Pilot Dies As Blue Angel Plane Crashes In Tennessee
June 2, 2016
A Blue Angels F/A18 aircraft crashed Thursday during the beginning stages of an afternoon practice at the Smyrna (TN) Airport, at approximately 3:01 p.m. Blue Angels pilot Capt. Jeff Kuss of the U.S. Marine Corp died in the crash.
The other five Blue Angel jets were not involved in the incident and landed safely moments later.
The crash occurred approximately two miles from the runway. The Navy will conduct an investigation into the cause of the crash.
Kuss, a native of Durango, Colorado, graduated from Durango High School in 2002. He attended Fort Lewis College in Durango and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics in 2006.
He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2006 and reported to The Basic School at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, to complete training. Jeff reported to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, for aviation indoctrination in July 2007.
He completed primary flight training in the T-34C Turbo Mentor at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, and completed advanced training in the T-45A Goshawk at NAS Kingsville, Texas. He received his wings of gold in November 2009.
Kuss then reported to Strike Fighter Squadron 125 (VFA-125), the “Rough Raiders,” at NAS Lemoore, California, for initial training in the F/A-18 Hornet. He reported to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 (VMFA-312), the “Checkerboards,” at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina, in February 2011, where he served as Squadron Mess Officer, Naval Air Training and Operation Procedures Standardization Officer (NATOPS), Powerline Division Officer, and Pilot Training Officer.
He reported to U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN), NAS Fallon, Nevada, in July 2012 and graduated in September 2012
While assigned to VMFA-312, Kuss deployed with Carrier Air Wing THREE (CVW-3) aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. VMFA-312 earned the 2013 Robert M. Hanson Award as the Marine Corps Association’s Fighter Attack Squadron of the Year.
Kuss joined the Blue Angels in September 2014. He has accumulated more than 1,400 flight hours and 175 carrier-arrested landings. His decorations include the Strike Flight Air Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various personal and unit awards.
Photo courtesy Halie Shults.
Century Woman Charged With Hitting Boyfriend With Fan
June 2, 2016
A Century woman who allegedly wasn’t a fan of her boyfriend’s tardiness was jailed for hitting him with a fan.
Loretta Diane Campbell, 33, was charged with felony aggravated battery.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a disturbance on Archie Street in Century. The male victim told deputies that he came home from being at the hospital with family members, and Campbell got mad because he was late. She then allegedly threw his clothes out the door, left in a vehicle and came back a short time later to unplug a fan from the wall and swing it by the cord, striking Campbell in the head.
The victim was treated by Escambia County EMS for a laceration above his left ear.
ECAT Offers Free Summer Rides For Youth
June 2, 2016
Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) is now offering a free Summer Wheels Pass to area youth 18 years and under. The annual initiative, which started in 2013, historically cost $25 and was offered to students 17 and under. The decision to update the pass was sparked by the Escambia County Commission in order to give the riders increased accessibility to the system.
The Summer Wheels Pass is valid from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and pass holders can enjoy unlimited rides to any destination ECAT offers. This expanded eligibility will provide area youth with access to transportation and increased independence during the summer months. The ECAT team has worked closely with local community centers and summer camps to ensure that the pass is readily available to attendees of the programs.
The updated pass also opens the door for a new generation of ECAT riders who will find cutting-edge technological advancements while traveling to their summer destinations. Recent tech upgrades such as onboard Wi-Fi and a real-time bus locator app allow riders to streamline their commute and to stay connected while on-the-go.
The pass enhancements launch in conjunction with ECAT’s Seasonal Beach Trolley, which offers free service to the public from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Provided by The Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA), the free trolley services allow riders to travel to 35 stops along the beach.
Summer Wheels Passes are available at ECAT’s main office, located at 1515 West Fairfield Drive. Applicants must present photo ID
Northview’s Moretz Named Escambia Social Studies Teacher Of The Year
June 2, 2016
James Moretz of Northview High School has been named the Escambia County School District High School Social Studies Teacher of the Year. He will officially receive the award Thursday, and he has been invited to attend the Florida Council for Social Studies Conference in October.
Moretz earned a bachelor of arts degree in criminal justice from the University of West Florida and two associate degrees from Pensacola State College. He holds a professional educator’s certificate in social science for grades 6-12. He previously worked with the Escambia County School District as a school resource officer.
Moretz retired from the U.S. Navy as a limited duty officer lieutenant commander in 2004.
Ernest Ward Middle School Names Students Of The Month
June 2, 2016
Ernest Ward Middle School has named Students of the Month for May. They are (L-R) Kaitlin Gafford, sixth grade; David Lamb, seventh grade; and Neionni Findley, eighth grade. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mobile Evens Series With The Wahoos
June 2, 2016
Pensacola Blue Wahoos starter Sal Romano gave his team five good innings, allowing just three runs on six hits.
However, the rival Mobile BayBears first three batters all earned hits off Romano and scored in the bottom of the sixth inning to rally for a 7-3 victory Wednesday at Hank Aaron Stadium. Pensacola and Mobile are now tied, 1-1, in the five game series.
BayBears catcher Ronnie Freeman doubled to right field to start the sixth inning. Third baseman Cody Regis followed him with a single to left field. Mobile second baseman Jamie Westbrook then got the third hit in a row, knocking Romano out of the game, with a single on a ground ball to left field that scored Freeman for a 4-3 BayBears’ lead.
