sev- BY JILL ZIMA BORSKI eral peo- Key West Citizen ple told The Associated Press. Marathon recently recom- Speaker Nancy Pelosi mended a conservation land met privately Tuesday at swap deal to Monroe County, the Capitol with House which was approved by the Democrats about next county’s Land Authority advi- steps, ending her block- sory committee. The prop- ade almost a month after erty value in the swap was they voted to impeach about the same, although the Trump on charges of number of parcels exchanged abuse of power and varied widely. obstruction of Congress. All the land is Page 3A subject to a conserva- FLORIDA tion ease- ment and 4 panthers found approval by dead in 2 weeks the Board of County Four Florida panthers Photos by ROB O’NEAL/The Citizen Commissioners. have been reported dead The Land Authority com- in the first two weeks of ABOVE: Visitors attend a 1 p.m. mittee also recently approved 2020. shark-feeding Tuesday at the Key West committing $800,000 to the Aquarium. The historic facility, which Three of the deaths Anchor Inn Motel affordable began as the first open-air aquarium were caused by vehicle in the country, was completed in 1935, housing site in Marathon, strikes, while the fourth giving much-needed jobs to locals upping its initial commit- was killed by a train, during the Great Depression, but was ment by $200,000 to be in the Florida Fish and closed later that year after the Labor line with a 75%-to-25% Wildlife Conservation Day Hurricane destroyed the Overseas split between county and Commission said. Railroad and any hopes of tourism. In the municipality, which is A total of 27 Florida 1943, the U.S. government leased the becoming protocol but has panthers were reported property for the military to be used as a not been approved formally killed in 2019, with 23 of rifle range. Three years later, the aquari- by the committee. those being from vehicle um reopened and is now open every day The committee approved from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and also features strikes. Page 3A a resolution in December sea turtles, alligators, tarpon and doz- ens of other species. The Great White authorizing acceptance of ON THE RADIO shark at left was caught off Nantucket conservation properties in in 1969, weighed 3,400 pounds and unincorporated areas on Key measured more than 16 feet in length. Largo, Big Pine Key, Middle Torch Key, Ramrod Key and LEFT: Rae Corley helps visitors feed the Summerland Key from the nurse sharks Tuesday afternoon at the City of Marathon, and con- Key West Aquarium at Mallory Square. currently approved a resolu- tion authorizing the transfer of conservation properties Kathryn Norris talks about on Grassy Key, Crawl Key Saturday’s “Fight for Your and Fat Deer Key to the Rights” March on Duval Street. Man charged with operating without contracting license City of Marathon subject to a conservation easement. Also on today’s show: BY TIMOTHY O’HARA contracting work he didn’t complete In April, Wardlow, working under Marathon defines the con- Judd Wise — Key West High • Key West Citizen and wasn’t licensed to do. the business name Wardlow Building servation terms for its parcels School • Jennifer McComb — Christopher Wardlow, 54, was arrest- Group Inc., entered into an agree- itself, which could include Community Foundation Prosecutors has filed criminal ed last week on a charge of contracting ment with a resident of the Key West workforce or affordable hous- • Rick Ramsay — Monroe charges against a Big Coppitt Key man without a license based on an arrest by the Sea condominium complex on ing, according to county Land County Sheriff for reportedly taking tens of thousands affidavit prepared by the Monroe Roman Gastesi — County • of dollars from a Key West resident for County State Attorney’s Office. See LICENSE, Page 8A See SWAP, Page 5A Administrator • Greg Veliz — City Manager • Chuck Bernier — Key West half-marathon course director • Liz Young — Arts Council Enforcement issues make fees, classes doubtful NEWS: 7:30, 8:30 a.m., noon, 5 & 6 p.m. BY KEVIN WADLOW Our visitors already are getting taxed and the (vacation