https://www.facebook.com/207300569144414/

US1 Radio Evening Edition, 830 Crane Boulevard, Sugarloaf Shores, FL (2025)

09/12/2025

A big congratulations to our Bureau of Corrections Capt. Jon Crane for graduating from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia!

254 law enforcement officers graduated in the 295th session of the National Academy. The class included 22 members of law enforcement agencies from 20 countries, 10 members of six military organizations, and four members of federal civilian organizations.

Internationally known for its academic excellence, the National Academy offers 10 weeks of advanced communication, leadership, and fitness training. Participants must have proven records as professionals within their agencies to attend. On average, these officers have 21 years of law enforcement experience and usually return to their agencies to serve in executive-level positions.

FBI Director Kash Patel delivered remarks at the ceremony. Class spokesperson Benjamen Adams from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Ocala, FL, represented the graduating officers.

FBI Academy instructors, special agents, and other staff with advanced degrees provide the training; many instructors are recognized internationally in their fields. Since 1972, National Academy students have been able to earn undergraduate and graduate credits from the University of Virginia, which accredits all the National Academy courses offered.

A total of 56,434 graduates have completed the FBI National Academy since it began in 1935. The National Academy is held at the FBI Training Academy in Quantico, the same facility where the FBI trains its new special agents and intelligence analysts.

06/18/2025

Key West Fire Chief Alan Averette recently presented an appreciation plaque to Sean Wright, owner of Miami Subs for his exceptional and ongoing support of the Key West Fire Department.
Mr. Wright was recognized for the generosity of Miami Subs ensuring our firefighters and personnel are well-fed and supported during demanding times, whether it’s the long hours of Fantasy Fest operations, award luncheons, or the critical moments of a large-scale emergency.
“Miami Subs has been an invaluable partner to the Key West Fire Department,” said Chief Averette. “This award is a small token of the Fire Department’s immense gratitude for their selfless dedication to our community and our first responders.”

05/15/2025

Public information officers and communication professionals from the county, municipalities, utilities, nonprofits, and state and federal agencies, along with local media, convened on Monday for the 6th Annual Monroe County Communications Symposium before the beginning of hurricane season on June 1. The six-hour event focused on strengthening collaboration, sharing best practices, and improving public messaging during emergencies and day-to-day operations.

The symposium was hosted by the Florida Department of Health in Monroe County’s Jennifer Lefelar and Alison Kerr. It included an update on Monroe County Emergency Management operations by Emergency Management Director Shannon Weiner, a severe weather briefing from the National Weather Service’s Jon Rizzo, a social media panel with the City of Key West’s Alyson Crean and Community Health of South Florida’s Marianne Finizio, highlights from TDC campaigns from Chad Newman, an overview of the Joint Information Center with Monroe County’s Kristen Livengood, a panel discussion on AI tools, co-led by Livengood and The College of the Florida Keys’ Amber Ernst-Leonard, and a media panel with Keys Citizen’s Chris Seymour, Keys Weekly’s Mandy Miles, and US1 Radio’s Nick Wright.

“We as communicators put a lot of emphasis on making sure the public is aware of what is going on, especially during times of crisis, like the recent wildfires in the Everglades, or when we are threatened with storms,” said Monroe County Public Information Officer Kristen Livengood. “We want to stress following reliable and trusted sources for information, and I think we all agree that we are very proud of the partnerships we have created across our island chain.”

During a storm, Monroe County’s Joint Information Center can be found at www.monroecountyem.com/JIC. It is updated with county, municipal, state, weather, utility, bus, evacuation, reentry, and other important information as it becomes available. It’s never too early to be prepared: www.monroecountyem.com.

PICTURED:

Front row from left: Liam Rodriguez (FWC), Dave Dipre (FWC), Jon Rizzo (NOAA/NWS), Chip Kasper (NOAA/NWS), Wyatt Ingram (Coast Guard), Nestor Yglesias (Homeland Security Investigations), Ben Sanker (Coast Guard), Alison Kerr (DOH-Monroe). Back row from left: Mary Moeller (Monroe County Fire Rescue), Megan Bosi (Keys Health Ready Coalition), Amber Ernst-Leonard (CFK), Shannon McCully (Key Largo Wastewater District), Danette Baso Silvers (NAS KW), Marianne Finizio (CHI), Alyson Crean (City of Key West and KWPD), Linda Pirozek (Womankind), Cali Roberts (Womankind), Nancy Klingener (Monroe County Public Libraries), Kristen Livengood (Monroe County BOCC & EM), Mimi Young (City of Layton), Amy Halstead (RHN), Chad Newman (TDC), JoNell Modys (TDC), Oleg Sokolov (Homeland Security Investigations), Mary Haban (TDC), Nick Wright (US1 Radio), Rachel Spencer (MCSD), Julie Brown (FDOT), Adam Linhardt (MCSO), Stefanie Peel (Islamorada, Village of Islands), Brad Lutz (LKMC/Keys Medical Group), Tiffany Pellicier (United Way of Collier and the Keys), Michelle Nevel (AHEC), Maj Johnson (Guidance Care Center), Michael Stapleford (Magnum Broadcasting), and Jennifer Lefelar (DOH-Monroe). (Not pictured: Alex Ramos DOH-Monroe IT)