Latest news with #Bennington
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Anniston reports record economic growth amid years of strategic planning
ANNISTON — The city of Anniston is celebrating a record-setting year of economic growth in Fiscal Year 2024, with officials pointing to years of careful planning and strategic partnerships as the driving forces behind the progress. According to newly released data from the city, Anniston issued 618 business licenses in FY2024, a 61.35 percent increase over the previous year's 383 licenses. Since 2020, the city has recorded a 291.14 percent surge in business license registrations, more than tripling over the past four years. The construction sector mirrored this growth, with $57.24 million in investment — up from $41.11 million in FY2023 and $14.49 million in 2020. Municipal revenues have followed suit, with general fund revenues up more than 32 percent since FY2015 and a 38.14 percent rise in sales tax revenue over the same period. Toby Bennington, director of Economic Development and City Planning, credited the growth to a long-term approach that focused on building a welcoming business climate. 'We are at this point because this has been a process that's been in place for a few years,' Bennington said Thursday. 'The most important thing is to create an economic development environment and a cultural environment — a positive environment — where there is positive activity going on.' Bennington, who has served in his role since 2007, said the city has spent the past five to seven years crafting a strategy centered around business friendliness and responsiveness. 'What has happened, and what we have been building on ... is creating an environment where the city is business friendly, the city is business reactive,' he said. 'We have aligned ourselves with the right partners. We have done the due diligence homework.' This includes compiling a comprehensive portfolio of data, available sites, economic impact analyses, and incentive packages. Bennington noted that laying this groundwork has helped bring in developers who, in turn, attract others. 'When there's evidence of development ... that brings in other interests, and it trickles down,' he said. A standout example is the Summerall Subdivision in north Anniston. Bennington described it as a growing retail and commercial node, thanks in part to partnerships with developers like Blackwater Real Estate and support from the Alabama Department of Transportation. Infrastructure funding through the Rebuild Alabama Act has also fueled interest. 'We've received the funding back from ALDOT ... with the infrastructure improvements and everything that's happening now, that has heightened interest tremendously,' he said. 'Just within the last week, we've had discussions with four prospects.' Bennington confirmed that Blackwater has reached an agreement with one of those tenants, adding, 'We're really, really excited about the meetings that we had last week ... when you start talking about letters of intent, that's exciting.' Though he stopped short of naming specific businesses, Bennington said an announcement about new tenants at Summerall is forthcoming — and it could include more than one. 'This is a wonderful feeling,' he said, referring to the increased interest in the subdivision. 'Now, that doesn't guarantee anything, but five or six years ago, we were struggling and working hard to get to this point.' Interest in Summerall has even expanded to nearby commercial areas. Bennington said a coffee business is eyeing an outparcel in the Walmart parking lot in Lenlock, and Walmart's Murphy Oil is planning to expand into a full-service convenience store and gas station. 'That's carried over into that interest,' he said. 'What a goal is — hopefully — as development ensues and north Anniston interest continues ... we can get people interested in the city's property on the west side of McClellan Boulevard,' referring to the former trailer park property north of Anniston Middle School. Bennington emphasized the importance of collaborative leadership in achieving economic success. 'Everybody here in City Hall and the County Commission and the elected officials — everybody just being on the same page,' he said. He also cited the impact of the Main Street Anniston program, which he said has become 'a very highly recognized program that makes a difference.' Beyond city limits, the momentum is attracting regional and even national attention. 'I get calls from developers in Atlanta, Florida, North Carolina. Most recently, there's a group in Texas that has reached out,' Bennington said. The recently released economic report compiled by city public relations director Jackson Hodges is being used to amplify the city's efforts. 'We looked at our numbers, our business licensing, our permitting ... we utilize those to where those will go to our extended partners, to upcoming trade shows,' Bennington said. Hodges said the report is spectacular. 'It's not an over exaggeration to say these are unprecedented numbers. Particularly in the sectors of construction and new businesses,' Jackson said. 