Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Former Monroe County Sheriff candi­date Sandra Downs was arrest­ed Saturday night on suspicion of misusing the 911 call system, according to sheriff’s office arrest reports. Downs was charged with the misdemeanor and booked into Monroe County Detention Center on Stock Island and released Sunday after posting $328 bail.

Deputies were called to the Big Pine Key Library about 5:15 p.m. after Downs’ boyfriend reported her Harley-Davidson stolen, but the case was quickly dosed after it was determined that the motorcycle’s co-owner – her ex-husband Nicholas Downs – had taken it, reports say. The boyfriend called back to report that he had a backpack and clothes in a saddlebag and that should constitute theft, but deputies explained the issue was a civil matter and not criminal.

At 7:37 p.m., Downs called 911 from her home to report the theft and a dispatcher told her to call back on the non-emergency line. A deputy was dispatched to Downs’ home on Bluegill Lane where the boy­friend said there was $4,300 in cash in his backpack, reports say. The deputy had to leave for a higher priority call, but returned at 9:21 p.m.

The returning deputy told Downs’ and the boyfriend that the case was civil, unless they could prove her ex-husband intentionally took the money.

“I also questioned why there was now money reported in the backpack, the value of which was significantly higher than that of the backpack and the jacket,” the deputy wrote. “Sandra (Downs) stepped away briskly and it appeared she was not happy with my response.”

While the deputy worked on scene to locate the motorcycle and possibly return the boy­friend’s items, a dispatcher radi­oed him that they just received another 911 call from Downs’ and she was requesting to speak with Sheriff Rick Ramsay.

Two deputies yelled upstairs to Sandra Downs from the carport if she had just called 911, she said she had. She was arrested and taken to jail. (Citizen Staff)

When you hear the term “Six pack abs” and Florida Keys, this is usually what you get.

Sheriff’s Office releases mobile app. Residents who regularly browse the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office website for daily arrests, traffic updates and 911 call information can now get the same information on the go.

The sheriff’s office officially rolled out mobile applications based on keysso.net for the Apple iPhone and iTab as well. As for devices that use Android software will come out on Thursday, but the apps have been in beta, or testing for a while.

Full time kitchen helpers wanted. $12-$14.00/hr. Sea Camp, Big Pine Key. Send resumes… Classified Ads > Help Wanted

On March 12, 2002 The color-coded terror alert system was unveiled by Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge (blue is moderate). 

[Cruise Ship Tips] Going on a cruise? Pay attention to these tips. cruise

Happy Hump Day from Springers Bar and Grill. Back so soon and an overwhelming demand, has brought todays comfort food special back to the table, Lobster Mac & Cheese. So come on in for this creamy bowl of goodness before its all gone and it will be going fast. Since its another beautiful day in paradise why not enjoy your meal on our patio soaking up some sunshine. What better way to spend the day.

[“UFO video, a reflection off the interior of the vehicle’s window from some other source.“] I wish you were correct about your fictional fact! But, this video was taken in Key West that night. In fact it was raining in KW on the night of Feb. 27th. What you see on the video are not fireworks, but the reflection of the headlights of the oncoming cars. Everything moves but the UFO. Hundreds of people witnessed the UFO hovering silently above Fleming and Eaton streets, and it was mentioned the next day on the local radio news stations and newspapers before the video came out on YouTube. Another fact is, that on that same day, Feb. 27th, there were numerous UFO sightings nation wide. I personally did not witness this particular UFO sighting, but many of my friends who know me, but not each other were witnesses to the event, and this was how I found out about it that same night Feb 27th. Nice try at trying to debunk this one though!

The Orchid Show was a success! This month’s Newsletter is just focusing on pictures from the show. There is no general meeting in March. Everyone needs to rest up. See you in April. For the March 2014 Newsletter see Menu > Ongoing Events

[WhiteFly] I don’t know about anyone else but the white flies are gone from my palm trees on Summerland and have been for some time.  I never sprayed or injected  or did anything else.  I guess after a short messy  stay they decided they didn’t  like it here.

[Missing Jet] The mystery over the plane’s whereabouts has been confounded by confusing and occasionally conflicting statements by Malaysian officials, adding to the anguish of relatives of the 239 people on board the flight — two thirds of them Chinese.

