A sailboat close to Fort Zachary Taylor State Seashore in 2021 in Key West, Florida. Picture: AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Pictures.
Florida’s Fish & Wildlife Conservation Fee (FWC) is looking for enter from the general public because it formulates new guidelines about the place boaters can anchor long-term in Monroe County.
Why it issues: New guidelines might impression the workforce within the Florida Keys, the place a whole bunch of individuals dwell completely on their anchored boats, some as a result of they can not afford properties on land or the price of staying docked at a marina.
Zoom in: The common hire for a 1-bedroom house in Key West is $3,100, based on Zumper.com.
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It might price hundreds of {dollars} per thirty days to hire dock area at a marina, and slips are scarce, Steven McAlearney, Port and Marina Providers Director for the Metropolis of Key West, advised Axios.
Key West has 150 mooring buoys out there for $399 per thirty days, however these are nearly at all times full, he stated.
Round Key West, an estimated 200 boats are anchored out within the open water without spending a dime, with liveaboards making them their everlasting properties and using small dinghies to and from the shore.
Catch up fast: Final yr, a change to state legislation designated Monroe County as an “anchoring limitation space,” requiring vessels to drag anchor and transfer no less than as soon as each 90 days.
The legislation got here after years of rivalry, with boaters accused of harming the seafloor. However some fired again that transferring incessantly and setting anchor in new spots might trigger much more environmental harm.
Particulars: The FWC has proposed seven places from Marathon to Key West as new designated anchoring areas, the place boaters can anchor for 90 days at a time.
The fee is accepting public touch upon the areas by April 30.
Of word: The brand new guidelines are unlikely to have a lot impact on boaters making quick journeys to the Keys.
What they’re saying: Steven McAlearney, port and marina companies director for the Metropolis of Key West, advised Axios, “While you come to work, your home is floating on the market. It may be wet and windy, so when you will have your anchor set, you do not actually need to transfer.”
“However the state is apprehensive in regards to the bay backside, seagrass and the truth that boats can turn out to be derelict and it may possibly turn out to be a taxpayer burden to do away with them — so I see either side of the difficulty.”
What we’re watching: The county is working to create a whole bunch of further moorings.
A 29-year-old Florida housekeeper robbed and assaulted her 83-year-old employer on Christmas Eve when the elderly woman said she couldn’t afford to pay her once-trusted worker a holiday bonus, authorities said this week.
Heather Nelson, 29, became irate when her request for a $500 bonus was rejected by her octogenarian boss — and decided to take what she wanted anyway, according to a press release from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.
Heather Nelson was arrested in Florida after she robbed and assaulted the 83-year-old boss after she was denied a Christmas bonus. Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Florida (Official)/Facebook
“Nelson responded by physically wrenching the victim’s checkbook from her hand, stealing a check from the checkbook, and then, I guess in an effort to ruin other people’s Christmas as well, stole Christmas cards that were set to be mailed out also containing checks,” Sheriff Wayne Ivey said in the statement.
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The housekeeper, whom Ivey repeatedly called a “Grinch,” allegedly grabbed the checkbook with such force that she nearly broke the woman’s wrist.
Nelson then allegedly wrote a check for $1,400 — and used the victim’s credit card to pay her rent and make other purchases, BCSO said.
“What’s next … kick her dog, too?” Ivey asked in the release.
The housekeeper, whom Ivey repeatedly called a “Grinch,” allegedly grabbed the checkbook with such force that she nearly broke the woman’s wrist. Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Florida (Official)/FacebookPolice talk with Nelson after her arrest. Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Florida (Official)/Facebook
Nelson was nabbed on Jan. 7 after the check cleared and credit card transactions were posted, Law and Crime reported.
“Since you were so worried about getting your bonus, we had some extra gifts for you, like a keepsake booking photo, a slightly used pair of shower slides and unlimited access to our world-famous one-star dining facility where you can enjoy absolutely nothing you eat,” Ivey snarked in the BCSO statement.
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Nelson was nabbed on Jan. 7 after the check cleared and credit card transactions were posted. Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Florida (Official)/Facebook
She faces a laundry list of charges, including aggravated battery, robbery, forgery, fraud, passing a counterfeit instrument and grand theft, according to court filings reviewed by the outlet.
She was held on a $30,000 bond and released on Jan 9, the outlet reported.
