WWW.KEYSNET.COM SATURDAY,SEPTEMBER 15, 2012 VOLUME 59, NO. 74 ● 25 CENTS TROPICAL STORM ISAAC ENVIRONMENT Key West wants $1M-plus in aid counties. City says it Isaac cracked over the needs it for Keys on Aug. 26 as a tropical storm and made landfall in beaches, more Louisiana as a Category 1 hurricane. While Louisiana By SEAN KINNEY saw massive flooding, there [email protected] was little damage in the Keys. Gov. Rick Scott on But Key West wants $1.1 Wednesday asked for federal million for cleaning up money to finance the cleanup Smathers Beach, Rest from Tropical Storm Isaac in Beach, South Beach and Monroe and seven other the Southernmost Point, counties, but it looks like among other things. The city only the city of Key West also wants $94,821 for sup- will seek much of it — if plies, equipment and over- President Obama declares an emergency for those Florida ● See Isaac, 2A KEY WEST Kicked out, robbed: Tourist’s bad night USGS photo by JIM DUQUESNEL The two Frenchmen went A large python captured on Key Largo two weeks ago shows it doesn’t want to go quietly. The Keys have become a At restaurant, back to their motel, the Sea he helped self Shell Motel on South Street, critical battleground against the invasive species. and called police to report the inside kitchen robbery. “Due to a language barrier and their level of intox- Keynoter Staff ication, I had difficulty” under- standing them, Garrido wrote. A Key West restaurant that But he understood enough Python focus is had a drunk patron decide to to know that Alvany had sort-of do the cooking himself been at Virgilio’s/LaTrattoria got a little justice on Tuesday on Duval Street a few hours when that patron later fell vic- earlier, so he went there to tim to a robbery. see if Alvany’s belongings City police say Romain were there. firmly on Keys Alvany, 23, visiting from They weren’t but he found France, was “very intoxicated” out Alvany had been kicked out By KEVIN WADLOW It’s “probably rare for a when he reported he had been around 2 a.m. for going into the They have a stronghold elsewhere, python to go long distances” robbed of his wallet and cell kitchen and starting to eat — Senior Staff Writer [email protected] but not so far in Monroe County across open water like phone around 4 a.m. Whether 1.5 cups of raw garlic cloves, a Florida Bay, he said. Other the phone was actually stolen cup of chopped raw onions, a A campaign to rid South have a good chance of suc- snake with no eggs. areas, like near U.S. 1, pro- isn’t clear because, according cup of chopped basil and a por- Florida of pythons and other cessfully containing the “About a dozen” pythons vide “all sorts of mangrove to a report from city Police tion of cooked lobster meat. large invasive snakes may python population,” Reed have been killed or captured corridors with only a few Officer Gabriel Garrido, “I was absolutely shocked never be won, but wildlife said this week from his in the Keys since the first was open-water gaps,” he said. Alvany’s friend Guillaume and amazed,” says a nine-year biologists are taking a stand Colorado office. recorded in 2007 on North Former state biologist Jim Laduc kept calling it because Virgilio’s staffer. “I can under- in the Florida Keys. The effort gained new Key Largo, Reed said. Duquesnel now works for the he couldn’t find Alvany. stand eating one clove of gar- “Our goal is to try to pick attention Aug. 30 when a “Most have been medi- Geological Survey with Finally, Alvany picked up lic ... but that much raw garlic? up the few pythons that make large python was tracked and um-size adult males,” he another specialist to help and handed the phone to some- It’s like two solid handfuls.” it to the Keys before they can captured near mile marker said, “probably moving patrol the Keys. The National one else, who said, “Your Before being told to leave, become established,” said 105 on Key Largo. That widely to look for females Park Service, Florida Fish friend is really drunk. You Alvany was billed for a lob- Bob Reed, a snake expert snake officially measured 9 during breeding season.” and Wildlife Conservation need to come pick him up. We ster dinner, which goes for directing invasive-snake feet, 4 inches, somewhat Some may travel south Commission and other gov- are on Whitehead Street.” just a little over $30. efforts for the U.S. smaller than initial 11-foot along U.S. 1; several have ernment agencies are work- Geological Survey. reports. been killed on the 18-Mile ing on the snake problem. “Because of the large nat- The bad news was that it