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Volume 15, Issue 5
Valrico Edition
Durant Graduate Serves With U.S. Navy Half A World Away
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Theodore Quintana
Petty officer 1st class land aboard the carrier by Jesus Navarro, a 1999 snagging a steel cable Durant Senior High School with an arresting hook graduate, is serving in the that protrudes from the U.S. Navy aboard the airrear of the aircraft. craft carrier USS Ronald “Being forward Reagan. He is an aerogradeployed is a special pher's mate aboard environment; we are the the aboard the aircraft cartip of the spear and that in rier operating out itself makes it feel worth of Yokosuka, Japan. being here,” said Navarro. A Navy aerographer's Navarro is also proud Petty officer 1st class Jesus mate is responsible for of having coffee with the Navarro, serves in the U.S. monitoring weather char- Navy aboard the aircraft carrier vice president Mike USS Ronald Reagan. acteristics. Pence. “One of the biggest lessons I learned "Just to be able to meet the second from home is work ethic and that made most powerful person in the world, it was the transition in the Navy easy,” said a great experience," said Navarro. Navarro. "Another big one for me is traveling to Moments like that makes it worth Hong Kong and Australia. I never imagserving around the world ready at all ined going there." times to defend America’s interests. With Sailors’ jobs are highly varied more than 50 percent of the world's shipaboard the carrier. Approximately 3,200 ping tonnage and a third of the world's men and women make up the ship's crude oil passing through the region, the crew, which keep all parts of the aircraft United States has historic and enduring carrier running smoothly -- including interests in this part of the world. The everything from washing dishes and Navy's presence in Yokosuka is part of preparing meals to handling weaponry that long-standing commitment, explained and maintaining the nuclear reactors. Navy officials. Another 2,500 men and women form the Named in honor of former President air wing responsible for flying and mainRonald Reagan, the carrier is longer than taining more than 70 aircraft aboard the three football fields, measuring nearly ship. 1,100 ft. The ship, a true floating city, Ronald Reagan, like each of the weighs more than 100,000 tons and has Navy’s aircraft carriers, is designed for a a flight deck 252 ft. wide. Two nuclear 50-year service life. When the air wing is reactors can push the ship through the embarked, the ship carries more than 70 water at more than 35 mph. attack jets, helicopters and other aircraft, Powerful catapults slingshot the airall of which take off from and land craft off the bow of the ship. The planes aboard the carrier at sea.
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Bicyclists Deaths Increasing On U.S. Roadways, Tips For Roadway Safety
By Matt Nasworthy, Florida Public Affairs Director, AAA
As warmer weather begins to arrive across the country, communities can expect to see more bicyclists on the road. National Bicycle Safety Month in May reminds us to examine our habits as drivers and riders so we can learn ways to share the road more effectively. Every year, hundreds of bicyclists are dying and tens of thousands more are injured in preventable crashes. In fact, the number of people killed on bicycles is on the rise, with 840 bicyclists killed in crashes in 2016, the highest number on record since 1991, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). “Traveling on the road requires care and courtesy,” said Amy Stracke, managing director of traffic safety advocacy for AAA – The Auto Club Group and executive director of The Auto Club Group Traffic Safety Foundation. “It’s imperative for motorists and bicyclists to be aware of each other and remember that we are all trying to get to our destination safely.” In a recent AAA Consumer Pulse™ survey, the majority of bicyclists who ride on the road indicated that being hit by a vehicle was their number one concern (69%), followed by distracted drivers (64%). For this reason, AAA – The Auto Club Group and its Auto Club Group Traffic Safety Foundation work to promote bicycle safety by encouraging all road users to put away distractions and share the road. To provide an additional level of safety for bicyclists, AAA – The Auto Club Group offers bicycle roadside service with all membership levels, allowing riders who encounter a mechanical problem on
the road to call AAA for assistance. For a safer, more enjoyable riding environment for everyone, AAA recommends the following tips: Bicyclists Ride on the roadway or shared pathways, rather than on sidewalks. Follow the same rules of the road as other roadway users, including riding in the same direction as traffic and following all the same traffic signs and signals. Signal all turns. Wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet every time and on every ride. Be visible by wearing bright colors during the day, reflective gear in low light conditions and use head and tail lights at night. Remember that respect is a two-way street. Show motorists the same courtesy that you expect from them. Motorists Stay alert — avoid all distractions while driving. Yield to bicyclists while turning. In bad weather, give bicyclists extra passing room, just as you would other
motorists. Look for bicyclists by checking mirrors and blind spots before entering or leaving a lane of traffic. Slow down and give at least three feet of clearance when passing. Reduce your speed when passing bicyclists, especially when the road is narrow. NEVER honk your horn at a bicyclist — it could cause them to swerve into traffic or off the roadway and crash. Always check for bicyclists before opening your car door. Children on bicycles are often unpredictable — expect the unexpected and look out for them.
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