Police arrested a Homestead man on multiple felony charges after he targeted high-end GPS units in a string of boat burglaries in Miami-Dade County and the Florida Keys, according to a news release from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
FILE - In this June 1, 2020 file photo, Nailea Rosales works behind a protective shield wearing a protective mask and gloves at the Morada Bay Beach Cafe in Islamorada, in the Florida Keys, during the new coronavirus pandemic. Repealing statewide mask mandates and criticizing the Biden administrations unemployment-based formula for distributing billions in federal aid has put Republican governors and their approach to handling the coronavirus pandemic back in the spotlight. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)(Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
ISLAMORADA, FL. — An orphaned manatee calf rescued off the Florida coast was finally released back into the waters after its two-month rehabilitation period. The calf named Rhino was rescued by members of the Dolphin Research Centre‘s Manatee Rescue Team and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission on Dec 6, last year, after the male manatee’s mother was hit by a boat which led to her death. “The manatee was between one and two years old and between 1.8 and 2 meters long, weighing in at 215kg (474 lbs),” said the Dolphin Research Centre.
thewestsidegazette.comFILE - In this June 1, 2020 file photo, Charles Perez wears a protective face mask and gloves as he waits on tables at the Morada Bay Beach Cafe in Islamorada, in the Florida Keys, during the new coronavirus pandemic. Repealing statewide mask mandates and criticizing the Biden administrations unemployment-based formula for distributing billions in federal aid has put Republican governors and their approach to handling the coronavirus pandemic back in the spotlight. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)(Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – In the latest sign of economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, Florida’s unemployment rate through January was 4.8%, which reflects nine straight months of job growth. That figure is also well below the national average of 6.3%, the state’s Department of Economic Opportunity said Monday. CareerSource Broward also released data showing that Broward County’s unemployment rate in January was 5.3%. Miami-Dade County’s unemployment rate was 8.1%; Monroe County’s was 3.5%; and Palm Beach County’s was 4.8% in the latest numbers available. For more information on state unemployment rates from the DEO, click here.
Opponents of the technology fear the date of the release in the Florida Keys is getting closer, and they are not ready for the possible repercussions of the experiment. The fight over whether or not to release genetically modified mosquitoes in Monroe County has been going on for almost a decade. Wray, the executive director of the Florida Keys Environmental Coalition, said he doesn’t believe there is enough evidence to prove that the technology is safe. The public health efforts are so controversial the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District hired Chad Huff as the public education and information officer. Last month, Rep. Carlos Gimenez wrote a letter to the EPA requesting independent corroboration that no genetically modified female mosquitoes will be released.
Monroe County Sheriff's Office deputies said these three paintings were stolen on Dec. 10 from a hotel in the Florida Keys. MIAMI – Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies were asking the public for help with finding three stolen paintings by BJ Royster, a marine life artist based out of Islamorada. The 10-inch by 8-inch paintings valued at $900 were stolen on Dec. 10 from a wall at the Hawk’s Cay Resort at 61 Hawks Cay Blvd., in Duck Key, deputies said. Detective Matthew O’Neill was asking anyone with information about the paintings’ whereabouts to call 305-289-2430.
ISLAMORADA, Fla. – It’s been three years since a victim had nearly $3,000 in cash stolen from their vehicle in Islamorada, but authorities have finally made an arrest. Linhardt said blood samples were collected at the scene and a witness reported seeing a young man looking into the vehicle. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement notified detectives in March 2018 that the blood samples taken at the scene came from Howard. According to Linhardt, Deputy Joel Torres stopped a car being driven by Howard at 6 a.m. on U.S. 1 near Mile Marker 102. After discovering that Howard was wanted by detectives, the deputy took Howard to jail.
There’s also a possible area of disturbance, Invest 98L, in the southwest Caribbean near where Eta formed. It has a 90% chance — up from 80% earlier Thursday — of developing into a tropical depression in the next 48 hours, according to forecasters, but it’s not expected to move northward and threaten the U.S.
sun-sentinel.comFLORIDA KEYS, Fla. – Monroe County’s tropical storm warning remained in effect on Monday afternoon for the Dry Tortugas. The coastal flood warning was also in effect for the Upper Keys, along with Islamorada and Marathon. Officials anticipate storm drains will overflow and many seawalls and docks will be overtopped. Schools, Key West and Lower Keys Transit, and garbage collectors will resume operations on Tuesday, but it will be delayed by one day. PHOTOSFull Screen 1 / 16 Local 10 viewer picture of effects of Eta in South Florida.
Hurricane Eta is forecast to continue to intensify as the Category 1 storm closes in on Florida’s Gulf Coast. A hurricane watch is in effect for Anna Maria Island to Yankeetown, where hurricane conditions are possible within 24 hours, forecasters said Wednesday morning. Here’s the latest storm track:
sun-sentinel.comVoters in the Florida Keys decided on Monroe County’s state attorney, and three commission seats were also in play in the November general election. That’s in addition to some other municipal election decisions in Key West, Islamorada, Key Colony and Key Largo, depending on where you live. See the results below, including how Monroe County residents voted in the presidential race.