'Efforts like Main Street Anniston's Get-Up business classes, our finance department's efficiency and budget management policies, our planning & economic development department's retail recruitment and pro-growth strategies, our building and safety department's permitting personnel and guidance all culminate into calculable results,' Jackson said. Bennington added that development partners, including Retail Coach and tenant representatives, are using the data to pitch Anniston to potential investors. The success has even sparked interest tied to recreational assets like the Chief Ladiga Trail. 'There's been businesses that have inquired about that ... we're actually in process now,' Bennington said. At the core of it all, Bennington stressed, is a shared commitment to cultivating a positive environment. 'It's all about creating an environment,' he said. 'You have to get people talking about your community. That's how you get success.' For more information and to view the city's full FY2024 economic report, visit
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Former child star Sophie Nyweide tried to take her own life four weeks before her shock death, aged 24
Former child star Sophie Nyweide reportedly attempted suicide four weeks before her unexpected death on April 14. Police responded to 911 calls regarding a suicide attempt and a welfare check for the former actress, who was pregnant when she died, aged 24, according to Us Weekly. Two years up to her passing, Nyweide had at least 19 documented run-ins with Bennington, Vermont, police, most of which were drug-related, involving substances such as heroin, crack cocaine, and fentanyl. Nyweide's autopsy results are still pending. She was found lifeless on a riverbank in Vermont and was treated at a medical clinic after police responded to a 911 call on March 11, reporting she had 'cut her arm on purpose'. Three weeks before her death, officers conducted a welfare check on Nyweide after spotting her walking and noting she appeared 'injured'. The report states she confirmed she was 'in pain' and was taken to a local hospital. Nyweide made her big-screen debut at the age of six. She later played Michelle Williams' onscreen daughter in 2009's Mammoth and also appeared in Nicole Kidman's acclaimed 2007 comedy Margot At The Wedding, and Russell Crowe's 2014 biblical epic Noah. Nyweide 'struggled with using opiates for five years' her father Jeffrey told police during an incident report in August 2023. At the time, the Bennington Police responded to an emergency call about a potential heroin overdose in a counseling center parking lot. While out for breakfast with her father, Nyweide stepped outside for fresh air. Soon after, he found her in an 'unconscious state' laying against a vehicle. Police found 'tinfoil with [a] black mark next to a glassine bag'. In another incident that took place in April 2024, police responded to reports of a suspicious vehicle. Nyweide, who was in the vehicle, allegedly told police she 'just left the hospital, was tired, and was looking for a spot to sleep' and had parked outside a residence where she 'used to buy drugs' and was 'hoping to use'. Last month, it was reported that the star struggled with drug addiction but 'had hope' prior to her passing. Nyweide was remembered by her longtime friend and ex-girlfriend Eden Herlihy in a new interview with TMZ. Herlihy claimed Nyweide 'never gave up' and even tried to help other fellow addicts. Herlihy said: 'She had hope… I've lost a lot of people to addiction sadly. Me and Sophie lost a lot of friends to this disease over the past couple of years. We knew the severity of it.' 'She was the last person I was expecting to die from this disease because she was so strong.' For confidential help in the U.S., call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1 800 273 8255. For confidential support in the UK, call the Samaritans on 11 61 23. For confidential support in Australia, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Former child star Sophie Nyweide attempted suicide four weeks before shock death at 24
Former child star Sophie Nyweide reportedly attempted suicide four weeks before her unexpected death at age 24. Police had responded to 911 calls regarding a suicide attempt and a welfare check for the former actress — who was pregnant when she died on April 14 — according to Us Weekly. In the two years leading up to her tragic death, Nyweide had at least 19 documented run-ins with Bennington, Vermont police, most of which were drug-related, involving substances such as heroin, crack cocaine, and fentanyl. The Mammoth actress — who was found lifeless on a riverbank in Vermont — was treated at a medical clinic after police responded to a 911 call on March 11, reporting she had 'cut her arm on purpose.' Three weeks before her death, officers conducted a welfare check on Nyweide after spotting her walking and noting she appeared 'injured.' The report states Nyweide confirmed she was 'in pain' and was taken to a local hospital. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Nyweide's autopsy results are still pending. Nyweide made her big-screen debut at age 6. She later played Michelle Williams' onscreen daughter in 2009's Mammoth and also appeared in Nicole Kidman's acclaimed 2007 comedy Margot at the Wedding and Russell Crowe's 2014 biblical epic Noah as a child star. Nyweide 'struggled with using opiates for five years' her father Jeffrey told police during an incident report in August 2023. At the time, the Bennington Police responded to an emergency call about a potential heroin overdose in a counseling center parking lot. While out for breakfast with her father, Nyweide stepped outside for fresh air. Soon after, he found her in an 'unconscious state' lying against a vehicle. Police found 'tinfoil with [a] black mark next to a glassine bag.' In another incident that took place April 2024 police responded to reports of a suspicious vehicle. Nyweide, who was in the vehicle, allegedly told police she 'just left the hospital, was tired, and was looking for a spot to sleep' and had parked outside a residence where she 'used to buy drugs' and was 'hoping to use.' Police reported finding 'approximately five burnt Chore Boy pieces,' a cleaning product often used as a screen in drug paraphernalia. Police had responded to 911 calls regarding a suicide attempt and a welfare check for the former actress — who was pregnant when she died on April 14 — according to Us Weekly In another incident Nyweide was placed in hand restraints after police discovered a 'glassine stamped baggie' that was 'contingent with heroin/fentanyl.' Nyweide was repeatedly taken into custody for active warrants. During a June 2024 incident, law enforcement officers reported finding heroin and five baggies stamped '357' that tested positive for fentanyl. In August 2024, police responded to a 911 call alleging Nyweide took a TV from a local Walmart without paying, though she wasn't charged. Just two weeks later, officers received a call about a potential overdose, finding a 'female slumped over the steering wheel.' Nyweide told them she had run out of gas about two hours prior and didn't need assistance. On October 13, Nyweide called for help, claiming she 'thought she heard voices outside her residence,' but assured police she was safe. Later that month, during an overdose investigation, Nyweide confessed to officers that she had administered Narcan — an opioid overdose reversal drug — to a friend, who survived. Last month it was reported that the star struggled with drug addiction but 'had hope' prior to her passing. She was remembered by her longtime friend and ex-girlfriend Eden Herlihy in a new interview with TMZ. Herlihy said Nyweide 'never gave up' and even tried to help other fellow addicts. 'She had hope… I've lost a lot of people to addiction sadly,' Herlihy said, adding, 'Me and Sophie lost a lot of friends to this disease over the past couple of years. We knew the severity of it.' 'She was the last person I was expecting to die from this disease because she was so strong,' Herlihy added. While her cause of death is still unconfirmed, Sophie's mom, Shelly Gibson, 63, previously told that she suspected an accidental drug overdose. 'No one is ever the right person to go. No one is meant to go from this disease, at least in my opinion. But I never thought it would be her because we fought so hard to survive the stuff we've gone through in our lives,' she said. Herlihy recounted meeting Nyweide at Elevations, a Utah residential treatment center for adolescents aged 13-18 dealing with anxiety, depression, bullying, and other challenges. Having known each other for a while, Herlihy shared that she and Nyweide supported each other through their own addiction struggles. Herlihy said she witnessed Nyweide 'using' drugs and admitted to using with her. Herlihy also remembered Nyweide's warm and welcoming nature towards others. 'She didn't judge anybody, she wasn't like the regular girls of our age group that [were] judging each other,' she recalled. 'She was kind off the bat. [She] wasn't talking bad about anybody. She just wanted everybody to feel safe and cared for.' Herlihy also got emotional while talking about the fact that Nyweide was pregnant at the time of her death, saying it was like a 'knife in my heart.' 'She always wanted to be a mother,' she told TMZ, adding, 'She loved my daughter. She was amazing around my daughter.' 'She never really got the chance to like get her life together to be given the opportunity to like have the life that she wanted.' Herlihy added that while she didn't know if Nyweide would have 'kept the child', it was 'her goal at one point in her life' to become a mom. It is yet to be confirmed how long she'd been carrying the baby. Nyweide's mom previously told 'I am aware she was using drugs. She had been for quite a while.' 'We had put her in many treatment centers. We don't have the toxicology reports back yet.' The actress, who appeared in seven movies before turning 10, passed away on April 14 as confirmed by her family in an online obituary. Police have also revealed that a man was with the former actress when she died. He has been 'cooperating with the investigation' but has not been declared a person of interest in the case. Sophie is best known for portraying Williams' on-screen daughter in the 2009 film Mammoth. 