Florida State has retooled its wide receiver room through the NCAA Transfer Portal after multiple starters and contributors moved on from Tallahassee. The Seminoles will have an array of different pass-catchers to support quarterback transfer Thomas Castellanos in 2025.
Earlier this week, former FSU wide receiver Darion Williamson announced his transfer to Miami (OH). Williamson entered the portal in December to explore his options elsewhere. The veteran spent the last five seasons with the Seminoles after signing with the program as a three-star prospect in Mike Norvell’s inaugural recruiting class in 2020.
This past season, Williamson appeared in all 12 games, contributing on special teams and as a member of the wide receiver rotation on offense. He caught five passes for 71 yards, including a 35-yard reception in the loss to SMU in September.
In total, Williamson appeared in 41 games, making two starts, and hauled in 35 receptions for 454 yards and one touchdown. His best performance with the Seminoles came in 2022 in a victory against Boston College where he caught five passes for 98 yards in one half of action.
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READ MORE: Former FSU Football Standout Accepts Invitation To Reese’s Senior Bowl
The Tennessee native had a ton of potential but injuries limited his contributions over the years. He’ll have a chance to instantly play a big role on a Miami (OH) squad that is losing its top three wide receivers.
Williamson stands at 6-foot-3, 202 pounds. He’s expected to have one season of eligibility remaining. Williamson got an extra year due to COVID-19 and redshirted in 2022. Williamson played in five games that season but one of those appearances was in the bowl game against Oklahoma, which doesn’t count towards the redshirt rule.
FSU has six scholarship wide receivers eligible to return in 2025; junior Hykeem Williams, redshirt sophomore Jalen Brown, sophomore Lawayne McCoy, sophomore BJ Gibson, redshirt freshman Elijah Moore, and redshirt freshman Camdon Frier.
The Seminoles signed four wide receivers during the Early Signing Period; four-star Jayvan Boggs, four-star Tae’Shaun Gelsey, three-star Teriq Mallory, and three-star JUCO Jordan Scott. The program also landed USC wide receiver transfer Duce Robinson and Tennessee wide receiver transfer Squirrel White.
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Last month, the program officially announced the addition of new wide receivers coach Tim Harris Jr.
Williamson is one of 19 scholarship players to enter the transfer portal since the conclusion of a 2-10 season. Redshirt senior wide receiver Deuce Spann, redshirt junior tight end Jackson West, redshirt junior defensive end Byron Turner Jr, redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Tomiwa Durojaiye, senior defensive back Omarion Cooper, sophomore wide receiver Destyn Hill, redshirt freshman defensive end Lamont Green Jr., redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Julian Armella, junior tight end Brian Courtney, redshirt sophomore tight end Jerrale Powers, junior defensive end Marvin Jones Jr., redshirt sophomore linebacker Shawn Murphy, true freshman quarterback Luke Kromenhoek, freshman defensive end DD Holmes, redshirt junior defensive end Patrick Payton, redshirt junior defensive tackle Grady Kelly, senior wide receiver Malik Benson, and redshirt freshman linebacker DeMarco Ward have also declared their intentions to move on.
READ MORE: Florida State Drops In On Blue-Chip Miami Commitment
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Florida basketball prepares for its third game of the Southeastern Conference schedule this Saturday in Fayetteville against the Arkansas Razorbacks. Coming off a monumental upset of the Tennessee Volunteers, the Gators are looking to keep the momentum going.
However, their inability to rein in the Kentucky Wildcats in Rupp Arena to open the calendar year has left some doubt as to whether Todd Golden’s gang can dominate away from the O’Connell Center. At least, that appears to be evident in CBS Sports’ expert picks for Saturday’s SEC matchup.
Of the seven respondents on the expert panel, four picked the Hogs straight up — Matt Norlander, Kyle Boone, Cameron Salerno and Isaac Trotter — while Gary Parrish, David Cobb and Jerry Palm picked the Orange and Blue.
“Arkansas opened conference play with two tough draws. The Razorbacks faced No. 1 Tennessee on the road and No. 23 Ole Miss at home,” the summary begins. “Calipari hasn’t dropped three straight SEC games since the 2020-21 season when he was the head man at Kentucky. Florida is coming off an emotional win over No. 1 Tennessee earlier this week. This seems like the perfect storm for Arkansas to pull off the home upset.”
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How to watch Florida-Arkansas
The Gators return to the road to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks in Fayetteville on Saturday, Jan. 11. Tipoff is slated for 4 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.
Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
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