ISLAMORADA, Fla. – A 23-year-old man from Islamorada man was arrested Monday on accusations that he crashed his 2001 Jeep Wrangler into multiple gates at Coral Shores High School last month. Linhardt said surveillance video shows Cadwell’s Jeep arriving to the campus just before midnight the previous evening. Linhardt said the Jeep was seen ramming multiple gates, attempting to gain entry to the campus. Linhardt said Detectives Deborah Johnson and Ian Barnett identified Cadwell as the primary suspect after running the Jeep’s license plate number. Linhardt said Cadwell was taken into custody Monday afternoon and did not provide a motive for his alleged actions.
MIAMI, Fla. – Before it was Tropical Storm Sally, Tropical Depression 19 made landfall near Black Point Marina in south Miami-Dade on Saturday, bringing heavy rains and causing gusts of more than 40 miles an hour. The storm snapped tree limbs and scattered debris across roads in Cutler Bay. Along South Beach, a driver parked where he thought his car would be safe but he told Local 10 that there was a whoosh of wind and then a crack. TD19 eventually strengthening into Tropical Storm Sally, but before it made its way into the gulf, it dumped several inches of rain over South Florida. Local 10 Weather Authority’s Luke Dorris said Sunday’s weather will be stormy with more heavy rain, but storm activity will be scattered.
ISLAMORADA, Fla. Two 18-year-old men from Tavernier were arrested Wednesday after they stole a piece of artwork from the lobby of a condominium that is worth thousands of dollars, authorities said. Linhardt said two employees at the complex told Kilmurray that a $3,000 sculpture of sea life had been stolen from the lobby. According to Linhardt, surveillance video shows Robles entering the lobby and leaving with the sculpture. He was then seen loading the sculpture into a Honda SUV in the parking lot, Linhardt said. Authorities said the video shows another man joining Robles in the parking lot, identified by a condo employee as Fucarraccio, who lives at the condo complex.
FLORIDA CITY, Fla. – Monroe County commissioners said they want to deter large crowds of tourists during the coronavirus pandemic. It’s too late for them to push for the cancelation of the July 29-30 lobster mini-season, so they decided to issue other restrictions on Tuesday. Key Largo and Islamorada will be closing public boat ramps from July 24 to Aug. 19. Private boat ramps are allowed to remain open. Aside from adults, Monroe County also requires children older than 6 years old to wear face masks.
ISLAMORADA, Fla. – Two Homestead men were issued citations for fish that were illegally caught because they were deemed undersized by Monroe County Sheriff's Marine deputies. Upper Keys Marine Deputy Nelson Sanchez was on routine patrol at 9 a.m. Saturday when he noticed several people fishing under the Tea Table Bridge. Sanchez approached two men in the area and requested he inspect a cooler, which he found contained two mutton snapper — one 12.25 inches and another 13.5 inches. The minimum size for mutton snapper is 18 inches. The fish were donated to the Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center in Tavernier as food for rescued birds.
ISLAMORADA, Fla. A 37-year-old Miami man was arrested Thursday morning after he exposed himself at a gift shop in Islamorada after being asked to put on a face mask, authorities said. Witnesses told responding deputies that other children were also present at the time, but they left before they could be interviewed by authorities. Linhardt said witnesses pointed out Duval to authorities in the parking lot as he was leaving. Authorities said Duval said he exposed himself after employees refused to let him use the bathroom inside the gift shop. He also admitted that there were several children present at the time, authorities said.
ISLAMORADA, Fla. – Officers and a trapper from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were called to a home Tuesday in Islamorada after an unexpected visitor showed up. FWC Officer Bobby Dube said authorities were called to the home on Cortez Drive and Mile Marker 76.5 Tuesday to remove a crocodile, which was just under 8 feet long. An FWC employee tends to a captured crocodile. (Andy Newman)He said the crocodile was taken to another location and was fitted with a GPS locator after undergoing a brief checkup. According to the FWC, American crocodiles are a shy and reclusive species that can be found in South Florida’s ponds, coves and mangrove swamps.
ISLAMORADA, Fla. – The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has arrested a man who they said was captured on camera trying to remove an identification band from the leg of a brown pelican. The incident allegedly occurred earlier this year at Robbie’s Marina of Islamorada. FWC officials said Robert Charles Hovey Jr., 33, of Louisiana, “captured a wild animal within the boundaries of a state park, violated the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and tormented an animal in a cruel and inhumane manner.”An arrest warrant was obtained for Hovey on March 13 and he turned himself in to authorities in Monroe County on Monday. It’s unclear why Hovey was allegedly trying to remove the ID band. According to the FWC, “the brown pelican is the smallest of the six different species of pelicans in the world” and is found on both coasts of North and South America.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said Weisberger was severely injured Thursday when he was struck by a moving car on U.S. 1. The teen is also charged with aggravated battery for stabbing his father, Ariel Jacob Poholek, 43. He then attacked Poholek, 43, who police said was stabbed multiple times and was held hostage for about two hours by Weisberger. The father had come in to see what was going on when he was also attacked,” said Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay. What brought on the attacks remains under investigation, according to Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
ISLAMORADA, Fla. – Pascal-Rene Zue Weisberger, 14, was an aspiring Eagle Scout. He was a member of the Boy Scouts of Troop 912 of Tavernier. He spoke at a city council meeting about climate change and volunteered for the Upper Keys Humane Society for years. Zachary James, his paternal uncle, said the Boy Scouts will be honoring him posthumously with the Eagle Scout rank. Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay said deputies found Pascal-Rene dead and learned Daniel had also held his father hostage.
