2025 left no shortage of big headlines and major news stories in the Upper Keys. From a wildfire shutting down two major thoroughfares into the Keys, harrowing shark bite and federal immigration agents conducting arrests, here are just a few of the many stories the Keys Weekly Newspapers chased this past year.
Wildlife wreaks havoc
A small blaze in south Miami-Dade County on March 12 spiraled out of control into an inferno that burned 26,000 acres by March 21. Despite the flames remaining on the Miami-Dade side between the 18-Mile Stretch and Card Sound Road, the wildfire brought the heat to the Florida Keys as the workday was ending on March 18.
As the smoke and flames encroached on the only two thoroughfares between mainland Florida and Key Largo, the rapidly-spreading wildfire closed Card Sound Road on four straight days. Police were also forced to shut down the 18-Mile Stretch intermittently between Florida City and Key Largo from March 18 to March 21 to give crews space to fight the flames.
There were moments when no cars were entering or leaving via the 18-Mile Stretch or Card Sound Road. Closures hindered locals from reaching their homes and outside workers from getting to and from their jobs in the Keys. Visitors faced troubles reaching their destinations, whether it be their hotel on the island chain or the airport in Miami. Intense firefighting — from the ground and air — over the course of five days resulted in the wildfire being 80% contained by March 22. Road closures ceased as traffic moved again on the Stretch and Card Sound Road.
The National Weather Service in Miami said a long spell of dry weather, mixed with low humidity and windy conditions, helped the wildfire spread across 26,000 acres of natural land.
SouthCliff Estates rents for nearly $3,000
Twelve newly-constructed apartments were opened to workers in the tourism industry for $2,995 a month. Monroe County began accepting applications for the one-bedroom, one-bathroom units located at MM 95, oceanside, in Key Largo in early August.
Built by South Cliff Holdings LLC, the units and property were then sold to the county following commissioners’ approval of a contract during a June meeting. The price tag was $7.5 million. Surplus bed tax revenue going back to the post-COVID tourism boom, which generated $35 million, was used to pay for the project. The use of excess funds to build affordable housing for the tourism-related workforce was granted by the Florida Legislature in 2024.
With the units ready for rent, questions arose whether workers in the tourism industry qualified, let alone could afford the monthly payment. The state law which allowed the county to use TDC funds for housing was written with a maximum income level of 120% of the area median income. For a person to qualify, their gross annual income had to be between $71,880 and $109,560. For two people who weren’t married or in a domestic partnership, it was anywhere between $71,880 and $125,040. For a married couple or domestic partnership, the income range was between $71,880 and $166,720.
County commissioners decided to alter the rent rate structure for the units. Discussion at an Aug. 20 meeting by commissioner Holly Raschein over the rent prices at Southcliff Estates ended with commissioners agreeing to set the new units at 30% of an applicant’s gross annual income.
Boy bitten by shark
The family of an 8-year-old boy who was bitten by a shark credited the rescue and response to several individuals. David Burrows said his son, Richard, and daughter, 10-year-old Rose, were snorkeling in the waters off Key Largo around 3 p.m. on Sept. 1, when a blacktip shark rushed them and bit Richard on his right knee. The injury was significant, but assistance from several people helped address the severe wound.
The family received assistance from the commercial diving company Horizon Divers, which helped apply a second tourniquet to Richard’s leg after Burrows initially applied one. The boy was brought to shore at Garden Cove Marina, where Monroe County Fire Rescue rendered aid and transported him to Trauma Star. Richard was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital Ryder Trauma Star. Surgeons were able to save Richard’s leg following surgery. He was later released from the hospital.
Keys inventor takes on marine giants
Longtime Key Largo resident and Sea Swivel mount creator Mark Berta is taking on some marine industry giants for allegedly infringing on his patent design.The Sea Swivel invention has transformed trolling motor technology while keeping anglers safer on the water.
In 2023, Berta’s flagship innovation — the original Sea Swivel mount — began to launch in the Upper Keys. Even with the patent, some companies reportedly created a similar product to Berta’s Sea Swivel.
Berta received a call from a client who was having issues with what was originally thought to be a Sea Swivel mount. As Berta was helping the person troubleshoot the product, Berta realized it was not his product, but rather what he said was a competitor’s knock-off version.
“I said, ‘What a minute, it’s ShuttleSlide.’ I still helped him because I know the product,” Berta said.
On Aug. 8, Berta’s Sea Swivel Inc. filed a federal lawsuit in the Southern District of Florida against Melbourne, Florida-based ShuttleSlide, Sarasota-based Rhodan Marine Systems and Glenwood, Iowa-based T/6 Marine. The complaint accuses these companies of selling copycat versions of a product Berta created in the Florida Keys. All are accused of mirroring Sea Swivel’s patented design (U.S. Patent No. 12,258,111).
The case is ongoing in federal court.
Dave Portnoy buys home in Islamorada
A luxurious bayfront property on Islamorada’s Lower Matecumbe is now in the hands of the man behind the popular Barstool Sports digital media company and the famous “One Bite Pizza Reviews.”
In early October, Dave “El Presidente” Portnoy closed on the 1.65 acre estate — with two residences totaling 10,228 square feet — for $27.75 million.
Listed by real estate agent Leslie Leopold and broker associate Cheri Tindall, of Ocean Sotheby’s International Realty, the price was the highest ever recorded in the Florida Keys outside of the private, gated Ocean Reef community in North Key Largo.
A Michigan Wolverines and New England Patriots fanatic, Portnoy is certainly no stranger to the Florida Keys. In 2023, Portnoy’s visit to the Keys included stops at several local pizza joints. He gave Marathon’s Coast to Coast Pizza a 7.7 score and praised the “good, quality football pizza that you could never get tired of.”
Portnoy’s review received almost 3 million views across various social media platforms when it debuted online on Jan. 19, 2023. For Coast to Coast, the review led to its highest-grossing sales days since it opened in the spring of 2022.
Immigration agents make stops near school
On Nov. 21, a Customs and Border Protection helicopter circled the air in the Upper Keys as agents conducted stops along U.S. 1 on several vehicles — and even a bus. The activity began around 6:30 a.m. and concluded around 9 a.m. The agents and their vehicles, some marked and others unmarked, could be seen at the Key Largo Winn Dixie. Some witnesses say the helicopter was circling Key Largo School. The activity came on the final day of class before Thanksgiving break.
With support from Florida Highway Patrol troopers, CBP said the operation led to the arrests of 12 individuals, from Nicaragua, Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia and Guatemala. CBP said record checks revealed prior charges and convictions, including re-entry after deportation, driving under the influence, obstruction, illegal concealed carry of a weapon, possession of a controlled substance with a weapon, resisting an officer with violence, battery, domestic violence and other offenses.
There was also a report on Nov. 17 of federal agents stopping a vehicle with a Coral Shores student on his way to school. An adult family member, too, was detained by agents and taken away. School officials confirmed to the Keys Weekly that the 16-year-old Coral Shores student was detained. At the time, it was the first report of a Monroe County student being picked up by federal agents.
