Latest news with #Burley
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Toxicology result brings second charge in Wisconsin crash that killed restaurant owner David Burley
The man who caused a fatal crash that killed Twin Cities' restaurateur David Burley on Interstate 94 in Hudson, Wis., last month faces an additional homicide charge after a toxicology test shows he had a blood-alcohol concentration well over the legal limit to drive, according to a recent court filing. Law enforcement suspected that Andre Lamont Mathews was intoxicated in the April 6 afternoon crash that killed Burley, the co-founder of Blue Plate Restaurant Co., who was driving his motorcycle. Burley, who grew up in Perth, Australia, was 58 and lived in Minnetonka. Mathews, 33, of Brooklyn Park, was charged the next day with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle as a repeat offender. According to the criminal complaint, Mathews would not submit to an evidentiary test of his blood. A Wisconsin State Trooper applied for and received a search warrant to draw his blood for testing. The toxicology test by the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene showed Mathews' blood alcohol level was 0.134, according to an amended complaint filed this month that adds a charge of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle with a prohibited alcohol concentration. The legal limit to drive in Wisconsin is 0.08. Beyond the BAC, no new details of the crash are included in the amended complaint. The crash happened at 2:48 p.m. on westbound I-94 at milepost 1. Two people reported seeing Mathews' vehicle, a 2011 Infiniti G25, 'operating at a high rate of speed and weaving in and out of traffic for several miles prior to the crash,' the complaint states. An investigation indicates Mathews was in the right lane and attempted to overtake traffic by using the right shoulder and then struck a guardrail, causing his car to veer back into the right lane, where it collided with Burley's motorcycle, according to the Wisconsin State Patrol. Both Mathews' car and Burley's motorcycle 'traveled across the roadway' and struck the median concrete barrier, the state patrol said. Burley and Mathews were brought to Regions Hospital, where Burley died the same day. A trooper saw that his helmet had damage to the front and right rear. A trooper met with Mathews in a trauma room at the hospital. He 'appeared to be disoriented and lethargic,' was not answering questions appropriately 'and stated he did not know where he was or if he was driving,' the complaint states. St. Croix County prosecutors are seeking a longer sentence for Mathews, if he's convicted, due to a past offense. He was sentenced for possession of cocaine in Hennepin County in 2018. Prosecutors in mid-April also filed three other cases against Mathews in connection with the crash: failure to keep a vehicle under control, failure to wear a seat belt and refusal to take a test for intoxication after arrest. He's due back in court June 23 on all the cases. 'It's a very sad situation,' his attorney, Rachael Goldberger, said Friday. 'And we don't have any discovery yet. Once we get that, we'll go through it.' After working together as servers at the Nicollet Island Inn in Minneapolis during the 1990s, Burley and Stephanie Shimp opened the Highland Grill on St. Paul's Cleveland Avenue, followed by a series of other local restaurants under the title Blue Plate Restaurant Co., including the Groveland Tap, Longfellow Grill, Edina Grill, The Lowry, The Blue Barn at the Minnesota State Fair and The Freehouse. Maplewood shooting: St. Paul man fired on car while kids cowered nearby, charges say Sean 'Diddy' Combs' lawyers say ex-assistant's social media posts undercut her rape allegation Bloodhounds hunting 'Devil in the Ozarks' fugitive are seen as key part of manhunt Wedding photographer sentenced for surreptitiously recording bride changing clothes Derrick Thompson's trial begins in deaths of 5 women
Global News
4 days ago
- Climate
- Global News
Manitoba residents, cottagers assess wildfire damage in Lac du Bonnet
Many residents and cottagers in Lac du Bonnet, Man., are returning to the area to assess the damage and begin cleaning up the rubble, after a raging wildfire tore through the area two weeks ago. The more than 4,000-hectare wildfire destroyed dozens of properties, scarred the landscape beyond recognition, and took the lives of two people who were unable to flee the flames. The area is barely recognizable to Ron Burley, who has lived in Lac du Bonnet for the past nine years. 'It looks like a war zone,' Burley told Global News. 'There were trees and it was lush, there was privacy. You couldn't see the lake. It was kind of nice; now, everything is just burnt and you're seeing hills of granite that I never knew were there.' View image in full screen Dozens of properties on Wendigo Road were destroyed by wildfire. Josh Arason / Global News Burley's home was spared from the wildfire, but it came close. Story continues below advertisement 'I was told it was about another 20 minutes and our area would have been gone,' he said. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy He says the loss of homes and cottages in the area has meant a tough and emotional time for many families. 'There's history with those cottages,' Burley said. 