ISLAMORADA, Fla. – A 17-year-old teenager wanted for murder jumped in front of a moving vehicle on Thursday night near Founders Park in Islamorada, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. The driver ran over Daniel Weisberger, 17, who is the suspect in the murder of his 14-year-old brother, Pascal, according to Adam Linhardt, a spokesman for the MCSO. Daniel Weisberger (Monroe County Sheriff's Office)A helicopter took Daniel to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center. Ariel Jacob Poholek, 43, with his 14-year-old son, Pascal Weisberger. RELATED STORY: Monroe County Sheriff describes crime scene, says teen had run ins with law before violent attack.
ISLAMORADA, Fla. – Blue Marlin Jewelry in Monroe County turns three children’s designs into reality just in time for Mother’s Day. Armando Gonzalez, the owner of the Islamorada jewelry store, hosted his annual Saige Raiche Memorial Junior Designer Mother’s Day contest allowing public school students to submit designs. Gonzalez, who has been hosting the contest for five years, announced the winners on Wednesday:
On Thursday evening The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office reported that Weisberger was severely injured when he was struck by a moving car near Founders Park at Mile Marker 87. Weisberger fatally stabbed his brother, Pascal Weisberger, 14, and his father, who was identified as Ariel Jacob Poholek, 43, near Mile Marker 87.2. The father had come in to see what was going on when he was also attacked,” said Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay. The teen’s younger brother was pronounced dead at the scene. Earlier in the day as police searched for Weisberger, Ramsay said: "He’s on the run.
ISLAMORADA, Fla. – An orphaned infant manatee was rescued Saturday after being spotted by homeowners that there was something beneath underwater rocks along their dock. The Dolphin Research Center’s (DRC) Manatee Rescue Team and volunteers with Dolphins Plus Marine Mammal Responder unit assisted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee to corral the calf with netting. They then successfully scooped the manatee from the water using a large hoop net. They did not know why the calf separated from her mom. On Sunday afternoon, a Seaquarium veterinarian said the manatee was in “guarded condition.”After evaluation and treatment, she was placed in a pool with an older orphaned female manatee.
PEMBROKE PINES, Fla – The party town of Key West may be a little less lively as will other islands that draw vacationers to the Florida Keys. Restaurants will remain open but will be required to operate at 50 percent capacity with seating at six-feet apart for tables. However, the City of Key West has mandated that all restaurant facilities on the island be limited to take-out and delivery only and no on-site dining beginning at 5 p.m. Tuesday. The Monroe County Tourist Development Council wants travelers to know that there are no restrictions to come to the Florida Keys except travel to the United States from countries identified by the CDC. Currently, there are no confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Florida Keys, according to Bob Eadie, the administrator and health officer for the Florida Department of Health in Monroe County.
ISLAMORADA, Fla. – A man kite surfing in the Florida Keys was airlifted to a hospital after slamming into a house Monday. Adam Myers, 49, of Toronto, was found unconscious about 100 feet from the water behind an Islamorada home around 3 p.m. Paramedics began treating Myers at the scene before Monroe County sheriff’s deputies arrived. Witnesses told deputies that it appeared Myers lost control of the kite and dragged him across the beach and onto the property at Costa Bravo Drive. Myers was no more than five or six feet off the ground when he hit a sliding glass door. Myers was airlifted to Jackson South Medical Center, where his condition has not been released.
U.S. Coast GuardISLAMORADA, Fla. - It was a busy few days off the Florida Keys as the U.S. Coast Guard found $3.8 million in cocaine floating off Islamorada and Marathon. One cocaine bale was found Saturday 10 miles east of Islamorada, while three others were spotted Sunday near Marathon, according to FlKeysNews.com. In all, a total of 284 pounds (130 kilograms) in cocaine were confiscated by Coast Guard crews over the three day period. Copyright 2019 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.
ISLAMORADA, Fla. - Instead of shells, visitors to a Florida Keys beach found something more dangerous Tuesday. People walking at Sea Oats Beach in Islamorada stumbled upon a military flare during their visit. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office bomb squad leader was able to safely retrieve the device and remove it from the beach. The flare will be returned to the military. Officials advise those who find similar devices to never touch or handle them, and instead call authorities to report any military-looking device or object.
