Latest news with #Avoca
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Regional Water lifts boil advisory for one city, others remain under restrictions
AVOCA, Iowa — Weeks after issuing the initial boil advisory, the Regional Water Rural Water District has announced the drinking water boil advisory is lifted for one southwest town, while the rest remain under restriction pending further testing. The initial advisory went into effect on May 14th and covered several cities throughout southwest Iowa. On June 1st, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources announced that the advisory was lifted for Avoca. The lift only applies to Avoca; the rest of the cities remain under advisory pending results from recent samples. Regional Waters says those samples are estimated to be completed on June 3rd. Two water samples must test negative for bacteria to lift a boil advisory. Regional Water says almost 80 sampling points have been required to be collected and tested due to the systemwide pressure loss. Last day of Des Moines Con kicks off at Iowa Events Center Regional Water's water tower system maintained pressure throughout the weekend and says that the community's water conservation practices have proven helpful in filling the towers. Regional Waters asks the community to continue their efforts to conserve water even as advisories and restrictions could lift in the coming weeks. They say due to drought conditions in southwest Iowa, water availability will remain a concern until a temporary booster station is in place. 'The completion of a temporary booster pump between the region and Council Bluffs was delayed last week due to wet weather. However, in the last few days the area was dry enough to continue pipeline construction and testing; barring any unforeseen circumstances, Regional Water hopes the connection between Council Bluffs and Regional Water's system will be completed around June 11,' the Iowa DNR said in release. Residents are reminded that if water use exceeds capacity and the towers lose pressure, a boil advisory will go into effect again. Regional Waters asks residents to continue limiting water use. Limit or avoid watering or irrigation of lawns. Limit or avoid washing vehicles, except at commercial establishments that provide that service as their only means of income. In these cases, hours of use will be restricted to 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. No water shall be used to fill private swimming pools, children's wading pools, or similar articles. No water shall be used to clean streets, driveways, sidewalks, etc. Large-volume water users, including industries, motels, hotels, eating establishments, and livestock confinements are requested to scale back services and/or production. Schools are strongly urged to cancel physical education activities and inter-scholastic competitions that require showers or attract crowds, and take other actions to reduce water consumption. For those still under a boil advisory, bottled water is still available at the Regional Waters Rural Water District Avoca Office. Regional Waters and the Iowa DNR say they are continuing efforts to ensure safe drinking water and thank customers for their patience. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
BreakingNews.ie
29-05-2025
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Dentist given lifetime ban on owning animals in 'appalling case of animal neglect'
A dentist has been given a suspended prison sentence of four and a half years and a lifetime ban on owning animals after what a judge described as 'one of the most appalling cases of animal neglect' he had ever come across. Karen Saunderson (68), who comes originally from Liverpool with an address in England, pleaded guilty to 10 offences contrary to the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, over the condition in which a large number of animals were discovered at the rental property where she lived at Templelusk, Avoca, Co Wicklow, on November 19th, 2016. Advertisement The charges related to causing unnecessary suffering, feeding, neglect and a failure to safeguard the health and welfare of animals. Photo: Collins Lawyers for Ms Saunderson – who is also known as Sanderson – claimed her property was used 'as a drop-off point for certain unwanted animals.' A sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court on Thursday heard an animal welfare inspector and gardaí who visited the living area of the property complained that their eyes were burning from the smell of ammonia from the urine of the animals. A total of 43 dogs, five horses, a pig and a wild boar were found on the property when it was visited by the chief inspector of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Conor Dowling. Advertisement The inspector gave evidence that an overweight pig, which was found squealing and lying on its side in a filthy stable, had to be put down later that day to prevent it from further suffering. Mr Dowling said the animal was unable to get to its feet, had overgrown hooves and no water. He described a terrible stench from other stables where he found 12 dogs living in muck and faeces with no water with some of the animals obviously 'stressed.' Photo: Collins One Mastiff who had a withered leg had to be euthanised a week later. Advertisement Mr Dowling said a German Shepherd, who was discovered to be pregnant, gave birth to a litter of nine pups the following week. Some were deformed, and none survived. However, most of the other dogs and all the horses were successfully rehomed. Mr Dowling told counsel for the DPP, James Kelly BL, that he sought assistance from gardaí because of the scale of what he encountered. He outlined how dogs spilled out of the living area of a loft building when the door was opened. Advertisement The court heard a total of 31 dogs, ranging from small puppies to giant breeds, were found in the loft with dog faeces everywhere. 'It was a stressful and chaotic environment,' said Mr Dowling, who believed that a large pool of liquid on the floor was urine from the dogs. 