The Florida Keys Only Daily Newspaper, Est.

1876

County teams open seasons today Page 1B

Wednesday
August 28, 2013 Vol. 137 No. 240 14 pages 50 Cents WEATHER

Jury seated in Boulis murder trial

Hotelier and SunCruz founder was gunned down gangland-style in 2001
BY ROBERT SILK
Citizen Staff

Montunicne Van Staden, second grade Poinciana Elementary School See forecast on Page 2A

ROAD CLOSURE

Night work in Key West; daytime work up Keys

Nighttime work will periodically close a North Roosevelt Boulevard lane from 8 p.m. through 5 a.m. tonight and Thursday night as crews install storm drain pipe, according to Dean Walters, local spokesman for the Florida Department of Transportation. A flagger will direct traffic or barriers will indicate the closure. The same closures will be put in place Sept. 3 to 5. Also, in Marathon, a lane will be closed between Mile Marker 41 and 43 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. today for maintenance work on the Seven Mile Bridge deck. Flaggers will direct traffic.

A jury has been chosen in the longawaited trial of the two men accused of killing Key Largo hotelier and SunCruz casino owner Konstantinos Gus Boulis in 2001. Anthony Big Tony Moscatiello, 75, and Anthony Little Tony Ferrari, 57, both face first-degree charges of murder and murder conspiracy. The trial is scheduled to begin Sept.

30 in the Broward County courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, the city where Boulis was gunned down ganglandstyle in his car more than 12 years ago. Jury selection began Aug. 12 and lasted nearly two weeks. Boulis was perhaps most famous for founding the SunCruz casino line, which for 14 years operated a boat out of Key Largos Port Largo canal. SunCruz also had vessels throughout the state. The Key Largo boat stopped operating in 2009.

Among Boulis other Keys holdings were the Key Largo Holiday Inn, Ramada Inn, Marina Del Mar Resort, the former Coconuts restaurant and nightclub Boulis and the Marriott Key Largo, which he developed. Gus Grille in the Marriott is named after Boulis. His murder came amid a dispute over the $147.5 million sale of the

11-boat SunCruz fleet to a group that included Washington, D.C., lawyer Adam Kidan and disgraced D.C. lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Both men eventually pled guilty to fraud in the transaction and served federal prison time. Theyre not charged in the murder case. Kidan has since become a prosecutors witness. At a bond revocation hearing for Moscatiello last year, Kidan
See BOULIS, Page 8A

Bumper crop year for coral breeding Hiring

raises a fuss
Schools money man is made permanent
BY TERRY SCHMIDA
Citizen Staff

NATION

Photos courtesy of Richard Ross

Craig Johnson, left, and John Phan tent coral trees to capture gametes.

NM county gives out gay marriage licenses

TAOS, N.M.: Dozens of gay couples gathered at a plaza in New Mexicos biggest city Tuesday to hear the words many once thought they would never hear: With the power finally vested in me by the state of New Mexico, I now pronounce you married. Page 7A

Biologists see mass spawning of several species in Keys

BY TIMOTHY OHARA
Citizen Staff

The coral in the Florida Keys seems to be exceptionally frisky this week, according to marine biologists and

researchers. Its their annual spawning activity. Corals breed by having polyps of the same species release gametes eggs and sperm simultaneously over one to several nights around

a full moon once a year, usually late August or early September. Elkhorn and staghorn coral released their eggs and sperm in large numbers on Saturday and Sunday. Researchers were expecting the larger boulder and mountain star coral to begin spawning Tuesday night and tonight, experts

said Tuesday. Scientists collecting coral eggs and sperm and doing other research were calling the start of this weeks coral spawn the best and most active they have seen in the past three years. Naturally occurring reefs, as well as corSee CORAL, Page 3A

The School Board on Tuesday voted 4-1 to make Interim Director of Finance and Pe r f o r m a n c e James G. Drake a permanent employee of the district, over the objections of District 3 member Ed Drake Davidson. The vote came near the end of its meeting at Coral Shores High School, where the board discussed collaborative bargaining in a closed session. Then in public session, a second budget workshop which included a presentaSee SCHOOLS, Page 8A

ON THE RADIO

Man requests new BP trial

BY ADAM LINHARDT
Citizen Staff

Tom Milone talks about his candidacy for Key West City Commission, District 1

Milone

Also on todays show: Judd Wise, KWHS Suzanne Moore, American Cancer Society Rick Ramsay, sheriff Roman Gastesi, county administrator Bob Vitas, KW city manager Liz Young, Arts Council NEWS: 7:30, 8:30 a.m., noon, 5 & 6 p.m.
Evening Edition 5-5:30 p.m.

