http://www.thebattlecreekshopper.com BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS Thursday, June 20, 2024 37
NOTICE
The Village of Athens is accepting applications of employment
Position: Full Time Department Head
Employer: Village of Athens
Compensation: Salary negotiable plus excellent benefits
How to Apply: Send cover letter, resume and salary history to:
President Michael Alverson
129 East Burr Oak Street
PO Box 116
Athens, MI 49011
MI law requires applicants to request confidentiality if desired.Job Description: The Village of Athens located in scenic farmland in Southern
Michigan is seeking a Full Time Department Head Employee. Must be a high
school graduate. Two years of management in college is preferred. Must possess
excellent public relations, oral and written conversation skills and experience
preferred. Must possess a valid driver’s license with a CDL endorsement. General
maintenance and heavy tool/equipment knowledge and skills required. Must
live or move to within 20 miles of the village. Must be able to pass physical and
drug test. Duties include and are not limited to acting as immediate Supervisor
for one (1) Full Time Maintenance employee and one (1) Part Time Employee.
The position is as a working supervisor. Job requirements include street snow
plowing, digging deep holes, lifting heavy items, using hazardous materials,
vacuuming leaves, replacing water mains. The ability to work with Township,
County, State and Federal Agencies for completion of projects. Early morning
arrival, and late departure possible. Overtime and weekend stand by work
required.
Bonnie J Conant, Athens Village ClerkThe end of an era is upon Battle
Creek.
The U.S. Air Force A-10C
Thunderbolt II Demo Team will be
performing at this summer’s Field of
Flight Air Show July 3-7 for the final
time, says Field of Flights spokesper-
son Bretten Bailey.
This is the last season the aircraft
will be flown in demonstrations at air
shows as the United States Air Force
and Air National Guard prepare to
retire all remaining airframes.
“This will be the culmination of
more than 40 years of demonstra-
tions performed by dozens of pilots
and teams at hundreds of air shows
across multiple countries,” a press
release from the 355th Wing at
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base stat-
ed on March 20.
“A-10s have a lot of history here
in Battle Creek” said Bailey, who is
Field of Flight media director and
one of the event planners. “It is bit-
tersweet, but we are happy that we
can host the demo team in their final
year in a community that holds the
Warthog so close to their hearts.”
A-10 Thunderbolt II’s were based
at Battle Creek’s Air National Guard
Base as part of the 110th Fighter
Wing from 1991 to 2009.
The A-10 Thunderbolt II, affec-
tionately known as the “Warthog”
because of its ability to get down and
dirty, was the first Air Force aircraft
specifically designed for close air
support of ground forces.
“They are simple, effective and
survivable twin-engine jet aircraft
that can be used against light mari-
time attack aircraft and all ground
targets, including tanks and other
armored vehicles,” according to the
Demo Team.
The aircraft was built around a
30mm GAU-8/A Gatling gun, which
can fire 3,900 rounds per minute.
The pilot also is essentially pro-
tected by a titanium bathtub, and the
aircraft can survive direct hits from
armor-piercing and high explosive
projectiles up to 23mm.
The aircraft can be operated from
bases with limited facilities near bat-
tlefield areas, have protected internal
self-sealing fuel cells and manual
systems to back up their hydraulic
systems.
A-10C Thunderbolt II makes farewell tour in B.C.
The A-10C Thunderbolt II “Memphis Belle III” is shown here. (Photo provided)The A-10C Demo Team is coming
to Battle Creek from Davis-Monthan
Air Force Base in Arizona.
They will be bringing two specially
painted A-10s with them, though
only one will perform in the demo.
The first A-10 is “Memphis Belle
III,” a heritage paint scheme paying
homage to the famous World War II
B-17 “Memphis Belle,” as well as
an F-105 from the 355th “Memphis
Belle II.”
The second is known as “Black
Snake” or, as some affectionately
call it, “Black Mamba,” an A-10 that
was moved to Davis-Monthan after
being stationed at Fort Wayne Air
National Guard Base in Indiana as
part of the “Blacksnakes” squadron.
The Demonstration Team pilot
and commander is Maj. Lindsay M.
“MAD” Johnson, who has amassed
more than 1,380 flight hours.
“She is responsible for showcasing
the A-10 Thunderbolt II at over 20
airshows annually around the coun-
try, as well as internationally. She is
also responsible for leadership of a
10-person team that includes main-
tenance and public affairs airmen.
She and the team highlight the capa-
bilities of the A-10, as well as pay
tribute to Air Force history by flying
formation flights with the Heritage
Flight Foundation,” according to theDemo Team.
Their air show demonstration will
also feature pyrotechnics.The A-10 won’t be the only
“Thunderbolt” in the skies over
Battle Creek this summer, however.
The World War II era P-47
Thunderbolt “Chief Ski-U-Mah II”
from Fagen Fighters World War II
Museum in Minnesota will also be
in town.
The P-47 will fly alongside the
A-10 in a formation performance.
Steve Hinton Jr. will be flying the
P-47.
Organizers believe this could be
one of the last times such a flight
between the two historic aircraft that
share the same name could be seen,
said Bailey.
Tickets for the 2024 Field of
Flight, which is July 3-7 at the Battle
Creek Executive Airport, are on sale
now at http://www.fieldofflight.com.CALL
269-965-3955
to place your
Battle Creek Shopper
News ad today!