al and state parks), at this Evening Edition 5-5:30 p.m. Key West Citizen destination) competition is f erce. Sanctuary off cials time NOAA determined the understand the importance of tourism. challenges were greater than Two controversial pro- the potential benefit gained posals — mandatory boat- ANDY NEWMAN COUNCIL MEMBER from a user fee program, and ing classes and user fees — therefore would not be eval- appear unlikely to be part The National Oceanic and but ultimately eliminated it the draft management plan. uated” in the draft environ- of the Florida Keys National Atmospheric Administration from further review,” says a “While user fees are success- mental-impact statement. Marine Sanctuary’s draft staff“ “considered develop- section of the sanctuary’s 581- fully implemented at adja- management plan. ment of a user fee program page Restoration Blueprint, cent public lands (nation- See ISSUES, Page 5A INDEX ◆ CITIZENS’ VOICE – 2A CLASSIFIEDS – 5-8B COMICS – 7A CROSSWORD – 7B KEYS CALENDAR – 2A OPINION – 4A SPORTS – 1B KEYSWIDE CLASSIFIEDS ◆ keysnews.com/classifieds FOR CLASSIFIEDS ◆ 305-292-7777, Option 3 2A THE KEY WEST CITIZEN ◆ WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 PAGE 2 IN THE PUBLIC’S INTEREST: • Home tours to connect to the Internet, how to AROUND THE KEYS Old Island Restoration Founda- charge and care for new devices Editor’s note: To have your event listed in Around the Keys, e-mail tion’s annual Key West Home Tour and how to use some of the basic the who, what, where and when to [email protected]. will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. on apps. Participants must have a Friday and Saturday, Jan. 17-18. device to bring to the class. Jan. The Key West Tickets are $35 in advance, $45 16 and 30, Windows; Jan. 22, An- Maritime His- • JIATF mission speech Stock Island. on the days of the tours. For infor- droids. Computer classes are free torical Society The Key West Maritime Historical mation or to purchase tickets, visit and open to the public, but seating will profi le the Society will profi le the work of • Medieval music concert http://www.keywesthometours. is limited. For information or reser- work of JIATF JIATF at a speaker event at 7 p.m. Early Music Key West will present com. vations, call 305-292-3595. at a speaker on Wednesday, Jan. 15, at the “Dances and Divisions. A Wind event at 7 p.m. Discovery Center Auditorium, 35 E. Player’s Delight,” a performance of • Library computer classes • Coral camp on Wednesday, Quay Road. medieval and renaissance music, The Key West Library, at 700 Reef Relief will offer a Martin Jan. 15, at the at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18, at Fleming St, is offering free com- Luther King Jr. Coral Camp from Discovery Center • Town hall meeting St. Paul’s Parish Hall, 401 Duval St. puter classes at 10 a.m. Thursday Saturday, Jan. 18 through Monday, Auditorium, 35 E. Monroe County Commissioner Tickets are available at the door or mornings. The classes will focus on Jan. 20 for children from 6 to 12 on http://www.eventbrite.com. For Quay Road. Craig Cates will host a town hall new devices, teaching the physical years old. For information about meeting from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on information, email earlymusickw@ layout of buttons and features, registration and fees, call 305- Thursday, Jan. 16, at the Bernstein gmailcom. how to navigate home screens and 294-3100 or email reefrelief@ Park Community Center, 5751 5th, apps using fi nger gestures, how gmail.com. Citizens’ Voice TODAY IN KEYS HISTORY Today’s Weather Report is Sponsored By... “Citizens’ Voice” is a forum for readers to tell us what’s on your mind, in 50 words or less. Email [email protected] or Place Your Ad Here submit online at http://bit.ly/ KWCitizensVoice. Comments are subject to editing and are not Call 305.292.7777 to speak with a sales associate today! guaranteed publication. “From Fantasy Fest to New Year’s, KEY WEST 5-DAY FORECAST Key West hosts many events and is TODAY TONIGHT THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY so busy due to the weather in the cold north.