County labors over budget, taxes
May 24, 2018
Monroe County government officials struggled Wednesday to start crafting their budget and property tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year, as they are still awaiting millions of dollars in federal...more
= Denotes Subscription RequiredNew gym takes shape at Basilica School
May 24, 2018
The new gym and cafeteria at The Basilica School of St. Mary Star of the Sea will have been worth the two-year wait when it opens next month — in time for summer day camps at the historic...more
Weather station radar out
May 24, 2018
With just a week before the official start of Hurricane season and a tropical system developing in the Gulf of Mexico, the radar remains down at the Key West Weather Station as of Wednesday. The...more
News
Historic Seaport wins prestigious preservation award
The Key West Historic Seaport recently took home an award from the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, honoring the Bight District’s commitment to historical accuracy at the working...more
Pedestrian in Conch Train crash identified
May 24, 2018The 60-year-old man that was hit by a Conch Train has been identified, following the release Wednesday of the traffic crash report. Kurt A. McCord, of Key West, suffered serious injuries on...more
Schools to launch Text Tips program
May 24, 2018The school district on Wednesday announced a countywide launch of a school safety program designed to identify troubling student behaviors before a concern becomes a crisis, a crime, or...more
Sante won’t seek another term on council
May 23, 2018ISLAMORADA — Ten years on the Village Council is long enough, Chris Sante says. “I’m done and done,” Sante said of his intent to stay off the Islamorada ballot in...more
Sewer plant to get $1.2 million in upgrades
May 23, 2018KEY LARGO — Key Largo Wastewater Treatment District commissioners last week approved $1.2 million in capital improvement projects for the main plant, discussed debt reduction and employee...more
Bookings for 05/24/18 All charges are preliminary
Dry cocaine leads to arrest for possession
May 24, 2018Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a Marathon man on May 20 after discovering he was driving impaired and in possession of cocaine. Adelmo Barrera Valenzuela, 36, led deputies on a short chase after he noticed a marked police car behind him. While the deputy initially clocked Valenzuela at 45 mph in a 30 mph...more
“We are on a very slippery slope in this country in the name of ‘safety.’ With this mentality of ‘see something, say something.’ It wants people to speak up when they hear the slightest thing which one can attribute to a word or phrase and not the whole conversation. Sounds a lot like the ‘eyes...more
Dry cocaine leads to arrest for possession
May 24, 2018Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a Marathon man on May 20 after discovering he was driving impaired and in possession of cocaine. Adelmo Barrera Valenzuela, 36, led deputies on a short chase after he noticed a marked police car behind him. While the deputy initially clocked Valenzuela at 45 mph in a 30 mph...more
“We are on a very slippery slope in this country in the name of ‘safety.’ With this mentality of ‘see something, say something.’ It wants people to speak up when they hear the slightest thing which one can attribute to a word or phrase and not the whole conversation. Sounds a lot like the ‘eyes...more
Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon & Big Pine News
Coral killer continues to spread along reef
FLORIDA KEYS — A deadly coral disease persists in its ominous spread along the Florida Keys reef. Two years since scientists confirmed the presence of “white plague”...more
Hardwood hammock home to nature preserve
May 23, 2018ISLAMORADA — Sunlight filters through the leaves of a towering gumbo limbo tree on a walk down the path through Green Turtle Hammock Nature Preserve, a route that winds past a classic...more
Megaplex is linchpin of South Dade revitalization
May 23, 2018HOMESTEAD — Construction began last week on a new 70,000-square-foot Homestead Station, a complex that will feature movie theaters and a bowling alley, shopping and dining, and a transit...more
Memorial service an Islamorada tradition
May 23, 2018ISLAMORADA — The Florida Keys on Memorial Day do not forget those who died while defending the nation, nor those veterans who perished while working to link the islands. At 9 a.m. Monday,...more
Publix likely to be discussion topic at Thursday meeting
May 23, 2018ISLAMORADA — By the time Village Council members meet Thursday, they may have an idea how the newly opened Publix market will affect U.S. 1 traffic. That also could be a source of...more
Editorials
Please accept ROGOs
Dear Governor Scott and fellow elected FL Keys officials, Representing more than 570 businesses in the Middle and FL Keys, the Marathon Chamber Board of Directors understands the economic...more
The death of the reef
May 24, 2018Imagine being able to transport yourself back in time to the year 1851 and diving the reefs of the Florida Keys — giant stands of elkhorn and staghorn corals, crystal clear water and...more
Cheers and jeers
May 19, 2018Jeers: to the Public Service Commission for their outrageous and possibly illegal denial of two Monroe County Commissioners right to speak during the public comment portion of a rate hike hearing...more
Key West’s tree issue continues to grow
May 17, 2018An epiphany? Conversion? Divine guidance? Whatever it is, Mayor Cates, we will take it with gratitude on behalf of the tree canopy of Key West. The Citizen has chronicled with dismay the...more
Supports Ponciana as official tree
May 12, 2018There was a meeting of the Tree Commission this week. It was suggested to make the Royal Poinciana the official tree of Key West. I want to set the record straight to this commission. There was...more
Sports
SOUTHERNMOST HOCKEY CLUB Season comes to close with championships, superlatives
It was championship weekend for the Southernmost Hockey Club with playoffs deciding league winners in three age divisions. Individual players were also recognized in the closing ceremony...more
Love, unity highlight Games for Keys Special Olympians
May 23, 2018It was an exciting weekend for Monroe County Special Olympic athletes. More than 50 athletes, partners, coaches and chaperones made the trip to the ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando to compete...more
Rainy days, rainy nights result in postponements
May 23, 2018Once again, inclement weather forced the postponement of games last week in the Key West Men’s Softball League. Just two of the six scheduled games were played. Charlie Mac’s...more
Tropical Movers fail to deliver; T&W Chevron zooms into first
May 22, 2018After a tie with Booker Advertising, Tropical Movers dropped out of first place with a 7-2-1 record eclipsed by T&W Chevron Auto Repair with an 8-2 mark. Gary the Carpenter and Jolly’s Liquor...more
Cooler weather assists Bataillein quest to break 50-mile mark
May 22, 2018When Cole Bataille crossed the Higgs Beach finish line on Saturday afternoon, few knew of his goal of breaking the record for the 50-mile run as part of the Keys 100 Ultramarathon. With a Florida...more
