Friday, February 5, 2010

LAYTON

Reports of plane crash false

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office said reports of a plane crash Thursday morning near Mile Marker 68 were false.

Deputies, Coast Guardsmen, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents and wildlife officials responded to the call around 10 a.m., but found nothing, said Becky Herrin, sheriff's spokeswoman. The Federal Aviation Administration as well as the airports in Key West, Marathon and Miami were contacted and reported no downed planes, Herrin said.

A woman on the beach and other witnesses reported seeing a low-flying plane, but responders found no evidence of a crash. Naval Air Station Key West was not running flight operations at the time; its search and rescue personnel were on standby, but not called to the scene, said Navy spokesman Jim Brooks.

MONROE COUNTY

Warnings issued for beaches

The Monroe County Health Department's water-quality tests this week showed high levels of fecal bacteria at Anne's Beach in Islamorada, Coco Plum beach in Marathon, Bahia Honda Loggerhead beach, ocean side at Mile Marker 37, and South Beach in Key West.

Fecal coliform and enteric bacteria are normally found in the intestinal tract of humans and other warm-blooded animals, though a certain amount is always present in the environment. The Health Department says high levels may come from runoff or sewage from pets, wild animals or humans. It can cause disease, infections or rashes. Don't swim in the water. For more information, visit doh.state.fl.us, click on A-Z Topics, then choose Beach Water Quality, or call 305-293-1653.

KEY WEST

Opening on power advisory panel

Keys Energy Services has an opening on its Advisory Committee, for District 2, which covers the Key Haven neighborhood to Big Coppitt Key. Deadline is noon Feb. 22.

The committee, which was created in 1998, promotes public access to information about the power company and considers the future energy needs of the community.

It includes five members of the community, the Utility Board chairman and two Keys Energy staff members.

Currently serving are: James Gilleran, Alan Toriello, Elsie Metcalf, Sheriff Bob Peryam, and Chairman Henry Hamilton, who has reached his term limit after serving two consecutive three-year terms.

Applications are available in Keys Energy's Key West service building, at 1001 James St.