'I could not breathe and it made my eyes burn,' he recalled. A video recording of the scene showed the accused trying to claim the dogs had only urinated when inspectors had knocked on the door. Advertisement Mr Dowling said the accused claimed she walked 30 dogs every day, but he said the evidence indicated otherwise, as many of the animals had overgrown claws. He said one Mastiff had chronic arthritis and could not even make its own way downstairs, while a spaniel could not walk as it had not properly recovered from an old injury. Another dog had to have a toe amputated as it had been gnawing at an exposed bone. Mr Dowling said he did not believe Ms Saunderson was keeping animals commercially, but he found it hard to explain the situation. The inspector said all the horses were underweight and suffering from rain scald and mud fever. He told Judge Patrick Quinn that a decision was taken to remove most of the animals, although the accused was allowed to keep some dogs, to whom she was particularly attached. The judge questioned how the situation was allowed to develop, that both the defendant and her animals were living in such appalling conditions and squalor, without it being reported to the authorities. 'Somebody must have known,' he observed. Mr Dowling replied that he had visited the property on the basis of a 'quite vague' report that gave no sense of the scale of what he subsequently discovered. He pointed out that a vet who called to the property had never been beyond the yard. Photo: Collins However, he remarked that someone passing on the quiet road beside the property could have seen the horses in the field and realised there might be an animal welfare issue. Mr Dowling said the costs in the case were calculated at €12,229 but he believed the true figure was a multiple of that figure. Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Eanna Mulloy SC, the inspector said he was unaware of Ms Saunderson's claim that she was not the owner of all the animals or that she had issues with her landlord about sewage problems on the property. Mr Dowling said he was also unfamiliar that she was meant to be minding animals for a member of the Traveller community. The court heard Ms Saunderson had moved to Ireland in financially strained circumstances for a number of years on a 'career break', while she was the subject of a long-running regulatory matter with the General Dental Council in the UK. Mr Kelly noted that her guilty pleas were only entered in January 2025 to offences committed over eight years ago after she had submitted reports over the intervening years that she was unfit to go on trial. Mr Mulloy said Ms Saunderson had a difficult family background and was someone who was 'easily exploited.' He said the kernel of the problem was that his client was a woman who had a soft spot for animals, who could not cope with the number she had accumulated, but there was a low risk of her re-offending. Sentencing Ms Saunderson to four and a half years in prison and ordering her to pay costs of €15,000, Judge Quinn said it was obvious both she and her animals were neglected and living in 'absolute squalor.' The judge observed he had come across a few other similar cases where someone with a love of animals became overwhelmed by the number of animals they acquired over time. He claimed it was irrelevant that she might have been exploited by others. The judge accepted that her neglect was not intentional but due to her own declining mental state. Ms Saunderson sobbed audibly as she heard the sentence would be fully suspended. Addressing the judge, she remarked: 'Thank you very much. I really am so very sorry.'
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Regional Water issues mandatory water rationing, water sources below capacity
AVOCA, Iowa — Regional Water issued a Level Red water restriction advisory just days after issuing a boil advisory across several southwest Iowa counties. Regional Water, based in Avoca, Iowa, issued the boil advisory on May 10. Regional Water has service connections across Shelby, and portions of Pottawattamie, Harrison, Audubon, and Cass Counties. This does not include the Urban Bluffs area. The advisory was placed due to depressurization in their water towers, causing a risk of bacteria. Residents were encouraged to use boiled water or bottled water for drinking, brushing teeth, and food preparation. ISU President Wintersteen retires after 40 years with the school On Wednesday, Pottawattamie County notified residents that the Regional Water Rural Water Association (RWRWA) had issued a Level Red advisory for those served by the Avoca Treatment Plant. This is an escalation, as a yellow alert was placed by RWRWA on April 18, 2025. Pottawattamie County says more than half of Avoca residents were without water service on Wednesday and says additional outages are likely. The advisory was put in place due to continued drought conditions and below-average rainfall. Water sources are operating at less than 60% capacity according to Pottawattamie County. Effective immediately, the following restrictions are in place: No outdoor watering of lawns, gardens, or landscapes. No washing of vehicles, driveways, sidewalks, or buildings. No filling or refilling of swimming pools, hot tubs, or ornamental fountains. Restaurants may only serve water upon request. Lodging facilities must offer guests the option to reuse linens and towels. All leaks must be repaired within 48 hours of detection. Water use for construction purposes is restricted to essential activities only. Residents in the area are also encouraged to take shorter showers, turn off taps while brushing teeth and only run the dishwasher and washing machines with full loads. Neither the boil advisory nor the mandatory water rationing has an expected end date. To learn more about the boil advisory, water restriction, or ongoing outages, contact the RWRWA office at 712-343-2413. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Irish Daily Mirror
14-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Exec chef who was offered role in China before unfair dismissal awarded €57k