A man convicted of defrauding a now-shuttered BP oil claims center of $3 million has taken to writing his own court motions in lieu of his attorney in what appears to be a lastditch effort to avoid the 700 years in prison he faces. On April 16, a federal jury convicted Jean Mari Lindor, 31, of Homestead, on all 40 counts he was charged with, including 26 counts of mail fraud, nine counts of wire fraud, three counts of access device fraud

Left, palmata sperm and egg bundles are seen staging. Above, an egg bundle emerges on the first night of this spawn.

See BP, Page 8A

We welcome Dr. Morishige to Key West. He specializes in advanced arthroscopy of the shoulder, wrist, hip and knee as well as total shoulder replacements and reverse total shoulder replacements.

NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS!

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INDEX

CLASSIFIED ADS 4-6 B

COMICS 6 A

CRIME REPORT 2A

CROSSWORD 5 B

KEYS CALENDAR 2A

OPINION 4A

SPORTS 1B

KEYSWIDE CLASSIFIEDS keysnews.com/classifieds

FOR CLASSIFIEDS 305-292-7777, Option 3

THE KEY WEST CITIZEN WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2013

3A

MILE MARKERS
ISLAMORADA KEY LARGO MONROE COUNTY KEY WEST

Victim doesnt press charges

A Howells trailer park resident airlifted to Miami early Saturday after an apparent stabbing has declined to press charges, according to the Monroe County Sheriffs Office. The case has been closed, s Sheriffs Office spokeswoman Deputy Becky Herrin wrote in a press release. Alex Miranda, 31, was cut on his head and neck when he knocked on a womans door and told her he had been attacked; he then collapsed, reports say. Deputies found a lot of blood and a broken beer bottle at the trailer where Miranda reportedly lives with two other men. He was treated and released from the hospital, reports say.

May be more to crime spree

Monroe County Sheriffs Office investigators said more car burglaries may have been committed by the four teens arrested Sunday. Detectives ask that anyone in the Lake Surprise Estates subdivision whose vehicle was burglarized between Saturday night and Sunday morning call the Upper Keys Sheriffs Office substation at 305-853-3211. A fight involving the four youths before the car and gas station burglaries remains under investigation. That fight reportedly involved two older boys wielding a pipe and a machete; one of the younger teens suffered minor injuries, the Sheriffs Office said.

IRS hoaxer loses federal appeal

A Key West woman sentenced in January to 10 months in federal prison for violating her probation in a 2010 Keys jail IRS hoax case will serve her sentence, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ruled Monday. Sandra Perez, ne Suarez, claimed the district court erred in not reducing her sentence, because she accepted responsibility. She also claimed the 10-month sentence was unreasonable. The appeals court rejected both arguments. Perez is a member of the Suarez family, some of whom were involved in a scheme to defraud the IRS through county jail inmates submitting bogus tax returns. She was arrested on forgery and fraud charges in October while on probation in the IRS case.

Photo courtesy of Monroe County Sheriffs Office

The quarterly award winners at the Sheriffs Office are: Detective Nicholis Whiteman, Juvenile Programs Supervisor Sherwood Woody Hanford, Explorer Kayle Perez and Detention Deputy Kenson Jean Baptiste.

Coral
Continued from Page 1A

als raised in coral nurseries and in labs, have all been very active this week, researchers said. It has been a great year, said Upper Keys coral biologist Ken Nedimyer, who founded the Coral Restoration Foundation. We have collected a whole bunch of genetic strains. A lot of people have invested a

lot of time and money in this, and this year we hit pay dirt. It was very exciting to see this ... . We will be trying a whole bunch of different techniques to rear and raise them and put them back out on the reef. The real celebration will happen in the next few months when we plant the juvenile corals back on the reef. Scientists reported mass spawning of elkhorn coral at Horseshoe, Elbow, Sand Island,

