Latest news with #CivilAirPatrol
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
State agencies to conduct full-scale hurricane evacuation exercise Wednesday
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) — Multiple agencies are set to test how prepared the state is to reverse highways in three major coastal areas should an evacuation be needed during the 2025 hurricane season. State and local agencies will conduct a full-scale exercise on Wednesday, June 4, to test lane reversal plans on I-26, U.S. 21, U.S. 278, U.S. 501, and S.C. 544. The drill will last from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. No traffic lanes will be reversed or closed during the drill, but drivers should expect to see equipment, state personnel, and more law enforcement officers staged along the shoulder of the highway and at exits. The Civil Air Patrol, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, and South Carolina Forestry Commission will also be conducting aerial surveillance. 'These exercises help ensure that we are prepared to respond to a hurricane threatening our state,' said Robert G. Woods IV, the South Carolina Department of Public Safety director. 'Together with our state partners, we remain ready to quickly and efficiently move residents and visitors from the coast to the Midlands in the event that a mandatory evacuation order is given.' Storm Team 2 releases 2025 Hurricane Ready Guide Locally, lane reversal begins near mile marker 197 (Nexton Parkway) and I-26 in Charleston toward I-77 and I-26 in Columbia. Officials said the exercise should not disrupt traffic flow as intersections will not be blocked, and drivers will be able to travel freely. Forecasters are gearing up for a busy Atlantic hurricane season, which begins June 1 and runs through the end of September, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration putting the chance of an above-normal season at 60%. The agency's outlook predicts a range of 13 to 19 named storms, six to 10 of which could become hurricanes. Three to five are forecast to become major hurricanes, with winds of 111 mph or higher. 'Forecasts are pointing to an active hurricane season,' said South Carolina Emergency Management Division Director Kim Stenson. 'Hurricane Helene was a reminder that it only takes one storm to cause major impacts for South Carolina. It's critical for everyone — not only people who live along the coast — to review and practice their hurricane plans now. You can download Storm Team 2's Hurricane Ready Guide to find vital information about how to keep your family and property safe throughout the 2025 season. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
From scholarships to service: Galion's class of 2025 leaves its mark
Galion High School celebrated the 121 members of its class of 2025 during a graduation ceremony Sunday, May 18. Te event drew friends and family members, along with over 80 staff members in formal academic regalia, according to an announcement. This year marked a historic occasion as the school's color cuard, comprosed of students from the Civil Air Patrol program, presented colors for the first time. Student speeches were a highlight of the ceremony, featuring class President Cohen Pierce and valedictorian Jillian Capretta. Their addresses reflected the unity and determination of their classmates, emphasizing the support they received throughout their educational journey. The program recognized various academic honors and achievements earned by the graduates, including: Valedictorian: Jillian Capretta Salutatorian: Avery Lutz Distinction Summa Cum Laude: Jillian Capretta, Cameron Eckert, Audrey Glew, Avery Lutz, Nathan Mendiola, Cohen Pierce, Jackson Rinehart, Madelyn Schieber, Carson Walker, Brant Walker Distinction Magna Cum Laude: Maxwell Albert, Bryson Butcher, Katelyn Claus, Makaylee Evans, Kortnie Ganshorn, Nathan McMullen, Quinn Miller, Zachary Oris, Sarah Peoples, Sadey Stafford North Central State College (NCSC) Honors: Jillian Capretta, Nathan Mendiola, Cohen Pierce Honors Diplomas: Maxwell Albert, Jillian Capretta, Karley Caudill, Cameron Eckert, Kortnie Ganshorn, Craig Geiger, Audrey Glew, Jack Harris, Avery Lutz, Nathan McMullin, Nathan Mendiola, Quinn Miller, Sarah Peoples, Cohen Pierce, Jackson Rinehart, Madelyn Schieber, Sadey Stafford, Carson Walker, Brant Walker National Honor Society: Bryson Butcher, Jillian Capretta, Katelyn Claus, Cameron Eckert, Audrey Glew, Avery Lutz, Nathan Mendiola, Zachary Oris, Sarah Peoples, Cohen Pierce, Jackson Rinehart, Madelyn Schieber, Carson Walker Graduates with NCSC Associate's Degree: Bryson Butcher, Jillian Capretta, Craig Geiger, Jack Harris, Jaxon Manley, Nathan McMullen, Nathan Mendiola, Cohen Pierce, Sarah Peoples The Class of 2025 leaves a legacy of academic excellence, leadership, and service, with combined scholarship awards totaling $1,694,065. Of the 121 graduates, 50 will pursue post-secondary education, 51 are employed, and six have enlisted in the military. This story was created by Jane Imbody, jimbody@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at or share your thoughts at with our News Automation and AI team. This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Galion's class of 2025 honored for academic excellence and service
