High 91 Low 76 40 percent CHARLOTTE SUN chance of rain TRUMP SUGGESTS THAT DEFENSE SECRETARY MAY BE PLANNING TO QUIT Pulitzer Prize winner President Donald Trump hinted that Defense Secretary James Mattis may be planning to quit his administration, and described the former U.S. Marine 2016 Corps general as “sort of a Democrat.” See The News Wire Monday, October 15, 2018 Vol. 126 | Issue No. 288 www.yoursun.com AMERICA’S BEST COMMUNITY DAILY $1.50 AN EDITION OF THE SUN Airshow Hurricane Michael: A long road ahead pilot dies Hardest-hit areas still largely without power as death toll expected to rise in crash By EMILY L. MAHONEY counties in the Panhandle TIMES/HERALD BUREAU remained largely in the dark. State emergency offi cials TALLAHASSEE — As yet said it will take at least fi ve another day of recovery was more days to see progress under way on Sunday, there in these areas, but even that were already signs that a long estimate could be highly slog lay ahead for those towns optimistic for places where in Hurricane Michael’s direct buildings were reduced to impact path. piles of rubble. Just under 200,000 Florida’s death toll con- Floridians remained without fi rmed by offi cials stood at PHOTO BY TIMES/HERALD BUREAU power on Sunday morning. nine on Sunday, after The Associated Press reported that An American fl ag is displayed using sandbags in the coastal township of As this number has decreased Mexico Beach, population 1,200, which lay devastated on Friday after a body had been uncovered in from its peak of about 400,000, Hurricane Michael made landfall on Wednesday in the Panhandle. Mexico Beach. Three people PHOTO PROVIDED the progress has remained concentrated in the lesser-hit have been confi rmed dead Clay County. to rise as the hardest-hit Jon Thocker died following the crash of areas like Tallahassee’s Leon in Jackson County, four in The total number of people his plane during an aerobatic, night-time County, while the hardest-hit Gadsden County and one in killed by this storm is expected MICHAEL | 5 performance in Virginia. Performer was slated to appear No more Denise Amber Lee’s this weekend By DANIEL SUTPHIN STAFF WRITER An airshow pilot who died during a performance Friday was scheduled to perform at the upcoming Florida International Air Show in Punta Gorda. Jon Thocker, a Cincinnati pilot with more than 25 years’ expe- rience, died following the crash of his home-built plane during an aerobatic, night-time perfor- mance at the Culpeper Air Fest in Virginia, according to a report by WCPO Cincinnati. As a result, his team, Redline SUN PHOTO BY ANNE EASKER Airshows, has been pulled from Dispatcher Beth Alexin works at her desk at the Charlotte County Communications Center. this weekend’s event. “Everyone on the board mourns Jon’s death,” said Dana Carr, Florida International Air Show 911 location technology board president. “We knew him well. He was a good performer. Our hearts go out to the family and his partner.” evolving for cellphones Thocker had been performing with his longtime fl ying partner By ANNE EASKER Ken Rieder at the Culpeper Air STAFF WRITER PHOTO PROVIDED Fest. They toured as Redline Denise with her sons, Noah and Adam. Noah, Airshows for more than 12 years, It was Jan. 17, 2008, when 2-years-old when Denise was taken, is now 12, according to the Redline Airshows 21-year-old Denise Amber Lee while Adam, then 6 months, is now 11. website. was kidnapped at gunpoint One of the team’s specialties by Michael King. Leaving her included night performances with 2-year-old and 6-month-old pyrotechnics shooting from the sons behind in the house, she was raped, blindfolded AIRSHOW | 5 and tied up in the back of a green Camaro. Desperate and fearing for her life, she was CHARLIE SAYS able to grasp her abductor’s cellphone. “If a thing loves, Denise dialed 911 and it is infinite.” spoke to dispatchers, but no — William Blake one was able to pinpoint her call and send help. Her body was found in the woods two days later. The 911 system had CALL US AT failed her. PHOTO PROVIDED 941-206-1000 For years, cell phones have not given accurate location Nathan Lee, president of the Denise Amber Lee Foundation, has been telling his wife Denise’s story to help create better standards for fi rst responders in the 911 industry. FIND US ONLINE information when callers make an emergency call. six months ago, she still frustrating is location accu- But a company called www.yoursun.com Today, better 911 location wouldn’t have been able to be racy hasn’t changed much in RapidSOS is fi nally changing technology for cellphones is located,” her husband Nathan 10 years. The public expects the landscape for cellphones fi nally evolving. Lee said, speaking with the 911 to fi nd you, but a lot of INDEX “If Denise’s call was made Sun this month. “That’s what’s times that’s not the case.” 911 | 4 THE SUN NEWS WIRE Crosswords .......... 