Plane in Crash Is Complete Loss
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17 Days to On the chopping 2011: A look back block? In 2011, Keys prep athletics saw Sears plans to close up to 120 Kmart and lot of successes but also some FREE Sears stores.Whether any in the Keys are JanuaryBayview 14 Park disappointments. Stories, 1B th on the list isn’t yet known. Story, 7A WWW.KEYSNET.COM WEDNESDAY,DECEMBER 28, 2011 VOLUME 58, NO. 104 ● 25 CENTS MIDDLE KEYS Looking back at 2011 As is the case every year,the people of Monroe County saw it all the past 12 months. There were continued local government battles with the state and the feds,the nine-year head of the Keys’water utility suddenly quit (seemingly forced out),fiscal problems continued at the School District, Marathon got a new hos- pital operator and Key West dealt with its own issues. It’s always instructive to look at the major stories of the past year as a new year dawns, and that’s what the Keynoter is doing today,this coming Saturday and on our website, www.KeysNet.com. In today’s edition, you’ll find stories about distin- guished residents who died, what happened on the county front and where the village of Islamorada stands. On the web, you’ll see what happened the past 12 months at the Key Largo Wastewater Treatment District. Coming are looks back at the past year in Key West, Marathon, the Mosquito Control District, the School District, Florida Keys Community College, the U.S. Navy, the environment and fishing. 2011: A LOOK BACK New year’s here, old issues remain FEMA, No Name, at homes covered by FEMA’s This photo,posted and shared on numerous Facebook pages,show the plane sitting in shallow water after the crash. National Flood Insurance The owner says he’s considering whether to continue his tour business, considering the aircraft sells for $395,000. Hickory House Program — apparently was resolved in October, another still problems more-serious one arose this month: FEMA considering By RYAN McCARTHY put the Keys on probation in [email protected] the insurance program, and Plane in crash possibly even suspending the Onerous mandates by the island chain from it, because Federal Emergency Manage- of endangered species habitat. ment Agency, the idea for a That’s big because the casino at Florida Keys National Flood Insurance Marathon Airport, an animal- Program insures thousands of is complete loss control scandal and the Keys properties whose own- never-ending battle over ers can’t get such insurance By KEVIN WADLOW Three get minor injuries Monday 1989 by the Waco Classic electricity on No Name Key elsewhere. And having such Senior Staff Writer Aircraft Corp. of Michigan, continued making county- insurance usually is a bank [email protected] when tour aircraft plunges into water is a modernized replica of a wide news in 2011. But those requirement to get a mort- classic model from the weren’t the only issues. gage. All three people aboard a engine Waco YMF airplane Fishermen’s Community 1930s. “The Waco is not a First, the resolution. sightseeing biplane that piloted by Alvin Reinauer, 37, Hospital for examination but rebuild or a kit plane but a FEMA and Keys For years, FEMA has crashed Monday in waters of Key Largo made an emer- soon released. Goodwin said brand new FAA-certified Just when one controver- mandated the county inspect off Marathon survived — gency crash landing in shallow the worst injuries were “a production aircraft,” the sial issue involving FEMA — homes it covers for illegally but the aircraft and its busi- water about half a mile off couple of scratches.” company’s website says. the inspection for possible ness may not. Tingler Island in Marathon All three people were FWC officers said the illegal downstairs enclosures ● See County, 2A Paul Goodwin, operator of around 2:30 p.m. Monday, picked up and taken to plane “experienced mechan- the Conch Air Corp., said the according to an initial accident shore by witnesses aboard a ical problems and started future of the decade-old aeri- report filed by Florida Fish flats skiff. The rescuers’ sputtering” before the crash, KEY WEST al tour firm at Florida Keys and Wildlife Conservation names were not immediate- related Officer Bobby Dube, Marathon Airport is uncertain Commission officers. ly available. an agency spokesman. in the wake of the accident. Maurizio Vidulich, 61, of “There was quite a com- The Federal Aviation “When something like this Melbourne and Nicholas motion out there,” said Liz Administration and the happens, you’ve got to weigh Garcia, 35, of Marathon Montgomery, who watched National Transportation whether you want to take the were riding in the front pas- the rescue from a Man-O- Safety Board will handle risk,” Goodwin said Tuesday. sengers’ seat. Garcia and War Drive home. The open-cockpit, single- Vidulich were taken to The airplane, built in ● See Crash, 4A 2011: A LOOK BACK Year sees passing of notables Keynoter photo by SEAN KINNEY Construction crews on Tuesday take out existing sidewalks Dockside Islamorada from football, he went on to on Virginia Street while simultaneously pouring concrete Rudell, Romano, Lounge restaurant, become a Dolphins broad- for new, wider one the affected area is between Windsor sax man Clemons and, later, died in April caster. Lane and Varela Street. Keywood at age 62. ● Frank Romano, 88, of are among them Cabinet Mandich Key West died in May. He Distrib- was the founded the company Key By LARRY KAHN utors. He principal West Aloe, originally the Despite objections, [email protected] was an avid director of Key West Fragrance and pilot who Mad Dog’s Cosmetics Factory, but is ROMANO RUDELL sidewalks going in With each year comes the loved flying Restaurants best known for being among passing of well-known and his Cessna 172. Inc., the parent corporation the forefathers of Florida made in public meetings now beloved community mem- On the bug board, Rudell of Ziggie and Mad Dog’s at Keys tourism. Protestors giving way to graffiti. bers, and 2011 was no differ- was known for butting heads mile marker 83 bayside in After moving to the Keys put graffiti on Meanwhile, to make way ent in the Florida Keys. with some commissioners Islamorada. The restaurant, from New York in the 1970s, for the 5-foot-wide side- ● Dick Rudell of over spending issues, and he formerly known as Ziggie’s he ended up leading the concrete wall walks, which will comply Marathon, a 12-year mem- was the harshest critic of Ed Crab Shack, specializes in Monroe County Advertising with the Americans with ber of the Florida Keys Fussell, the 13-year director steaks, seafood and chops. Commission and transition- By SEAN KINNEY Disabilities Act, city crews Mosquito Control Board, who retired shortly after the He founded the Mad Dog ing to its successor, the [email protected] have removed several trees died in February at age 72 2010 election saw a changed Mandich Fishing Classic, a county Tourist Development and a number of other just three months after get- board without a majority two-tournament fishing Council. Although construction of encroachments including ting elected to a fourth four- bloc supporting him. event in Islamorada and He also was a co-founder new sidewalks on Virginia fences, walls and formerly year term. ● Former Miami Dolphin Miami. The Islamorada one of Fantasy Fest; the first one Street in Key West is well private parking spaces. In his 33 years in the Jim Mandich, a member of the raises money for Mariners was held in 1979. And he under way, some residents After complaints to the Keys, the Massachusetts NFL’s only undefeated team Hospital in Tavernier. there continue their objections native had owned the and the owner of a popular Following his retirement ● See Passing, 4A to the work with comments ● See Virginia, 2A INDEX Printed on 100% Classifieds . .4B recycled 2011: A look newsprint Fishing the Living . .3B CONTENTS © 2011 back Business . .7A KEYNOTER PUBLISHING CO. Florida Keys In Islamorada the past 12 Obituaries . .4A Get some new rods and months, it was all about reels for Christmas? Now’s Opinion . .6A sewers — and a federal the time to break them in. Sports/Outdoors . .1B investigation into the Captain’s column, 1B mayor. Story, 6A Crossword . .2B 7786790 22222 2A Wednesday, December 28, 2011 KeysNet.com Keynoter NEWS BRIEFS Protests ongoing New year, many same issues Everglades projects get federal funds From Virginia, 1A ed the wall as construction From County, 1A more, the county contends. Animal issues workers demolished side- The mandate arose out of In September, the county Key West City Commission walks while pouring con- built apartments below the the settlement of a 1990 law- Calling it the fruit of a got an unwanted legal result didn’t halt the work, some crete for new ones. flood plain when the home- suit in which FEMA and the bipartisan push, U.S. Sen. to its long-running dispute objectors took to expressing “We gave them a clean owner seeks a building per- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Bill Nelson on Wednesday with former Middle Keys their sentiments on a large slate,” he said, adding that mit for anything having to do Service were sued by three applauded the inclusion of animal-control provider white wall at Virginia and the demolition of the for- with that house. environmental groups claim- Everglades restoration proj- Linda Gottwald and her non- Watson streets. merly whitewashed wall is But in 2011, Gov. Rick ing that allowing flood insur- ects into the federal budget.