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Civil Air Patrol prepares to head to California
May 20—EPHRATA — The Civil Air Patrol's Color Guard is preparing to head to California for its regional competition on Saturday. "What we're going to be doing here is we're going to be cleaning our rifles, practicing for a uniform build and reading over the ledger we're going to practice for the upcoming competition," said CAP 2nd Lt. Austyn Miller. This year's color guard team consists of Chief Master Sgt. Jaxon Fortner, Miller, Chief Master Sgt. Teagan Baysinger, Chief Master Sgt. David Lyon, Senior Master Sgt. Victor Manthey, Master Sgt. Elijah Nobleblood-Cabrera and Master Sgt. Maddy Drake. This will be the first year for Drake and the second year for the rest of the team. The Color Guard must prepare for multiple events throughout the competition, both outdoor and indoor, said Miller. The outdoor portion consists of raising the flag on the flagpole, taking it down and folding it. The indoor portion has a presentation where flags are set up on stands for events like a banquet, building a uniform and rifle inspection. Two cadets are selected from each team for the uniform event, where first they are inspected by a judge on their own uniforms and then are tasked with creating a uniform for a fictional cadet, Miller said. The rifles are used in an indoor presentation called Standard Drill which is typically used in events like a parade march. "Every different ribbon, every different star has a different meaning," said Miller. "That's one of the big things we have to learn, is knowing every single ribbon top to bottom: what they look like, what order they are going (in) and how they got them." Standard Drill also consists of the team's ability to follow a list of around 35 commands given by the color guard commander, said Fortner. The cadets are then graded on how well they completed their duties. There is also a physical test for the cadets, which is broken into four parts with a mile run, sit-ups, push-ups and a sit-and-reach, and a knowledge-based test on aerospace science, cybersecurity and leadership. Fortner said the event last year had cadets travelling from all over the Pacific region, ranging from Washington, Oregon, California and Nevada and some coming from Alaska and Hawaii. "It was a really fun experience," he said. "I got to meet a couple of cadets from Oregon and Alaska that I really connected with." During these events, the cadets are given the opportunity to do other activities such as visiting various aviation museums and hosting a big banquet. "We actually got an opportunity to fly for indoor skydiving, which was a very fun experience and scary at the same time," said Lyon. The cadets also reflected on both their experiences going to prior competitions and what being part of the Color Guard has meant to them. "For me, Color Guard isn't just about the rifles and the flags, it's about working as a team and solving problems together and bonding," said Baysinger. Lyon said that his father's participation in the Color Guard when he served in the army, as well as his great-grandfather's service, was the inspiration for him to join. He said he struggled a bit at first, but the program helped teach him the perseverance necessary to keep going and get to where he is now in the Color Guard. The opportunity to spend the weekend on a real Air Force base was a very rewarding experience, said Nobleblood-Cabrera. He also enjoys the ability to show what CAP is as an organization and how it represents the US military and Air Force. "You get to see a lot of the operations as well," said Nobleblood-Cabrera. "It's just amazing to see what they're actually doing and that they're doing quite a bit just for us to be there." Drake said the reason she decided to join CAP was her desire to be part of the Color Guard. "I thought that it was a great opportunity for me to take," she said. "When I started off, I obviously wasn't immediately in the Color Guard, but I eventually got here, and that led to many other opportunities." Second Lt. Austyn Miller, left, and Cadet Master Sergeant Maddy Drake iron out a shirt to decorate. The teams will be judged based on both their own uniforms and their ability to create a uniform for a fictional cadet.