8 Comics/Puzzles ....5-7 Obituaries ........... 5 Entertainment .... 8 Police Beat .......... 8 Nation ................. 3 Parents of CHS grad killed by Viewpoint ........... 6 State ................... 2 Opinion ............... 7 World .................. 2 OUR TOWN SPORTS garbage truck awarded $25M Calendar .............. 2 Local Sports ........ 3 By ANNE EASKER when she was in the middle of handled the wrongful death Local News ..1-2,12 Lottery ................ 2 STAFF WRITER the crosswalk, running over and case along with his son, Chris Sports on TV ........2 killing her. Frohlich, and attorney Brian M. Weather .............. 8 Charlotte High School On Oct. 6, a jury awarded a Beason. “The verdict indicates graduate Abby Dougherty was $25 million verdict in favor of and recognizes that the jury 20 when she was struck by a her parents, Pat Dougherty and understood that Abby was a DAILY $1.50 garbage truck Oct. 28, 2016, Anita Forester, for $12.5 million really wonderful young woman PHOTO PROVIDED while riding her bike onto cam- each. and that they understood the Abby Dougherty was a junior pus at the University of Florida “This money doesn’t bring loss suffered by both her father at the University of Florida in Gainesville. back Abby,” said W. Cort when she was killed by a 7 05252 00025 8 The truck made a right turn Frohlich, the attorney who PARENTS | 5 garbage truck in 2016. Page 2 E/N/C www.yoursun.com LOCAL/REGIONAL NEWS The Sun | Monday, October 15, 2018 Learning about Bigfoot Lemon Bay High School students discover legend By ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH 100th episode of “Finding goodwill and one of the she panicked and drove COMMUNITY NEWS EDITOR Bigfoot” for the Animal coolest dudes I know.” the van into an 18-wheel- Planet channel. The While in college, Fay er that jackknifed around ENGLEWOOD — No nine-season documen- spent time attempting to them. question was too weird tary series began in 2011 find evidence of Bigfoot, There were other times for Bigfoot hunter James and ended on May 28. the legendary hairy as well. “Bobo” Fay. The team consists of creature that’s said to “We launched in a About 70 Lemon Bay Bigfoot Field Researchers walk upright like a man, hot air balloon in the High School students Organization founder but lives like an animal Rocky Mountains and from two English classes and president Matt in remote areas. It’s also the balloon ended PHOTO BY ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH studying mythology with Moneymaker, researchers known as Sasquatch, Yeti up blowing,” he said. a modern lens recently James “Bobo” Fay speaks to Lemon Bay High School students in Fay and Cliff Barackman, and many other names “We pulled out of it, Mike Hertz and Paige Beamesderfer’s English II classes about interviewed Fay, who lives and skeptical scientist around the world. but ended up in New being on the documentary series “Finding Bigfoot.” in California and spoke Ranae Holland. The Because they are Mexico. Another time with the class through series documented the friends, Hertz asked we had a tiger stalking a year looking for spend enough money on Skype. team’s study of potential if Fay would speak to us in Indonesia that had Bigfoot.” the production. The students had evidence to prove the students in his and Paige killed Japanese tourists Another student want- “They could have made prepared questions on all existence of Bigfoot. Beamesderfer’s English in the same spot. It was ed to know what would the show way better had aspects of Fay’s life before Fay, whose friends like II classes studying how circling us one night. happen if he “captured” they kept the money in and after he shot the LBHS teacher Mike Hertz mythology shaped society That was scary.” a Bigfoot. it,” he said. “It’s always know him as “Bobo,” has and other cultures. He said one time the “I wouldn’t capture been about the advertis- SUBSCRIPTIONS been interested in the Students were challenged show got permission or kill one, that would ing dollars. They made Bigfoot mystery since to use critical and ana- to be in China looking be murder,” he said. the show as cheap as they Home Delivery Rates: he was in elementary lytical thinking, writing, for a Yeti. However, the “They are super strong could.” Newspaper designated market: school. He was inspired and research skills prior local villagers didn’t when they are young. Fay was asked how he City Zone- Carrier home by “Planet of the Apes” to speaking to Fay.