Turtle Rocks and Molasses reefs in the Upper Keys. Mass staghorn spawning occurred at Molasses Reef on Sunday night as well. Staghorn corals in the Coral Restoration Foundation nursery were also spawning while hanging from treelike devices in the water column. Scientists placed collection tents above the coral trees to collect the eggs and sperm. The coral spawn had been

a dry one in the Florida Keys since 2009, said Margaret Miller, a coral researcher with NOAAs Southeast Fisheries Science Center in Miami. I am overwhelmed in a good way, Miller said. I was concerned that they were not going to spawn in the way they should. A half-dozen research teams from around the country which have received special permits from the Florida Keys

National Marine Sanctuary will be in the waters off the Keys this week to collect coral eggs and sperm. The eggs and sperm will be used for research and to repopulate the Keys reef.

Different genetic strains are being collected, which is helpful in rearing healthy, genetically diverse corals, National Marine Sanctuary officials said. tohara@keysnews.com

CAMPAIGN CORNER
CANDIDATE FORUM

Hometown PAC
Hometown PAC will host a candidates forum from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 19 at Tropic Cinema, 416 Eaton St., Key West. Political pundits will question those running for mayor, City Commission and Utility Board seats, as well as advocates for and against the referendum for a study on channel-widening. Its free, but seating is limited. Refreshments and a meet-and-greet will be held in the lobby at 5; the forum starts at 5:30 p.m. Submit questions ahead of time to sdavidson13@yahoo.con or toinfo@hometownkeywest.com.

OBITUARIES
ORESTES KICO GONZALEZ
Orestes Kico Gonzalez, originally from Playa Santa Fe, Cuba, passed away peacefully in his Key West home on Monday, Aug. 26, 2013. He is survived by his lovGonzalez ing wife of 57 years, Ana Gonzalez; beloved son Jose Kiki Gonzalez (Becky); grandchildren Jewel, Jenna and Jacob; daughter Maria Partington (Jeffrey); grandchildren Neil S. Mellies III (Nathalia), Raymond A. Mellies (Rae Anne), Justin Partington (Megan). He was preceded in death by parents Pepe (El Guardia) and Luz Maria; beloved older brother Pepito (Milvia) and beautiful sister Rosa (Celso); nephew Carlos Martinez; his two best friends from childhood, Enrique and Luis; and many surviving nieces and nephews, including Mike Gonzalez (Wendy), Mercy Gonzalez (Tony), Dalila Eljaua and Carlitos Martinez. He made lifelong friendships that we know will truly miss his smile and daily jokes. Kico lived many years in Hialeah and relocated his family in the late 1970s, where he lived and retired as captain/ owner of El Kima and St. Jude. He was blessed to have spent his last year full of joy and happiness from daily visits of his great-grandson Khai Raymond Mellies. Thank you, Dad, you were the best father a son and daughter could ever hope for. Forever in our hearts just a thought away. Gods Blessings. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. today, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2013, at the Dean-Lopez Funeral Home, 418 Simonton St., Key West. Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. until service time at the funeral home. The Dean-Lopez Funeral Home is entrusted with all funeral arrangements.

Utility Board
Vidal, running for a seat on the Utility Board of Keys Energy Services, will kick off his campaign with a party 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday at New York Pasta Garden, in Duval Square, 1075 Duval St. For more information, email vidalforkeysenergy@gmail.com. E-mail Campaign Corner entries to editor@keysnews.com
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CAR OF THE DAY

CAROL LEE BEHAN BARTH

Carol Lee Behan Barth, greatest wife, awesome friend and all-around great lady, was welcomed into Barth Heaven on W e d n e s d a y, Aug. 14, 2013, after nearly two years of battling cancer. Carol truly made a difference in all the lives she touched, always considering others first, encouraging and nurturing. Her training, understanding, and passion for people allowed her to know each of us better than we know ourselves. Carol was born May 16, 1947, in Logan, W. Va., to Guy Victor and Mildred Jean Behan. In 1962, Carols family moved to Parkersburg, W. Va., where she graduated from Parkersburg High in 1965. In 1972, Carol graduated from West Virginia Institute of Technology with a B.A. in social studies. She was on the Academic Deans List and a member of Sigma-SigmaSigma Sorority. She received her masters degree from Marshall University in Leadership Studies with an emphasis on justice leadership. Carols career began in 1975 as a youth service worker with the state of West Virginia Department of Human Services working primarily with predelinquent youth. In 1980, she became employed with the West Virginia Supreme Court of

