Alleged Racial Slur

At Big Coppitt Fire House Leads To County Audit

BLACK FIREMAN GOES TO EEOC. FIRE
CHIEF APOLOGIZES

KWTN Team Report

Arvin Ramsey, 31, says he has
always wanted to be a firefighter, ever
since he was a little boy. And he achieved
that goal last year, when he completed
the 160-hour Firefighter 1 course and
joined the Big Coppitt Volunteer Fire
Department.

But Ramsey says that, almost from
the very beginning, Big Coppitt Fire
Chief Dan Cassel has discriminated
against him, preventing him from attending
advanced firefighting courses
and has affected his income by sending
less-qualified firefighters on calls— including
Chief Cassel’s son— rather than
Ramsey.

PROFILE: Now We’re Cooking!

Holly Bell at KWHS

by Rhonda Linseman

You may recognize Holly (Brozi)
Bell from recent local coverage of her
efforts to continue her job as the Chef
Instructor at Key West High School.
Her contract was not renewed at the
end of the last school year , but teachers,
students, and the community at
large rallied behind the former teacher
of the year.

Holly graciously went through the
interview process with other candidates
and earned her job back, and Key West
High School couldn’t be luckier. But
there’s much more to Holly than her role
as poster girl for victims of politics . She’s
well known as an excellent teacher and
mentor— the perfect candidate for our
warm, fuzzy, happy profile spotlight as
we begin the new school year.

Election 2007: Stuff You Need To Know

21 CANDIDATES VYING FOR 7 SEATS ON
CITY COMMISSION AND UTILITY BOARD

by Dennis Reeves Cooper

Last Friday was the last day for
candidates who want to be Mayor of
Key West or a member of the Key West
City Commission or to sit on the Utility
Board to sign up to run for election. So,
now that everybody who is going to run
has thrown their hats into the ring, it’s
time for us to give you our initial take
on the upcoming election.

Well, actually, we couldn’t wait
until the close of qualifying to talk about
the mayoral race. We did that last week.
But here are some early thoughts about
the other races.

OPINION

Kat Watts’ Little Audit Report:
Maybe There Really Is a New
Day Dawning At City Hall

by Dennis Reeves Cooper

This week, at a special City Commission meeting,
Kat Watts, the City’s Internal Auditor, finally was able
to present the results of an audit of expenses associated
with an undercover investigation of an illegal
transient rental operation. The report was hardly
even newsworthy because Watts found everything
on the up and up. But we think it was important as
a symbol and, perhaps, as a signal.

It was symbolic because it revealed, once again,
the slimy pattern and practice of City government
under former City Manager Julio Avael. But the results
of that audit may also signal that a new day may be
dawning at City Hall.

PSEUDONEWS

Jessie’s Girl on
Airway to Heaven

by Rhonda Linseman

I was in a fight with God
for a few years—twenty-three
or so. It all started when my
mom wouldn’t let me go to a
Rick Springfield concert with
my four older brothers. Sure,
I was nine, but what kind of
God allows such interference
with destiny? Rick Springfield
and I were supposed to be
married—do you hear me?
And God let my mother get in
the way.

We made up this week
though, God and I, because
she aged Rick thirty years over
night, and I do believe I can
finally let go of the dream forever.

ON THE SONNY SIDE

The Lighthouse

by Charles “Sonny” McCoy

The lighthouse at the corner of Whitehead
and Truman streets is a great tourist attraction and
has been well photographed. Probably less known is
the series of light- houses spaced along the reef, with
one of them just south of Key West, called Sand Key
Lighthouse. For most of the life of these lighthouses
they were manned by people who led a secluded life
in the lighthouse service and there were times when
whole families had occupied the living quarters of
these remote beacon outposts.

Many young boys, in the lighthouse service
took on this sometimes dreary lifestyle to study and
ponder the many questions of this world and one such
individual was Jefferson Beal Browne, who at nineteen
years of age served as an assistant lighthouse keeper.
Here Jefferson Browne studied and prepared himself
for a career in the legal profession and after fifteen
months he enrolled in the University of Iowa Law
School and was able to receive his Law Degree in just
two years. Jefferson Browne soon caught the attention
of the electorate and was elected to the Florida State
Senate. As a freshmen senator he so impressed his
colleagues that he was immediately elected President
of the Florida Senate. Jeff Browne’s talents were so
widely recognized that he also served as Postmaster,
Senator, Chairman of Florida’s Railroad Commission,
Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court, as well as
many other posts.

The Greenspan Put Is Not Enough

by Hal O’Boyle

A “put” is a financial instrument that speculators or investors use to
insure stock against declining prices. An investor who buys a “put”
buys the right, but not the obligation, to sell a certain amount of
stock at a certain price sometime in the future, regardless of market
price. It’s like buying car insurance. When you insure your car you are
essentially buying a “put” from the insurance company. If you wreck
your car you can exercise your put and sell your car to the insurance
company for what it was worth before you hit the tree.

The term “the Greenspan Put” came into use in the financial world in 1998. That was the year the math wizards at Long Term Capital Management
nearly brought down the world’s financial system. A long shot
statistical anomaly put billions in the hopper faster than you could
say “irrational exuberance.”

Soul and Salsa At the Parrot

Plus Two “Sound Checks”

ROBERT ALBURY, Key West’s own King of Soul, will be at the Green Parrot
Bar tonight,
Friday, August 24, starting at 10 o’clock— plus a special “sound check” at 5
(note special time).

The hot Latin dance band CARIBE will be in the house on Saturday night. A
SPECIAL SUNDAY
AFTERNOON “SOUND CHECK” is also scheduled at 5:30, featuring the TONY
ROBERTS
BAND.

 

RIDENOUR REPORT

by Valerie Ridenour

Do you remember I spoke
of Mountain Home, Arkansas
in the last edition? Strange
things happen sometimes. My
pal Rich McKay just returned
from his annual treck to the
Rainbow Gathering, which
was in the vicinity of Mountain
Home, which he liked so much
he stayed for an extra week.
Mountain Home is earning the
reputation of being the Folk
Music Capitol of the country.

There is a town square, where
music is played every day, all by
visitors, all unpaid, and not a tip
jar in sight. These are folks who
love to make music and do so
when they pass through town.
Imagine Rich’s surprise
when he encountered a famous Key West musician playing.

Sueno Tropical Is Back

At
Schooner Wharf Bar

THE POPULAR SUENO
TROPICAL — Miguel
and Dayami — will be
back at Schooner Wharf
Bar tonight and
tomorrow night, Friday
and Saturday, August 24 –
25, 7 ‘til midnight.