'Whether it's five years, one year, or, in most of the cases with those cottages, it's 40 years or longer. It's not about it being a recreational property. It's about people's stories, their lives.' Burley himself had a harrowing escape from the wildfire, quickly finding himself surrounded by flames on the only road out. He says that experience was like staring death in the face, and is something he never wants to go through again. View image in full screen Ron Burley nearly got lost in the flames while trying to escape the wildfire in Lac du Bonnet two weeks ago. Josh Arason / Global News 'I had to drive into a fire to get out of a fire,' he said. Story continues below advertisement 'It quickly became very clear we were sitting in a death trap. We were living in a death trap with only one way out.' Burley says he's now thinking of the thousands fleeing their homes in northern Manitoba, and has one message for them. 'I made the mistake of grabbing stuff thinking I had time and grabbing materialistic things. Well, it almost cost me my life,' Burley said. 'I hope they are not making those same decisions and that they're just getting out. 'It happens so fast. When they tell you to get out, you gotta go. You just gotta go.' View image in full screen Residents say much of Wendigo Road in Lac du Bonnet is now unrecognizable. Josh Arason / Global News Lorne Schinkel, the reeve of the Rural Municipality of Lac du Bonnet, says insurance companies are on the ground in the area assessing the damage. Story continues below advertisement He also says while the wildfire is now under control, crews are still in the area as tinder dry conditions have allowed for some flareups. 'We know there's still approximately 20 fire attack personnel working on that fire, as well as helicopter buckets being applied to different hotspots,' Schinkel said. 'I am aware that there was a flareup the other night that resulted in the fire department being called out again, and this will continue for some period of time. So everyone has to be very vigilant in the community.' Schinkel is also urging people to heed fire bans in the area. 'At the end of the day, it's still a very dangerous situation out there.'
Telegraph
5 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Telegraph
Travellers using e-bike chargers to charm planners into approving new site, claim neighbours
A group of travellers is attempting to persuade councillors to approve a new settlement by including 'performative' e-bike chargers in their plans, villagers have claimed. Michael Chalk and Tom Butler have made a retrospective application for the development in the New Forest village of Burley, Hants, where they have put up static caravans on former pony paddocks, and have included the chargers and cycle sheds in their plans. But residents say the inclusion of the 'token sustainability features' does not offset the environmental impact of the application, which also includes two static caravans, two touring caravans, parking, bin stores, and boundary fencing. One villager, Philip Mosley, said: 'Token sustainability features, such as electric vehicle and e-bike charging points, do not genuinely offset the environmental impacts of permanent housing, increased traffic, waste production and extensive hard surfaces. 'True sustainability should align naturally with the environmental context, rather than as serving as superficial additions.' Mr Mosley warned that approval would set a 'concerning precedent' and encourage similar applications. He added: ' Protecting the unique character of the New Forest National Park should be a top priority.' Burley has a population of just over 1,300 and is surrounded by the open heathland of the New Forest. The traveller site is located just off Ringwood Road, which runs through the historic village. Andrew and Rachel Holloway live next to the paddocks, and said before the site was developed in March, they overlooked fields and hedgerows. But they said the land has 'completely changed' since the travellers built on the site, adding: 'The pony paddocks have been urbanised, and the natural beauty of the fields and surrounding area in this conservation area damaged.' 'Superficial nods to sustainability' Mr and Mrs Holloway also claimed the addition of the caravans and grey plastic bike sheds does not enhance the landscape and 'scenic beauty' of the New Forest They said: 'It certainly harms the character and appearance of the area, and would never be considered as high‐quality design.' Another neighbour argued: 'The application appears to exploit features – such as electric vehicle and e-bike charging points – as superficial nods to sustainability objectives. Sustainability, in planning terms, is holistic and must be contextually appropriate, not performative.' More than 70 neighbours have objected to the plans. Mr Chalk and Mr Butler have also been criticised for putting up 'threatening signage' outside the site when they moved in. One sign reads: 'Strictly no entry without permission. Please beware. Reactive guard dogs roaming loose which will bite you.' In their application, the two men say their families intend to integrate into village life, using local shops and other amenities. In response to concerns raised by locals, Mr Chalk said he was 'surprised' to learn of the comments as he has 'only encountered positive and welcoming people in and around the village'. He added that he wished to 'reassure those residents who have formed a negative opinion' that it is only Mr Butler's young family and his own family, who will be occupying the site. He also claimed that in the event they were unable to remain, the land would be fully restored to its former equestrian stables and yard use. The New Forest Park Authority will make a decision on the plans later this week.