Winnipeg Free Press
06-05-2025
- Climate
- Winnipeg Free Press
Wildfires burn thousands of acres on tribal lands in North Dakota
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Crews have been fighting at least 16 wildfires throughout North Dakota in the last several days, including several large fires still burning Tuesday across wooded areas and grasslands on the Turtle Mountain Reservation near the Canadian border. Dry and breezy conditions before the spring green-up haven't helped the situation. Much of the state is in some level of drought, including a swath of western North Dakota in severe or extreme drought, according to a recent map by the U.S. Drought Monitor. Numerous agencies including the North Dakota Forest Service and fire departments have responded to the fires. National Guard Black Hawk helicopters have dropped water, saving homes. Officials requested fire engines from as far as Montana and South Dakota. Tribal members with buckets and hoses sprang into action to fight the flames. In this photo released by the Civil Air Patrol, wildfires burn in the Turtle Mountain area of North Dakota, Monday, May 5, 2025. (Civil Air Patrol via AP) 'It's inspiring that our people can rise up and help each other out like that,' Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Tribal Chair Jamie Azure said Tuesday. Three distinct fires that have been joining and separating have burned about 4,200 acres (1,700 hectares) in the Turtle Mountain area, according to the state Department of Emergency Services. Most of the fires have been north of Belcourt, in the northern part of the Turtle Mountain Reservation, said Jenna Parisien, recruitment and retention coordinator and spokesperson for the Belcourt Rural Fire Department. 'We have several locations where areas have burned, so places were lit up all at once, and with the unfavorable weather conditions that we have had, areas keep relighting, embers are causing spread to surrounding areas as well,' Parisien said. The fires steadily kicked off on Friday, she said. It wasn't clear how much of the fires were contained. Three firefighters were treated for exhaustion, dehydration and smoke inhalation, but were doing well, Azure said. One vacant mobile home was believed to be lost, but there were no other injuries or homes lost despite fires in people's yards, he said. About 10 families evacuated from their homes, he said. Crews were battling high winds with the fires on Monday, but rain overnight, moderate winds and firefighters' great efforts have improved the situation, Azure said Tuesday. Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Sign up for The Warm-Up Seventy-five to 100 firefighters responded on Sunday, the busiest day, Parisien said. Local businesses and tribal members have helped, Azure said. Causes of the fires are thought to be accidental, potentially sparks escaping from residents' trash-burning barrels, Parisien said. But some people have been taken into custody in connection with intentionally starting a fire, she said. She declined to elaborate. The Associated Press emailed the Bureau of Indian Affairs for comment. Nearly all of the 16 fires around the state are 100% contained. A fire in Rolla on Sunday led to evacuations. Fires on the Fort Berthold Reservation burned at least 2,000 acres (810 hectares). An 1,800-acre (728 hectares) fire on the reservation is 40% contained. No structures are believed lost to it, state Department of Emergency Services spokesperson Alison Vetter said.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Civil Air Patrol Cadets give back to Fort Drum community
FORT DRUM, N.Y. (WWTI) – Cadets of Fort Drum's Civil Air Patrol took a chance to give back to their local community. One of the events offered to them to help during this time is a BSRT (Building Strong and Ready Families) event with the chaplains from the 10th Mountain. This past week, the deployed spouses of the Southern Border Mission were offered a night to relax and socialize with other families enduring the same phase of military life. Fort Drum museum unveils exhibit showcasing WWII veteran's artwork The Fort Drum Composite Squadron, Civil Air Patrol, saw an opportunity to give back to Fort Drum, which has been home to this squadron for many years. Five cadets from the squadron volunteered that evening to serve the spouses (and families) and clean up the facility after the event. The volunteering cadets' ranks ranged from Cadet Airman First Class to Cadet Major. Volunteer Service is one of the four Core Values that the Civil Air Patrol cadets are expected to epitomize, especially when putting on the uniform. The other three Core Values are: Integrity, Excellence, and Respect, all of which come into play when we as cadets are serving our community. Community service strengthens our local communities and enhances national responsiveness by fostering unity, resilience, and compassion. It builds character by instilling responsibility, empathy, and a commitment to the greater good, ensuring a brighter future for all. Cadet Major Anderson Fort Drum is home to the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division, the most deployed unit in the U.S. Army. One of the hardest parts of the military journey for service members' families are these deployments. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
