Need A Loan? Call Us ! 305-296-8535 KeysBank.com Ani Brian Kurt Brian Lori Madruga Barroso Lewin Kelly Bailey (305) (305) (305) (305) (305) 308-3210 393-4669 304-4187 393-6446 304-6991 NMLS#: 812674 NMLS#: 812460 NMLS#: 812476 NMLS#: 812475 NMLS#: 812459 Member FDICMember Equal Housing Lender WWW.KEYSNET.COM WEDNESDAY,JANUARY 16, 2013 VOLUME 60, NO. 5 ● 25 CENTS UPPER KEYS Aquarius gets new life with FIU By KEVIN WADLOW World’s only underwater research world,” said Mike Heithaus, Senior Staff Writer executive director of FIU’s [email protected] laboratory had faced mothballing School of Environment, Arts and Society. The Aquarius, the world’s completed three saturation- al budget. The University of FIU biology professor Jim only undersea research facility, diving missions aboard North Carolina-Wilmington, Fourqurean, an aquanaut renewed its lease at its Conch Aquarius. “It’s like a space which operated the Aquarius who took part in an Aquarius Reef site off Islamorada. station underwater there in with federal grants for nearly mission, will oversee the Florida International the Florida Keys.” two decades, closed its land facility’s operations. University will take over FIU, a state university in base on the Port Largo canal Several “core members” operations and maintenance Miami, received a NOAA in Key Largo on Jan. 1. of the Aquarius Research of the underwater living grant to maintain the 43-foot- Now, FIU staff will seek Base staff will join the FIU facility, which is owned by long metal structure, additional money to under- staff, including Otto Rutten, the National Oceanic and anchored to the ocean bottom take new multi-day missions. Roger Garcia and Thomas Atmospheric Administration, 63 feet down. “For our students and our Potts, Heithaus said. FIU confirmed Tuesday. It appeared that the age of marine sciences program, Once the Aquarius returns “This is wonderful news, Aquarius reached its end Aquarius offers fantastic new to operating status capable of a great cause for celebra- when most funding for its possibilities and is a natural fit supporting a research team, a The longtime Key Largo land base for Aquarius operations tion,” said underwater pio- research operations was for the work we are doing in was vacated Jan. 1 when the possibility of closing the neer Sylvia Earle, who has dropped from the 2013 feder- the Keys and throughout the ● See Aquarius, 3A underwater habitat was very real. CONCH BABY OWLS PYTHON CHALLENGE Early in hunt, 11 Burmese pythons caught Broward County, who check Keys contingent in the snakes turned over by is heading out hunters. Segelson said she did not have specific information this weekend about the sizes or locations of the animals harvested, nor the By SUSAN COCKING names of hunters. [email protected] More than 800 people from more than 30 states Python Challenge 2013, have registered to compete in aimed at culling South the month-long challenge, Florida’s population of inva- which will award prize sive Burmese pythons and money for the most and raising awareness about the largest pythons harvested. hazards posed by nonnative “We’re very excited there species, has claimed 11 snakes have been 11 Burmese since its Saturday kickoff. pythons turned in so far, since Florida Fish and Wildlife we didn’t have any expecta- Conservation Commission tions,” Segelson said Monday spokeswoman Carli Segelson afternoon. “But we are pleased said she got the number from we’ve had snakes turned in so biologists from the University early in the competition, espe- of Florida Research and Photo courtesy FLORIDA KEYS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE Education Center in Davie in ● See Python, 3A Three newly hatched great horned owl chicks make their debut,hatching late Monday or early Tuesday in an abandoned osprey nest in Islamorada.Workers with the Florida Keys Electric Cooperative discovered that the owls — the largest owl MARATHON species in Florida — had moved into the nest on a utility pole. Great horned owls are rare in the Florida Keys, and staff at Florida Audubon’s Tavernier Science Center says this may be the first recorded Keys nesting by the species. Tourist crashes, CRIME FRONT jumps from bridge Pursuing cop out of the water. Zecca demands jury trial The Sheriff’s Office says saw ‘large that about 11:05 p.m. Snow during the arraignment tribute cocaine, attempt to take place while Schmitt left Monday, the agency put out Not-guilty pleas at the federal courthouse on possess with intent to distrib- a Christmas party. black cloud’ an alert to watch for a reck- are entered in Simonton Street. ute