Appeals and served as a juvenile probation officer. Carol was appointed to the position of Chief Juvenile Probation Officer in 1995, where she remained until her retirement in 2002. In 1992, Carol was awarded West Virginias Youth Community Service Worker of the Year. In 2000, she was named West Virginias Probation Officer of the year. In her 27 years working with West Virginia youth, she also served as president of the West Virginia Association of Probation Officers and served on the Board of Directors for many years. Carol and Sandy were married in June of 1982 in Marietta, Ohio, and moved to Big Pine Key, Fla., in 2002 to enjoy fishing, boating, and an abundance of music venues. They continued traveling and camping. The Swamp Buggy Races in Naples, Fla., was one of her favorite camping destinations. However, one would never find Carol away from the television whenever any NASCAR event was being broadcast. Sandy and Carol attended many NASCAR events in person. Her absolute favorite driver, win or lose, was Tony Stewart. Carol

was fond of reading, especially the Bible, and she adored their puppy dog, Spookey. After a year of retirement, Carol missed working with the kids so she became a counselor at Marathon High School in 2003 for one year, then took a position as counselor at Horace OBryant Middle School in Key West. She worked nearly four years at the Monroe County Juvenile Detention Center, as a mental health counselor, where she received an Appreciation and Recognition Award from the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. A 40-year member of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Parkersburg, W. Va., Carol found with love The Vineyard Church on Big Pine Key. She was preceded in death by her parents. Carol is survived by her husband, James Sandy Barth of Big Pine Key; her beloved dog, Spookey; stepson, James Barth Jr.; two sisters, Sandra Johnson (Luther) of Carlisle,

Ohio, and Linda Ross (Robert) of Zanesville, Ohio; niece Donna (Dave) England of Carlisle, Ohio; nephews Scott Holliday of Columbus, Ohio, Robbie Ross (Rebecca) of London, Ohio, Corey Ross of Zanesville, Ohio, and Christopher Ross of San Antonio, Texas; great-nephew Drew England; great-niece Morgan Payne; and great-greatniece, Chloe Payne. Carol leaves behind many great friends; some of the closest include Angela Visconti of Charleston, W. Va., Holly Theil Green of Parkersburg, W. Va., and Pat Seaman of Marietta, Ohio. One day youll awaken to hear of my death but dont believe it, because I will be more alive than ever before. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to The Vineyard Community Church of Big Pine Key. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31, at The Vineyard Church, 100 County Road, Big Pine Key.

2013 Chevrolet Suburban

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CITIZEN OF THE DAY

ADVERTISING DEADLINES
FLORIDA KEYS FREE PRESS NEWSPAPER THE KEY WEST CITIZEN LABOR DAY MONDAY SEPTEMBER 2, 2013
DISPLAY PUBLICATION.........................................................DEADLINE FLORIDA KEYS FREE PRESS 9 / 4 ......... WED. 8/28 @ 5 P.M. SUN. 9 / 1 K.W. CITIZEN ....................... THURS. 8/29 @ NOON MON. 9 / 2 K.W. CITIZEN ..........................THURS. 8/30 @ NOON TUES. 9 / 3 K.W. CITIZEN ......................... THURS. 8/30 @ 5 P.M. WED. 9 / 4 K.W. CITIZEN ............................ FRI. 8/30 @ NOON PARADISE 9 / 5 ........................................... FRI. 8/30 @ 5 P.M. S.M. FLYER 9 / 6 ........................................... FRI. 8/30 @ 5 P.M. CLASSIFIEDS MON. 9/2 CLASSIFIED LINE ADS .....................FRI. 8/30 @ 3 P.M. TUES. 9/3 CLASSIFIED LINE ADS ....................FRI. 8/30 @ 4 P.M.

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TUES., WED. & SAT. FREE PARKING

1202 Simonton St. 296-4811

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MIKE HENTZ/The Citizen

Cooke Communications business ofces will be closed on Monday September 2, 2013

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Jacki Ballard is from Michigan and has lived on Big Pine Key for about a year. Ballard works at Bayshore Nursery, where she is nicknamed The Grower for her green thumb. She said she loves that most of the people she meets in the Florida Keys are happy and laid-back.

Have a safe and enjoyable holiday

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