In Katha Sheehan's story last week, "Special Report from the Front: The City's War on Gypsy Chickens," she expressed concern that City officials may be intent on wiping out the entire population of Key West chickens by any means available. She reported that, at press time, Assistant City Manager John Jones had not returned her calls to clarify the City's position.
Jones did take the time to respond before leaving on vacation, but we did not receive that response in time to include in the story. Here's what he said:
"I absolutely agree with your approach to control the chicken population. I have never nor will I suggest getting rid of all the chickens. We would use volunteers as you have suggested to pick up the chickens based on legitimate complaints. They would be kept in a safe chicken-friendly place until hey can safely be relocated and we could control the population by taking the eggs. I would depend on you and other chicken friendly-persons to help set up the guidelines and rules. Our goal would be to bring the situation under control."
Looking for a little getaway property up the Keys? Patricia Martin is putting her 3.7-acre Sugarloaf Beach estate on the auction block on Nov. 14. The oceanfront property includes three homes with a total of seven bedrooms and five baths. The National Auction Group, the company handling the auction, specializes in the sale by auction of multi-million-dollar properties. The company just sold entertainer Kenny Rogers' estate for $6.3 million.
"The absolute auction is becoming increasingly popular among wealthy people who want to sell property," said William Bone, president of the Alabama-based auction company. "They like the fact that, on a set date, the sales process will be over." Info on the Martin property: 1-800-579-1174.