KWTN: The Blue Paper

Scathing Inpector General Spanks

Former Health Department Director

MISAPPROPRIATING FUNDS, CREATING HOSTILE WORKPLACE, WRONGFUL TERMINATION OF EMPLOYEES AND NEGLECT OF DUTY AMONG ALLEGATIONS SUSTAINED BY INVESTIGATION

by Dennis Reeves Cooper

Last month, on March 2, the lead story in Key West The Newspaper (KWTN) was headlined “County Health Department In Near-Revolt. Inspector General Investigating.” Quoting current and former employees, the article reported allegations that Department Director Dr. Susana May had misappropriated thousands of dollars of state funds, created a hostile work environment and wrongly terminated dozens of employees.

Drug Bust Nets 17

Operation April Fools netted the arrest of 17 people with a total of 25 warrants last week, mostly for the sale of cocaine. The Key West Police Department’s Special Operations Unit, in conjunction with the Special Operations Tactical Unit, started the month-long operation in early March, working undercover to conduct street-level drug buys. On April 1, the team conducted a sweep of the city to execute those warrants and arrest the individuals involved.

Publisher of Key West Magazine

In the International News Again

STUDY RANKING SOURCES OF RISKY WEBSITES PUTS SEMICH’S INTERNET COMPANY HIGH ON THE LIST. SEMICH DISPUTES THAT

by Dennis Reeves Cooper

Key West Magazine Publisher Bill Semich is in the international news again. For several years, Semich’s other business, a company that sells website domain names, has been under fire because many of the sites he has sold are allegedly being used by pornographers; in some cases, pornographers who exploit children.

In 2004, a study by Secure Computing Corporation reported that Semich’s company hosted 2.9 million pages of porn. Semich initially denied that and threatened to sue Secure Computing, a filtering software vendor. Semich later backed off on that threat, admitting that some of his sites were being used by pornographers— but arguing that such usage violated his company’s policies and that the registration of those sites were canceled when they were discovered.

Opinion

Lessons To Be Learned From The Scandal At Duke

by Dennis Reeves Cooper

Finally, all the charges against the Duke University lacrosse players were dropped Wednesday. The students had been falsely accused of rape a year ago— and the piece-of-crap District Attorney prosecuted them because he was running for reelection. We hope he is now removed from office, disbarred and, if possible, jailed. One of the players who had been accused summed it up pretty good:

“This entire experience has opened my eyes up to a tragic world of injustice I never knew existed. If police officers and a district attorney can systematically railroad us with absolutely no evidence whatsoever, I can’t imagine what they’d do to people who do not have the resources to defend themselves.”

ON THE SONNY SIDE: Gator Mania

by Charles Sonny McCoy

The University of Florida for most of its years had better than average football and basketball programs and produced some exceptional players, but something was missing. At the beginning of each season Florida teams would look good on paper and after a few wins we would began to be just a little excited: and then the big let down. But being true orange and blue Gator supporters we would console ourselves with what became a school joke and chant; Wait ‘til next year.Earlier this year, however, the Florida Gators became National Football Champs and last year and again this year, the Florida Gators became the nation’s, back to back Basketball Champions.

An Easter People

by Hal O'Boyle

The citizens of Costa Rica celebrated the defining event of their spiritual lives yesterday. I was pleased and privileged to join them.

A week of warm up called Santa Semana, Holy Week, brings in the holiday with processions, rites and rituals. Easter is one of few holidays not celebrated here with rolling barrages of fireworks. Drums, not explosions, mark the tempo of Pascua.

The rhythm is a slow, steady tump… tump… tump… tattatattatta… tump… tump… tump. The larger processions include some brass, saxophones, a glockenspiel or two. Crowds chant the rosary in Spanish while they follow a life-sized image of the suffering Jesus carried on the shoulders of a dozen or more men. Homes along the route sport flowers, ribbons, balloons and an occasional impromptu shrine. The week of preparation culminates in the celebration of La Resurrección.

by Hal O'Boyle

The citizens of Costa Rica celebrated the defining event of their spiritual lives yesterday. I was pleased and privileged to join them.

A week of warm up called Santa Semana, Holy Week, brings in the holiday with processions, rites and rituals. Easter is one of few holidays not celebrated here with rolling barrages of fireworks. Drums, not explosions, mark the tempo of Pascua.

The rhythm is a slow, steady tump… tump… tump… tattatattatta… tump… tump… tump. The larger processions include some brass, saxophones, a glockenspiel or two. Crowds chant the rosary in Spanish while they follow a life-sized image of the suffering Jesus carried on the shoulders of a dozen or more men. Homes along the route sport flowers, ribbons, balloons and an occasional impromptu shrine. The week of preparation culminates in the celebration of La Resurrección.