Just about every bit of information points to foul play in the disappearance. Why did it go off course? Video

[Lucky’s Landing] Oops, I sent you a mistaken telephone number for the advertising sign we saw for the Little Torch cottages. The correct telephone number is 872-4700. A company called Lincoln Properties is advertising the “cottages” on line as well. 48 2 bedroom units jammed onto that small parcel of land on Barry Avenue, Little Torch Key. Sorry for the mistake on the phone number. 

[Fun Fact] Over 97.8% of men have already made mistakes this year that a woman will remind him about for the rest of his days

[Situation Wanted] Shared accommodation. Employed at Sea Camp in Big Pine Key, Single. Background check and finger print cleared. If you have a shared rental available please contact… Classified Ads > Situation Wanted 

Don’t forget to tune into Conch Country 98.7 today (Wednesday) to join us in this huge Radio Auction.  More than $24,000 worth of merchandise has been contributed to support the Chamber’s work. You can expect to hear about fantastic items that will go for great prices.

I believe this pretty much sums up Putin’s response to Obama on the Ukraine situation.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who has strug­gled with lackluster poll numbers during his entire time in office is launching a $2.2 million statewide television ad buy this week.

The 30-second ad is primarily biographi­cal and features the governor mentioning his poor upbringing and how the family car was once repossessed. Scott stresses his background as the reason for his continued focus on improving the state’s economy.

It was flat wrong to use the term “Bribes” in the lead into the posting about a campaign contribution to Rick Scott.  Nowhere in the posting is there even a hint that a bribe was involved.  Nor has there ever been even a hint that Scott has been involved in bribery. The notion is foolish, the man was raised by a single parent, put himself through school, followed the American ethic of work, and made himself a multi-millionaire. He is truly concerned about your tax dollars.

As Governor, one of his first acts was to sell the states jet and turboprop, both of which Crist used extensively. That sale saved you hundreds of thousands of your tax dollars. I suggest that you read the link for an eye opener about Crist’s flying habits and tastes Link

Scott has his own plane, which he uses on state business, and he doesn’t charge the state for its use. Nor does he take a salary.

He has no need for bribes. Money, campaign contributions, are the mother’s milk of politics. Every single candidate busts their butts to raise money.  If you follow the rules, it’s perfectly legal. (Crist was part of a fund raising scandal when he was running for the Governorship as a Republican. His very-very close friend and campaign operative, Jim Greer was convicted of a felony)  Without money, and lots of it, it is impossible to run a political campaign.

In fact, Charlie Crist raised over a million in February alone.  God knows how much more he could have raised if his biggest supporters, like Scott Rothstein, thief and corruptor, who testified that he had bribed Crist, had not  been in prison. Or Jim Greer, thief, who Crist paid to raise funds for him, had not been in prison. Crist’s campaign fundraisers have a curious habit of going to jail, and then testifying against Crist.

Any thinking voter who is interested in good government has got to wonder about a candidate who has been a Republican, then an Independent, and then a Democrat, each time choosing an affiliation the he felt could fluff him up. It’s obvious that the man has no core beliefs. And you’ve got to wonder about a person who would quit the Governor’s office when the going got tough as a result of his mishandling of Florida’s governance. Crist is a career politician who has had precious little experience in the real world, he is constantly seeking new employment in government. His only strengths are the fact that he is photogenic and is a glad hander, he would be an exceptional maÎtre d’ at Joe’s Stone Crab in Miami Beach.

Part 2)  This is a big, really big deal. I’d quote Joe Biden, but this is a family web site. Republican David Jolly defeated Democrat Alex Sink on Tuesday in a Tampa-area House district where ObamaCare got its first test ahead of November’s midterm elections. In that race Democrats and Republicans spent millions of dollars auditioning national strategies for the rest of the year. The race to replace the late Rep. Bill Young was considered a tossup, and was cast as a political bellwether, and a testing ground for each party’s messaging strategy — which revolves in large part around the Affordable Care Act. Sink embraced Obamacare/Democare. Little known Republican candidate Jolly didn’t.  Jolly won, that fact is big trouble for Democrat candidates nationwide.

Picture caption:  Charlie Crist and only one of his felonious friend, Scott Rothstein.