Charter boat captain Allen Kruse was known as “Rookie” to all his friends. He had fished the Alabama gulf coast waters for 26 years. We spoke to him just last month, three weeks after the gusher in the gulf started changing everyones way of life. He ended his life with a single gunshot on board the boat he loved. In Orange Beach there was a prayer and a moment of silence at the weekly meeting to discuss the disaster. Mayor Tony Kennon had no doubt who was to blame for his friends death. “To think that we lost somebody because of a selfish, faceless, corrupt corporation's actions and I do attribute it directly to their actions. And an impotent, cowardly federal government that's just left us hanging down here, just makes me sick to my stomach.” His death calls attention to mounting pressures and frustrations felt by all says Ben Fairey with the Orange Beach Fishing Association. “We are independent and this is a huge adjustment to go from fishing and all the freedom to go to a regimented tup of program. It is an issue.” The loss of this captain also serves as a warning according to mental health counsellor Debbie Blankenship. “We need to all be aware because one person taking that ultimate action seems to give other people permission and we don't want that to be true. We don't want this to become a cascading event.” If you or someone you know needs help you can call Blankenship at (251) 543-1051. added by: JanforGore