Letters

Dear Sherriff Roth:

Friday, March 30, 2007 at about 6:30 pm I was walking on Big Coppitt with 2 female friends. A car with teenagers squeeled into a turn from 4th Street onto Avenue F. The car with young men continued for 1000 ft. and then left the lane they were traveling in, crossed the middle line and rode in the wrong direction in the wrong lane with with music blaring and headed straight for us - laughing as they looked at us. We were forced to run off of the road to avoid being hit. We could have been killed.

Ridenour Report

by Valerie Ridenour

Skipper Kripitz

It takes a lot to surprise me, even more to amaze me. It happened last week when I learned that Peter Fisher, who manages the Grand Ole Opry told Stonewall Jackson, who was a star from the ‘50s through the ‘70s, that he is too old to appear on the Opry any more. Stonewall still performs and has been on the Opry stage with other older stars roughly 26 successful times a year lately. But Fisher informed him he didn’t want any gray hair on the Opry stage or in the audience.

That is hard to believe. Most Opry fans are at least boomers, and I’ve noticed a lot of gray hair among us. I devoutly hope that everyone who has it now or will, (ever), will boycott the Opry. This is pathetic. These people made it an American Icon, a status it no longer deserves if that’s going to be its policy. I hope the younger stars who are on the charts now refuse to participate with them. Stonewall is suing them for $20 million. I hope he gets it!

Barnes Law Q&A:

Flying the American Flag: How to Display the Flag
Part 2 of 3 parts

by Michael Barnes

Section 7, of the Federal rules for flying our flag, tells about the positioning and the manner of display of our flag. The flag, when carried in a procession with another flag or flags, should be either on the marching right; that is, the flag’s own right, or, if there is a line of other flags, in front of the center of that line. The flag should not be displayed on a float in a parade except from a staff, or as otherwise provided. The flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back of a vehicle or of a railroad train or a boat.

News Brief

Library Offers Amnesty On Overdue Books

Next week is National Library Week, a time to celebrate the contributions of libraries, librarians and library workers nationwide. And if you have any overdue books or other materials from the library, you’re in luck. The library is waiving fines during a two week period, April 16-28.

What's Hot!

Dave Aaron, center, and friends

by Valerie Ridenour
Photo by Richard Watherwax

When I say we have world class music here I kid you not. I heard Dave Aaron at Looe Key’s Tiki Bar, and he was even better than the last time I heard him. Make no mistake, he is a star. It’s only a matter of time till he’s riding the charts. Tonight I heard a number of new originals, and I’m happy to say he has proven himself a marvelous song writer. “You Always Come Back”, and “My Friday Night” were wonderful, but “Single Dad” is a sure fire hit. He wrote it for his kids. It is so poignant. Every single dad in the world will relate to it.

The Dreaming Goddess:

Art & Soul of Adornment

by Rhonda Linseman

Recently I was inspired by my boss and by a shooting pain down my neck and spine (similar but separate inspirations) to visit The Dreaming Goddess Temple Boutique & Garden Renewal Spa. I generally employ healthy skepticism about new-to-me concepts, so honestly, the idea of silken raindrop therapy conjured an image of Chinese water torture.

I lived, though, and I can tell you from the regular-girl perspective that you don’t have to know anything about Qigong or the Self Realization Fellowship to appreciate what Jasmine Sky and Donnagaye can do for your body and soul in a few hours on a Saturday.

Grease Sing-a-Long

Will Benefit Tropic Cinema

Have you attneded a movie Sing-a-long at the Tropic yet? The Wizard of Oz and Sound of Music Sing-a-longs were sold out and with the revival of Grease, this one should be no exception. In fact, many who attended both events asked for another sing-a-long event and it’s here…Saturday, April 21, and Sunday, April 22. The Tropic Cinema is bringing this fun filled event to Key West for the first time EVER!!

The Key West Symphony:

Symphony: Fire & Ice

Tonight, Saturday The Key West Symphony Orchestra is proud to present the third Master Concert performance in their 2006-2007 season tonight and tomorrow night, Friday and Saturday,April 13 and 14 at the Tennessee Williams Theatre. Under the expert leadership of musical director Sebrina Maria Alfonso, the Master Concert performance, FIRE & ICE, will feature the passion of Rachmaninoff and the cool of Sibelius.

Broadway Or Bust

Coming Back April 22

Bruce Moore: Broadway or Bust returns to the Waterfront Playhouse on April 22 at 8:30 pm. Broadway or Bust had two sold-out performances in November that kicked off the Key West Players hugely successful 2007/07 season. Now Key West’s own Broadway Baby is back for one night only.