cocaine, and transfer of a Zecca, 51, was arrested less driver in a white Impala. Aaron specified to Snow firearm to a convicted felon. Dec. 21 after the informant Keynoter Staff Deputy Vince Weiner heard murder for hire that with entering the not- The FBI and prosecutors showed Zecca a doctored the call and saw the car about guilty plea, he did so “with- allege Zecca attempted to photo of Schmitt lying in a If you’re driving drunk, five minutes later traveling By SEAN KINNEY out waiving any possible pay a Marathon Marina and pool of blood and as Zecca crash the car you’re driving north on U.S. 1 at 23rd Street [email protected] defense.” Boatyard employee — an was going to get $5,000 of the on the Seven Mile Bridge, in Marathon. Snow said U.S. District informant who is a convicted $20,000 payment for the hit. flee the cops, crash the car Weiner, traveling south- The attorney for Dennis Judge Jose E. Martinez would felon — to kill prominent A search of Zecca’s again on the bridge, then bound, did a U-turn to “get a Zecca, federally indicted on handle further proceedings. Marathon Realtor Bruce Indigo Reef condo in jump from the bridge 60 feet better visual” of the car — charges of murder for hire Zecca, co-owner of the Schmitt but they have not Marathon turned up a safe down into the water, you’re which then also made a U- and conspiring to traffic Marathon Marina and said what the motive was. containing four handguns, likely going to face charges. turn and crossed over the yel- cocaine, entered a not-guilty Boatyard and former com- The arrangement apparent- four rifles, two shotguns, lots That’s the prospect Dale low traffic lines in the plea on behalf of his client manding officer of Coast ly was made outside of a 10- of ammunition and $42,600 Darosa, 45, of Westfield, process to head south. Monday in Key West. Guard Station Islamorada, kilo cocaine deal Zecca report- in cash, the feds said. Mass., faces once he’s Weiner pursued with his Defense attorney William was indicted Jan. 10 by a edly was trying to set up with Schmitt, meanwhile, had returned to Monroe County emergency lights on, he Aaron also demanded a jury grand jury and charged with the informant. The feds say been out of the country but from Jackson Memorial wrote in a report, and pulled trial, which was granted by murder for hire, conspiracy Schmitt had no role in that. returned briefly to tend to his Hospital in Miami, where he U.S. Magistrate Judge Lurana to possess with intent to dis- The hit was supposed to real estate affairs. was taken after he was fished ● See Crash, 3A INDEX Printed on 100% Classifieds . .6B recycled newsprint Felonies Living . .3B CONTENTS © 2013 Seafood Business . .5A KEYNOTER PUBLISHING CO. The Key West Seafood mount Festival takes over Bayview A Key West woman Opinion . .4A Park this weekend. Special on supervised release for Sports/Outdoors . .1B section inside. tax fraud is in a lot more trouble. Story, ?A Crossword . .4B 7786790 22222 2A Wednesday, January 16, 2013 KeysNet.com Keynoter NEWS BRIEFS KEY COLONY BEACH Key Largo man dies on U.S. 1 Commissioner’s wife arrested A Key Largo man died Vorick charged Office Colony Beach.” Ocean Beach Club Report. “She worked for them early Saturday when he was report on The report details an Oct. Later in the report, Lula and we talked about general struck by a car while walk- with theft the incident. 9 e-mail to resort ownership Vorick recants what she stuff but that’s about it. ing across U.S. 1 at mile He’s seek- in which she admits her theft reportedly wrote in the e- She’s been accused of marker 104. from condo ing a sev- and implies her husband was mail. She alludes to health something that may or may The Florida Highway enth consec- involved. The e-mail is in issues that led to her being not be true,” he said. Patrol says Gerald Cwik, 62, By RYAN McCARTHY utive two- reference to a September trip admitted to the Guidance Contacted by the was walking across the [email protected] year term on she took to North Carolina. Care Center in Marathon. Keynoter Tuesday, a woman the board The e-mail states, accord- “My recollection of events at the Ocean Beach Club northbound lanes, west to VORICK east, around 12:45 a.m. Key Colony Beach resi- this March. ing to the report: “I am so during the summer and after said Lula Vorick was a long- when he was struck by a dent Lula Vorick was arrest- “I had nothing to do with ashamed. I used the compa- Oct. 8 is not clear. I saw the e- time “consultant” that did 2008 Toyota Avalon driven ed Monday on a felony anything and everyone ny debit card on my trip with mail of Oct.