Mobile starting pitcher John Omahen was walked by Pensacola reliever El’Hajj Muhammad to load the bases with none out. Mobile center fielder Evan Marzilli grounded out to Blue Wahoos shortstop Calten Daal and Regis crossed the plate to put the BayBears ahead, 5-3. Pensacola first baseman Donald Lutz then committed an error to allow Westbrook to make it home and give Mobile a 6-3 lead they would never relinquish.
Mobile’s relief corps shutdown the Blue Wahoos bats in the last three innings giving up one hit, one walk and striking out four.
Pensacola’s Romano worked five innings, gave up nine hits, allowed six runs, four earned, walked one and struck out three. He also allowed a two-run homer to Mitch Hangier in the third inning that tied the score, 3-3. Romano took the loss and is 1-5 with a 4.69 ERA for the Blue Wahoos this season.
Pensacola second baseman Brandon Dixon continued his hot-hitting in the last three games. He singled in Phillip Ervin in the third inning for his team-leading 31st RBI of the year. He is now on a 9-13 tear with four homers and 12 RBIs in the past three games. Dixon leads the team with seven homers on the year and moved into a tie with Pensacola third baseman Tony Renda with a .304 batting average. Renda was 1-4 with a run scored Wednesday.
Pensacola first baseman Donald Lutz knocked Renda with two outs in the first inning to put the Blue Wahoos on top, 1-0.
In the second inning Mobile tied the game, 1-1, when BayBears’ right-hander Omahen singled to centerfield to drive in right fielder Gabby Guerrero.
Blue Wahoos second baseman Dixon drove in Ervin for a 2-1 lead. Mobile’s Omahen then threw the ball away on a pickoff, allowing right fielder Sebastian Elizalde to score and put Pensacola ahead, 3-1.
Mobile’s Haniger tied the score, 3-3, with his two-run blast. Haniger was 1-5 on the night.
Pensacola’s four-game winning streak was snapped by Mobile and dropped them to 31-21 in the Southern League South Division. The BayBears improved to 23-29.
Escambia Firefighter Injured; Two Homeless After Molino Fire
June 1, 2016
An Escambia County firefighter was injured and two people were left homeless in a Wednesday afternoon fire near Molino.
The fire was reported about just before 4 p.m. in a two-story home in the 2100 block of Jacks Branch Road, just north of Shifko Road.
An Escambia County firefighter was injured while working to fight the fire inside the home. He suffered a moderate laceration to his leg, which is “not anticipated to require surgery”, according to Joy Tsubooka, Escambia County spokesperson. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment.
The fire caused heavy damage to the home. There were no injuries to any of the home’s residents. The American Red Cross is assisting the two adults with temporary shelter.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
DUI Charges Dropped Against Attorney
June 1, 2016
DUI charges have been dropped against attorney David. J. Maloney due to a lack of evidence, according to the State Attorney’s Office.
“There is insufficient evidence to prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt,” the State Attorney’s Office said in a statement.
“The State has determined there is insufficient evidence to prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt. Both the in-car and intoxilyzer room videos were obtained and demonstrate no signs of impairment. Additional witnesses who saw the defendant at an Ice Flyers celebration prior to the stop testified that the defendant was seen purchasing a drink for his wife while declining a drink for himself because he was driving. While the defendant was speeding, had an odor of alcohol and had bloodshot and watery eyes, these factors alone do not reach the level necessary to prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt. Therefore, the State is dismissing the charge,” court records state.
Maloney, 49, was booked into the Escambia County Jail about 3:35 a.m. Sunday, May 8 for DUI. Maloney was pulled over speeding in a 35 mph zone in a black Lamborghini on Via de Luna Drive on Pensacola Beach about 2 a.m. by an Escambia County deputy.
The deputy reported that Money had bloodshot and watery eyes and a strong order of alcohol coming from his person. He refused to take a filed sobriety test.
“The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has been contacted by media outlets about David J. Maloney’s DUI charges being dropped by the State Attorney’s Office,” an ECSO post to Facebook states. “The deputy sheriff followed policy, procedure, and state statute. The deputy offered Mr. Maloney several opportunities to dispel his belief that he was under the influence. Mr. Maloney refused all deputy’s requests to resolve the issue at the scene. Therefore, based on the evidence, including bloodshot eyes and the odor of alcohol, probable cause existed for effecting an arrest. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office then refers the case to the State Attorney’s Office who determines whether to bring the case to trial.”
One Injured In Highway 29 McDavid Crash
June 1, 2016
One person received minor injuries in a collision involving a car and a pickup truck this morning on Highway 29 north of Champion Drive.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
NorthEscambia.comment photos.
It’s Unofficially Summer, But Where Is Century’s New Splash Pad?
June 1, 2016
Memorial Day marked the unofficial start to the summer, but a splash pad funded by a state grant still is not open in Century’s Showalter Park.
Town officials had hoped that the splash pad would be up and running by now, but they said an EF-3 tornado that struck the town in February delayed the process. Town workers were busy with tornado clean up, leaving no time to install the water and sewer lines for the splash pad.
But officials say the town will complete preparations for the splash pad as soon as possible so that it can be installed by the manufacturer.
In 2015, Century received the $50,000 grant from the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program for the splash pad.
Pictured: The Town of Century was awarded a state grant to purchase this model splash pad. Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