Stretch. Others, however, The Geological Survey ural gap between the main- was female capable of breed- may swim from the main- maintains about four dozen WIND IN THEIR HAIR land and the islands, it is one ing. The good news is that it land, Reed said. “Pythons are of the few places where we was confirmed to be a virgin quite good at swimming.” ● See Pythons, 8A MONROE COUNTY County finalizes budget County of $4.04 per stands at $374,162,061. can make a difference,” Wigington fails $100,000 of taxable assessed Other revenues come from Bowden said. “Whether that property value — 2.6 percent sales taxes, fees and grants. is the most economically in bid to kill below the rollback rate — In Thursday’s final hear- efficient thing to do is not for deputy raises was enacted at the Key West ing, county commissioners me to say.” session. removed $205,000 to station Commissioners all By KEVIN WADLOW The owner of a property fire-rescue staff on Sugarloaf expressed concern that rais- Senior Staff Writer with a $300,000 taxable Key during weekday busi- ing county fire-and-ambu- [email protected] assessment will pay about ness hours. Other nearby lance taxes could lead areas $1,212 in county taxes to Lower Keys fire-rescue sta- like Duck Key and Key New ambulances and a raise a total of about $76.5 tions can provide coverage Haven to seek annexation fire truck were put on hold million for the general fund. to Sugarloaf Key when no with nearby cities. Keynoter photo by RYAN McCARTHY but pay raises for Monroe The tax rate does not volunteers are available, Eleven new fire-rescue Florida Keys Poker Run bikers make their way south County Sheriff’s Office include separate taxes for commissioners said. positions originally sought through Marathon Friday on their way to Key West. deputies survived in schools, mosquito control, In response to a question, by county staff all were elim- Thousands of motorcyclists participate in the annual Thursday’s final hearing on special-purpose districts or Sugarloaf Volunteer Chief inated during the budget the County Commission’s event.To accommodate it, today in Key West, Duval Street state water management. Michael Bowden said he process. budget and tax rate. The overall county budg- feels “more comfortable” County Administrator from Southard to Front streets is closed, as is Greene A tax rate for most of et, including Fire and knowing the station is staffed Street from Elizabeth to Whitehead streets. unincorporated Monroe Ambulance District 1, now during the day. “More people ● See Budget, 4A INDEX Printed on 100% Classifieds . .6B recycled newsprint FILM Living . .2B In L'Attitudes No doughuts? CONTENTS © 2012 First-time director A new Dunkin' Donuts/gas DERSON Business . .7A KEYNOTER PUBLISHING CO. HAD AN ring the 14th val may get a scores a winner with station in Marathon -- past g guide Mark ding ground in Obituaries . .2A ooty tern and ‘Robot & Frank’ its expected opening -- Opinion . .6A ation Story, 4B could be in trouble. e Keys Susan Sarandon and Frank Langella in a scene from ‘Robot & Frank,’ which opens at The Tropic. Birder’s Guide to Story, 5A f Eastern North a.” Sports/Outdoors . .1B ival participants xplore many Keys Charming film a winnering transition of her al gems, including library of printed media ey West Tropical “27 Dresses”) is excellent to a library of the ‘near st & Botanical second as Hunter, the frustrated future.’ She also has a from first-timestory son anddirector brother who is surprising past that will den, the National Key Crossword . .2B r Refuge, the waters of man,’ just trying to do the right slowly be revealed. 7786790 22222 Upper Keys backcoun- and his thing. Liv Tyler (“The In his first full-length and half a dozen state ‘Robot & Frank’ new Incredible Hulk,” “The feature, Jake Schreier rks. In addition to the triggers a smile robot is Lord of the Rings”) is makes the jump from his owledgeable Thompson, the per- Madison, Frank’s altruis- previous career as rock ey’ll be guided by bird- of familiarity fect part- tic daughter, who doesn’t band keyboardist to ner-in- ng, butterfly and photog- agree with Hunter’s pur- movie director seem “Robot & Frank,” crime. aphy experts from chase of the robot. She almost effortless. His fi hroughout South Florida. Rated PG-13, 89 min. WANOUS thinks she can do a better perfectly captures the Thompson is scheduled Now playing at The job of taking care of their tone of a light-hearted Langella (“Wall Street: to talk Thursday, Sept. 27, Tropic Cinema. father and temporarily plot with serious unde Money Never Sleeps”, moves in with him.