County targets utility, rates
August 17, 2018
The Monroe County Commission agreed Wednesday to appeal a sewer rate increase for Stock Island and the commission took its first steps to either acquire the private utility or having greater...more
= Denotes Subscription RequiredBallast Key may be named after tycoon
August 17, 2018
Key West tycoon David Wolkowsky is arguably one of the most influential developers and real estate moguls still living in the Florida Keys. The nearly 99-year-old man, who developed the Pier...more
Condemned building at May Sands comes down
August 17, 2018
Residents call it “that old building at May Sands School,” but the official documents pertaining to its demolition identify the building being reduced to piles of concrete and rebar is known...more
News
Red Cross, SOS team up to feed the Keys
The American Red Cross announced a new partnership with the Star of the Sea Foundation to assist in long-term recovery efforts for residents of the Florida Keys who are still recuperating from...more
Snorkeler dies after incident
August 17, 2018A Panama City, Florida man died following a snorkeling incident on Wednesday after being airlifted to the Lower Keys Medical Center. A couple found the man, identified as Michael Ray Stephens,...more
Restaurant had permission to scrap housing
August 16, 2018The Sonic Drive-In construction site was a beehive of activity Wednesday morning, with dozens of workers preparing the site for its projected September opening. But none of them were working on...more
School workers hear pep talk from Hollywood producer
August 16, 2018Every school district employee spent Monday at Marathon High School for a district-wide welcome, a keynote address from Academy Award-winning producer of “Titanic” Jon Landau and mental health...more
Security marks Parkland students’ return
August 16, 2018PARKLAND — Students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Wednesday returned to a more secure campus as they began their first new school year since a gunman killed 17 people in the freshman...more
Bookings for 08/17/18 All charges are preliminary
Beer bottle bandit
August 17, 2018The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Big Pine Key man on Wednesday after he robbed an acquaintance last week. Jason William Ricketts, 33, was charged with battery and robbery with a weapon. According to the report, deputies initially responded to a report of a robbery on Aug. 11 around 9:13 p.m. in Big Pine...more
“The Sonic on North Roosevelt Boulevard: Exhibit A on why all of the city’s ‘work’ on the affordable housing problem is complete BS.” “Once again the city permitting department screws up. Permit a job for a drive in eatery with two work force housing units, have a hurricane, listen to the the whine of the...more
Beer bottle bandit
August 17, 2018The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Big Pine Key man on Wednesday after he robbed an acquaintance last week. Jason William Ricketts, 33, was charged with battery and robbery with a weapon. According to the report, deputies initially responded to a report of a robbery on Aug. 11 around 9:13 p.m. in Big Pine...more
“The Sonic on North Roosevelt Boulevard: Exhibit A on why all of the city’s ‘work’ on the affordable housing problem is complete BS.” “Once again the city permitting department screws up. Permit a job for a drive in eatery with two work force housing units, have a hurricane, listen to the the whine of the...more
Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon & Big Pine News
Changes proposed for two state parks
KEY LARGO — New facilities planned for two state parks on Key Largo will be unveiled in a comment session Tuesday, Aug. 21. Among proposals for John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and Dagny...more
Council trashes plastic straw ban
August 15, 2018ISLAMORADA — The straw that broke a pending village ordinance turned out to be the straw. An environmentally minded law to ban the distribution of plastic straws that could wind up in Florida...more
Court demand has village in a pickle
August 15, 2018ISLAMORADA — The village’s one pickleball court may not be enough, a park adviser told Village Council members Aug. 9. “It’s an extremely rising sport for fitness groups of all ages,” said...more
Neighbors irked by canal debris coming to park
August 15, 2018KEY LARGO — After reopening to the public almost 10 months after Hurricane Irma struck, Rowell’s Waterfront Park is to be used as a temporary staging site for canal debris starting this month....more
New studio offers creativity through motion
August 15, 2018MARATHON — Keys Dance Academy is now enrolling future ballerinas and tap dancers at its new studio in Marathon. With three full-time instructors, Keys Dance Academy will offer ballet, tap, jazz,...more
Editorials
Canadian newsprint tariffs will hurt local newspapers
It’s no secret that America’s newspapers have struggled the past decade. Social media and myriad forms of digital news serving options have caused the industry to ‘self-correct’ in many ways,...more
Cheers and Jeers
August 11, 2018Cheers: to all of the candidates interviewed this week by members of the Citizen editorial board. We appreciate everyone’s time and willingness to be questioned to ensure that voters are informed...more
Homeless shelter situation continues to bewilder us
August 11, 2018Monroe County has been faced with many tough decisions in the past year as we all strive to move beyond the impacts of Hurricane Irma. We’ve seen it evident across a variety of subjects, from the...more
Why people eat when they’re not hungry
August 9, 2018“Eating healthy is easy.” That’s what a client that weighed more than 350 pounds told me. “My problem isn’t what I’m supposed to eat. My problem is the food I eat when I’m NOT hungry.” That...more
Objections to proposed use of power plant facility
August 7, 2018I am writing on behalf of Key West Art & Historical Society (the “Society”) to inform you [Key West mayor and city commissioners] of concerns expressed, and a recommendation adopted, by vote...more
Sports
First-year Dolphins coach hoping team follows its leaders
The pieces are in place for the Marathon High football team to be a legitimate contender for the Florida High School Athletic Association playoffs this season with senior quarterback Jackson...more
Hurricanes get first look at rebuilding challenge ahead
August 17, 2018Of the 44 players on the Coral Shores High football roster last season, 28 were seniors, leaving a huge void to fill for head coach Alphonso Bryant and the Hurricanes’ coaching staff, who will...more
Coaches to get view of where they are, what needs work
August 16, 2018The first of the Monroe County prep fall sports begins Thursday afternoon — a day after the kids reported to school — with the annual Preseason Volleyball Tournament at Marathon High School. Key...more
Conchs to get tested by Chiefs in preseason kickoff classic
August 16, 2018Pop quiz time — just two days into school — for the Key West High football team as, after an offseason of intense camps and workout programs, the Conchs will be put to the test tonight at 7 p.m....more
Baste conquers the world’s longest canoe race on a paddleboard
August 14, 2018Imagine a 1,000-mile downstream event, in one of the most remote locations on the planet, with an approximate three-to-four day wait to be rescued and no other outside communications permitted...more
