CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK $1.00 WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2014 / 22 PAGES, 2 SECTIONS • fbnewsleader.com County ‘Consummate pro’ shoots dies doing what ne he loved — flying ds ve MARY MAGUIRE m ‘nasty’ News-Leader t? ‘He was absolutely in love t’s Investigators are still trying to find out why an experienced com- with aviation. He would mercial pilot from Yulee crashed into rather fly somewhere geese the Lofton Creek marsh Monday than drive a car.’ morning within minutes of taking off from the airstrip at the Flying A FRED ARNETT MARY MAGUIRE Ranch where had lived for the last 30 News-Leader years. FLYING A RANCH The pilot, who a friend says was Geese are under fire at the judicial flying a vintage plane from the late move the aircraft from the marsh. center in Yulee for soiling the side- 1940s, did not survive. Lueders said a witness saw the walks. Authorities said Charles Yeagle, plane go down. County officials say the droppings 65, died at the scene off Miner Road “According to the witness, the are a health hazard and they can no south of Yulee High School and that plane had just taken off when it longer tolerate geese using the cen- he was the only person in the air- appeared that it lost power and lost ter’s courtyard as their open air out- craft. altitude,” said Lueders. house. So, they’re flushing the flock. Yeagle, who was retired from a The undersheriff said the pilot They’ve secured a permit from the long career for a commercial carrier, was apparently trying to gain altitude U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to let worked as director of operations for in an effort to return to the airstrip at them use bullets on the birds. Nealco Air Charter Services based in the Flying A Ranch before the crash. The agency issued a depredation Fort Lauderdale. The owner of the He said the plane went down permit on June 25 that allows a shoot- company said in an interview “probably 10 to 15 feet from Lofton er to eliminate up to 20 Canada geese Tuesday that Yeagle was a dedicated Creek itself, in the marsh.” from the Robert M. Foster Justice employee as well as a friend. He said someone from the ranch Center. “He was the consummate profes- called 9-1-1 just after 10 a.m. The shooter has so far killed 14 sional,” said David Hocher. Fred Arnett, who owns the Flying birds, say officials, and he’s got until “It’s a loss for the company A Ranch as well as the airstrip on the Aug. 21 to get the other six, according because we’re a small operation with 85000 block of Miner Road, said he to the permit. The paperwork says a few employees, but it’s also a loss on and his wife, Jean, heard Yeagle’s renewal is possible if the reductions to a personal level. We were all friends.” plane take off around 9:30 a.m. but the flock are not finished by that date. According to the Federal Aviation did not hear any sounds of trouble. “It’s just nasty. It’s slippery and Administration’s website, Yeagle was “It sounded fine from the house,” dangerous. And, people track it into certified to fly commercial jets and said Arnett. the courthouse,” said Chief had FAA certification to sign off on Arnett said a local fisherman spot- Administrative Judge Robert Foster. the proficiency of other pilots. ted the plane in trouble and then You? The National Transportation called him at home. Arnett said the “No, I haven’t stepped in it, but I HEATHER A. PERRY/NEWS-LEADER Safety Board is sending investigators fisherman could not say why the pilot have tiptoed around it,” said the judge. Care Centers of Nassau Day Program Coordinator Robert to the crash site, said Nassau County and his plane dropped from the sky. Foster said maintenance workers Hardnett and Skills Instructor Colleen Blash display a birdhouse Undersheriff George Lueders. He have tried a variety of non-lethal meth- made by one of their individuals, top. Pirate ship birdhouses said the NTSB will decide when to CRASH Continued on 3A ods over the last two to three years to made by individuals at Care Centers of Nassau await purchase at get rid of the birds, including repel- the Pecan Roll Bakery on South Eighth Street, above. lants and sonic sound machines. The judge said they cost $550 each and that the county purchased three. “It was supposed to emit some kind ‘Their smiles are the Attorney to board: of sound to bother just the birds, but they were useless. Nothing has worked,” said Foster. highlight of our day’ “And we’re frustrated because this don’t leave a trail is a beautiful, bucolic setting and it’s nice