'Sophie was a kind and trusting girl. Often this left her open to being taken advantage of by others. She wrote and drew voraciously, and much of this art depicts the depth she had, and it also represents the pain she suffered,' her loved ones wrote. They continued: 'Many of her writings and artwork are roadmaps of her struggles and traumas. Even with those roadmaps, diagnoses and her own revelations, those closest to her, plus therapists, law enforcement officers and others who tried to help her, are heartbroken their efforts couldn't save her from her fate.' Her loved ones went on to reveal that Nyweide 'self-medicated to deal with all the trauma and shame she held inside' and that 'resulted in her death.' 'She repeatedly said she would "handle it" on her own and was compelled to reject the treatment that might possibly have saved her life,' they detailed. In lieu of gifts or flowers, her family requested fans make a donation to Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) in Nyweide's name. RAINN is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. The young star's obituary highlighted her lifelong passion for acting, which her family said she 'dreamed (more like demanded) to do from a young age, 'without ever knowing her mother was an actor.' 'She seemed happiest on a movie set, becoming someone else. It was a safe place for her and she relish from the casts and crews who nourished her talent and her well being,' her loved ones explained. Nyweide booked her first acting gig in the 2006 movie, Bella, and proceeded to get a parts in episodes of Law & Order, And Then Came Love, Margot at the Wedding and New York City Serenade. Her other credits include Shadows & Lies, Mistakes Were Made, Born Again and What Would You Do. Following her performance in an An Invisible Sign (2010), alongside Jessica Alba, film critic, Jeannette Catsoulis, predicted Nyweide 'should have a glowing future.' Nyweide was born in Burlington, Vermont on July 8, 2000. Her mom Shelly is known for her roles in Dust to Malibu, St. Elsewhere (1982) and All My Children (1970). In a 2010 interview, Gibson recalled her daughter's love for film coming from watching movies at the Village Picture Shows Cinema in Manchester and watching Nancy Meyers' Something's Gotta Give, at age four. 'She grew up in this movie theater and slept in the movie theater and had a little bed in the projection booth and watched many movies,' Gibson said. Gibson recently shared a beautiful photo of her daughter, alongside a heartfelt tribute. 'RIP, my Sophie. She graced us for far too short a time. My daughter was a light for all who met her. For those us of who were truly close with Sophie, we are gutted and will need a long time to get over her passing. I know I never will. God I love my daughter. I want her back. Fly high sweetheart - you always could,' she wrote. Underneath Gibson's post, fans left condolence messages and offered their support. 'Shelly. No words. I am devastatingly sorry for your loss. Much much much love,' one wrote. Another commented: 'Holding you in my thoughts, you've been on my mind all week. I can't imagine. Sending you as much peace now as I can and even more moving forward.'
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Chief Ladiga Trail: Anniston's 16-Year journey of perseverance, partnerships and planning
ANNISTON — In 2008, when the Surface Transportation Board approved the abandonment of a 1.4-mile Norfolk Southern rail corridor in Anniston, few could have predicted it would take nearly 16 years of research, advocacy and coordination to secure that short stretch of land for the completion of the Chief Ladiga Trail. Toby Bennington, Anniston's director of Economic Development and City Planning, has been at the center of it from the beginning. 'There were times when it would have been easy to throw in the towel,' Bennington said. 'But those of us who were there from the start held our own and didn't give up.' The trail, a 33-mile paved path stretching from Anniston to the Alabama-Georgia line where it connects with Georgia's Silver Comet Trail, has long been a cornerstone for regional recreation and economic development in Calhoun and Cleburne counties. But the final link — through the heart of Anniston — was tangled in legal ambiguity and bureaucratic red tape. 'In June of 2008, the city and (Metropolitan Planning Organization) received notice of the Norfolk Southern abandonment,' Bennington said. 'Former Mayor Gene Robinson and I reached out to Craig Orcutt with NS Real Estate. Craig, now retired, helped clarify what this meant and even provided original Valmaps of the railroad.' Despite Robinson's interest in moving forward, support from the City Council at the time was lacking, and there was no documented communication between the city and Norfolk Southern before the abandonment occurred. Nonetheless, Bennington and Jack Plunk of the MPO created a line item in the regional transportation program, hoping the city would one day acquire the corridor. Progress was slow until the Stewart administration reignited the city's interest in the project. Bennington and then-City Manager Brian Johnson resumed talks with Norfolk Southern, only to find that the Alabama Water and Wastewater Systems Board had acquired part of the corridor by quitclaim deed. Norfolk Southern argued they no longer owned the property — a claim that complicated the city's eligibility for federal funds. To unlock that funding, Anniston had to prove Norfolk Southern had once owned the right-of-way and build a property map from the ground up. 