An Executive Chef at Avoca's Monkstown restaurant in south Dublin was offered a chef role in China by his employer during the Covid-19 pandemic before being unfairly dismissed through redundancy. At the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), Adjudicator Davnet O'Driscoll ordered Avoca Handweavers Shops Limited to pay Mark McGillycuddy €57,166 for his unfair dismissal in November 2020. Ms O'Driscoll stated she was not satisfied that the Avoca firm had discharged the burden of proof to show there were substantial grounds justifying the dismissal of Mr McGillycuddy for redundancy. In the case, Mr McGillycuddy had worked at Avoca's Monkstown restaurant since 2010. He said that he was told his role as Executive Chef with the company was at risk due to Covid-19 in September 2020 and the company were looking at alternative roles for him. Avoca Handweavers Shops Limited is part of the US-headquartered Aramark, which operates in 15 countries across four continents. Mr McGillycuddy was told that revenue was down 33 per cent at the Avoca firm in July and yearly revenue was down by 22 per cent due to Covid-19. At a third consultation meeting, Mr McGillycuddy was offered a role in China and was asked whether he believed this would be suitable. On November 4 2020, Mr McGillycuddy was informed that he was made redundant, with his last payment on November 13 2020. On behalf of Mr McGillycuddy, Setanta Landers at Setanta Solicitors argued that the pandemic was used as a mask to justify the redundancy. Mr McGillycuddy argued that the process 'was an artificial and sham process', and that the employee with the longest service was selected. In evidence, Mr McGillycuddy told the hearing that he did not know why he was selected for redundancy. He did not feel the company was looking for an alternative role for him and said he felt it was a box-tick exercise. He said the only role that was available was the position of Chef in China or entry-level roles. In her findings, Ms O'Driscoll accepts that the Avoca firm was adversely financially impacted by the pandemic, and restructuring of the business was consequently required. Ms O'Driscoll found that the Avoca firm did not act reasonably in consulting with Mr McGillycuddy regarding the alternative roles available. She said: "The dismissal is unfair.' Ms O'Driscoll stated that it was notable that evidence has been given of the advertisement of two Chef Manager roles in the restructuring, but Mr McGillycuddy was not aware of the two roles. Ms O'Driscoll stated that Mr McGillycuddy was agreeable to taking a similar role or a step down in order to remain in employment. In response, the Avoca firm refuted that Mr McGillycuddy was unfairly dismissed. The company stated that it behaved reasonably and that it engaged in a full consultation process with Mr McGillycuddy. The firm stated that it was only after all possible alternatives to redundancy were considered, including seeking suitable alternative roles, that a decision was made to confirm the redundancy of his role. The company stated that Mr McGillycuddy was afforded the right to fair procedures at all times.
Irish Examiner
14-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Avoca chef offered alternative role in China wins unfair dismissal claim
An executive chef at Avoca's Monkstown restaurant in south Dublin was offered a chef role in China by his employer during the pandemic before being unfairly dismissed through redundancy. At the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), adjudicator Davnet O'Driscoll has ordered Avoca Handweavers Shops Limited to pay Mark McGillycuddy €57,166 for his unfair dismissal in November 2020. Ms O'Driscoll stated she was not satisfied that the Avoca firm had discharged the burden of proof to show there were substantial grounds justifying the dismissal of Mr McGillycuddy for redundancy. In the case, Mr McGillycuddy had worked at Avoca's Monkstown restaurant since 2010. He said that he was told his role as executive chef with the company was at risk due to covid in September 2020 and the company were looking at alternative roles for him. Avoca Handweavers Shops Limited is part of the US-headquartered Aramark, which operates in 15 countries across four continents. Mr McGillycuddy was told that revenue was down 33% at the Avoca firm in July and yearly revenue was down by 22% due to covid. At a third consultation meeting, Mr McGillycuddy was offered a role in China and was asked whether he believed this would be suitable. On November 4, 2020, Mr McGillycuddy was informed that he was made redundant with his last payment on November 13, 2020. On behalf of Mr McGillycuddy, Setanta Landers at Setanta Solicitors argued that the pandemic was used as a mask to justify the redundancy. Mr McGillycuddy argued that the process 'was an artificial and sham process', and that the employee with the longest service was selected. In evidence, Mr McGillycuddy told the hearing that did not know why he was selected for redundancy. He did not feel the company was looking for an alternative role for him and said he felt it was a tick-box exercise. He said the only role that was available was the position of chef in China or entry level roles. In her findings, Ms O'Driscoll accepts that the Avoca firm was adversely financially impacted by the pandemic, and restructuring of the business was consequently required. Ms O'Driscoll found that the Avoca firm did not act reasonably in consulting with Mr McGillycuddy regarding alternative roles available. She said: "The dismissal is unfair.' Ms O'Driscoll stated that it was notable that evidence has been given of the advertisement of two chef manager roles in the restructuring, but Mr McGillycuddy was not aware of the two roles. Ms O'Driscoll stated that Mr McGillycuddy was agreeable to taking a similar role or step down in order to remain in employment. In response, the Avoca firm refuted that Mr McGillycuddy was unfairly dismissed. The company stated that it behaved reasonably and that it engaged in a full consultation process with Mr McGillycuddy. The firm stated that it was only after all possible alternatives to redundancy were considered, including seeking suitable alternative roles, that a decision was made to confirm the redundancy of his role. The company stated that Mr McGillycuddy was afforded the right to fair procedures at all times.