to see the birds. All the wildlife.” HEATHER A. PERRY The judge said that every once in News-Leader a while a black hog will wander onto ‘They are not their the property and cows have also made pened in 1968, Care of public records their way there. Deer are regular vis- Centers of Nassau is an diagnosis, they are each itors. But the geese have got to go. intermediate care facility individuals. That’s why MARY MAGUIRE because the Port has agreed to help O for individuals with devel- finance utilities at Crawford Diamond, “But I’m open to ideas,” said Foster. O News-Leader “I’d love to keep the birds.” opmental and mobility disabilities, our emphasis is on the the certified industrial site west of Canada geese are migratory birds including autism spectrum. individuals.’ Don’t write it down. downtown Callahan, to help attract and they are federally protected. Skills Instructor Colleen Blash When it comes to keeping secrets a manufacturer or industrial complex They’re the birds with the black heads has been eliciting smiles at the ROBERT HARDNETT a secret, there is a greater chance of to set up shop here. and necks and broad white patches facility for 23 years. CARE CENTERS OF NASSAU success if the secret is not in writ- Davis told commissioners that if around the eye and throat. They’re “Working with our individuals ing. they make a connection with a poten- known to mate for life and in the wild and seeing them smile is the high- “Records are public records,” said tial company, they should give it to they can live from 10 to 20 years, light of my day,” said Blash, who them.” attorney Clyde Davis. Nassau County’s Economic though at the judicial center their days oversees the Creative Wheels Profits from sale of the bird- Davis is the legal representative Development Board (NCEDB). are numbered. workshop, a favorite activity of houses fund monthly Fun Days at for the Nassau County Ocean Why? The judge said dealing with the many individuals at the care center. the center. Highway & Port Authority for the “They have the ability that we as geese has forced him to become some- “Our workshop is a place where “We let them choose what it’s Port of Fernandina, and recently he a public body cannot do,” said Davis. what of an expert in the routine of our individuals make tie-dye T- going to be whether they want led its board through a compliance And that’s keeping secrets. Canada geese. shirts and bird houses. They also pizza or fried chicken or maybe ice review on public records requests “Let them generate the records,” “Do you know how much they do pottery and a significant amount cream and cake. It’s a special thing and access under Florida’s Sunshine said Davis. leave behind every day? I do.” said of jewelry making. This gives them for them and the profits from the laws. The NCEDB and the chamber of the judge. “Each bird drops one and a the opportunity to learn some new artwork go directly to fund that,” “The main thing is to know what commerce are good resources, he half to two pounds every single day skills and to have something to said Hardnett. the boundaries are,” said Davis. said, because they have greater pro- and we’ve got more than 20 of them show for their hard work. It gives “Everything we do is centered He told commissioners that the tections from Sunshine regulations. out here, so what’s that? Thirty to 40 them a sense of accomplishment,” around our individuals. If they’re boundaries include texts, cell phones, He told commissioners that if they pounds. That’s a lot. Too much.” said Day Program Coordinator not happy, we’re not happy, that’s landlines, Internet and emails. need to share information in public He said maintenance workers, Robert Hardnett. our code.” “They’re all public records,” said meetings, they should avoid specific including a technician and a custodian, Hardnett is proud that the art- In addition to learning arts and Davis. “We have that obligation to details. are spending too much time on clean- work by day program individuals is crafts, individuals also learn life the pubic that we serve.” “There’s nothing wrong in keep- up and it’s costing the county money. getting out into the community. skills and pedestrian skills at the He also told commissioners that ing generalities,” said Davis. While no one likes to see, or step “We have some of our pirate center at 329 S. Eighth St. they are not allowed to ask who wants This kind of information sounds in, saturated sidewalks, extermination ships on display at the Pecan Roll Twice daily positioning sessions the records or why they want them.