'It was new to everybody — the consultants, the MPO, ALDOT, even the FHWA,' Bennington said. 'We were creating a legal and historical record of rail ownership from scratch.' Multiple administrations — Stewart, Draper and now current leadership — kept the project moving. Kent Davis came on as city manager, and researchers Bruce Downey and Jay Rhodes dove into historical records to document the right-of-way ownership. That work paid off. The Federal Highway Administration and Alabama Department of Transportation ultimately approved the right-of-way map, allowing the city to purchase the property from Norfolk Southern and AWWSB. Over 12 years, the MPO earmarked $525,000 for acquisition and design engineering. Sain Associates became the lead design consultant after JRWA's retirement, and environmental studies, permitting and neighborhood assessments followed. Former Anniston City Manager Steven Folks helped sustain the vision and leadership for the project. During those years of persistence, the city expanded its bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure planning. With MPO support, Anniston developed a Bicycle-Pedestrian Integration Plan, a Multimodal Center Preservation Plan and several 'Share the Road' routes. In 2012, the city added the McClellan Spur using Recreational Trail Funds, connecting the trail to the Longleaf Preserve and the Talladega National Forest via the Pinhoti Trail. 'This was never just about a trail,' Bennington said. 'It was about building a system that connects people — to each other, to downtown, to the outdoors.' In 2022, Anniston officially purchased the final 1.4-mile segment from Norfolk Southern. And on February 20, 2024, the city awarded a $7.26 million construction contract to B&B Developers to complete the trail. The list of contributors is long: former mayors, city managers, MPO staff like Lori Sokol and Elizabeth Messick, state officials like Del Marsh and DeJarvis Leonard of ALDOT, researchers, engineers, JSU economists and many more. 'This has been a team effort from start to finish,' said Jackson Hodges, the city's director of Public Relations. 'Toby really was the glue. Without his institutional knowledge and drive, I don't think this would've happened.' Now, with the final leg finished, Anniston is positioned to reap the trail's economic and recreational benefits. A JSU-led impact study predicts increased tourism, healthier lifestyles and stronger local economies along the route. 'For Anniston, this is more than a trail,' Bennington said. 'It's a legacy — and a promise fulfilled.'
The Independent
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
They tried so hard: Linkin Park's homecoming L.A. show hit with huge downgrades and ticket price drop
Linkin Park has made a major change to the homecoming date on their 2025 From Zero world tour, which resumes April 26 in Austin, Texas. Last September, the nu-metal band kicked off their world tour in Inglewood, California. That concert marked their highly anticipated return to live performances following a seven-year hiatus after the tragic suicide of frontman Chester Bennington in 2017. It also welcomed Bennington's replacement, Emily Armstrong, as well as new drummer Colin Brittain. The nearly year-long world tour is in support of the band's latest album, From Zero, and features stops in major cities across North America, Europe and South America. In an Instagram post made last week, the 'In the End' band announced additional South American dates. Meanwhile, in the same post, they noted that their forthcoming September 13 show in their hometown of Los Angeles had been relocated from the previous 56,000-capacity Dodger Stadium to the significantly smaller 18,000-capacity Intuit Dome. 'If you purchased tickets previously, you will be refunded & have first shot at buying tickets at Intuit Dome. Can't wait to see you there!' the message read. The concert will still be opened by previously announced rapper and singer JPEGMAFIA; however, Queens of the Stone Age will no longer make an appearance. In a subsequent post, Linkin Park advertised discounted tickets to any North American 'show of your choice' for only $39.95 (not including fees and taxes), with the caveat being that the seats would be randomly assigned. Both the Los Angeles venue downgrade, along with the low-priced tickets, has led to speculation that the band is having trouble selling tickets. The Independent has contacted Linkin Park's representatives for comment. From Zero, released shortly after the band's first reunion concert, is the group's first album since Bennington's death. It has become a hit with critics and fans alike, with The Independent 's Helen Brown writing that while the album is nothing revolutionary, it is 'certainly a re-energized return to business for a band that has been sorely missed.' Brown further praised Armstrong for her 'roaring' vocals, adding that the singer's 'new flavor is balanced by the familiarity of the nu-metal band's crowd-pleasing chord progressions.'