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
A.P. government mandates procurement of Burley tobacco at ₹12,000 per quintal
After deliberations Andhra Pradesh Government has mandated the tobacco companies to procure Burley tobacco from the farmers in the State at ₹12,000 for quintal for Grade A and ₹5,400 for quintal for Grade B. The Grade A consists of all kinds of qualities while the Grade B is the least quality. Minister for Agriculture Kinjarapu Atchannaidu, after a meeting at the camp office of Parchur MLA Yeluri Sambasiva Rao near here on Saturday (May 24), directed the companies to start purchasing the produce from Sunday. The members of Cabinet Sub-Committee on agriculture prices, including Mr. Atchanniadu and Gottipati Ravi Kumar, held the meeting with all the stakeholders, including tobacco growers, farmers associations, companies representatives, officials from Indian Tobacco Board and others. Minister Atchannaidu maintained that the companies should not return the tobacco on pretexts like quality or others, but must purchase the entire tobacco produced in Andhra Pradesh, estimated about 70 million Kgs. He also assured that the State government would support the farming community and companies by extending financial assistance for processing the Burley tobacco. The State government have to spend for proccessing at least ₹17 per Kg of Burley tobacco and had allocated ₹200 crore for that purpose. Once the tobacco is processed properly, then it could be stored for more than one year and the companies could utilize the produce in the next year as well. On the other hand, the Minister informed that the government is also willing to support the companies by deploying the staff from Agriculture and A.P. Markfed, if they need extra staff in procuring the tobacco. At the same time, he added that the State government would procure the tobacco from the farmers through A.P. Markfed, if needed, at the end of the season. The Minister for Agriculture urged the companies to procure the entire produce from the farmers, as the tobacco purchased by A.P. Markfed would have to be sold to the same companies. He assured the farmers that the State government had taken the issue very seriously and would monitor the entire procurement process, till the sale of the last Kg. He also said that the State government would promote alternative crops in the ensuing agriculture year, which would reduce the supply of the Burley tobacco in the market next year. Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar said that both government and companies should protect the lives of the farmers. He observed that the companies enjoyed the profits so far and it is the time for them to come to the aid of the farmers when the entire farming community is in distress. Chairman of Tobacco Board of India Yashwanth Kumar Chidipothu said that the Board extended support to the farmers, despite the fact that the Board did not have a mandate with respect to the Burley tobacco.
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Slump in demand hits tobacco farmers in Andhra Pradesh
Due to higher production in countries such as Brazil and Zimbabwe, the demand for local tobacco in the international market has decreased to a certain extent. Amid over production of 80 million kg in India and 400 million KG in other countries, the prices are low across the global markets. While the Tobacco Board had approved cultivation of 167 million KG in Andhra Pradesh, the farmers produced more than 240 million KG this year, said its Chairman Yashwanth Kumar Chidipothu. However, he anticipated a price correction by the end of this month, and assured the farmers of procurement. Tobacco Board Executive Director B. Vishwasree said 35 million KG had already been procured in A.P. 'The selling price is currently ₹262 per KG against ₹231 per KG during the corresponding season the previous year. We are regularly in talks with the representatives of the procuring companies,' she said. Farmers cry foul However, the local farmers said while the Tobacco Board had initiated auction in Mysuru and other areas of Karnataka in October last, it started from mid-April in A.P. As the companies had already procured the required quantities in the neighbouring State, they were rejecting the produce here citing 'low quality.' 'The average per-kg price of Virginia tobacco has been ₹230 to ₹350 during the last three to four years. But now, it stands at ₹240 per KG, which is non-remunerative. When compared to the previous year, the labour charges, lease costs and other expenses have increased this year,' Vaddella Prasad, president of a tobacco farmers' union in Ongole, told The Hindu. 'A majority of the farmers who have produced Burley tobacco are facing more problems. This variety gives more yield, but its quality is low, and the board's licence is not required for growing it. Again, there are two varieties in this. The price of white Burley tobacco stands at ₹120 to ₹150 per KG while the variety is as low as ₹40 per KG,' he said. In a recent review meeting, Energy Minister G. Ravi Kumar and Social Welfare Minister Dola Sree Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy suggested the buyers to support the farmers who were facing difficulties due to lack of proper demand and remunerative prices. Prakasam District Collector A. Thameem Ansaria also directed the officials to ensure the farmers got remunerative prices for their produce.
