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T H U R S DAY, M AY 21, 2 0 2 0
Pilot killed in plane crash Single-engine craft crashes near Orcutt school
By MITCHELL WHITE NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
COURTESY PHOTO
One person was killed when a single-engine aircraft crashed Wednesday morning near the playground of Ralph Dunlap Elementary School in Orcutt.
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ne person was killed Wednesday when a single-engine plane crashed near the playground of a school in Orcutt, authorities said. The plane crashed around 10:45 a.m. near the basketball court at Ralph Dunlap Elementary School. Santa Barbara County Fire Department
crews responded to the area and confirmed that the aircraft had crashed and the lone occupant was killed on impact, said Capt. Daniel Bertucelli, fire spokesman. The plane exploded shortly after landing. A second alarm was called due to the fire, but responding units were quickly able to extinguish the blaze upon arrival. Several special armed resources were called to the scene but were canceled after
crews doused the fire, Capt. Bertucelli said. Caution tape was wrapped around a pair of basketball hoops to secure the scene. A trailer located near the courts was charred from the fire but remained intact. A video from the crash posted to social media showed a parachute being deployed just prior to the plane touching down. A loud boom could be heard as Please see CRAsH on A8
Westmont graduates to be honored later Commencement postponed because of COVID-19
KENNETH SONG/NEWS-PRESS FILE
Lucky, a Humboldt penguin, died Wednesday at the Santa Barbara Zoo.
Lucky leaves his legacy Santa Barbara Zoo’s shoe-wearing Humboldt penguin dies By JOSH GREGA NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
After a decade of living with a special shoe on his right foot, the Santa Barbara Zoo’s Humbolt penguin Lucky died Wednesday, humanely euthanized after a long battle with a degenerative foot condition. The decision to end his life was one arrived at after long, hard consideration, according to Rachel Ritchason, the zoo’s director of collections and Lucky’s keeper when he was hatched at the zoo 10 years ago. Lucky suffered from an infection at the end of a limb that was amputated in 2018 due to a deteriorating ankle joint, and the zoo’s staff chose to euthanize the bird after treatments like regrowing fresh skin around the infected area failed to
ameliorate his condition. Though it was difficult to bid him farewell, Ms. Ritchason told the News-Press that the Santa Barbara Zoo aims to give its animals the most pain-free lives they can possibly live. Thus, relieving Lucky of the pain he was feeling was the best possible decision. “There’s a certain amount of peace that comes with that decision, knowing that it was the right time for him,” Ms. Ritchason said. Hatched at the Santa Barbara Zoo in 2010, Lucky was born with a limp due to abnormalities in his foot bones that prevented him from walking on the flat of his foot. Around the time he was eight weeks old and should have been walking properly, his deformed foot became more Please see LUCkY on A8
KENNETH SONG/NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO
Westmont College graduates celebrate during their 2017 commencement. The college is delaying this year’s ceremony because of the COVID19 pandemic.
By MITCHELL WHITE NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
T
he coronavirus pandemic caused Westmont College to postpone its commencement ceremony for the Class of 2020, though the college is planning on celebrating graduates at some point in the near future. While official plans have not been finalized, the Christian college is examining several
options, according to Scott Craig, manager of media relations for Westmont. “Westmont will celebrate its graduates when we are able,” Mr. Craig told the News-Press in an email. “Not a question of if but when. Currently we are looking at Homecoming weekend in October.” The graduation ceremony was scheduled for earlier this month, and the cancellation caused the college to get creative to recognize its senior class. On May 2, the college hosted a virtual concert
featuring popular Christian recording artists Phil Wickham and Grammy award-winning artist Lecrae. In the 40-minute video, Westmont President Gayle Beebe is seen at Kerwood Lawn, where the students would have gathered to begin the processional for commencement. “This is really just to honor and celebrate you as you graduate, but it’s also an opportunity to invite the entire Westmont family,” Dr. Beebe said. “If we were processing
in the Golden Warriors — the class celebrating its 50th reunion — would be here. “There’s always Warriors that are even older than the 50th class, and then of course we’re also celebrating the addition of our newest Westmont Warriors, the incoming class that will start this fall. We just want to pray for you, hope for you and look forward to welcoming you back to campus. Until then, stay safe and may God Please see WesTmOnT on A8
COURTESY PHOTOS
At left, Grammy winning Christian rap artist Lacrae, sporting a Westmont baseball hat, addresses the Class of 2020. At right, gospel music performer Phil Wickham performed for the Westmont senior class earlier this month in a digital concert.
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san marcos tops CiF-southern section with GPA By MARK PATTON NEWS-PRESS SENIOR WRITER
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an Marcos High School is back at the head of the class in the CIF’s Southern Section. Seven of its teams recorded the highest combined grade-point average for its sport, the most of any school in a section in which 1,788 teams from 26 sports submitted entries. The Royals competed against schools with enrollments of 1,500 or more students. “We have done this twice in the past,” Athletic Director Abe Jahadhmy said. “A lot of credit goes to the athletes.” San Marcos previously captured the overall team championship in the CIF Southern Section’s Academic Awards Program by placing first in six sports in 2011
and in seven sports in 2015. This year’s 34th annual awards, which are sponsored by the Southern California FORD dealers, were announced on Wednesday. The Royals won CIF-SS Academic championships for this school year in girls water polo (3.84 GPA), boys basketball (3.84), girls track and field (3.84), girls volleyball (3.79), boys lacrosse (3.74), baseball (3.69), and boys track and field (3.65). San Marcos also placed second in two sports, getting edged in girls swimming and diving by Long Beach Poly (3.90 to 3.88) and in boys volleyball by Long Beach Wilson (3.71 to 3.70). The Royals were third in both boys tennis (3.81) and girls basketball (3.79), and fourth in girls tennis (3.82) and girls swimming (3.80). Please see GPA on A8
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L O T T eRY R e s ULTs
Comics................. A6 Local ................ A 2-8 Obituaries ............ A8
Wednesday’s SUPER LOTTO: 2-24-29-30-37 Meganumber: 8
Wednesday’s DAILY 4: 3-1-2-2
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 8-19-25-36-66 Meganumber: 9
Wednesday’s FANTASY 5: 14-19-24-27-28
Wednesday’s DAILY DERBY: 12-11-06 Time: 1:40.22
Wednesday’s POWERBALL: 18-34-40-42-50 Meganumber: 9
Soduku ................ A5 Weather ............... A8
Wednesday’s DAILY 3: 8-5-0 / Evening 7-1-3